With a price tag of £168,500 in the UK, €200,000 in the Eurozone and $229,000 in the US, there was only ever going to be one car that the McLaren MP4-12C would be compared against: the incredibly talented, £173,132 Ferrari 458 Italia.
So, what’s the verdict? Judging by the reviews in Autocar, Evo and Car, McLaren has succeeded in eclipsing the Ferrari, thanks to an innovative chassis and usable performance from its 3.8 litre twin-turbo engine. The MP4-12C’s looks might have received some criticism for not being dramatic enough, but it’s still a very attractive design.
On paper the McLaren also has the upper hand, boasting more power, lighter weight, faster acceleration, a higher top speed and lower emissions:
McLaren MP4-12C versus Ferrari 458 Italia
Parameter
MP4-12C
458 Italia
Engine
Capacity (litres)
3.8
4.5
Cylinders
V8
V8
Power (bhp / kW / PS)
592 / 441 / 600 @ 7,000 rpm
570 / 425 / 577 @ 9,000 rpm
Torque (Nm / lb/ft)
600 / 443 @ 3,000 - 7,000 rpm
540 / 398 @ 6,000 rpm
Transmission
Gearbox
7-speed dual clutch
7-speed dual clutch
Performance
Acceleration (0-62 mph (100 km/h) seconds)
3.3 (3.1 with Corsa tyre option)
3.4
Top speed (mph / km/h)
205 / 330
202 / 325
Efficiency
Combined cycle (mpg (UK) / l/100km)
24.2 / 11.7
21.2 / 13.3
CO2 emissions (g/km)
279
307
Dry weight (kg / lbs)
1,336 / 2,945
1,380 / 3,042
McLaren Automotive has released videos of its MP4-12C undergoing virtual testing at the McLaren Technology Centre, as well as it being driven during the recent media test drive event at the Autodrómo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal. The journos were also treated some properly quick laps with Jenson Button behind the wheel, something that not all of them seemed to enjoy as much…
McLaren has announced plans to take its MP4-12C racing.
The MP4-12C GT3, which will compete against cars such as the BMW Z4 GT3, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and the ubiquitous Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S, is being built primarily for privateer entrants in Europe.
McLaren has been working in collaboration with Leicestershire-based CRS Racing who will build, sell and provide support to owners. The plan is for a small production run of cars for the 2012 European FIA GT3 Series, although before that there will be a limited race programme during 2011 as part of the development process.
Although for many ownership of an MP4-12C will remain only a fantasy, McLaren has launched a configuration tool to help the dream come true… virtually, at least.
As expected, various paintwork and interior trim finishes can be specified. There’s also a choice of wheels and brakes, and optional carbon fibre can be selected for several panels around the car.
On the inside the standard in-car media, which features Bluetooth and a 40GB hard drive, can be upgraded to McLaren’s ‘Iris’ system. This includes a voice-activated navigation system, a larger capacity 80GB hard drive, and wireless connectivity to allow transfer of music tracks and other files directly from a laptop.
The one thing the configurator doesn’t do is tell you how much your finished creation would cost. However, it’s thought the MP4-12C will be priced below £175,000 when sales commence at the end of this year.
McLaren Automotive today launches the first in a series of broadcast-quality short videos, which present a rare insight into a performance car testing program from the development team behind the new McLaren MP4-12C.
As a brand new car company, McLaren Automotive has a unique and engaging story to tell prior to its first model going on sale in Spring 2011. Meanwhile, 2009’s intense testing and development program is clearly demonstrating the 12C’s potential and McLaren Automotive is presenting rare company footage and insight that reveals its plans, processes and challenges.
