Photo: McLaren
Lawrence of Arabia called his squadron of armored Rolls-Royces "more valuable than rubies," but if T.E. Lawrence were to travel the Levant in 2015, he would probably exchange his Rollers for this - the McLaren 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 by MSO. This exclusive four-wheeled creation debuted today at the Dubai International Motor show.
Being an MSO product, the Al Sahara 79 is unlike any other McLaren 650S Spider out there. Presented alongside the entry-level Sports Series (570S Coupe) and Ultimate Series (P1 hypercar), this extremely special example of the automaker's Super Series boasts a paint scheme and specifications inspired by the cultures of the Arabic region.
The crisp pearlescent white gold paintwork pays tribute to the Al Sahara nameplate, which is the Arabic for desert. According to the Macca boys over at the MSO skunkworks, the finish is achieved through the addition of 24K gold particles. Okay, then, what about the 79 in the model's name? Well now, those of you who paid attention to your chemistry teacher might know that 79 is the atomic number of gold.
As a visually contrasting feature, the retractable hard top roof is finished in gloss black. The same finish is applied to the lightweight forged alloy wheels. For the side intakes, front splitter, and rear diffuser, McLaren gave the 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 lots of carbon fiber. The composite material can also be found on the MSO-branded side blades, which provide a more sculpted appearance to an already athletic-looking supercar. As for the interior, black and Almond White leather upholstery is the name of the game, with the steering wheel, center console, and door panels painted in the same shade of white gold as the outside.
In terms of mechanical firepower, this asphalt-loving dune runner is animated by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 lump. Producing 641 horsepower (650 PS) and 500 lb-ft (678 Nm), the 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 by MSO can accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3 seconds dead. As for pricing, prepare to pay at least 1,456,308 AED ($396,490 at the current exchange rates) to get behind the wheel of this British bruiser.
The crisp pearlescent white gold paintwork pays tribute to the Al Sahara nameplate, which is the Arabic for desert. According to the Macca boys over at the MSO skunkworks, the finish is achieved through the addition of 24K gold particles. Okay, then, what about the 79 in the model's name? Well now, those of you who paid attention to your chemistry teacher might know that 79 is the atomic number of gold.
As a visually contrasting feature, the retractable hard top roof is finished in gloss black. The same finish is applied to the lightweight forged alloy wheels. For the side intakes, front splitter, and rear diffuser, McLaren gave the 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 lots of carbon fiber. The composite material can also be found on the MSO-branded side blades, which provide a more sculpted appearance to an already athletic-looking supercar. As for the interior, black and Almond White leather upholstery is the name of the game, with the steering wheel, center console, and door panels painted in the same shade of white gold as the outside.
In terms of mechanical firepower, this asphalt-loving dune runner is animated by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 lump. Producing 641 horsepower (650 PS) and 500 lb-ft (678 Nm), the 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 by MSO can accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3 seconds dead. As for pricing, prepare to pay at least 1,456,308 AED ($396,490 at the current exchange rates) to get behind the wheel of this British bruiser.
Google News