12C [Official] McLaren MP4-12C

[DeDe]

Considering its incredible 0-200km/h time, I find 0-400m and 0-1000m figures underestimated.

Based on 0-100km/h and 100-200km/h numbers, 400m trap speed should be about 220km/h (or even slightly above) and 1000m trap speed should be around 280km/h.

0-200 km/h in 9,1 s
0-216 km/h in 10,9 s - 1,8 seconds for 16-more-km/h is pretty realistic IMO

 

[emve]

0-200 km/h in 9,1 s
0-216 km/h in 10,9 s - 1,8 seconds for 16-more-km/h is pretty realistic IMO

When calculating with the 8,9s figure, 2,0 seconds for additional 16km/h is not good enough for a car that does 100-200km/h in 5,8s, imo. Same applies to 272km/h 1000m trap speed. Strange that they claim 0-100 and 0-200 with both kind of tires, and 0-400m and 0-1000m with unspecified tires, especially when those 0,2s thanks to the better launch will clearly almost directly influence trap times by the same margin.

Anyway, we'll see when the first tests come out. I am pretty sure McLaren has kept some positive surprises for the tests. 0-100km/h and 0-200km/h official numbers will be hard to beat. 0-400m and 0-1000m won´t, imo.

 

[Michael]

Wow! I'm sold! Give it to me.

This thing looks great and I love the evolution from the F1.

Can't wait to read more on the upcoming reviews of this. I also cannot wait for what Top Gear is going to do with this thing.

 

[sako97]

The performance figures are most definitely quite conservative,although the 0-124mph time is astonishing.


As much as i hate to admit it, the MP4 is the an even bigger step forward than the Veyron.

 

[sako97]

CAR Review

McLaren MP4-12C supercar CAR review (2011)

By Chris Chilton
First Drives
14 February 2011 00:01

Seventeen years after the iconic McLaren F1 made every other supercar redundant, McLaren is back with a new car: the long-awaited McLaren MP4-12C. Here’s a taste of what it’s like, but for our full review get yourself a copy of the March 2011 issue of CAR Magazine, which is on sale on Tuesday.

For the benefit of that one moon dweller reading, just remind us why the McLaren MP4-12C is so special
Where to start? The 12C is the first proper McLaren sports car since the seminal F1 of 1994 (the iffy SLR was Mercedes' idea); it costs an almost reasonable £168,500 yet is constructed around a carbon chassis that is normally reserved for cars costing twice as much; it runs on a sophisticated hydraulic suspension set-up and is powered by a brand new McLaren-designed V8 engine and dual-clutch gearbox.

Oh, and the McLaren MP4-12C's vital statistics are 592bhp, 443lb ft and 1434kg. Remember that the McLaren's target - the Ferrari 458 Italia - makes do with 562bhp, 398lb ft and weighs 1485kg.

So the 12C weighs less than a Ferrari 458, has more power and a stack more torque. I think I can guess where this is heading...
Into the distance in short order is where. The McLaren does 62mph in 3.3sec (or 3.1sec with the optional sticky Pirelli Corsa rubber) and the Ferrari 3.4sec. But by the time they get to 124mph (200km/h), the 12C has pulled out a 1.3sec (1.5sec on the Corsas) lead, claims McLaren.

On the road though, the gap feels even greater. Don’t get us wrong, the Ferrari 458 is a stupendously quick car, but the McLaren’s kick in the back comes in so much lower down that it feels more urgent on the road when you see a gap and just need to stomp on the right pedal.

Stomping on the middle pedal elicits a similar shock to the body, by the way. Both the standard cast iron stoppers and the optional (and even more deccelerative) carbon rotors feel great and help the 12C outbrake a 458.

But I’ll bet those twin blowers mean the new McLaren supercar sounds like a Lexus LS460, and has the throttle response and rev range of a black cab?
That’s exactly what we feared beforehand, but McLaren proved us wrong on both counts. The crisp throttle response, almost total absence of lag and incredible 8500rpm redline is all down to clever matching of the ECU mapping and turbo geometry, McLaren says.

The mixture of intake and exhaust noise is nigh on perfect: unobtrusive when cruising but capable of erecting those neck hairs as well as any naturally aspirated supercar. And unlike the Ferrari’s rather wearing quiet-LOUD-quiet-LOUD character, the transition from demure to demonic is more progressive on the McLaren. This is all on the standard exhaust too. Heaven knows how juicy the optional straight-though sports pipes must sound.

