McLaren 600LT Spider Segestria Borealis goes arachnid with MSO

The final 12 versions of the open-top 600LT take inspiration from a venomous spider.

21 May 2020 at 12:40

By: Brett Evans

Retirement is almost always cause for celebration and commemoration. To wit: the McLaren 600LT Spider Segestria Borealis, an extremely rare creation by McLaren Special Operations that takes its inspiration from the sinister segestria florentina arachnid.

Nicknamed the “spider spider” by MSO, the design firm will apply the Segestria Borealis treatment to all 12 final examples of the open-top 600LT exclusively for the North American market. On sale now, the final-edition 600LT Spider carries a price of $275,500 (approx. £225,800 at the current exchange rate).

MSO starts with shimmering Borealis Black exterior paint, which pops in the light with green, purple, and dark red undertones, just like the iridescent black colouring of the venomous spider. Over that paint goes a pair of Napier Green stripes running from nose to tail over the top of the car, recalling the spider’s chelicera “fangs.” Napier Green finds its way onto the supercar's brake calipers and pinstripes on the rear diffuser, front wings/fenders, and side skirts. A motif that matches the segestria florentina’s chaotic, tube-shaped web appears on the spoiler and side mirrors.

The McLaren Segestria Borealis also includes the MSO Clubsport pack, adding lightweight titanium wheel bolts, gloss-finished carbon fibre front wing/fender louvres, lightweight carbon fibre racing seats, and carbon fibre interior accents to the mix.

Speaking of the interior, MSO gave it many of the exterior’s design themes. The black, Alcantara-trimmed bucket seats get bright green stitching and embroidered accents that match the irregular web pattern on the exterior. The Alcantara wheel’s 12-o’clock stripe is the same electrifying colour, as are the carpet bindings.

In addition to the Clubsport package, the 600LT Segestria Borealis includes an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker audio system, rear parking sensors, a front axle lift system, and a McLaren Track Telemetry data recorder. Otherwise, it’s standard 600LT Spider fare: a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 boasting 592 bhp (441 kilowatts) and 457 pound-feet (620 newton-metres), running power to the ground through a seven-speed gearbox. Acceleration to 62 mph (100 km/h) happens in 2.8 seconds, and downforce-generating bodywork helps keep the 600LT Spider glued to the road, even at speed.