In a short film entitled ‘Inside McLaren: developing the MP4-12C’, viewers take the first steps to understanding how McLaren Automotive will fulfil its ambition to launch the MP4-12C as a genuine challenger to the world’s best high performance sports cars. Highlights include:
An introduction to the McLaren Technology Center (MTC) and the MP4-12C test program by McLaren Automotive Technical Director, Dick Glover Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin on how the 12C performs in extreme test conditions An overview by senior engineers of the integrated approach to development on roads and tracks around the world and, virtually, back at MTC 12C development (XP) prototypes on road and track in England and Germany, and extreme hot weather testing in Bahrain
The challenging and comprehensive development programme has taken in some of the world’s most famous race circuits and most inhospitable driving environments; from the dry and cold, ice and snow of the Arctic, to the hot and humid, sand-soaked air of the Middle-East.
Combined with cutting-edge simulation programmes, Formula 1 techniques, personnel and processes, and thousands of miles of ‘real world’ on-road driving on the UK’s notoriously poor tarmac surfaces, the tight-knit testing team has taken giant strides through 2009 in the 12C’s development. The result is ‘pure’ McLaren: a revolutionary high performance sports car that features unique engineering solutions to deliver new standards in comfort, driving dynamics, economy and performance in the ‘core’* sports car market.
*’Core’ market according to McLaren Automotive are performance sports cars priced between £125,000 and £175,000
Dick Glover, Technical Director at McLaren Automotive is responsible for the 50-strong Testing and Development team and the eight development (XP) cars that have featured in the 2009 programme: “I am really proud of what the team has achieved this year,” he said.
“Having to develop a brand new range of cars from scratch to the standards expected of McLaren, featuring ground-breaking new structures and powertrain is the ultimate challenge and one we are relishing. Sure, we have challenges – that is why we go to these places that absolutely push the cars to their limits and beyond – but now we know just what the 12C is capable of, we are able to push on into 2010 and deliver cars of which McLaren will be rightly proud.”
The 2009 testing programme has focused heavily on two of the most famous tracks in the world – the notorious Nordschleife Nurburgring and the circuit seen by millions on-screen, the BBC Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Both tracks push cars to their limits. But the success of the programme will also rest on McLaren’s technological innovation and experience.
The results of a testing session’s road and track performance are rapidly assessed within MTC. Simulation and rapid engineering practices – two core aspects of a successful Formula 1 team – are then employed to re-calibrate the XP test cars in-situ ready for the following day, or night’s, development targets.
Chris Goodwin, professional racing driver and Chief Test Driver at McLaren Automotive, summed up the self-imposed pressures on the development team: “McLaren has always set itself the highest standards. We are the most successful ever motor racing team, we designed and built one of the world’s most iconic sports cars in the world in the McLaren F1, and pioneered carbon fibre development on race and road cars.
“We took those standards into the development programme for the MP4-12C in order to launch a new high performance sports car comparable with past achievements and offering new levels of performance for the future. For us, these targets were simply starting points and that attitude requires the most thorough development possible. We believe that our global testing is delivering incredible strides for the 12C.”
Other highlights:
Simon Andrew (Vehicle Development Engineer) sends back detailed daily reports from all test sessions to McLaren Automotive personnel in a wide range of functions, not just other members of his team. This ensures that the full range of the company’s engineers, designers and management are able to contribute their experience. Rob Tyers is one of many team members introduced from the McLaren Racing division, bringing their experience of rapid decision-making in a highly competitive environment to bear on a traditionally slower-paced industry. No other car company in the world offers this combination and experience of motor racing and road-car development personnel under one roof. McLaren Automotive has developed a unique programme inspired by the rapid development requirements of Formula 1. This brings together the whole development team at one venue over a period of up to two weeks. Huge strides are gained during these intense testing periods as all car systems are stretched to their limits in combination and as a whole, rather than part by part in sequence.
McLaren was founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren, is a Formula One team based in Woking, Surrey, UK. McLaren is one of the most successful teams in Formula One, having won over 150 races, 11 Drivers' Championships and 8 Constructors' Championships.Mclaren cars are known for their speed and design. Mclaren cars engine are provided by Mercedes-Benz. The following are the some of the pictures of its cars.