But what about the handling? The SLR wasn’t exactly praised for its dynamic abilities – is the McLaren 12C similarly disappointing? Does the hydraulic roll control work?
It works brilliantly. By tweaking a dash dial between Normal, Sport and Track you can alter the system pressure, so altering the amount of roll and ride comfort. Drive it in Normal on the road and the ride is better than some saloon cars’, thanks to a well controlled but loping gait. Track mode is too stiff for the road but, as its name suggests, is ideal for the circuit where it gives the car huge stability. Sport’s blend of suppleness and body control though, makes it the best all round mode.

Equally impressive is what McLaren calls Brake Steer, an ESP-based system inspired by a technology banned in F1 over a decade ago. It brakes the inside wheel when cornering to help the car turn into a bend, killing understeer. Steer into the corner using the ultra-precise electro-hydraulically-assisted steering and you can really feel the car pivot as the brake steer works. Its other purpose is to take the place of the heavy active differentials rivals like Ferrari are using.

There is really only one disappointment but you’ll have to be a pretty tasty driver, and probably on a track to experience it. And it’s that even in Track mode, the ESP system doesn’t allow an inordinate amount of slip and will be reined in even further for production. If you want to switch it off, you need to enter some special cheat code while parked that McLaren wouldn’t reveal.

Now away from sideways-obsessed car media, that may not be relevant, but surely if you do want to really play about, it’d make more sense to be able to do it with some sort of safety net available rather than risking everything by switching it all off.

So it’s a bit of a demon in a straight line and around corners. Any other tricks up the McLaren MP4-12C's sleeve?
What, you mean besides the incredible visibility and surprisingly easy-access semi-gullwing doors that make the prospect of using it every day absolutely realistic? Or the 24mpg it achieves on the combined cycle while emitting just 279g/km of CO2?

What about the styling though? I’m not convinced...
Our only real disappointment concerns the way the new McLaren supercar looks. It’s certainly not ugly, in fact it’s quite pretty. But it’s not especially dramatic. When Leonard Setright first used the term supercar in CAR Magazine over 40 years ago it was because he needed a term to convey how much more extreme the Lamborghini Miura he was driving was than other sports cars. Not just in performance, but in every respect, including visual drama.

In the 12C’s defence, style is very much down to personal taste, and I should add that it looks much more assertive in the metal. Especially in the orange of our test car (the silver car looked way more subdued).

McLaren MP4-12C: the road test verdict
Quite simply, this is the most complete supercar the world has ever seen. Quicker than a McLaren F1, easier to live with than an Audi R8 and more economical than a BMW M3, it rides like an executive saloon when you’re not in the mood but thrills like any supercar should when you are.

To read the full 15-page story, grab a copy of the March 2011 issue of CAR. We've analysed it in full detail, got stacks of scintillating photography and grabbed a hot lap with F1 McLaren driver Jenson Button. Don't miss it!

Statistics:
How much? £168,500
On sale in the UK:March 2011
Engine:3799cc 32v twin-turbo V8, 592bhp @ 7000rpm, 443lb ft @ 3000-7000rpm
Transmission:Seven-speed dual-clutch, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 3.3sec 0-62mph, 205mph, 24mpg, 279g/km CO2
How heavy/made of? 1434kg/carbonfibre, aluminium and plastic
How big (length/width/height in mm)? 4507/1908/1199

McLaren MP4-12C supercar CAR review (2011) | Road Testing Reviews | Car Magazine Online

 

[Cashmere]

 

[Cashmere]

