For those who always need to stand out, McLaren’s 650S MSO is a super-rare supercar

By Stephen Edelstein Published June 25, 2014

With only two models currently available, McLaren fans may be left itching for a new supercar, at least until the 986-horsepower P1 GTR shows up.

To keep its customers occupied until then, McLaren will unveil a 650S MSO special edition at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s a production version of the MSO Coupe Concept unveiled in China earlier this year.

MSO stands for McLaren Special Operations, the British carmaker’s bespoke division. In keeping with its mission statement, MSO has given this car a few extra touches that distinguish it from an off-the-rack 650S.

The production 650S MSO gets many of the concept’s carbon-fiber bits, all in a model-specific satin finish. However, it also gets its own 10-spoke alloy wheels, which weigh almost nine pounds less per wheel than stock, and are held in place by titanium bolts.

2015 McLaren MSO 650S Spider — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Buyers will also get to have their cars painted in the concept’s evil-looking Agrigan Black. Papaya Spark (orange) and Sarigan Quartz (silver) will also be available. The latter is an all-new color for McLaren, and features a hint of gold.

The interior is upholstered in carbon-black leather and Alcantara, and features plenty of carbon fiber bits. Each 650S MSO also comes with a weekend bag designed to match the interior design.

There are no apparent mechanical changes, so the MSO will pack the same 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 as the stock 650S, with 641 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque. That should get it from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, and on to a top speed of 207 mph.

The McLaren 650S MSO will debut in convertible Spider form at Goodwood, but will also be available as a coupe. However, there won’t be many: Just 50 units will be built.

Pricing starts at 252,000 pounds (about $428,551 at current exchange rates) for the coupe and 272,500 pounds ($462,496) for the Spider. Deliveries will begin before the end of the year.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV

toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

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Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

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Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers

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Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.