Car manufacturers have come up with some unusual ways to reveal new models over the years, but McLaren has just taken things to another level by using a giant kiwi statue to announce the name of its next supercar. The British supercar manufacturer has revealed that its upcoming replacement for the 750S will be called the McL 820, with the name appearing on a sculpture of a kiwi bird displayed in London’s Covent Garden.

The kiwi is a tribute to the company’s New Zealand-born founder, Bruce McLaren, and the brand’s motorsport heritage, while the unusual announcement provides our first official indication of what to expect from the new model.

As with previous McLaren supercars, the number in the McL 820’s name refers to its power output, with 820 metric horsepower translating to approximately 603kW. That’s a considerable increase over the outgoing 750S, which produces 552kW/800Nm from its 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

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McLaren has yet to confirm anything else about the new supercar, although it is expected to feature a hybrid V8 powertrain, potentially incorporating technology from the flagship W1 hypercar. The W1 combines a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with an electric motor to produce 938kW, making it the most powerful road-going McLaren ever produced.

The McL 820 will replace the 750S, which arrived in 2023 as an extensive facelift of the 720S introduced in 2017. Production of the 750S is expected to conclude in 2027, paving the way for its successor.

The new model will also introduce a revised naming convention for McLaren, which has traditionally used three-digit numbers followed by letters such as S, LT and GT to identify its road cars. Beyond its increased power output, the McL 820 is expected to bring significant improvements to performance, aerodynamics and technology as McLaren prepares for its next generation of supercars.

Further details, including the McL 820’s design, performance figures and pricing, are expected to emerge ahead of its anticipated 2027 debut. Australian availability remains unconfirmed.