McLaren completely revamps design language with new McL 6GT

A new look has washed over McLaren at Pebble Beach with the reveal of the McL 6GT concept. The supercar was given a private screening last night during Monterey Car Week but has now been formally revealed to the masses this afternoon. 

The two-seat mid-engine layout is a familiar format but the McL 6GT carries an entirely new face and rear, with surfacing which is now much softer and flowing than previous McLarens. Even the relatively restrained 750s appears sharp and hard edged by comparison, and there is a gorgeous rise-and-fall to the shoulder line thanks to towering front fenders.

The McL 6GT draws on themes shown by the historic M6GT at Goodwood last month, as evidenced by that similar nomenclature. Its headlamps sit low in the front mask while tight oval tail lamps adorn the rear, themselves encased by a wider oval graphic that defines the back of the car. A pair of prominent oblong exhausts sit below, a shape reflected in the wheel design and even on the metal foot pedals which feature stacked oblong indents. There really is a conscious decision to soften sharp edges throughout the design.

A side-by-side comparison makes the influence of the M6GT abundantly clear but this new model does well to stand as its own independent design. On second and third viewing, it really does not look like any McLaren of the modern era and signals a sharp turn in the brand's design direction. It is somehow more approachable, more feminine in its features but still communicates performance. That McLaren road presence has not been diluted.

Elsewhere, mesh details can be found primarily at the rear, almost gift-wrapping those exhaust tips and separating the rear mask from the lower diffuser, no doubt for airflow purposes. Details are thin as this is only a concept for now, but it is a V8 powerplant behind that clear engine cover. 

Inside, the presence of an open-gate six-speed manual gearshifter should delight enthusiasts. The exposed linkage is in contrast to the rest of the car, more mechanical, cold and engineering led than its flamenco exterior. Even the hardware is exposed, with bolt heads visible around the gear enclosure, gearknob and steering wheel. Flashes of orange can be seen in discrete areas and on the traditional centre mark of the steering wheel, but it is otherwise a very clean and refined cabin. 

As many projects often are, the McL 6GT has experienced shared design leadership during its creation following the departure of Tobias Suehlmann and recent arrival of Kemal Curic (and now David Woodhouse). Perhaps understandably, McLaren PR is cautious to attribute ownership to one particular designer and enforces that this is very much a team effort. That much is obvious, of course, but perhaps a signal of how the brand's new design leadership wish to champion the work of their colleagues. Not every design director is willing to sidestep personal praise. 

A spokesperson told Car Design News: "McL 6GT is the work of the entire design team. Under the leadership of Kemal Curic, the team explored Bruce McLaren's original road car vision and asked how that spirit might be expressed today. The project allowed the team to reexamine McLaren's heritage, design principles and future creative direction through a contemporary lens." The statement in fact doubles down on the collective ethos, adding: "Designing cars is always the work of a team. The design team, represented at Monterey by Kemal Curic, have collectively worked on the McL 6GT project."

The McL 6GT will no doubt have chins wagging but it is important to emphasise this is a concept car that previews a new model due in 2028. That being said, there is very little that feels conceptual about the McL 6GT and on face value would not raise eyebrows if launched as a production model in its own right. 

There is an interesting line in the release too which suggests it may yet have a broader and more lasting impact on the company, "creating the space for a new type of exclusive McLaren supercar beyond the core portfolio."