McLaren MP4-12C

[lightweight]

It's official:

McLaren MP4-12C (2011): the first official P11 story | Automotive & Motoring News | Car Magazine Online

Key Points
Chassis: Carbon MonoCell
Weight: around 1300 kg (official number not given)
Engine: Twin Turbocharged 3.8 V8 designed 100% by McLaren Automotive
Dry sump
Flat-plane crank
8500 rev limit
Horsepower: "around 600 bhp"
Torque: 443lb ft
Gearbox: Twin Clutch SSG (Seamless Shift Gearbox)

Photos aren't specifically High Resolution, yet. If someone has access to Hi-Res pics, feel free to contribute.

Seems like a Gallardo/458/911 Turbo opponent. Typically McLaren, uses carbon chassis and more sophisticated solutions than the competition.

Should not be compared to the F1 in any way.

If this is the mid-range McLaren, what are they going to do with the top of the range? These chaps always amaze us....

BTW... What's with the name? What does it mean anyway? Did they have a 12B???? Name is the only flaw of the car. But it's a nice mail password....

[cmcpokey]

looks pretty weak if you ask me. the F1 was so beautiful, and this is so blah.

and yeah, MP4-12C just rolls off the tongue.

[lightweight]

looks pretty weak if you ask me

I know what you mean. I would say that it is neutral, it doesn't make a statement like the Lambos do.

But I love the technical details:
- First time any car has ever featured a one-piece carbon fibre structure (they (all were multi-piece assembled)

- Lowest CO2 to horsepower of any vehicle currently in the market (including petrol diesel hybrids)

- Brakes with forged aluminium hubs save 8 kg and weigh less than optional carbon ceramic brakes

- The engine cooling radiators were mounted at the rear, as close to the engine as possible, to minimize the pipework, the fluids contained within them, and therefore weight. They were also mounted in car line to minimize vehicle width

[Ferrer]

Stupid flappy paddle gearbox...

[Niko_Fx]

Stupid flappy paddle gearbox...

This.

Another car to add to my "If I had the money I wouldn't buy it" list....

[NicFromLA]

The Mac F1 cost about a million dollars (just under what a Veyron costs) almost 15 years ago and each was hand made. They also used a lot of BMW sourced electrical and switchgear. Now Mac is talking about building a large series production car that shares no components with any other car, for less than $300K. I'm sure the car will be fast and fun to drive, and fir the first year or two it will sell well, but just wait until they have to deal with QC issues and warranty claims. I don't predict long term success.

Stupid flappy paddle gearbox...

I knew you were going to say that.

[Wouter Melissen]

The Mac F1 cost about a million dollars (just under what a Veyron costs) almost 15 years ago and each was hand made. They also used a lot of BMW sourced electrical and switchgear. Now Mac is talking about building a large series production car that shares no components with any other car, for less than $300K. I'm sure the car will be fast and fun to drive, and fir the first year or two it will sell well, but just wait until they have to deal with QC issues and warranty claims. I don't predict long term success.

Don't underestimate McLaren. It is a very big company, not just another small company trying to make a sports car. I have never heard of any problems with the current SLR. McLaren also makes all the ECUs for the current F1 cars so I am sure they can handle the electronics of a road car.

[NicFromLA]

Don't underestimate McLaren. It is a very big company, not just another small company trying to make a sports car. I have never heard of any problems with the current SLR. McLaren also makes all the ECUs for the current F1 cars so I am sure they can handle the electronics of a road car.

First, the SLR had the electronics from a MB SL, what one would call 'tried and true'. Second, F1 cars and road cars are two totally different animals: the electronics in an F1 car only need to work for about four hours and afterwards can be rebuilt with little regard for cost, electronics in a street car need to work for years and need to be inexpensive enough to fix that dealers and customers can pay for it.

What it comes down to is this: People think it's easy to do what Ferrari does, but it's not.

[fpv_gtho]

First, the SLR had the electronics from a MB SL, what one would call 'tried and true'. Second, F1 cars and road cars are two totally different animals: the electronics in an F1 car only need to work for about four hours and afterwards can be rebuilt with little regard for cost, electronics in a street car need to work for years and need to be inexpensive enough to fix that dealers and customers can pay for it.

What it comes down to is this: People think it's easy to do what Ferrari does, but it's not.

I dont think the task is going to be any harder than it would for someone like Koennigsegg for instance.

[lightweight]

I now realise that McLaren are the carbon fibre pioneers:

First Carbon F1 chassis: MP4/1
First ever Carbon r0ad car chassis: McLaren F1
First ever single piece road car Carbon Chassis: MP4-12C (Also the first in its segment with carbon chassis)

[Roentgen]

Looks like some small company's one-off car. Definitely not "look" the price tag and name. Kinda disappointed really... expected this to be an incredible car, and well... the original McLaren looks way better.

[Ferrari330P4]

Looks like the cross of an R8 and a Tiburon

[switters78]

Looks like some small company's one-off car. Definitely not "look" the price tag and name. Kinda disappointed really... expected this to be an incredible car, and well... the original McLaren looks way better.

Yes, it looks like any number of generic supercars that are forgotten after a year because they lost funding. Plus, a little too much Hyundai Genesis in the front end for that price...

EDIT: I think a Le Mans win might win it a few points though!

[NSXType-R]

I wonder how some enthusiasts of the original McLaren F1 will think of it. I mean, like others have said, the lack of a manual could be a big issue. But if Gordon Murray thinks it's not necessary, then there has to be a reason behind that.

[lightweight]

I wonder how some enthusiasts of the original McLaren F1 will think of it. I mean, like others have said, the lack of a manual could be a big issue. But if Gordon Murray thinks it's not necessary, then there has to be a reason behind that.

This is NOT a car to beat the F1. It is placed against Gallardos, 458s and 911 Turbos.