The McLaren 570GT has always occupied an unusual, compelling space in Woking’s mid-engine hierarchy. While the 570S CoCoupéade its reputation on knife-edge alertness and circuit-ready agility, the 570GT arrived to cater to open roads, continental crossings, and everyday usability without dulling the underlying carbon-tub supercar architecture. Now, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has stripped away any lingering softness from that Grand Touring remit with the introduction of the McLaren 570GT MSO Black Collection—a strictly limited edition that wraps stealth styling, mechanical sharpening, and bespoke coachbuilding into an intensely focused package.
Strictly capped at just 100 units worldwide, the 570GT MSO Black Collection leans into an uncompromising all-black visual aesthetic. Finished exclusively in MSO Bespoke Carbon Black paint, the car features the full MSO Defined Black Pack, which replaces standard Dark Palladium exterior elements with deep, brooding black components across the front splitter, side skirts, rear bumper, and aerodynamic air intakes. The menacing road presence is completed by 5-twin-spoke lightweight forged wheels treated with a new Gloss Black Diamond Cut finish, wrapped in high-grip Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber and shielding massive carbon-ceramic brakes clamped by black calipers.
Stealth Aesthetics and the MSO Defined Exterior Package
Automotive personalization departments often drift into flashy theatrics, but McLaren Special Operations took a reverse approach when drafting this limited model. By pulling back bright accents and contrasting trims, MSO developed a menacing, monochrome look that draws complete attention to the vehicle’s sculptural lines. The cornerstone of the visual overhaul is MSO Bespoke Carbon Black paint. This is an extraordinarily rich shade conceived at Woking specifically to produce deep shadow gradients without washing out under harsh daylight.
The dark philosophy carries systematically across every external surface through the inclusion of the MSO Defined Black Pack. On the production McLaren 570GT, key aerodynamic elements—the front splitter, side intake cowls, lower side skirts, and rear bumper diffuser—wear Dark Palladium. On the MSO Black Collection, all those surfaces are painted in high-gloss black. The visual trick works seamlessly: the front aero blades appear wider, the signature dihedral doors flow smoothly into the flanks, and the rear underbody merges into a uniform diffuser arrangement.
Unsprung weight and road contact match the bodywork styling. Sitting within the arches are 5-twin-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels, finished with a fresh Gloss Black Diamond Cut treatment. McLaren wrapped these wheels in sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, a dedicated compound that signals serious sporting intent. Peeking through the spokes are glossy black brake calipers gripping ventilated carbon-ceramic discs, preserving the dark silhouette while giving the coupe enormous, fade-free stopping power on mountain descents or high-speed runs.
A Tailored Cockpit: Leather, Alcantara, and Smart Glass
Step through the dihedral doors over the carbon-fiber sill, and the darkened theme continues across every cabin touchpoint. The McLaren 570GT MSO Black Collection introduces a tailored interior environment that balances driver ergonomics with luxury materials. Central to this space is the MSO Black Collection Trim, combining Jet Black leather upholstery with tactile Carbon Black Alcantara accents. Alcantara lines the center transmission tunnel, lower instrument dashboard, headliner, steering wheel rim, and speaker enclosures, cutting cockpit glare during daytime driving.
The standard seating arrangement makes way for electrically adjustable and heated Memory Sports Seats upholstered in plush Semi-Aniline leather. Each headrest carries subtle, embroidered MSO branding. Just below the floating center console, an individually numbered dedication plate reminds the driver of the car’s 1-of-100 build status. Even the vehicle key received attention: McLaren Special Operations supplies an MSO Defined Ignition Key painted in matching Carbon Black paint.
Overhead, the 570GT features an expansive panoramic glass roof engineered with a UV-filtering black privacy tint. For owners wanting advanced cabin climate and ambiance control, MSO offers an optional MSO Defined Electrochromic Panoramic Roof. Originally developed for high-end aerospace applications and tailored specifically for the 570GT, this smart glass panel allows occupants to cycle through five distinct tint settings at the touch of a button, moving from nearly transparent to deeply shaded in seconds.
Sharpened Dynamics: Sport Pack Engineering
When McLaren launched the regular 570GT, critics praised its composed highway ride, though purists noticed its slightly softer springs and slower steering rack compared to the razor-sharp 570S. McLaren listened carefully. For the 570GT MSO Black Collection, engineers integrated the newly developed Sport Pack handling package as standard equipment, directly injecting the dynamic urgency of the 570S Coupé and Spider into the GT chassis.
