A series of 15 very special McLaren 720S MSO cars has been announced and they feature an unusual number on their door sills: it's the maximum speed the car can carry through the apex of a given corner on one of five international (European) race circuits. For that reason, these 15 720s are known as the MSO Apex Collection.
Speed demons
So, there are five special designs associated with nations where McLaren has enjoyed particular success on track, be that in F1 or in other forms of motorsport like GT racing. Open the door on any 720S MSO Apex and not only will the side sills of the Macca's carbon tub be on display, but so will a figure in miles per hour.
The five countries are Great Britain (Silverstone GP), Germany (Hockenheimring), France (Circuit Paul Ricard), Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps) and Italy (Monza), and the speed in question refers to the peak pace that one of McLaren's professional performance drivers can hustle the 720S through the clipping point of the curve; and yes, the carmaker will give owners the chance to try and get near that speed by attending a Pure McLaren track-driving event, where they will be given tuition by a McLaren professional performance driver (maybe the one who set the speed, even?) to maximise their circuit potential.
Track Pack as standard
So, feeling brave? Wanna know what the speeds are? Here we go, then. The Apex GB wears 110mph (177km/h), which is the speed possible through the Abbey corner which begins the lap of Silverstone. For Germany, 85mph (137km/h) is achievable through the Mobil 1 Kurve which leads into the old stadium section of the Hockenheimring. France's figure is 104mph (167km/h), recorded in the sweeping Signes curve at the end of Paul Ricard's Mistral straight. Belgium is only slightly slower, at 103mph (166km/h), although as that's through the Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex (which other corner could it be at Spa, eh?) then you'll need, um, large, er... reserves of commitment to match it. Italy's speed of 90mph (145km/h) comes from the Ascari chicane that precedes the back straight, which ultimately leads into the famous Parabolica curve.
McLaren will split the five country cars into a run of two left-hand-drive and one right-hand-drive examples of each, with the exception of the Apex GB, which has two right-hand-drive and one left-hand-drive 720s. Every owner of an Apex Collection machine will also receive an FIA Formula 1 Paddock Pass, which allows them to experience the Pirelli Hot Laps with a high-speed passenger circuit - with one of those McLaren professional drivers at the wheels, showing them how the apex speed of the car in question is achieved.
Every McLaren 720S MSO Apex Collection comes with the 720S Track Pack fitted (which shaves 24kg from the coupe's kerb weight), bringing in carbon fibre exterior details, engine bay ambient lighting, Super-Lightweight ten-spoke forged alloys, an MSO Defined Gloss-Finish Visual Carbon-Fibre Active Rear Spoiler and the Sports Exhaust, as well as lightweight carbon-fibre Racing Seats inside.
And the price? Each MSO Apex Collection will cost around €521,000. Yikes!