McLaren X-1 custom supercar makes its first, and only, public appearance

The car you see above is the McLaren X-1, a surprise revealed at The Quail classic car show in California today. It's the first time the X-1, a vehicle custom-built by McLaren over two and a half years for a wealthy customer's specifications, has ever been seen in public -- and could be the last time this multimillion-dollar, 230-mph vehicle will be seen for some time.

According to McLaren, the company was approached by one of its customers before the launch of the MP4-12C asking if it would create a bespoke car with a "timeless elegance," one that drew more from vehicles of the '50s and '60s than modern supercars. Over 18 months, McLaren designer Frank Stephenson oversaw dozens of sketches, a full-size foam model, contests among designers and even a "mood book" -- a collection of inspirational images ranging from the Guggenheim Bilbao museum to a black-and-white picture of Audrey Hepburn. Also in the mood book: an eggplant, picked because Mr. or Mrs. X-1 liked the shiny finish.