In the glittering shadow of the Las Vegas skyline, McLaren’s bespoke division McLaren Special Operations (MSO) unveiled something truly singular: Project Viva, a one-of-one 750S Spider that brings the spirit of the city of lights into the world of high performance. Unveiled at the McLaren Experience Centre in The Wynn hotel just ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, it is far more than a standard supercar — it’s a story told through paint, details and heritage.
Rather than mimic the kaleidoscope of neon colours Las Vegas is known for, MSO chose a bolder route: a monochrome, hand-painted exterior that captures the city’s rhythm, movement and architecture through line, shape and subtle hue. Called “Sketch in Motion,” the design uses a new MSO-exclusive paint named Vegas Nights — a deep black infused with flecks of cyan, magenta and green — set against touches of Muriwai White, a nod to McLaren’s New Zealand roots.
Hidden inside the graphic work you find the stories: the “Welcome to Fabulous MSO” sign on the bonnet replacing the familiar Las Vegas welcome sign, a deck of playing cards on the rear arch showing 750S logos, silhouettes of McLaren’s championship-winning cars mapped onto racetracks, verses to the city’s landmarks such as Hoover Dam or the sandstone formation of Valley of Fire. Even McLaren’s F1 drivers took part: hand-applying ten stars on the rear bumper — nine in white, and the tenth in silver leaf — commemorating McLaren’s ten Constructors’ World Championships.
While the artistry of Project Viva is striking, underneath it remains a McLaren 750S Spider — meaning it shares the core performance credentials of that model. The heart of the car is McLaren’s twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering the high performance you’d expect. The point here is that MSO has taken the performance base and wrapped it in one-off character, not diluted it. Though MSO’s focus was on the aesthetic and bespoke touches, the performance remains world-class and ready to deliver.
What makes this car special is how the design and detailing amplify that performance base. On a car built for real driving, not just show, the fact that the performance comes first gives the customisation extra meaning.
Project Viva is a statement of craft. Every line, every motif is hand-painted. Every reference in the design ties back to either McLaren, to Las Vegas, or both. It is a one-off commission — not one unit replicated many times. MSO describes its mission here as “turning inspiration into automotive art”.
The interior and materials match the exterior’s ambition. Bespoke detailing, personalised finishes, and narrative touches — rather than off-the-shelf solutions — ensure the car becomes a unique piece.
