McLaren unveils one-off Project Viva 750S Spider with hand-painted Las Vegas design

Project Reveal: McLaren Automotive has revealed Project Viva, a one-of-one 750S Spider created by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). The car was unveiled ahead of the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix and displayed at the McLaren Experience Centre inside the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel from 13–20 November. The commission shows how MSO turns client ideas into hand-painted designs linked to McLaren and the city.

Design Approach: Project Viva reinterprets Las Vegas through monochrome hand-painted line-work instead of using bright colours. MSO created the “Sketch in Motion” design to express the city’s movement, rhythm, architecture and signage through shapes and patterns. The livery also includes elements tied to McLaren’s racing identity, forming a narrative that connects Las Vegas culture with the brand’s motorsport history.

Custom Paints: Two MSO paint colours appear on the car: Vegas Nights and Muriwai White. Vegas Nights is a new colour developed specifically for this commission. It uses a deep black base with flecks of cyan, magenta and green to reflect the city’s night-time glow. Muriwai White is used within the Muriwai Trophy motif. The colours support MSO’s aim of telling a story through paint and line-work.

Driver Contributions: McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri added their own details to the car. They hand-applied the tenth Constructors’ World Championship star to the rear bumper to mark McLaren Racing’s latest title. They also added signature lines, sketches and messages on the bodywork and interior sills, linking the project to the current McLaren F1 team.

Hidden References: The car includes several hidden touches. Dice on the lower left side and rear deck reference the founding years of Las Vegas (1905) and McLaren (1963). Ten silhouettes of McLaren’s championship-winning cars appear mapped onto racetracks. These details recognise both the city’s long history and McLaren’s major achievements in racing.

Founder Motifs: Elements tied to Bruce McLaren appear throughout the design. The Muriwai Trophy, with his number 58, sits on the front right arch. A heart symbol referencing his 1970 helmet appears on the front right bumper, and the Speedy Kiwi logo sits on the left side. These features highlight the founder’s influence on the commission.

City Landmarks: Las Vegas landmarks and regional features are integrated across the exterior. Flowing lines on the rear right side represent Nevada’s terrain. A small outline of the state is hidden within the right-side cityscape. Angular patterns mirror local architecture. Water-like graphics near the front bumper reference the fountains on the Strip. Stars inspired by the American flag and a cartoon cactus add further local detail.

Cultural Motifs: More cultural symbols appear across the car. Music notes reference the city’s entertainment scene. A chapel outline inside a spade motif recognises Las Vegas wedding chapels. Commemorative tokens mark 120 years of Las Vegas from 1905 to 2025. Neon arrows honour historic signage, while playing-card imagery forms the 750S lettering on the rear panel.

Craft Process: MSO describes Project Viva as an example of creating meaning through hand-applied craft. Every sketch and texture is created manually. Although the cost was not disclosed, the car was commissioned by a North American client and will be driven. Under the artwork, it remains a 750S Spider powered by the model’s standard twin-turbo V8 engine.

Grand Prix Display: McLaren says Project Viva reflects shared values of innovation, ambition and performance between the brand and Las Vegas. The commission demonstrates MSO’s full capability to personalise a vehicle around a specific theme. Displayed at the Wynn Las Vegas ahead of the Grand Prix, Project Viva served as both a design showcase and a narrative expressed through paint and handcrafted detail.