McLaren Automotive, proud of its UK roots, presented a special paint to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign. The “Platinum Jubilee” shade was developed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and will be available to customers for years to come. The new silver paint was exhibited on a McLaren Artura, featuring a one-off color-matching “Elizabeth II” platinum badge replacing McLaren’s own emblem on the front bonnet. The badge, created by MSO using a bespoke tool and press, is not for sale, thus it will only exist in this one-off version of the plug-in hybrid supercar.
McLaren worked together with its partner
company AkzoNobel which specializes in coating to create the most suitable
metallic pigment combination for the new paint. They analyzed different
lighting conditions, and came up with the final platinum composition formula
following eight days of durability and application testing by MSO’s own paint
developers.
Ansar Ali, Managing Director of McLaren
Special Operations, said: “It has been an honor for MSO to create a new
platinum paint in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee this year. This
special paint, which will be available for customers to select for years to
come, will be a fitting tribute to mark this historic milestone.” McLaren chose
this day to honor Her Majesty, as on May 12, 2004, she opened McLaren
Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, signing the first page of the guestbook.
Mind you, last year McLaren sold its iconic Woking headquarters for £ 170 million,
but it remains on the premises as part of a 20-year lease.
Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s
longest-reigning monarch, having the crown for seven decades. During those
years she has been seen driving or being chauffeured in plenty of UK-build
vehicles donated to her by Range Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler, and
Jaguar. Her Majesty hasn’t gotten a McLaren yet, but in the event
she decides to order one in the future, we know which will be her color of
choice.
