Introduced earlier this year at the Geneva International Motor Show, the McLaren 720S is the second addition to the Woking brand’s Super Series line, offering high-end exotic performance and styling in a more accessible package. Indeed, a daily driver supercar makes for a great fit in a place like Dubai, and as such, McLaren just dropped the above-featured one-off as the piece de resistance for this year’s Dubai International Motor Show. Built by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the brand’s in-house tuners and creative customization team, it’s dubbed the Zenith Black, and its got a careful selection of styling upgrades both inside and out that are sure to get noticed, even when the local police force consists of hoverbikes and Bugatti Veyrons.

All told, this is an utterly unique creation, as indicated by the “1 of 1” placard inside the cabin. MSO spent an extra 120 hours on top of the usual production process to bring it to life, and overall, we think it looks great. The theme pays homage to the idea of “achievement” in a distinctive fashion – read on to learn exactly what that means.

Continue reading to learn more about the McLaren 720S Zenith Black By MSO.

2018 McLaren 720S Zenith Black By MSO

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 McLaren 720S Zenith Black By MSO
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 710 @ 7500
  • Torque: 568 @ 5500
  • Transmission: 7 Speed SSG
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

What Makes The McLaren 720S Zenith Black By MSO Special

- One-off bespoke model - Black and gold color scheme inside and out - Gold wheels - Gold paddle shifters - Lots of carbon fiber extras for the exterior - 24-carat gold heat shield - Rear wing painted to resemble Dubai skyline - Bruce McLaren quote in Arabic - Customization took 120 hours to complete - Stock twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8

For starters, the whole car comes draped in a menacing shade called Zenith Black, complete in a soft, gloss-free satin finish. Further exterior upgrades include a carbon fiber exterior package, which tosses in composite components for the front splitter, door mirror stalks, rear aero bridge, air intakes, roof, rear diffuser, engine cover, rear deck, and rear bumper. Each component is offered as part of the MSO Defined line of extras.

The alloy wheels stand out thanks to their gold finish and look quite good against the understated black paint and carbon extras. There’s also a 24-carat gold heat shield for the engine cover, much like the venerable McLaren F1 from the ‘90s.

More gold coloring was added inside the cabin as well, enhancing the paddle shifters, steering wheel central spokes, and inner door line. Once again, we think the color combo works quite well, and comes offset by black Alcantara upholstery, black leather trim, and carbon embellishments for the side sills, fascia vents, and steering wheel.

However, the most memorable detail of the Zenith Black can be found on the rear wing, which was also painted with gold detailing and took 30 hours to complete. Interestingly, the wing now bears a quote from Mr. Bruce McLaren himself, finished in Arabic and stylized to resemble the Dubai skyline. The quote reads: “Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone.”

Basically, Bruce was saying that the number of years you’re alive isn’t the only measure of a life, but rather, the achievements made during that time are just as important. Indeed, the idea of “achievement” was the driving force behind the commission, as explained by McLaren brass Andreas Bareis: “The quote from Bruce McLaren rings true not only of the history of McLaren but also the achievements of the U.A.E. and the Gulf states over the last four decades. The U.A.E. and the region are very important to McLaren, not only in terms of our client base but also because of the support from our shareholders. This car pays tribute to that.”

Finally, the engine spec and speed remain unchanged, with a stock twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 mounted behind the cabin. Output is measured at 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels by way of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

References

McLaren 720S

Read our full review on the 2018 McLaren 720S.

McLaren F1

Read our full review on the 1993 McLaren F1.