McLaren Automotive has unveiled the McL 6GT Concept at the 2026 Monterey Car Week, offering a glimpse into a new kind of McLaren supercar while paying tribute to the company’s founder, Bruce McLaren. Inspired by the original M6GT, Bruce McLaren’s ambitious but ultimately unfulfilled road-car project, the concept combines classic McLaren design cues with modern engineering and a distinctly analogue approach to driving. A production version of the McL 6GT is planned for 2028.
The concept is intended to demonstrate how McLaren’s heritage can influence its future without simply recreating the past. It features lightweight carbon-fibre construction, a V8 internal-combustion engine and, most notably, a manual transmission driving the rear wheels. This marks the first McLaren since the legendary McLaren F1 to feature an authentic manual gearbox, reinforcing the company’s focus on creating a deeply engaging driving experience.
The McL 6GT has been designed around what McLaren describes as tactility. Hydraulic steering, physical switchgear and exposed mechanical details are intended to make every interaction with the car feel deliberate.
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The machined aluminium controls feature knurled surfaces, while the gear lever has been carefully engineered for a satisfying shift action. A three-dimensional Speedy Kiwi sits within the gearstick, providing a subtle link to McLaren’s early identity.
Visually, the McL 6GT takes inspiration from the racing prototypes of the 1960s and the original M6GT. The car sits exceptionally low and wide, with a low nose and flowing bodywork that culminates in a distinctive Kammback rear. Its cabin appears embedded into the body rather than placed on top, creating a single, continuous form.
Several design details directly reference Bruce McLaren’s original car. The distinctive Racing Loop motif, inspired by the M6GT’s taillights, has been integrated into the exterior design, while the original M6GT number plate has been reimagined as a subtle graphic. Bruce McLaren’s signature appears in the engine bay, while the Speedy Kiwi is also incorporated into smaller details such as the fuel filler cap.
The interior continues the blend of heritage and modernity, combining contemporary digital instrumentation with reinterpreted quilting and exposed carbon fibre. The lightweight construction remains central to the concept, with a carbon-fibre monocoque and carbon-fibre bodywork helping deliver the performance benefits of a high power-to-weight ratio.
With the McL 6GT, McLaren is looking beyond its conventional supercar portfolio. If the production model arrives as promised in 2028, it could become one of the brand’s most distinctive and driver-focused cars yet, bringing Bruce McLaren’s road-car vision into the modern era.
