A Celebration of Can-Am Racing

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Can-Am racing, McLaren Special Operations created the 2016 McLaren 650S Can-Am Spider, a highly exclusive limited edition with production restricted to just 50 cars worldwide.

Inspired by McLaren's dominant Can-Am racing cars of the 1960s, the 650S Can-Am Spider combines modern supercar performance with styling details that pay tribute to one of the most important periods in McLaren's motorsport history.

The Can-Am series played a major role in establishing McLaren as a major force in international motorsport. The distinctive racing cars, many of them finished in McLaren's famous papaya orange, became closely associated with the team's success throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Inspired by the Can-Am Racers

The connection to McLaren's racing heritage is visible throughout the 650S Can-Am Spider. McLaren Special Operations introduced a range of unique exterior features to distinguish the car from the standard 650S Spider.

Lightweight carbon fibre was used extensively throughout the bodywork, while specially designed forged alloy wheels added to the car's aggressive appearance. The Spider was also equipped with a retractable carbon-fibre hard top, combining the open-air experience of a convertible with the performance and refinement expected from a McLaren.

A Powerful Twin-Turbocharged V8

At the heart of the 650S Can-Am Spider is a compact and lightweight 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 641 bhp, or 650 PS, and 678 Nm of torque.

Power is delivered through a 7-speed transmission with paddle shifting, allowing rapid gear changes and keeping the engine within its strongest power range.

The performance is exceptional, with 0 to 100 km/h taking just 3.0 seconds. The car reaches 200 km/h in only 8.6 seconds and has a top speed of 329 km/h.

Performance and Aerodynamics

The 650S Can-Am Spider was engineered to deliver more than straight-line speed. Carbon-ceramic brakes provide powerful stopping performance, while McLaren's active carbon-fibre Airbrake helps increase stability and aerodynamic performance at high speeds.

The extensive use of carbon fibre also helps reduce weight while providing the strength required for a high-performance supercar. These features allow the 650S Can-Am Spider to combine exceptional acceleration with sharp handling and powerful braking.

Three Exclusive Finishes

The Can-Am Spider was offered in three exclusive exterior finishes: Mars Red, Papaya Spark and Onyx Black.

Each colour was chosen to reflect McLaren's racing heritage. Papaya Spark provides a modern interpretation of the famous orange associated with McLaren's competition cars, while Mars Red and Onyx Black offer alternative finishes with their own connections to the company's historic racing liveries.

Combined with the carbon-fibre components and Can-Am-inspired details, the colours give each car a distinctive appearance.

A Motorsport-Inspired Interior

The Can-Am theme continues inside the cabin, where Nappa leather and Alcantara are combined with carbon-fibre detailing and Can-Am badging.

Despite its strong motorsport influence, the 650S Can-Am Spider remains a sophisticated road car. Modern equipment, including a Meridian audio system, provides comfort and convenience alongside the car's performance-focused character.

Just 50 Examples

Production was limited to only 50 examples worldwide, making the 650S Can-Am Spider one of the rarest versions of the 650S.

The limited production was an important part of the car's appeal. Each example combined the engineering of the 650S Spider with bespoke styling and details created specifically to celebrate the history of Can-Am racing.

A Modern Tribute to McLaren's Racing Heritage

The McLaren 650S Can-Am Spider brings together two generations of McLaren engineering. Its twin-turbocharged V8, carbon-fibre construction, advanced aerodynamics and exceptional performance represent the modern era, while its colours and styling connect it with the racing cars that established McLaren's reputation in Can-Am.

With only 50 examples produced, the 650S Can-Am Spider is both a rare collector's car and a genuine driver's machine. It stands as a modern tribute to McLaren's successful racing heritage and the remarkable cars that made the company famous on the world's racing circuits.