Tiger Spirit: McLaren 750S JC96 Debuts as Japan-Only Special

For decades, McLaren’s connection to Japan has been a story of motorsport triumphs and passionate clientele. Now, that bond has been distilled into something truly rare: the McLaren 750S JC96. Limited to just 61 units, this Japan-exclusive edition celebrates the McLaren F1 GTR that stormed the 1996 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), clinching the driver’s title for John Neilsen and David Brabham.

This marks the first time McLaren has crafted a limited-edition car exclusively for Japan. Every JC96 is offered as a coupé or Spider, and it debuts one of the most track-inspired options yet—the MSO High Downforce Kit (HDK)—fitted for the first time to an open-top 750S. Alongside this, McLaren introduces a new 15-spoke forged alloy wheel inspired by the legendary F1 GTR “Longtail” racers.

Motorsport Inspiration in Every Detail

The JC96 takes visual cues from the famed Team Goh “Tiger Stripe” liveries, blending bold colors with race-bred detail work. Each example features JC96-specific painted accents on the splitter, wing endplates, and mirror caps, available in Memphis Red, Titanium Silver, Ice White, or Graphite Grey. Customers can also commission a one-off MSO Bespoke paint for maximum individuality.

Four clients will go further still, receiving hand-painted JC96 Tribute Livery cars that fully replicate the original “Tiger Stripe” look. This hand-finished treatment transforms the 750S into rolling motorsport art, each brushstroke a nod to McLaren’s racing dominance.

Inside, Alcantara-wrapped cabins are punctuated by gold-finished switchgear and pedals inspired by the F1 GTR cockpit. JC96 embroidery on the headrests and armrests, along with a gold-plated dedication plaque, ensures no one mistakes this for a standard 750S. The result is a tactile, motorsport-infused environment that’s unmistakably bespoke.

Performance with Purpose

Underpinning the visuals is true performance pedigree. The MSO High Downforce Kit channels knowledge from the F1 LM and 1996-spec GTR, delivering up to 10% more downforce through revised splitters, a raised active rear spoiler, and louvered underbody panels. The new forged alloy wheels shave unsprung weight, and customers can opt for track-ready Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires.

At its core, the JC96 remains a 750S—powered by the 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 delivering 750PS. Combined with a carbon-fiber monocage and Proactive Chassis Control III, it remains one of the lightest, sharpest, and most engaging supercars on the market.

Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, McLaren’s Chief Commercial Officer, summed it up: “The 750S JC96 is our love letter to McLaren in Japan. Our Japanese clients demand track-inspired performance but without compromising on tailor-made personalization and detail. The JC96 blends these demands perfectly.”

For enthusiasts, the 750S JC96 is more than a limited run; it is a tribute to motorsport history, Japanese culture, and McLaren’s ability to craft cars that fuse heritage with performance. With just 61 examples, each a canvas for individual expression, it promises to become one of McLaren’s most collectible special editions in years.