The McLaren MP4-12C, later rebranded as the McLaren 12C, is a sports car produced by McLaren Automotive. Manufactured between 2011 and 2014, the MP4-12C was available as both a coupe and a retractable hard-top convertible, the latter known as the "Spider".
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The title shocks, but at the end, we do not get anything new, and I think everyone will stay on his opinion. The MP4-12C is the fastest car, if that is what somebody is looking for. Then, if somebody wants thrill, a 911 GT3 RS may be better than the Ferrari. I would say the Ferrari wins, as being the perfect compromise between a 911 GT3 RS and the Macca. I stay on my opinion and love the MP4-12C above anything, nonetheless cannot deny the 458 Italia is the best sounding V8 ever (LF-A best sounding engine on earth), and am impatiently waiting for the street going version of the MP4-12C GT3. It may beat both the 458 Italia and the 911 GT3 RS 4.0, but well, that is just the nice part of it, the new 911 (991) is coming and will be better than ever, and there is also the 458 Scuderia on its way.
Summary (short version):
"Better is not quicker; better is more engaging and more feelsome."
Summary (longer version):
Ferrari: "more adjustable brakes and a sharper throttle response. Playful and engaging."
McLaren: "corners in a less flustered fashion, more quickly but no more satisfyingly. Flattering and inert."
McLaren is faster in objective performance, but on a winding road, the on-paper difference in stats is pointless.
McLaren is also faster on circuit, but these are road cars. "Outright circuit speed is not entirely the point."
In short, you can have a well-executed supercar, faster than another, more composed on demanding roads, but that doesn't make it better. Ferrari "better knows how to make a supercar" because of the subjective qualities that the 458 has over the McLaren. It's a little less stable, but "you get the impression that the Ferrari is trying to impress - to encourage you to have a good time. You may be driving to the shops but, damn it man, enjoy yourself." In other words, marginal differences in speed against another car is meaningless, unless you buy the car for the expressed purpose of beating that other car on track. Which is pretty pointless even for professional circuit racers.
The title was absolutely no surprise to me. Sutcliffe (as well as Chris Harris) had considerable reservations about declaring the McLaren the better car in the initial drive. And for good reason, as this article demonstrates. Imagine stepping out of a car like the McLaren (which they felt was for sure more composed and faster), but not being able to say with certainty that it was better than a car they had driven weeks or months earlier. That the lingering memory is so powerful is quite remarkable.
"Better is not quicker; better is more engaging and more feelsome."
Summary (longer version):
Ferrari: "more adjustable brakes and a sharper throttle response. Playful and engaging."
McLaren: "corners in a less flustered fashion, more quickly but no more satisfyingly. Flattering and inert."
McLaren is faster in objective performance, but on a winding road, the on-paper difference in stats is pointless.
McLaren is also faster on circuit, but these are road cars. "Outright circuit speed is not entirely the point."
In short, you can have a well-executed supercar, faster than another, more composed on demanding roads, but that doesn't make it better. Ferrari "better knows how to make a supercar" because of the subjective qualities that the 458 has over the McLaren. It's a little less stable, but "you get the impression that the Ferrari is trying to impress - to encourage you to have a good time. You may be driving to the shops but, damn it man, enjoy yourself." In other words, marginal differences in speed against another car is meaningless, unless you buy the car for the expressed purpose of beating that other car on track. Which is pretty pointless even for professional circuit racers.
The title was absolutely no surprise to me. Sutcliffe (as well as Chris Harris) had considerable reservations about declaring the McLaren the better car in the initial drive. And for good reason, as this article demonstrates. Imagine stepping out of a car like the McLaren (which they felt was for sure more composed and faster), but not being able to say with certainty that it was better than a car they had driven weeks or months earlier. That the lingering memory is so powerful is quite remarkable.
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I think it is all subjective preference. I personally don't want a Ferrari, because I had one I would have for drive/racing/tacking/fan purpose, being a true car enthusiast, but not for show off. I would not like to be seen a one that has means to buy a Ferrari but can't drive it, and indeed I am not able to drive it as a pro. I would prefere a 911 GT3 and be seen a a bad racer than as a poser.
Mafalda
Stuttgart Specialist
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I was sure the title was not related to performance.
