New McLaren MP4-12C, the low down!
Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive Chairman says of the McLaren MP4-12C, “we respect and admire our competitors in the high performance sports car market, just as we do in the world of Formula 1, but I also believe that fierce competition drives technology and innovation and produces ever better products.
With the McLaren MP4-12C we are determined to deliver the best car in its sector by almost any measure. It is our philosophy to push what is possible in-car design and engineering and bring innovation and engineering excellence to the performance car world. We have an incredibly dedicated team at McLaren who continue to drive this company to ever greater achievements, and the 12C represents the passion within, as the first of this new range of performance cars from McLaren.”
But what do the impartial auto journalists say in the early test drives? Here are some of the early comments I have discovered:
Andrew English, The Telegraph writes: “If the Italians are all sound and passion, the McLaren, with its more sober Frank Stephenson design, is more serious.
A stunning debut, then, for a supercar that’s arguably more practical than its rivals. McLaren aims to build 1,000 this year and 1,500 per annum after that. I doubt it will have many problems selling them.”
AutoExpress said: “The MP4-12C is a remarkable product from a remarkable company. It distils the values of the McLaren brand – technological expertise, efficiency and sheer speed – into a stunningly useable package.
- 600PS (592bhp) at 7000rpm; 600Nm (443lb ft) torque from 3000-7000rpm
- 330km/h (205mph)
- 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.3sec (3.1sec with Corsa tyres);
0 – 200km/h (124mph) in 9.1sec (8.9sec with Corsa tyres) - 100 – 0km/h in 30.5m (100ft)
- 1/4 mile: 10.9sec @ 135mph
- 1301kg (2868lb); 461PS (455bhp) per tonne
- CO2 emissions of 279g/km
- 24.2mpg combined
Personally, would I like one, yes, would I want one more than a Ferrari 458 Italia, I don’t think so, but now I’m not so sure.
Rival: Ferrari 458 Italia