McLaren Can-Am concept to debut in Pebble Beach

McLaren has announced it will front up to this coming weekend's Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance in California with a Can-Am concept car based on the company's MP4-12C.

A development of the GT3 version of the 12C, the Can-Am Edition pays homage to the Can-Am racing category in which McLaren's eponymous founder competed during the 1960s. It was while at the wheel of a Can-Am race car at Britain's Goodwood circuit in 1970 that New Zealander Bruce McLaren lost his life, when bodywork at the rear of the vehicle came unfastened and the vehicle crashed at speed.

The design study to be unveiled this weekend is finished in orange just like the original Can-Am race cars, with coordinating satin black. According to the manufacturer, the 12C Can-Am Edition, which boasts the highest output of any 12C built to date, weighs as little as 1200kg  and gains 30 per cent more downforce.

McLaren engineers have ramped up the output for the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 in this application to 470kW, and a revised cooling system forms part of the specification. Stopping power comes courtesy of an Akebono braking system and Pirelli slicks on forged alloy wheels in a satin black finish. Aerodynamic aids developed specifically for the concept are: a carbon fibre front splitter, carbon fibre dive planes, and a carbon fibre wing. Additionally, there's a carbon fibre diffuser under the rear bumper.

The car's exterior design changes are complimented inside by two black racing seats, six-point harnesses, a race-ready roll cage and a GT3 steering wheel inspired by the wheel of Lewis Hamilton's MP4-24 F1 car.

Picture of McLaren M8D courtesy of Dan Wildhirt/Wikimedia Commons

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