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 McL 820 to replace the 750S next year as Ferrari-baiting supercar
McLaren W1
News

McLaren McL 820 to replace the 750S next year as Ferrari-baiting supercar

McLaren has released the first official details of its next series production supercar, set to arrive next year as a replacement for the 750S
30 Oct 2026
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
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

900 miles in the Maserati MCPura – daily driving Italy’s underrated supercar
Maserati MCPura Cielo
Long term tests

900 miles in the Maserati MCPura – daily driving Italy’s underrated supercar

Maserati’s MCPura is as pricey as it is imperfect, but never let it be said it’s a supercar you can’t enjoy every day
8 Nov 2026
New Lotus Esprit V8 engine details revealed – British Ferrari rival to get twin-turbo hybrid power
Lotus Esprit
News

New Lotus Esprit V8 engine details revealed – British Ferrari rival to get twin-turbo hybrid power

Horse Powertrain is providing the new twin-turbo V8 for Lotus’s hotly-anticipated supercar
10 Nov 2026
Volkswagen ID.Polo GTI priced from £35,295 – still want that Alpine A290?
Volkswagen ID.Polo GTI
News

Volkswagen ID.Polo GTI priced from £35,295 – still want that Alpine A290?

VW’s hot small EV will be more expensive than its rivals from France
9 Nov 2026