At this week's Pebble Beach festitvus of automotive glories, McLaren will unveil this little exercise, a track-ready version of the MP4-12C that it's dubbed the 12C Can-Am Edition. It's titled in tribute to company namesake Bruce McLaren's glory years in the Can-Am race series of the late '60s and early '70s -- something McLaren and other automakers could do well to resurrect.
Starting with an MP4-12C finished in the same shade of orange that Bruce McLaren rode to 56 victories in Can-Am, McLaren lightened the 12C to 2,645 lbs. while boosting the engine to 630 hp. Combined with race-ready brakes, tires and interior, the 12C Can-Am edition looks ready to hit a track. Yet McLaren says for now, it's just a one-off to show during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this weekend.
While McLaren remains a force in Formula 1, the MP4-12C hasn't drawn nearly as much attention in its racing efforts, where it's lumped with the Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Audi R8 in European endurance events. What made the original Can-Am series so exciting was its openness, a kitchen-sink approach to racing that doesn't exist any more. Manufacturers are loathe to jump into a race series that could turn into an all-out arms race, but if any company would be willing to step to such a challenge, it should be McLaren.