McLaren McL 6GT concept revives Bruce McLaren's M6GT dream with manual V8; production due 2028
McLaren unveiled the McL 6GT concept at the 2026 Monterey Car Week, a lightweight carbon-fibre V8 with the brand's first manual transmission since the 1992 F1, leading to a 2028 production model.
- 2026
- 1992
- 2028
- 1
What Happened
McLaren Automotive unveiled the McL 6GT at the 2026 Monterey Car Week, describing it as the first McLaren car of its kind and a contemporary interpretation of the M6GT, Bruce McLaren's original but unfulfilled supercar dream. The concept combines lightweight carbon-fibre construction with V8 internal combustion power and, for the first time in a McLaren since the legendary F1 in 1992, an authentic manual transmission sending drive to the rear wheels. McLaren says the concept lays the foundations for a newly positioned and highly exclusive type of supercar beyond its core and expanded portfolio, with a production version to be made real in 2028.
McLaren Special Operations presented a one-off of the original M6GT.
McLaren revealed the McL 6GT concept.
Production version of the McL 6GT is planned.
“The McLaren McL 6GT imagines what our inspirational founder had wished to complete but with six additional decades of innovation and passion woven through every element, creating a modern icon of driver connection. It is symbolic of the bold, provocative and hugely exciting future that we are preparing to realise”
McL 6GT sits exceptionally low and wide with a low nose, echoing the stance of the M6A Can-Am racer upon which the M6GT was based. The body surfacing is clean, with uninterrupted volumes flowing from the low nose to a distinctive Kammback tail, while the cabin appears embedded within the body. A 'Racing Loop' motif inspired by the M6GT's original taillights is integrated into the exterior airflow architecture, Bruce McLaren's original M6GT number plate is reimagined as a tone-on-tone graphic, his signature adorns the engine bay, and the Speedy Kiwi is etched into the fuel filler cap. Inside, boxed quilting is reinterpreted for a modern audience and new digital instrumentation retains the clarity and emotional appeal of the original.
- Hydraulic steering
- Tactile switchgear
- Visible engineering details
- Knurled machined aluminium controls
- Meticulous ergonomics
- Gearstick with a three-dimensional Speedy Kiwi in its upright
Previously from McLaren Automotive Ltd.
McLaren Special Operations restored a one-off M6GT, Bruce McLaren's original road car vision, and showed it at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed. That restoration brought the original car to the public for the first time, and today's McL 6GT concept reinterprets that same heritage for a planned 2028 production model.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of McLaren Automotive Ltd.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The McL 6GT marks McLaren's first manual transmission since the F1 in 1992, focusing on tactile, analogue, mechanical driving connection. McLaren says it lays foundations for a newly positioned, highly exclusive type of supercar beyond its core portfolio, with a production version due in 2028. For potential buyers and enthusiasts, the concept shows the brand's heritage directly shaping a future model.
Terms in This Story
- Monocoque
- A structural shell where the body and chassis are one piece, used to reduce weight and improve rigidity.
- Kammback tail
- A rear design that cuts off abruptly after a sloping roof to reduce aerodynamic drag.
- Can-Am
- A North American sports car racing series known for powerful, open-wheel prototypes.
- Speedy Kiwi
- A kiwi-bird emblem developed from McLaren's original logo, used as a heritage motif.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.