The Sport Pack overhaul centers on tighter chassis geometry and aggressive calibrations. Spring rates increase by 15 percent at the front and 10 percent at the rear, keeping body roll firmly in check during fast direction changes. In addition, the steering rack ratio speeds up by two percent, matching the quick turn-in feel of the 570S. Adaptive twin-tube dampers and independent front and rear anti-roll bars operate alongside retuned electronic stability software, providing surgical feedback without ruining high-speed stability on broken tarmac.
Titanium SuperSports Exhaust and the M838TE V8
Underneath the glass touring deck sits McLaren’s familiar 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, designated internally as the M838TE. Output remains stout: 562 brake horsepower (570 metric hp) at 7,500 rpm and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque delivered between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm. Routed through a slick 7-speed dual-clutch Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) to the rear wheels, the 570GT rockets from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.4 seconds, reaching 124 mph (200 km/h) in 9.8 seconds on its way to a maximum speed of 204 mph (328 km/h).
While the power output matches the standard car, the acoustic character is transformed. MSO fitted every Black Collection car with an MSO Defined Titanium SuperSports Exhaust system exiting through a sleek Nano Black exhaust finisher. This lightweight plumbing trims five kilograms (11 pounds) of dead weight from the tail of the car. More noticeably, the system increases exhaust volume by five decibels across the rev band, filling the cabin with a crisp, hard-edged V8 howl that crackles delightfully on overrun.
Grand Touring Usability and GT Upgrade Pack
Despite its track-derived brakes, stiffer suspension springs, and louder titanium exhaust pipes, the 570GT MSO Black Collection holds fast to its long-distance grand touring foundation. Behind the passenger bulkhead sits a side-opening glass hatch, framed in carbon fiber and hinged on the curb side depending on left- or right-hand drive configuration. This glass touring deck provides 220 liters (7.8 cubic feet) of leather-lined cargo space, supplementing the 150-liter (5.3 cubic feet) luggage compartment under the front hood for a practical total of 370 liters (13.1 cubic feet).
McLaren also bundled the comprehensive GT Upgrade Pack into the limited edition’s base specification. This suite adds essential real-world equipment: a front vehicle axle lift system that navigates awkward speed bumps or steep driveway transitions, a rear-view parking camera linked to front and rear ultrasonic parking sensors, and an electrically adjustable steering column with memory positioning. Audiophiles also benefit from a reference-grade 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, boasting 1,280 watts of clean digital amplification and Kevlar midrange drivers.
Production, Pricing, and Market Role
Speaking on the launch of the project, Rob Melville, Design Director at McLaren Automotive, underscored the design rationale behind the project: “McLaren Special Operations allows our customers to fully express themselves through their cars, and the new 570GT MSO Black Collection is no different. Black is a color associated with elegance, power and authority whilst also surrounded by a certain air of mystery. The end result remains true to the luxurious nature of the 570GT but we managed to further amplify its sleek, sporty character with a wealth of new MSO Defined options which I am sure will delight discerning owners.”
Worldwide volume is strictly limited to 100 customer examples, guaranteeing high collector demand across key global territories including the UK, continental Europe, and North America. In the United Kingdom, McLaren established pricing for the 570GT MSO Black Collection at £179,950 including taxes—representing roughly a £22,000 premium over the standard production model. Deliveries begin during the summer of 2018. For drivers seeking an uncompromising mid-engine machine that merges carbon-tub agility with stealth styling and transcontinental touring talent, Woking’s latest dark creation delivers in every dimension.
Vehicle data
| Make | McLaren |
| Model | 570GT MSO Black Collection |
| Generation / chassis code | Sports Series (P13) |
| Model year(s) covered | 2018–2019 |
| Body style | 2-door, 2-seat mid-engine fastback coupe with glass touring deck |
| Powertrain / engine | 3.8-liter (3,799 cc) twin-turbocharged 90-degree V8 (M838TE) |
| Power / torque | 562 bhp (570 PS; 419 kW) @ 7,500 rpm / 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) @ 5,000–6,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Key performance figures | 0–62 mph in 3.4 sec, 0–124 mph in 9.8 sec, top speed 204 mph (328 km/h) |
| Price (as stated) | £179,950 (UK) / approx. $250,800 |
| On-sale / announcement period | Announced March 2018; deliveries starting summer 2018; limited to 100 units worldwide |
| Market | Global (UK, Europe, North America) |