-- by Chris Harris
(February 2011)
What is it?
The new McLaren MP4-12C, rival to the Ferrari 458 Italia, offspring of Ron Dennis. It costs £168,500, so is cheaper than the Ferrari, too.
Technical highlights?
No roll bars, no LSD, hydraulically supported and connected suspension, adaptive dampers, a little under 600bhp, 1301kg dry, carbon tub, optional ceramic brakes, brake assist, twin turbochargers. More technology than we’ve ever seen in a sports car before.
What’s it like to drive?
Unlike any other sports car because it separates the roles of ride and roll-stiffness. On a straight, bumpy road, it’s more comfortable than a Merc E-Class, change direction and it’s sharper than a GT3. There are 3 chassis modes: comfort, sport and track which bring increased roll-stiffness and more relaxed intervention from the ESP. The powertrain is remarkable in its strength and ease-of-use: the MP4 is noticeably quicker than a 458, doesn’t feel that turbocharged and makes a great noise. Crucially, you can separate the chassis functions from the powertrain (again, comfort, sport and track) so it’s possible to have sharp throttle response and faster gearshifts, with supple suspension. It is the most talented machine I have ever driven.
How does it compare?
To what? I mean can you think of an obvious rival? Only kidding – it’s faster than a Ferrari 458 Italia, has more useable performance, rides better, has more mechanical grip and is much, much more useable.
Anything else I should know?
Yes - that no one understands the emotional side to these machines like Ferrari does, and the MP4-12C, for all its brilliance, serves as a reminder. It’s not unemotional, it sounds great in ‘track’ mode, it steers beautifully and its engineering is intriguing – but it is a car you admire deeply rather than one you sell your family to own. As you can tell, I need more space to tell this story...

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[Cashmere]

 

[martinbo]

One thing is eminently clear: This thing is going to be the benchmark in the lower-tier, mid-engine supercar class. Everything else will be measured against it.

EVO's Car of the Year 2011.

 

[LaArtist]

I cant get over the dull looks...

 

[Soup]

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[Soup]

Edmunds - Insideline with a quick video:
http://www.insideline.com/mclaren/mp...rst-drive.html

Autocar - Steve Suttcliff:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...p4-12c/255434/

Telegraph UK
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...2C-review.html

Pistonheads - Speed Matters
http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests...p?c=47&i=23174​

 

[DeDe]

According to the tacho, the car did 250-300 km/h in about 11,5 seconds!

Just for comparison:
10,0 s - Ferrari Enzo Ferrari
11,5 s - McLaren MP4-12C
11,7 s - Porsche 911 GT2 RS
12,8 s - Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
13,3 s - Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

 

[emve]

Acceleration above 200km/h doesn´t seem that much ahead of competition.

200-290km/h (according to the speedo)

~14 s - MP4-12C
~14 s - 458 Italia
~16 s - 997 Turbo S

Not really scientific to judge car´s performance by youtube videos (different speedo errors, various conditions etc.), but definitely gives an idea.

458 video - YouTube - Ferrari 458 Italia 0-300 km/h
997 turbo s - YouTube - porsche 911 Turbo S, 997 MKII 'Turbo S' 0-300 Km/u

Both videos seem to be representative for each cars performance.

 

[Centurion]

One thing is eminently clear: This thing is going to be the benchmark in the lower-tier, mid-engine supercar class.

Performance benchmark? Yes.
Emotional benchmark? Possibly not.

Mclaren is a scientific institution. A pragmatic one with dedication to developing products that over perform their functionality. Whoever has heard Ron Dennis speak or reply to a question he doesn't wish to answer, knows what a rationalist he is. I don't question the racing pedigree of this car. It takes a confident management to build a new factory and develop a car that's more expensive than its Ferrari rival. Ron Dennis believes that his new baby is worth the extra coins and doesn't underestimate consumers ability to appreciate the car at it's swindling high price.

Judging by the first drives posted today there is no shortage of praising words about the cars performances. But let's not discount the value of a cars emotional quotient. Ferrari's are not only fast but their composition, the drama offered and the screeching wrath of their naturally aspired engines make people sweat, cry and fall in love. I'm awaiting more reviews and reflections to better understand whether Mclaren have built an exotic or a performance car.

 

[Mr Robert]

To me, the image held by McLaren is quite sufficient... I would never go for a 458 over this.

 

[LaArtist]

To be honest the F1 was never so great looking either..
Besides the LM version..
The standard looked bare and naked.. just like this one..

Still brilliant cars though..but until they come up with something more visually striking than this.. im not interested.. at all..

 

[PanterroR]

Oh, how little or not at all i care for it's looks... At least it looks million times better than that retarded 458 Italia...

 

[Soup]

Car & Driver review
2012 McLaren MP4-12C - First Drive Review - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

 

[ABCD]

This car is simply amazing!