(April 3, 2025) Last month, we reported on Bowers & Wilkins extending its long-standing partnership with McLaren, becoming the Official Audio Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team. While this move marked a shift from their prior automotive-only collaboration into the high-stakes world of racing, it also hinted that new co-branded product releases were likely on the horizon.
This week, one of those products arrives: the Pi8 McLaren Edition, a reimagining of Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship wireless earbuds, now infused with McLaren’s distinctive aesthetic. The new edition combines the Galvanic Gray finish of the standard Pi8 with bold accents of McLaren’s iconic Papaya Orange, giving the earbuds an unmistakable motorsport-inspired visual identity.
The original Pi8, which launched last year, positioned itself as a premium in-ear offering with reference-level hi-res audio, active noise cancellation, a custom-designed acoustic platform, and wireless audio retransmission capabilities. The McLaren Edition doesn’t add new features under the hood but aims to provide an elevated visual experience that aligns with McLaren’s performance-driven design ethos.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the McLaren team once again,” said Giles Pocock, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Bowers & Wilkins. “This reimagining of our award-winning earbuds elevates our long-term partnership even further by combining the unmistakable design DNA of McLaren with our industry-leading audio products to create an attention-grabbing version of our Pi8.”
The Pi8 McLaren Edition now joins the Px8 McLaren Edition headphones and Zeppelin McLaren Edition speaker as part of the growing Bowers & Wilkins x McLaren lineup. While it’s a clear nod to F1 fans and design-minded audio enthusiasts, it’s also part of a broader story—one that traces its roots back to 2015, when the brands first partnered on sound systems for McLaren’s road cars. With this latest release, Bowers & Wilkins products will now be a fixture in the McLaren F1 team’s pre-race prep, travel, and downtime routines throughout the season.
For those interested in adding the Papaya-tinged earbuds to their everyday carry, the Pi8 McLaren Edition is available now for $499 at www.bowerswilkins.com.
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