The Pebble Beach Concours d'Élégance started out in the early 1950s as a showplace for some of the finest contemporary automobiles on the planet. Since then it has morphed into one of the world’s most prestigious vintage car shows, but it still hosts some significant new product reveals as well.

Image McLaren P1 GTR. Credit... McLaren

The McLaren P1 GTR was one of this year’s most interesting Pebble Beach introductions. It was shown in concept form on the front lawn of the Lodge at Pebble Beach. A track-focused car that in production form will be available only to existing McLaren clients, the P1 GTR will come complete with a slate of driving events, training and factory support.

In an interview last week at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel Valley, Calif. — part of a full week of events that has grown around the Pebble Beach concours — Frank Stephenson, McLaren’s design chief, discussed some of his touchstones in conceiving both the P1 and a broader brand identity for McLaren.