Meet McLaren’s Project Viva, a Supercar Tribute to Las Vegas and the Marque’s F1 Legacy

McLaren certainly seems to be commanding the driver’s seat in 2025. Its 750S Spider model, named Robb Report’s Car of the Year this past February, is evidence of its production-car prowess, while the motorsport side continues to dominate this Formula 1 season. Having already claimed the World Constructors’ Championship, and having its two star racers going head to head for pole position in the World Drivers’ Championship, McLaren looks to widen the gap from the competition even further at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix.

In homage to both Sin City’s centenary and McLaren’s sensational Formula 1 race results thus far, the British marque has just revealed Project Viva. The one-off 750S spotlights the level of artisanship available from the team at the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) division, which specializes in show-stopping customization.

Yet Project Viva does not capture the kaleidoscope of colors defining the Las Vegas Strip, which doubles as the primary straightaway for the temporary 3.8-mile race circuit. Rather, the unique presentation is a monochromatic ode to Vegas and McLaren’s legacy of victory—all presented through MSO’s debut application of its “Sketch in Motion” approach, which uses the car as a canvas for hand-painted creative expression.

In the case of Project Viva, that translates to imagery comprising McLaren milestones along with Las Vegas landmarks and references. As tribute to the number of World Constructors’ Championships, 10 stars on the rear bumper have been hand-placed by none other than McLaren’s Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Each have also left messages and signatures on the interior sills.

Other elements of note include a depiction of large dice that display the years that McLaren and Vegas were established (1963 and 1905, respectively), outlines of each of the 10 championship-winning cars spread throughout the exterior, and more than one reference to famed racer Bruce McLaren. The latter include representations of the helmet he wore in 1970—the year of his tragic passing—his first race number (58), and his trophy from the Muriwai Hill Climb—his first race and win (in class).

Vegas itself is called out with the lettering “Welcome to Fabulous MSO” on the hood, a play on the city’s famous salutatory sign. A fan of playing cards read “750S,” and free-form designs hint at The Strip’s fountains and skyline (at least according to McLaren’s official release describing the car).

For Project Viva, McLaren introduces a new paint selection, fittingly named “Vegas Nights,” just for the one-off vehicle. It is here that the city’s colors—signified by cyan, magenta, and green—are subtly infused as flecks in the black backdrop. There is also the select use of “Muriwai White” in specific instances, which has a bit of blue to it. Yet the overall aesthetic is a black-and-white visual cacophony as arresting as the 750S itself.

As for the flagship production model’s eye-catching specs, those are owed to a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 delivering 740 hp and 590 ft lbs of torque. The 3,062-pound (curb weight) car has a top speed of 206 mph while dispatching zero to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. And carbon-ceramic brakes bring it from 62 mph to zero in 98 feet.

After the 750S was named Robb Report’s 2025 Car of the Year by our judges, we noted: “Robb Report’s automotive editors were also fans, finding the successor to the 720S only improves on what they considered McLaren’s magnum opus until now, opining that the added brushstrokes make it even more brilliant.” Project Viva, which will be exhibited at the Wynn Las Vegas through November 20, has just added an exclamation point to that sentiment.

Click here for more images of McLaren’s Project Viva.

Authors

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  Viju Mathew

  Shifting gears from his degree in physical geography, Viju Mathew has spent the last decade covering most categories of the luxury market prior to becoming Robb Report’s automotive editor. Along with…

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