Tag: MP4-12C

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McLaren

Australia’s 2011 McLaren MP4-12C allocation has sold-out

McLaren MP4-12C

The new Mac is a sell out, already!  Official performance specs for the McLaren MP4-12C were only released last week, and the car is yet to actually go on sale anywhere in the world. However, it’s being reported that the initial allocation of 12Cs for Australia have already been sold. There’s still a few weeks to go until official pricing is announced, let alone a local launch. And the wait list is fast heading towards 18 months.

It’s expected the Australian pricing for the McLaren MP4-12C will be around $500K, or around the price of a small hatchback less than a Ferrari 458 Italia. Go Auto is reporting more than 30 buyers have placed deposits with local McLaren Automotive dealer Trivett. That’s enough sales to exhaust Australia’s initial 2011 allocation, due for delivery in October, and means half of the 2012 inventory has been sold as well.

McLaren Automotive’s regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Ian Gorsuch is rapt with the take up of the 12C down under and said, “Effectively for much the same price as the opposition, you’re getting a car with far better performance and far better useability but also more exclusivity, because we will not produce the same amount as Ferrari. We purposefully want to produce less cars – that’s our business model.”

Based on current demand Gorsuch expects the full 2012 allocation for the Australian market to be sold out soon too. Best get in touch with Trivett today, then!

[Source: Go Auto]

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McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C video reviews

McLaren MP4-12C

First posted 15 February.

When the McLaren MP4-12C was launched to the world’s media in Portugal last month, well, it was only 30 of the world’s media. An exclusive and lucky bunch of motoring hacks to be sure.

That means there’s going to be a lot of shouting going on from those 30 saying “I was there too”. Which also means there’s going to be lots of review floating about in the coming days. Even the March 2011 edition of Wheels magazine proudly features the 12C on its cover.

So we’ll be adding any video reviews we stumble across to this article starting with the thoughts of Car magazine’s Chris Chilton. If you see a review of the 12C you’d like added below, just leave the URL in the comments section.

Videos from Motor Trend, Road & Track and Evo have also been added.

UPDATE 16 Feb: A slightly odd and anonymous video has been posted to YouTube (you can watch it below) showing an MP4-12C in a drag race against a Ferrari 458 and a Porsche 911 Turbo. It’s clearly obvious what will happen next, we’re just wondering where this clip was sourced. An inside hatchet job maybe?

UPDATE 17 Feb: Steve Sutcliffe from Autocar has chimed in with his thoughts. And with 2000 miles in the car over road and race track he’s formed a well developed opinion.

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McLaren

VIDEO: McLaren MP4-12C at Portimao

The McLaren MP4-12C recently had its global media launch at the Portimao Circuit in Portugal. Supporting the written and pictorial material from McLaren are these three videos.

The first concentrates on the performance of the 12C, the second includes highlights from the media driving the car while the final clip shows how McLaren Automotive have used the company’s Formula One simulator to help develop the new road car.

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McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C: Official specs & performance data

McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren has officially lifted the wraps of its new MP4-12C supercar. There’s a monster press release available after the break, but to get to the point the key performance numbers are listed below:

  • Engine: 3799cc V8 twin turbo
  • Valvetrain: 32-valve, DOHC, dual VVT
  • Transmission: 7 Speed SSG with Pre-Cog
  • Power: 600PS (592bhp) at 7,000 rpm
  • Torque: 600Nm between 3,000 – 7,000 rpm
  • Dry weight (with lightweight options): 1301kgs
  • 0 – 100kph in 3.3s (3.1s with optional Corsa tyres)
  • 0 – 200kph in 9.1s (8.9s on optional Corsa tyres)
  • Top speed: 330kph (205mph)
  • 1/4 mile: 10.9s @ 135 mph

Perhaps the most impressive thing you will read about the 12C in coming days comes courtesy of Chris Harris from Evo, “It’s faster than a Ferrari 458 Italia, has more useable performance, rides better, has more mechanical grip.”

UPDATE: Autoblog has a great in-depth review of the MP4-12C, it’s well worth a read.

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McLaren

McLaren Automotive presents MP4-12C sales pitch

McLaren Automotive has cobbled together various bits of MP4-12C footage released in 2010 to try and answer the simple question posed by Jenson Button: “Why should I buy this car?”

Actually, we’d not seen the footage of the MP4-12C being driven around an icy and snowy Dunsfold Aerodrome before. That looked like fun!

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McLaren Motorsports

McLaren announces return to sports car racing in 2012

McLaren MP4-12C GT3

McLaren Automotive has announced they will return to sports car racing in 2012. CRS Racing, in partnership with McLaren, will develop a GT3 version of the new MP4-12C. Targetted to European-based privateer entries, CRS will also coordinate sales and support for the 12C GT3.

Martin Whitmarsh, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal reckons their return to GT competition with the MP4-12C was an obvious move, “Racing is in our blood—it was natural to develop a GT3 car alongside the 12C road car.

“The 12C’s architecture and design was always aimed at high-performance and ease of maintenance—two key criteria for potential customers.”

