McLaren is entering 2025 with unmistakable momentum. With its production cars earning widespread praise and its Formula 1 program enjoying a dominant season, the British marque is marking the moment with a one-of-a-kind creation: Project Viva, a bespoke McLaren 750S built to celebrate both Las Vegas’s 100th anniversary and McLaren’s multiple World Constructors’ Championships.
Designed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), Project Viva demonstrates the full extent of the team’s artistic and engineering capabilities. Rather than channeling the neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip—which doubles as a long straightaway in the 3.8-mile Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit—the car uses a striking monochromatic design. This black-and-white aesthetic serves as the canvas for MSO’s debut of its Sketch in Motion technique, a hand-painted approach that transforms the car into a rolling illustration of McLaren’s racing heritage and Vegas history.
Across the exterior, Project Viva features intricate artwork connecting McLaren’s motorsport milestones with iconic Las Vegas imagery. McLaren’s 10 World Constructors’ Championships are represented by 10 stars placed on the rear bumper by F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who also added personal notes inside the cabin. Large painted dice show the founding years of McLaren and Las Vegas—1963 and 1905—while outlines of all 10 championship-winning race cars appear across the bodywork.
The design also pays tribute to Bruce McLaren through several thoughtful details. His first race number, 58, is incorporated into the artwork alongside a depiction of the helmet he wore in 1970. Another illustration shows the trophy from the Muriwai Hill Climb, his first race and first class win, grounding the car in the origins of the company’s legacy.
Las Vegas is referenced through playful reinterpretations of familiar visuals. The hood features the phrase “Welcome to Fabulous MSO,” inspired by the city’s iconic welcome sign, and sweeping free-form graphics hint at the fountains, skyline, and movement of the Strip itself. To complete the theme, McLaren created a unique color specifically for this build called Vegas Nights. The black finish includes subtle flecks of cyan, magenta, and green, echoing the city’s lights without overpowering the monochrome design. Select accents in Muriwai White add depth and contrast.
Beneath the artwork, Project Viva remains every bit a 750S. Its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 produces 740 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, sending the car from zero to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds and on to a 206-mph top speed. Carbon-ceramic brakes bring it back to a stop from 62 mph in only 98 feet.
Project Viva stands as a fusion of motorsport heritage, craftsmanship, and the energy of Las Vegas—a distinctive tribute to a landmark year for McLaren.
