Skip advert
Advertisement

McLaren 12C Can-Am special edition

A new more powerful McLaren 12C racing variant is due to be unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours

McLaren is planning to launch a new version of the 12C racing car at the Pebble Beach concours. It’s an evolution of the GT3 race car, with 621bhp and 30 percent more downforce.

Under the skin, the racing car features the same carbon fibre monocoque as the 12C road car, and with all the upgrades, the total dry weight comes in at just 1200kg.

Advertisement - Article continues below

A new aerodynamic package includes a carbon fibre front splitter, carbon fibre dive planes, and a carbon fibre wing, said to increase downforce by 30 percent over GT3-spec racer. This is largely due to the fact it isn’t adhering to any current race regulations.

The extra power comes from a revised version of the standard 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, which due to not having any restrictions, is producing a healthy 621bhp – making this the most powerful 12C variant yet.

The Can-Am is finished in McLaren Orange, as a tribute to the cars of Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme, who made McLaren such a big name in the USA during the 1960s and ‘70s.

The official statement from McLaren is that the Can-Am is currently a one-off design study, and has not been confirmed for production.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

McLaren SUV finally confirmed, but its new logo comes first
New McLaren logo
News

McLaren SUV finally confirmed, but its new logo comes first

New investment in McLaren will allow the supercar maker to expand its portfolio, make its own engines, and try to cash in on an SUV. There's even a ne…
22 Sep 2026
McLaren McL 6GT is a new manual supercar and a complete reset
McLaren McL 6GT
News

McLaren McL 6GT is a new manual supercar and a complete reset

Unbelievably, the design of this new McLaren is more surprising than the reintroduction of a manual transmission…
14 Aug 2026
£1.2m Lanzante 95-59 now offered with McLaren F1-inspired HDK upgrade
Lanzante 95-59
News

£1.2m Lanzante 95-59 now offered with McLaren F1-inspired HDK upgrade

Lanzante’s celebration of its 1995 Le Mans win has 850bhp, a McLaren F1-inspired three-seat layout and now, an optional High Downforce Kit
14 Aug 2026
Best McLarens – Woking’s scintillating Ferrari fighters
Best McLarens
Best cars

Best McLarens – Woking’s scintillating Ferrari fighters

McLaren has produced some of the most stunning, technically impressive supercars in history – these are the best of the bunch, including the new W1 hy…
13 Jul 2026
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Can electric beat petrol? Alpine A290 meets Mazda MX-5 – car pictures of the week
Mazda MX-5 v Alpine A290
Features

Can electric beat petrol? Alpine A290 meets Mazda MX-5 – car pictures of the week

Alpine’s A290 is under consideration by evo contributor Peter Tomalin as a replacement for his MX-5. A comparison is in order…
19 Sep 2026
Polestar 3 review – electric SUV updated to face the BMW iX3
Polestar 3
In-depth reviews

Polestar 3 review – electric SUV updated to face the BMW iX3

Polestar’s stylish electric SUV has big competition now from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, so an update was in order
18 Sep 2026
The Ferrari Luce reminds me of a £2k Peugeot, but then I am just a man with a Biro
Ferrari Luce Le Mans
Opinion

The Ferrari Luce reminds me of a £2k Peugeot, but then I am just a man with a Biro

We’re all armchair experts in car design, but in reality it requires real skill, says Porter
18 Sep 2026