McLaren MP4-12C

[MatsHolden]

Story from CarsGuide.

It is called the rather convoluted McLaren MP4-12C — but what's in a name?

What does this signify? As one might expect with the high performance sportscar maker, everything has a purpose and the nomenclature is no exception.

'MP4' is the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. It stands for McLaren Project 4, resulting from the merger of Ron Dennis' Project 4 organisation with McLaren. The '12' refers to McLaren's internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its cars.

The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car's development. The `C' refers to Carbon, highlighting the car's all carbon fibre body. If that doesn't give you indigestion then the MP4's performance will.

The car gets a McLaren-built “M838T” 3.8-litre, V8 twin-turbo engine with dual variable valve timing producing around 448kW/600Nm, driving through a McLaren seven-speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG) and powering up to 8500 revs.

A staggering 80 per cent of torque is available at below 2000 revs, ensuring great drivability. A dry sump and flat plane crankshaft allow the engine to be placed extremely low in the chassis thereby lowering the centre of gravity and improving handling.

It also has composite cam covers and intake manifolds, which reduce weight and heat transmission into the charge air, as well as Nikasil-coated aluminum liners for further lower weight.

The car features a system called Brake Steer, a development of an electronic system used by the F1 team that brakes the inside rear wheel when the car is entering a corner too quickly. It works to stop the car understeering.

Like the McLaren SLR and Bugatti Veyron, the 12C gets an air brake to assist with high-speed stopping power.

Inside, driver and passenger sit close to minimise the car's width. The dashboard is an exercise in minimalism.

Each scissor-action door houses climate controls and there is a digital display and huge central rev counter, a Volvo-style free-floating console with transmission buttons and a launch control, and cupholders.

McLaren calls the centre console gear an “active dynamics panel”, which can tailor power and handling to three different settings, normal, sport and high performance modes.

The McLaren is clearly aimed at Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin. The company will make just 1000 cars a year with a pricetag of more than $350,000. It goes on sale in Europe in 2011.

McLaren Automotive chairman, Ron Dennis, says it has been a dream of his to develop a range of high-performance sportscars `that set new standards in the industry'.

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[gman]

I like it...Looks like a blend of Porsche Carrera GT front, Koneigsegg side and Audi R8 rear...

[MatsHolden]

Definately links back to the McLaren F1, which I think is a very good thing.

[poita]

could they of possibly squeezed any more techonology into the thing!

[sooty]

not a fan of the aesthetics, then again i didn't like the f1 either.

[hazrd]

love it, how hot would it look n black...

[BEK-46P]

Front looks very Ferrari-esque.

[Wraith]

I agree with gman, looks like a Ferrari or the like at 1st glance to me, whereas the original McLaren was totally unique...

The rear hatch lid part of the tailgate with vents looks like an exact copy of the Audi R8...

[btm]

not a huge fan of the styling...

[Calibrated]

if you cant beat 'em.......