McLaren's V8 RootsMcLaren's first-ever road car was the M6GT, and its formula looks very familiar. It had a bespoke chassis with a mid-mounted V8 engine, although it was a Bartz-tuned Chevrolet Small-Block engine under its clamshell, and not a home-grown powertrain. Only three were ever built, but it was the start of something truly special.It would take decades for the McLaren badge to appear on far more road cars. The McLaren F1 was a true record-shattering car, and its top-speed record for naturally-aspirated engines will likely never be beaten. Several years after the F1, McLaren rolled out the MP4-12C in 2011, and like the M6 GT, it was on a bespoke chassis with a mid-mounted V8 engine. This time, McLaren's own mill powered the car.The car would later be called the 12C and was succeeded by the 650S in 2014. The 720S eventually followed, then by the current 750S. Again, all are mid-engined V8s, true to the roots of founder Bruce McLaren's vision.McLarenEnd of an EraAfter years of evolving its higher-tier supercar, McLaren is ready to close the chapter started by the 12C. The British automaker has announced that it is now taking final orders for the 750S, and production will be winding down. Production will wrap up by 2027, although an exact month hasn't been specified yet.Either way, it'll be the end of an era for McLaren, as the 750S' successor is touted to get some form of hybrid assistance. We're certain that it'll be faster, but there's just something a little more special about a pure combustion supercar. Call it rose-tinted glasses, but the number of non-hybrid performance cars gets a little smaller every year.McLarenThe Next ChapterAs McLaren enters a new era, it's also changed its logo. Say what you want about it, it's actually a nod to the logo the McLaren family used for its fuel station back in the day. Just as fittingly, it applied to the limited-run MCL 6GT throwback special. We might also see some new names down the line, too, as suggested by trademark applications.The 750S isn't the only McLaren model that's headed for retirement. Prior to that, it was reported that the entry-level Artura will also be dropped from the lineup. It's one of the younger models in the lineup, being the brand's first plug-in hybrid supercar, but we expect a successor to be electrified as well.More recently, the company revealed its roadmap, and it includes some interesting notes. It will include an 810 hp supercar, likely the successor to the 750S. That's not really a huge surprise given that the company primarily builds supercars. What's shocking is the fact that it's eyeing a 2+2 grand tourer that's up against something like a Continental GT or even a 12Cilindri. But the biggest bombshell is the announcement of a new SUV, and it's investing a lot of money to make it happen.McLaren
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