MOTORING REVIEW - McLAREN MP4-12C
Meet the McLaren MP4-12C – the first model in
a range of road cars from the manufacturer that
plan to rewrite the supercar rulebook. With a
host of clever new technology, taken straight
from Lewis Hamilton’s World Championship
winning F1 car, the breathtaking sportscar
doesn’t just break the mould, it takes a sledge
hammer to the production line.
Designed from the ground-up with
McLaren’s legendary attention to detail, the new
supercar is packed with innovation. Powering
the car will be a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8
unit. Pumping out a mind-blowing 600bhp and
600Nm of torque, performance figures are likely
to be record-breaking. There’s no official word
just yet, but expect sub-four seconds for the
dash to 60mph and a top speed in excess of rocker.
200mph. But where things really get clever is with ‘Pre
The dry sump unit has dual variable valve Cog’ technology. This primes the gearbox for a
timing and a flat plane crankshaft that allows the change the second the driver applies pressure to
engine to be mounted very low in the chassis, the rocker, thus saving crucial time. The second
lowering the centre of gravity and improving bit of pressure actuates the shift, which takes
handling. Driving the rear wheels, the engine just milliseconds to complete. Think of it as
revs to an ear-piercing 8,500-rpm and McLaren priming the shutter on a digital camera and you
has worked hard to get the soundtrack get the idea.
symphony-right, using a special exhaust Usability has obviously been high on the
manifold and intake systems to give an engine agenda, with McLaren saying ride quality will be
note that’ll set the hairs on the back of your neck on a par with executive saloon cars. But that’s
on end. not to say it won’t be sporty too.
McLaren’s philosophy from the outset was Looks wise, the new car has been designed
to build a supercar that wouldn’t just be an also- so every part, every scoop and every slant has a
ran, but the best. And with Ron Dennis at the purpose. McLaren are keen to stress the 12C is
helm, it’s unlikely it will be released with not a modern-day reproduction of the F1, but
performance that won’t just beat the does build on its ‘functionally-driven engineering
competition, but trounce it. and design’.
Although at the time of writing we didn’t Bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime
know the price, the MP4-12C will be launched to running lights, inspired by the McLaren logo,
compete in what McLaren believes to be the dominate the front end, the windscreen is deep
‘core’ sportscar market – the £125,000 to and low for excellent driver visibility, and the
£175,000 segment. Key rivals will include the twin rear exhausts are striking. But the real
Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini LP560-4. talking point are the doors – just like the F1 the
That 3.8-litre V8 unit is mated to a seven- 12C features dihedral doors, that open forwards
speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox – or and upwards on a single hinge. The MP4-12C is
SSG. Again, taking technology honed on the groundbreaking in every sense of the word, and
marque’s F1 cars, shifts are made by steering is set to change the face of the supercar
wheel-mounted ‘rocker’ levers. Like the F1 cars, glitterati. by James Baggott, editor of Car Dealer
shifts can be made by pulling or pushing the Magazine,
www.CarDealerMag.co.uk
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