I was always certain that the MP4 is faster than the 458, straight and track both. McLaren knows how to build supercars, and had an year to study in detail the arch-rival Ferrari, and be sure that their MP4 was actually faster.
the surprise is that sometimes the UK magazinec are a bit '"nationalists" (Ex:... "XKR beats M6"...).
Also, here in Italy, magazines never write titles like "X beats Y" or "Y humiliating Z" .
however, this MP4 seems "too perfect and too cold"?
I'm waiting for italians full tests.
even so, I yhink I'd be happy with the worst of them too
...thanks for summary
Given the context of such tests (subjective driving impressions on gnarly, rutted UK B-roads), it's not too surprising that a Jag could beat an M6. Jaguar does a lot of development and fine-tuning on such roads, while BMW probably doesn't. UK mags may be nationalists just like any other nationalities rooting for their home product, but they can also be critical of the home product. The AMV8, when it was released, fell short of expectation when compared against the 911, and Aston were apparently so bothered by this they had a sitdown with some UK press; thus, the revised AMV8 was a sharper car.
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2012 McLaren MP4-12C Convertible
This could be the car for anyone who thinks the current MP4-12C supercar just isn’t quite close enough in spirit to the McLaren Formula One cars piloted by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. The British F1 team and sports car manufacturer is readying a convertible version of its highly acclaimed mid-engine supercar. These illustrations provide a strong hint as to what the finished product will look like once the MP4-12C convertible comes to market, most likely in mid-2012.
Hats Not Recommended
You might want to leave your baseball cap at home. That’s because McLaren’s clever engineers are determined to keep weight down, despite the extra pounds that come with necessary chassis stiffening and the top mechanism itself. The McLaren MP4-12C has an estimated top speed of 205 mph, and it’s likely the convertible version will be almost as rapid.
Our sources have suggested the top will be power-operated and made from lightweight carbon fiber or aluminum. A cloth top might require less work, at least from an engineering standpoint. Yet with the standard MP4-12C coupe starting at $229,000, a high-tech top is pretty much a necessity in this rarefied market – and a pretty good idea in a sports car capable of exceeding 200 mph.
The mechanicals will remain the same as the coupe’s. This means you’ll find a 592-bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 engine nestled behind the cockpit. A 7-speed twin-clutch Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) is the only choice when it comes to swapping gears. Shifting is controlled via paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.
During our time with the MP4-12C coupe, we noted the sensation of speed was sometimes lacking since the car “provides the utmost confidence-inspiring ride calmness for the driver.” With the top down and V-8 engine at full revs, the upcoming MP4-12C convertible should counter these (modest) criticisms.
This could be the car for anyone who thinks the current MP4-12C supercar just isn’t quite close enough in spirit to the McLaren Formula One cars piloted by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. The British F1 team and sports car manufacturer is readying a convertible version of its highly acclaimed mid-engine supercar. These illustrations provide a strong hint as to what the finished product will look like once the MP4-12C convertible comes to market, most likely in mid-2012.
Hats Not Recommended
You might want to leave your baseball cap at home. That’s because McLaren’s clever engineers are determined to keep weight down, despite the extra pounds that come with necessary chassis stiffening and the top mechanism itself. The McLaren MP4-12C has an estimated top speed of 205 mph, and it’s likely the convertible version will be almost as rapid.
Our sources have suggested the top will be power-operated and made from lightweight carbon fiber or aluminum. A cloth top might require less work, at least from an engineering standpoint. Yet with the standard MP4-12C coupe starting at $229,000, a high-tech top is pretty much a necessity in this rarefied market – and a pretty good idea in a sports car capable of exceeding 200 mph.
The mechanicals will remain the same as the coupe’s. This means you’ll find a 592-bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 engine nestled behind the cockpit. A 7-speed twin-clutch Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) is the only choice when it comes to swapping gears. Shifting is controlled via paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.
During our time with the MP4-12C coupe, we noted the sensation of speed was sometimes lacking since the car “provides the utmost confidence-inspiring ride calmness for the driver.” With the top down and V-8 engine at full revs, the upcoming MP4-12C convertible should counter these (modest) criticisms.
