The return of the manual gearbox to the world’s most exclusive supercars could soon gather pace, with McLaren reportedly preparing to unveil its first three-pedal production model in almost three decades.

According to a report by Motor1, the British marque is rumoured to be developing a limited-production flagship, internally codenamed “P50”, that could make its public debut during Monterey Car Week in California next month.

While McLaren has made no official announcement, reports suggest fewer than 100 examples will be built, with pricing expected to exceed that of the company’s current W1 hypercar, which starts above US$1.35 million (about A$2.1 million).

1

If confirmed, it would mark the first manual-equipped McLaren road car since the iconic F1 (below), which was produced between 1992 and 1998 and remains one of the most sought-after supercars ever built. Although McLaren has offered paddle-shift transmissions exclusively in the years since, growing demand for analogue driving experiences appears to be prompting several manufacturers to revisit the traditional manual gearbox.

It’s unclear whether the P50 would employ a conventional manual transmission or follow Ferrari’s lead with the recently revealed 12Cilindri Manuale, which recreates the feel of a manual using an electronically controlled gearbox, gated shifter and clutch pedal rather than a direct mechanical linkage.

Rumours of a manual McLaren have circulated for months on enthusiast forums, with some speculation suggesting the P50 could feature a naturally aspirated engine. However, a twin-turbocharged powertrain appears more likely given increasingly stringent global emissions regulations, although McLaren has demonstrated its willingness to think differently with the naturally aspirated V10-powered Solus GT track car.

1

The rumours also follow McLaren’s celebration of its road-car heritage at this month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where McLaren Special Operations unveiled a painstaking recreation of the M6GT (above) – the road-going sports car envisioned by founder Bruce McLaren in the late 1960s but never put into production. Built using an original M6A chassis, period-correct components and bodywork created from the original moulds, the one-off coupe is powered by a Chevrolet V8 paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, underscoring the marque’s long-standing association with analogue performance cars.

The apparent resurgence of manual transmissions among ultra-exclusive performance cars reflects growing demand from wealthy collectors seeking a more engaging driving experience. Ferrari has revived the manual theme with the 12Cilindri Manuale, Porsche continues to offer manual versions of the 911 GT3, and Hennessey is developing a manual-equipped Venom F5-M.

1

For now, however, the existence of the McLaren P50 remains unconfirmed, with enthusiasts likely to be watching next month’s Monterey Car Week closely for any official announcement from Woking.