The first Sunday of February 2026 saw McLaren open its doors to the world of personal expression, inviting select media personnel and customers for an exclusive event around MSO: The Apex of Luxury. MSO or McLaren Special Operations is the British supercar maker’s highly bespoke home of personalisation. The Cornea Impression was invited to explore a carefully curated selection of cars and artefacts, each illustrating MSO’s philosophy: “that every McLaren can be a deeply personal expression shaped by heritage, innovation, and the imagination of its owner”.
McLaren’s MSO: The Apex of Luxury event shifted the traditional McLaren narrative of performance and status and celebrated design-led individuality instead. Guests were invited to engage directly with MSO experts, allowing them to commission a virtual bespoke McLaren, and experience live craftsmanship by watching MSO’s select painters showcase their craft. César Habib – Regional Director, McLaren Automotive Middle East, Africa & India, Joshua Doran – Special Programmes Manager, McLaren Special Operations, Lauren Dowdy – Head of Marketing, Middle East, India & Africa comprised the top spokespeople to be present at the event.
McLaren had multiple MSO-commissioned cars on display, many of them were generously lent by their owners, reflecting both the pride they take in their commissions and the enduring relationships built through the MSO process. The collection comprised the Senna Sempre – McLaren’s emotive tribute to Ayrton Senna with a livery featuring vibrant colours inspired by Senna’s Brazilian heritage, alongside hand-painted portraits, race numbers, and motion-inspired wash techniques. Also stationed at the venue was a Senna with an exposed full gloss carbon fibre finish inside and out along with a 750S featuring Geo Hex theme, inspired by the structure of carbon fibre, in fire black and helios orange.
McLaren MSO also exhibited a 750S Spider commissioned as a deeply personal homage to founder Bruce McLaren featuring British and New Zealand flags symbolising McLaren’s roots and a map of the Silverstone circuit. Also on display was a MCL38 Celebratory Limited Edition 750S – a limited edition unit, drawing inspiration from the MCL38 race car, created to celebrate McLaren’s ninth Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
To further showcase MSO’s personalisation prowess, the brand also put up bespoke bonnets off some ultra-limited MSO commissioned cars as well as a collection of six genuine wooden skate decks which showcases MSO’s artistic language beyond the car itself. Bonnets from famous commissions such as the one-of-one Project Viva, Lando Norris’ 765LT after his first F1 win at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix and Oscar Piastri’s bespoke 765LT commemorating his first F1 win at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix were exhibited for the visitors.