Cashmere
RPM Ruler
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Breaking News: McLaren tweaks MP4-12C
Last minute tweaks aim to make customer-ready versions of the MP4-12C more emotional
"It appears that McLaren has reacted to input from prospective customers and the press, following initial test drives over the last few months, that the MP4-12C is undoubtedly brilliant, but lacking in emotion.A raft of changes have been introduced at the last minute, before first deliveries begin in the next two weeks. Top of the list is a new induction kit for the exhaust, designed to channel more sound into the cabin - directly addressing criticism of the McLaren's muted note next to the more vocal Ferrari 458 Italia. It will be a standard addition to all future production cars.
Also added is a lighter feel to the wheel-mounted paddles. The up and down shifters had received flak for their unnecessarily heavy mechanical feel. Finally, some carefully chosen modifications to the steering system are said to result in additional feel."
Source & Read more: [Auto Express]
Last minute tweaks aim to make customer-ready versions of the MP4-12C more emotional
"It appears that McLaren has reacted to input from prospective customers and the press, following initial test drives over the last few months, that the MP4-12C is undoubtedly brilliant, but lacking in emotion.A raft of changes have been introduced at the last minute, before first deliveries begin in the next two weeks. Top of the list is a new induction kit for the exhaust, designed to channel more sound into the cabin - directly addressing criticism of the McLaren's muted note next to the more vocal Ferrari 458 Italia. It will be a standard addition to all future production cars.
Also added is a lighter feel to the wheel-mounted paddles. The up and down shifters had received flak for their unnecessarily heavy mechanical feel. Finally, some carefully chosen modifications to the steering system are said to result in additional feel."
Source & Read more: [Auto Express]
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Additional infos from Sport Auto's short test:
- Weight with full tank of fuel: 1451 kg
- Acceleration ("by optimal conditions"), full tank of fuel, 2 persons on board, on Corsa tyres: 0-100 km/h in 3,4 s, 0-200 km/h: 9,8 s.
- Acceleration ("by optimal conditions"), 3/4 tank of fuel, 1 person on board, on Corsa tyres: 0-100 km/h in 3,2 s, 0-200 km/h: 9,2 s.
- Braking: the ABS-setup is no perfect, the 100-0 km/h distances are not sensational: 36,7 m (cold) and 35,3 m (warm).
- Hockenheimring: 1.08,7 min - in Track Mode after one hot lap.
- Weight with full tank of fuel: 1451 kg
- Acceleration ("by optimal conditions"), full tank of fuel, 2 persons on board, on Corsa tyres: 0-100 km/h in 3,4 s, 0-200 km/h: 9,8 s.
- Acceleration ("by optimal conditions"), 3/4 tank of fuel, 1 person on board, on Corsa tyres: 0-100 km/h in 3,2 s, 0-200 km/h: 9,2 s.
- Braking: the ABS-setup is no perfect, the 100-0 km/h distances are not sensational: 36,7 m (cold) and 35,3 m (warm).
- Hockenheimring: 1.08,7 min - in Track Mode after one hot lap.
Mafalda
Stuttgart Specialist
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- 1,893
Additional infos from Sport Auto's short test:
- Weight with full tank of fuel: 1451 kg
- Acceleration ("by optimal conditions"), full tank of fuel, 2 persons on board, on Corsa tyres: 0-100 km/h in 3,4 s, 0-200 km/h: 9,8 s.
- Acceleration ("by optimal conditions"), 1/3 tank of fuel, 1 person on board, on Corsa tyres: 0-100 km/h in 3,2 s, 0-200 km/h: 9,2 s.
- Braking: the ABS-setup is no perfect, the 100-0 km/h distances are not sensational: 36,7 m (cold) and 35,3 m (warm).
- Hockenheimring: 1.08,7 min - in Track Mode after one hot lap.
thank you so much
auch, the MP4 with fuel and passenger accelerats as fast as the best ever 458
disappoinment about brakes, Mc claims 30m!
p.s.
the last time I wrote "optimal conditions", I've been lynched
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McLaren
McLaren Automotive is a British luxury automotive manufacturer founded in 1985 as McLaren Cars and later
re-introduced as McLaren Automotive in 2010. Based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England,
the company's main products are sports cars, which are produced in-house in designated production
facilities. In July 2017, McLaren Automotive became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the wider McLaren Group.
Official website: McLaren Automotive
Official website: McLaren Automotive
