2012 McLaren MP4-12C

After a 13-year hiatus from producing road-going cars, McLaren has returned to the streets with a highly advanced supercar aimed at doing battle with the best-of-the-best from historic competitors such as Ferrari and Lamborghini.

McLaren's first production car since 1998 with the end of the legendary F1, the MP4-12C is an entirely new beast aimed specifically at the Ferrari 458 and Lamborghini Gallardo. In fact, comparing the F1 and the MP4-12C side-by-side shows the familiar wedge shape of the legendary F1 on the new MP4-12C, as well as a few subtle design cues not all that different than those found on some of its Italian rivals.

Power comes from a 3.8-liter mid-mounted V8 delivering 592 horsepower and 443 lb-ft. of torque. The twin-turbocharged M838T motor is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission and can spin up to 8500 rpm. Of course, the torquey motor achieves 80 percent of its peak twisting power below 2,000 revs, so flirting with the redline can be saved for special occasions.

 

The run form 0-60 takes 3.3 seconds, or just 3.1 seconds with the MP4-12C’s optional Corsa tires. The 1/4 mile flashes by in 10.9 seconds at 134mph.

The new gearbox is a particularly interesting highlight. Known as SSG (Seamless Shift Gearbox), the unit features an industry-first dubbed Pre-Cog (short for pre-cognition). The system enables the driver to half-press one of the shift paddles in order to preselect the next gear ahead of a downshift or upshift. This dramatically shortens shift time, the automaker promises.

The MP4-12C’s main structure is composed of carbon fiber, resulting in an extraordinarily low curb weight of 3,000 pounds. Amazingly, the floor structure of the passenger compartment — an integral part of the chassis — is crafted as a single unit and weighs just 176 pounds. The body panels are also light, made of aluminum and SMC plastic.

What's up with the name?
Despite what you might think, it’s not an attempt to upstage Japanese cell phone makers. Rather, the numbers and letters do have a pretty understandable meaning. MP4 has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981, while the "12" is a reference to the top echelon of McLaren’s internal rating system.

Finally, the C is believed either to be a reference to the car’s carbon fiber construction or its coupe body style. Rumor has it the roadster variant will be named MP4-12, so we are inclined to think the latter explanation is correct.

McLaren says it will build 1,000 examples of the MP4-12C in the first year of production. While 1,000 may seem like a low volume, keep in mind that by comparison the F1 only saw 100 models produced in its entire six model year existence.

Key Competitors
The MP4-12C competes against prestigious and exotic - not to mention seriously fast - rivals including the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP540-4 and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Basic Specs

Base Price

TBA

Drivetrain	Rear Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)	3084
City (MPG)	TBD
Hwy (MPG)	TBD
Horsepower	592@7000
Torque (lb-ft)	443@3000-70000
Wheelbase	105.1
Length (in.)	177.4
Width (in.)	75.2
Height (in.)	47.2

.