New McLaren Sports Car - MP4-12C
 

The McLaren Group have finally released pictures and details of a Sports Car that they have been developing to compete against giants like Ferrari and Lamborghini:

[QUOTE]The first McLaren to be released since the manufacturer’s groundbreaking 1993 F1 model, the MP4-12C, is due to go on sale early in 2011.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2011-McLaren-MP4-12C-001.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE]The two-seater will have a price tag of roughly £160,000 (AUD$306,000) and utilise a McLaren built (M838T) 3.8-litre 90-degree V8 engine, developing “around 450kW and 600Nm”, as means of motivation.

The engine is twin-turbocharged unit with an 8500rpm red-line featuring a dry sump and flat plane crank that drives the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2011-McLaren-MP4-12C-002.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE]McLaren claims 80 per cent of the MP4-12C’s torque will be available from below 2000rpm which should see low three second 0-100km/h times and a top speed in excess of 320km/h.

Considering the MP4-12C will utilise a carbon fibre MonoCell skeleton (weighing in at just 80kg), with aluminium and SMC plastic panels, this should see a kerb weight of roughly 1300 kilograms.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2011-McLaren-MP4-12C-006.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE]The car will feature conventional brakes with forged aluminium hubs which believe it or not are some 8kg lighter than ceramic units.

Braking is further assisted by an air brake that pops up at speed to improve stopping ability.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2011-McLaren-MP4-12C-007.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE]Entry to the cabin is via dihedral doors which are touchpad operated. The seating is said to be “thin” but spot on in terms of support.

An upright seven-inch multimedia screen sits in the centre console while the view out the front windscreen is clear of obstruction.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2011-McLaren-MP4-12C-009-625x346.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE]Driver aids include switchable ESC, launch control, selectable throttle response (normal, sport & high performance) as well as settings to adjust gearshift timing and suspension damping[/QUOTE]



What does everyone think. Love the single piece monocell. Everything has been developed in house, including the engine. It looks nice but not the biggest fan of the back end, although i could imagine a few changes before final release in 2011. Overall, good to see a new car by McLaren, however i am still in love with the LM.

Looks awesome!! love it
cant wait till see it on Top Gear to see how it goes (im assuming they will have it on)

Awesome.
Anything McLaren do is going to be good. Especially since they are now their own entity and are not restricted by a manufacturer like the SLR was.

And it looks much better than the original McLaren F2 prototype a while back.

[url]http://futureauto.blogspot.com/2008/08/2010-mclaren-f2.html[/url]

i like the back end of the F2 prototype better

Beautiful, would be even better with central steering position and possibly still too heavy for the McLaren philosophy.

[QUOTE=Wrexter;393169]i like the back end of the F2 prototype better[/QUOTE]

I remember seeing another version of the prototype with yet another back end, but I can't find it anywhere now....
From memory it was a bit of a mix between these two.

The design is nothing special IMO, not unique or special in any way. Frank Stephenson (ex Ferrari) getting involved earlier might've helped. The F1 was ground breaking whereas this just follows what others have been doing.

A big N/A engine instead of turbos woulda been fitting too.

The name, despite making sense, is stupid. Hopefully it gets a nickname that it will be named by.

But I'm sure it will be an amazing car to drive, which in the end is the most important thing.

I'd have to agree with Jan, it looks a bit, old?

Performance Im sure will be great but overall design is a tad dated and boring.

Looks better than the old bmw powered f1 :)

Wouldnt mind a test drive in either though mind you!!

Looks pretty crap IMO!!
Where is the passion...looks like it was designed buy a bunch of suits who's idea of a big night out is playing canasta with their mothers!!