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Case Studies

Meridian for McLaren

Extending Our Engineering Model into High-Performance Automotive

For decades, we have worked through collaboration, designing and engineering sound experiences that are delivered through trusted partners. Our work with McLaren Automotive was a natural extension of this approach into the world of high-performance vehicles.

Project timeline: 2011 - 2015

Beginning with the MP4-12C, we developed and delivered bespoke in-car audio systems for McLaren production vehicles, taking responsibility for the sound experience from system design through to final validation.

This model, Meridian engineering, specified and validated, delivered through a partner, continues to underpin how we work today.

Vehicle Programmes

We developed Meridian-engineered audio systems for several key models within McLaren’s early production portfolio, including:

P1

MP4-12C Coupe and Spider

650S Coupe and Spider

675LT (Longtail)

Each programme applied the same core engineering principles, carefully adapted to the character and intent of each vehicle.

 

The Challenge

High-performance sports cars impose uncompromising constraints. Cabin volumes are compact, materials are optimised for weight, and ambient noise levels change rapidly with speed and surface.

Our role was never to add sound as a feature. We set out to engineer a listening experience that felt intrinsic to the vehicle, delivering clarity, control and immersion without intruding on the driving experience.

Designing within these constraints is where our licensing-led engineering model comes into its own.

The Approach

We developed a tiered audio offering for McLaren vehicles:

Meridian Pure

Meridian Expanded

Meridian Extreme

Across all tiers, we defined the system architecture, loudspeaker behaviour and digital signal processing required to deliver consistent performance in real-world driving conditions.

Rather than tuning for a single listening scenario, each system was engineered to adapt, preserving musical integrity as conditions changed.

This system-level approach to sound design, refined through partnership, is central to our ability to deliver premium audio across multiple platforms.

 

Integration

We worked closely with McLaren’s engineering teams to integrate each system seamlessly within the vehicle architecture. Speaker placement, hardware packaging and system tuning were optimised to support both interior design and performance priorities.

Control was delivered through the vehicle’s infotainment system, ensuring the experience felt native, intuitive and coherent within the cabin.

Legacy

Our collaboration with McLaren reinforced a way of working we continue to use today: applying deep engineering expertise through trusted partners, without compromise to performance or brand integrity.

The principles established during these programmes, system-level thinking, engineering under constraint and sound designed as an integrated experience, continue to inform our Future of Sound strategy.

McLaren was not an exception.
It was an early expression of how we work.

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