McLaren reveals unique X-1 concept at The Quail

McLaren introduced a one-off supercar at The Quail on Aug. 17. It's named the X-1 and was built for an anonymous car enthusiast. It has a unique body that the client says reflects his personality.

The client wanted a competition between external designers from in and outside the automotive world. The final design was penned by Korean-born McLaren employee Hong Yeo.

As stylized as the car looks, it was not just a fanciful design study. Every part has its job.

“X-1 embodies the McLaren value that every part has to have a purpose. No details are simply visual cues,” Yeo said. “Although, I like to think the wide body combined with pontoon-style rear fenders will ensure the car glides when it's moving just like a superhero's cape.”

One of the biggest challenges was creating an elegant body that sits over a mid-engine chassis. McLaren says a new visual language had to be found, which led to months of sketching. First they built a 30 percent-scale model and then a full-sized version, as the customer wanted to see the car as it would look.

The X-1 is based on the McLaren MP4-12C, which means it uses the sports car's twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 with the same 592-hp output. More specs haven't been revealed, but we're pretty sure it won't clip off a 3.3-second 0-to-60-mph sprint.

McLaren Special Operations program director Paul Mackenzie thinks the car is a testament to the company's dedication.

“The X-1 showcases the skills of McLaren Special Operations,” Mackenzie said. “More and more luxury customers want bespoke or individual features. The X-1 demonstrates that we can provide the ultimate personalization service.”

Monterey car week is packed with car shows, vintage racing and car auctions. Autoweek will be there providing streaming photo galleries and live coverage of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, historic racing at Laguna Seca, the Monterey car auctions and plenty more. Go to Autoweek's Pebble Beach home page for complete coverage and live updates.

By Jake Lingeman