Officially launched in 2011, McLaren->ke284 Special Operations (MSO), previously part of the McLaren Customer Care Programme, has evolved into one of the most famous customizing divisions of the sports car->ke506 industry. Thanks to this branch, modern McLarens are as customizable as a Ferrari->ke252, and judging by the number of MSO-modified P1s->ke4608 we've seen recently, it's safe to assume McLaren has a lot more customers that commission one-off supercars->ke177 than the Italian->ke2094 brand.

But the P1 isn't the only McLaren product that can be enhanced at the MSO shop. The 2015 McLaren 650S is also part of the program, and recently McLaren has also given the newly launched 2016 McLaren 570S Coupe the green light for bespoke makeovers. The first MSO-crafted 570S to come from Woking is this Mauvine Blue edition built in just one example.

The number of details you can add to the 570S->ke4924 via MSO is similar to what you can get for both the P1 and the 650S->ke4801. The Brits are more than happy to create a unique exterior paint, as well as combine the standard features offered inside with bespoke leather inserts and contrast stitching. It all depends on how much you're willing to spend. Although this example is less flashy on the inside, it is the kind of sports car that will draw a lot of attention at auto shows or supercar meetings. Check it out below to find out why.

Continue reading to learn more about the McLaren 570S Coupe by MSO.

2016 McLaren 570S Coupe Mauvine Blue by MSO

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 McLaren 570S Coupe Mauvine Blue by MSO
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Not surprisingly, at least when compared to other recent McLarens tweaked by MSO, the exterior paint is the only feature that sets this 570S Coupe apart from the standard model. But what a color it is! McLaren calls it Mauvine Blue and says its uniquely formulated, meaning it was crafted in MSO's very own color lab. The hue is downright amazing to look at, as it can change color depending on lighting conditions. It reminds me of Dodge's iconic Plum Crazy, most recently used on the 2016 Dodge Challenger 392 Hemi Scat Pack Shaker, though Mopar's shade is less chameleonic. As it turns out, sports cars can be eye-catching in mauve, too. Everything else outside is standard 570S business on this model, but it seems the owner went with the optional silver wheels and silver brake calipers.

Interior

The interior has been customized too, now featuring Carbon Black leather and Mauvine Blue accents on the flat, lower section of the steering wheel and on the seats, as well as matching stitching on the dashboard. Though Carbon Black leather is available from the factory, it can only be combined with Stone Grey, McLaren Orange, and Jet Black exterior colors. To get the Mauvine Blue stripes on the seats and the steering wheel, you're going to have to take it to McLaren Special Operations and prepare of an extra fee.

Everything else in here is standard, meaning this coupe->ke141 has a leather-trimmed dashboard, a new instrument cluster, and a 7-inch touchscreen with integrated climate controls, Bluetooth connectivity and either DAB digital or Sirius satellite radio.

Drivetrain

As is the case with all limited-edition or one-off models created by MSO, this 570S Coupe is powered by the same engine as the standard model. Under the hood lurks McLaren's award-winning, twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8. The mill is shared (in different stages of tune) with both the 650S and 2016 McLaren P1 GTR, but in the 570S generates 562 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 443 pound-feet of torque from 5,000 rpm. All that oomph is routed to the rear wheels through a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission and enables the sports car to hit 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and 124 mph in 9.5 seconds, only 0.2 and 1.1 seconds slower than the more powerful 650S, respectively. Top speed sits at 204 mph, an impressive figure for this segment.

What makes the 570S truly special compared to its rivals is that it's the lightest vehicle in its class, at 2,895 pounds. This makes it no fewer than 642 pounds lighter than the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S and 255 pounds lighter than the track-focused 2016 911 GT3 RS. Moreover, it delivers a class-leading power-to-weight ratio of 428 horsepower per tonne, compared to 911 Turbo S' 349 horses per ton.

Prices

There's no word as to how much the Mauvine Blue exterior color and matching interior bits added to the car's original sticker, but it probably took the 570S Coupe into the $190,000 range, if not close to $200,000. The sports car retails from $184,900.

Competition

Porsche 911 Turbo by Porsche Exclusive

The Porsche 911 Turbo is the car to beat in this niche, and the reason McLaren created the 570S. The standard model features a 3.8-liter flat-six rated at 520 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque, while the Turbo S->ke571 has 560 horses and 516 pound-feet on tap. Both are quicker than the 570S, needing 3.2 seconds (3.0 with Sport Chrono) and 2.9 seconds to hit 60 mph, respectively. Top speed, on the other hand, is slightly inferior at at 195 and 197 mph, respectively.

As far as customizing goes, the Porsche 911 Turbo can also be commission with bespoke parts via the brand's Exclusive division. Options include special exterior paints and custom details inside and out. Recent examples include the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo Lime Gold and the 911 Turbo S Exclusive GB Edition.

Find out more about the standard Porsche 911 Turbo here.

Conclusion

The ability to customize your car to your own specifications is very important in today's market, and this sports car is proof that McLaren is willing to do just about anything to keep its exclusive customers happy. The 570S Coupe is the third current McLaren model to benefit from the MSO program, which basically means that the British brand can deliver what only companies such as Porsche and Ferrari were able to a few years ago.