McLaren Automotive has revealed the McL 6GT, a production-ready concept car that signals a new direction for the British brand. This model is notable as the first McLaren to feature a manual gearbox since the legendary F1 supercar, which was the company's inaugural road car released in 1992. The McL 6GT is designed to celebrate "tactile, analogue and deeply mechanical" driving experiences, aiming to connect McLaren's heritage with its contemporary offerings.
The concept draws inspiration from Bruce McLaren's original supercar vision. The Woking-based automaker stated that the McL 6GT will inform a "future-facing approach to McLaren cars that will captivate character." McLaren unveiled the concept at Monterey Car Week, with the production version anticipated to arrive in 2028. Details regarding the cost and specific availability of the production model are expected to be released next year.
Design and Mechanical Focus
The McL 6GT will be powered by a V8 internal-combustion engine, echoing the original M6GT. The design emphasizes mechanical feel, with McLaren promising that "every shift, throttle movement and steering input" will be palpable. This tactile experience is intended to extend to the hydraulic steering, switchgear, and visible engineering components. The gearstick design is inspired by McLaren's heritage and features a three-dimensional Speedy Kiwi emblem.
McLaren continues its extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber for both track and road vehicles. The McL 6GT utilizes the latest super-lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque technology, complemented by carbon-fiber bodywork. The car's proportions are reminiscent of McLaren's current mid-engined models, but its bodywork features styling and surfacing inspired by 1960s sports-prototype racers, executed with 21st-century design and packaging.
The low and wide stance, with a low nose, reflects the M6GT DNA and the imposing presence of the M6A Can-Am racer, which served as the basis for the original car. A distinctive Kammback tail at the rear enhances the uninterrupted flow from the front. The exterior design incorporates a "Racing Loop" motif, inspired by the M6GT's original taillights, integrated into the airflow architecture. A graphic reimagines Bruce McLaren's original M6GT number plate. Bruce McLaren's signature is present on the engine bay, and the Speedy Kiwi is subtly etched into the fuel-filler cap.
Interior and Heritage Connection
Inside, the concept features quilted upholstery reinterpreted for a modern aesthetic. The new digital instrumentation is designed to maintain the clarity and emotional appeal of original designs. McLaren states these interior elements are intended to create a cockpit that feels both forward-looking and distinctly connected to the brand's heritage.
Nick Collins, CEO of McLaren Automotive, commented, "The McLaren McL 6GT imagines what our inspirational founder wished to complete, but with six additional decades of innovation and passion woven through every element, creating a modern icon of driver connection. It is symbolic of the bold, provocative and hugely exciting future that we are preparing to realise."