As part of the development process McLaren and CRS will compete in a handful of GT races across Europe in 2011, with a view to offering a small number of cars ready to race in the 2012 FIA GT Championship.

More information will be posted in due course on a dedicated McLaren GT website. For now, you can read the official press release after the break. This is accompanied by an impressive promo video, based on McLaren’s last foray into GT racing, where they won the 1995 Le Mans 24 hour race on debut with the legendary McLaren F1 GTR.

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McLaren

McLaren announces UK and Euro pricing for MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren Automotive has set the price for its upcoming MP4-12C supercar. Pricing starts at £168,500 for UK buyers, while European customers will be coughing up €200,000 plus. Those of us in other markets will have pricing confirmed at a later date.

For comparison, an Aston Martin DBS will cost you £170,500, a Porsche 911 GT2 RS is £167,915, while a Ferrari 458 Italia will set you back £169,545. Importantly, the Perodua Myvi 5dr pricing begins at £7,799, so you could by 21 of those if the 12C doesn’t float your boat.

Full detail available after the break.

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McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C makes North American debut

McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren Automotive are taking their new MP4-12C supercar on a North American road trip. They kicked off the tour at the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Governator was on hand to sign a few autographs. McLaren design chief Frank Stephenson was also on hand to show Arnie where the engine is.

Video and pics available after the break.

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McLaren

McLaren Automotive announces One Hyde Park showroom

McLaren Automotive

McLaren Automotive have announced their premier European dealership will be at One Hyde Park in London. The showroom will take up space at the The Residences at Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. The McLaren MP4-12C is due for release before the middle of 2011 and the McLaren London showroom will open its doors early next year.

Christian Marti, McLaren Automotive’s European Regional Director, said, “One Hyde Park has already established itself as a landmark location in London, and we are both proud and excited to be part of its future success.

“The McLaren London showroom at One Hyde Park will represent everything we strive for at McLaren: great attention to detail, form and function in its visual impact and atmosphere, and a focus on the customers’ requirements.

“We worked incredibly hard to ensure McLaren is represented by the world’s best retailers, and Jardine Motors Group worked incredibly hard to convince us that they were right for us in London. One Hyde Park completes the picture for both of our businesses as we move towards the launch of the 12C and our future range of sports cars.”

More from McLaren after the break.

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McLaren Motor Shows

McLaren MP4-12C at the 2010 Goodwood FoS

McLaren MP4-12C

The official public reveal of the new McLaren MP4-12C supercar took place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend. In fact, it was the first car to make the run up the hill this year, informally opening the show, as it were.

McLaren have released a short video of the weekend’s activities and the sound of the 3.8 litre V8 is rather tasty. From the footage shown Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton weren’t exactly hanging about, either.

Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director, reckons Goodwood was the ideal place to debut the company’s newest road car, “The visitors to our stand were the perfect blend of car enthusiasts and potential customers; I’m delighted that we chose Goodwood Festival of Speed to unveil the 12C to the public. Two British Formula 1 World Champions were behind the wheel of the car as we led the field up the hill. A major landmark, delivered to McLaren’s high standards.”

More after the break.

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McLaren

Sydney named as location for McLaren Automotive dealership

McLaren showroom rendering

McLaren Automotive have just announced the locations for their initial dealership rollout. The good news is Australia is on the list. Well, Sydney is, more specifically. The bad news is the Sydney showroom will be launched in the second of two stages.

There are plans for 35 dealerships around the world to begin with. The first stage will see 23 locations open across Europe, North America, South Africa and the Middle East in the second quarter of 2011. No firm dates have been given for expected opening dates for the second batch, although Dealer Principals will be appointed later this year.

Locations included in the second stage of dealerships include Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo from the Asia-Pacific region. Also joining the party will be Spain and further additions to the United States and the Middle East.

The first car to grace the new McLaren showrooms will be the MP4-12C. The eagerly anticipated 12C will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

Full details available from McLaren after the jump.

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McLaren MP4-12C Configurator

McLaren MP4-12C configurator

McLaren are pushing their MP4-12C supercar pretty hard. And that’s not pushing the performance envelope, either. While they are doing that, no doubt, they are also hyping this car and making sure it remains at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Remember, the 12C isn’t due for customer deliveries until early 2011 (or possibly late 2010).

The most recent method of hyping the 12C is to launch a configurator on the McLaren website. It’s just a bit of hit and giggle at the moment, especially as no pricing has been announced. However, it is quite a bit of fun. You can select paint colour, minor exterior trim detail as well as wheel and brake packages. Inside you can fiddle around with seat fabric colour and infotainment equipment. Oh, the track data option is a must, naturally.

More pics and a press statement after the jump. Including the obligatory opportunity to roll out Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

After the press release I’ve also included a few screen grabs of my preferred option. It’s got Titanium Silver exterior colour, with super-lightweight forged alloys. There’s carbon ceramic brakes, too, with the calipers painted in McLaren Orange. And to set it off on the inside there’s a mix of leather and alcantara. What do you think? Let us know your options in the comments section below.

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