McLaren is a name synonymous with Formula One racing. It has also produced exactly two exceptional cars: the legendary F1, and the SLR, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. Both are extreme-performance, carbon-chassis supercars that have defined their respective eras. The two could not have been more different: the F1, a singular vision of designer Gordon Murray, who wished to produce the purest possible road car; the Mercedes SLR, a front-engine touring car that carried every conceivable creature comfort expected of a Mercedes.
The company’s experience in producing those two cars now seems to have come together spectacularly, in the much-awaited MP4-12C. The car shares its MP4 designation with every McLaren Formula One race car, a combination of McLaren and Project 4, which used to be current boss Ron Dennis’ former racing outfit.
How is the 12C different from other sports cars in its price range? The primary differentiator is its chassis, constructed mainly from carbon fiber. McLaren’s expertise is in the lightweight, super-strong material, having been the first constructor to have had a carbon monocoque on the F1 grid, thirty years ago. As used on the 12C, the car’s chassis—MonoCell, as McLaren calls it—weighs just 75 kg, probably heavier than most of the car’s prospective buyers. The MonoCell forms the basis for the 12C’s lightweight philosophy, which translates into pavement-scorching performance.
For example, the 12C goes from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, and hits 200 km/h in 9.1 seconds. The quarter mile goes by in 10.9 seconds, at 216 km/h, the standing kilometer in 19.6 seconds. Top speed is 330 km/h. While it’s true that several high-powered machines can top those figures, the McLaren’s 1434-kg curb weight will likely make the car feel much nimbler.
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8. The McLaren-designed engine is also a lightweight piece, at 199kg. It features race-car technology such as dry sump lubrication and a flat plane crankshaft. The exhaust goes through a “mixing box” rather than a conventional silencer. The engine’s 594 bhp goes to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch “SSG” transmission. The transmission has a “Pre-cog” function. Not predicting the future via three bald-headed clairvoyants, but rather allowing the driver to pre-load the clutch by lightly pressing the shift paddle. When the paddle is fully pressed, the shift is thus delivered faster—kind of like half-pressing the button on your SLR to engage the autofocus, except your camera won’t press you into your seat in the next few milliseconds. The transmission has another trick up its sleeve: hold the downshift paddle down as you negotiate a corner, and the gearbox will downshift to the lowest possible gear, setting you up nicely for a properly-powered exit.
Although the car is rear-wheel drive, the 12C can selectively brake its wheels in a form of torque vectoring, to reduce understeer and allow the driver to take a more neutral line. The chassis features adaptive damping that is resistant to roll, but delivers greater compliance and comfort in straight-line driving. McLaren promises “executive car” comfort while allowing for track shenanigans via driver-adjustable roll control.
Often overlooked in hyped-up performance figures is braking. The McLaren goes from 100 km/h to a complete stop in just 30.5 meters, similar to the 911 GT2’s figure. Standard brakes are cast iron, with ceramic discs as options. Pirelli supplies bespoke P-Zero tires for the 12C, with a optional Corsa sport tire for track use.
The car features an airbrake similar to that on the F1 and SLR. This channels air to help push the car down under heavy braking, keeping it firmly planted. Even the motor to actuate the air brake has been computed to be at a minimum, taking into consideration that the aerodynamic effect would help raise the airbrake to its maximum angle.
The MP4-12C is just the first of McLaren’s new generation of road cars, as the company aims to eventually produce 4000 cars per year, close to its competitor over at Maranello. A sub-$100,000 Porsche 911 rival will be next, then a more expensive supercar in the vein of the Carrera GT. The 12C has started production at McLaren’s Technology Center, but the line will eventually be transferred to an all-new adjacent production center named, imaginatively, the McLaren Production Centre.
The price of all this carbon-fiber lightness? $229,000 before any import valuation, cooked up or otherwise. Distributors have been announced for Hong Kong and Sydney; Singapore and Tokyo will apparently have their own importers, too. We are sure that one is already earmarked for the Philippines. Until we spot it on the Skyway, watch the 12C on track:
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