McLaren Unveils Manual Gearbox McL 6GT Concept Car

McLaren has unveiled the McL 6GT, a concept car previewing its first production vehicle with a manual gearbox since the legendary F1 model from 1992. The reveal took place during Monterey Car Week in California, with the company confirming a production version is scheduled to launch in 2028.

The new model is presented as a spiritual successor to the M6GT, the only road car built by company founder Bruce McLaren. It will form the first of a new line of limited-run models separate from McLaren's core lineup and its high-performance Ultimate Series. The company described the car as an unmistakable signal of how the maverick spirit within McLaren can inform a future-facing approach.

At its core, the McL 6GT is a lightweight, carbon-bodied supercar powered by a V8 internal-combustion engine driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. This marks a significant departure for the modern supercar brand, which has increasingly emphasized automated driving systems. McLaren stated the vehicle is meant to emphasize the oftforgotten art of mechanical driving, featuring hydraulic steering and physical controls alongside the manual transmission.