McLaren’s MP4-12C puts it in competition with Mercedes and Ferrari off the track
McLaren's MP4-12C (right) with a McLaren F1
McLaren officially launched its MP4-12C today – the sports car which will rival Ferrari’s 458 model.
The company is entering a new era as it begins production of road vehicles in greater numbers than it has done before and ends its association with Mercedes. It has begun buying back the 40% stake Mercedes acquired in McLaren and should complete the process by the end of the year.
While the new MP4-12C was officially revealed to the press at McLaren’s headquarters the car was also on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed media event. It was shown alongside a McLaren F1 – the ultra-exclusive supercar, formerly the fastest production car in the world, examples of which have sold for millions of pounds at auction.
The MP4-12C, is powered by an engine built by McLaren in-house. This will inevitably raise speculation that the team might want to go the same way with its F1 cars.
But it announced at the end of last year that a deal was in place to continue its supply of Mercedes F1 engines until 2015 – despite Mercedes entering its own works team in the sport this year.
It’s a significant change for the team that has competed in F1 longer than any other team bar Ferrari. Instead of being partly owned by a car manufacturer, it is now dependent on its ability to sell cars.
Can McLaren inspire enough wealthy buyers to spend over £150,000 on an MP4-12C? It claims it is on the way with over 1,600 expressions of interest for the first 1,000 examples which will be built in the first year of production.
It adds an extra dimension to their long-running rivalry with Ferrari which will now be measured in car sales as well as championship trophies.
And with with Mercedes promoting its SLS AMG via its role as F1 safety car supplier we now have three car manufacturers in F1 who are all competing for sales in the same market segment – an unusual and fascinating scenario.
McLaren MP4-12C
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- McLaren MP4-12C
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- McLaren MP4-12C
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- McLaren MP4-12C and McLaren F1
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- McLaren MP4-12C and McLaren F1
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- McLaren MP4-12C
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- McLaren MP4-12C
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- McLaren MP4-12C and McLaren F1
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- McLaren MP4-12C and McLaren F1
McLaren MP4-12C and rivals
- McLaren MP4-12C road car revealed
- Schumacher in Mercedes SLS ad (video)
- Mercedes SLS AMG to lead the pack as new F1 safety car in 2010
Images (C) F1Fanatic.co.uk
Spud said on 18th March 2010, 20:55
That MP4-12C is a beauty.
Unfortunately, I’ll have to wait till I win the lotto next week. I’ll head out and get one then.
Any performance figures for it Keith??
stillious said on 18th March 2010, 21:07
1300 kg/ 2866 lb.
600 bhp, 600 Nm / 443 lb ft.
0-100 km/h (62mph) under 3 seconds
0-200 km/h (124 mph) under 10 seconds
200-0 km/h in under 5 seconds
60-0 less than 30 meters (98′)
1/4 mile under 11 seconds
Top speed over 320 km/h, 200 mph
Projected price in UK £175,000 $267,000.
Spud said on 18th March 2010, 21:29
Holy guacamole Batman, thats almost €200,000 in monopoly money.
The road tax on that thing would kill me altogether, probably a million euros or so, although I really don’t need too worry since my insurance company would run a mile!
As I said, just wait till I win next weeks lotto jackpot….. Hmm…………
MigueLP said on 18th March 2010, 22:18
only prob inspired on the 458 design
Bertie said on 19th March 2010, 8:57
I do love this car but my god i hate the name.
anirudh said on 19th March 2010, 11:35
is it just me or MP4-12C looks way sexier than Mclaren f1?
his_majesty said on 19th March 2010, 13:51
It’s just you. I prefer the older McLaren. The front and the rear of the new car don’t do it for me. The snorkel on the F1 is so awesome, it can’t be put into words on this site! The front of the newer car reminds me of the Jag XJ220. I was never a fan of that car either. That is just my opinion.
Uncle said on 19th March 2010, 17:47
Prefer the F1 TBH
Untitled258 said on 18th March 2010, 21:01
Ill be honest, i think the new Ferrari is much prettier. That said i hope this car does well, it’ll be pretty interesting to see an f1 team going into production road cars, rather then a production road car manufacturers coming into F1. Its something i certainly havn’t seen in my decade of f1 watching.
Patrickl said on 18th March 2010, 21:38
I have to agree that they didn’t try to go for a “style icon” look with the MP4-12C, but I’d say that’s a good thing. That new Ferrari indeed looks like pretty a hairdressers car while the McLaren looks tough, mean and rugged.
BNK Racing said on 19th March 2010, 0:22
co-sign…plus its something different. ferraris are like the hondas of the supercar world lol.
todd said on 19th March 2010, 4:45
mean and rugged?
i thought it was a Peugeot at first.
DanThorn said on 19th March 2010, 10:44
Who wants a rugged supercar? If you want rugged, buy a Land Rover. Supercars these days are all about finesse and precision.
Adrian said on 19th March 2010, 13:05
…and which F1 team strikes you as the most precise? For me it’s McLaren.
Patrickl said on 19th March 2010, 13:35
Preciscion? Brute power and insane speeds is what one wants from a supercar. Muscles and brawn!
If you want precision you buy a Porsche or a Noble or something.
Derek said on 19th March 2010, 16:13
As Ron Dennis is in charge then it goes without saying that preciscion and functionality and detail and lots of other ‘itys’ are in there.
Scribe said on 18th March 2010, 21:20
Well here, thank goodness is something that McLaren can get totaly right. No chance silly things like tactics, 800M of track we haven’t had time to process, or indeed anything untoward to get in the way.
I’ll admit the italia looks better but I bet the McLaren is going to go round a track better.
Scribe said on 18th March 2010, 21:24
Also, what was wrong with orange. This car looked sooooo good in McLarens colours. This black really takes away from the car, and it’s best feature, being the air inlets behind the door.
HG said on 18th March 2010, 21:57
yea just saw some pics in orange, def much better.
Bartholomew said on 18th March 2010, 22:07
Definitely, in black it is Batmobile. In orange with silver wheels it is much better
RaceKid said on 18th March 2010, 21:28
This car just lacks personality. It looks… generic and plain.
TommyB said on 18th March 2010, 21:32
Couldn’t agree with you more RaceKid. Don’t really like it, I’m sure it’s a fantastic machine but has no character like the old model.
And if you don’t agree put a picture of it next to the new 458 Italia, Quite possibly the best looking car I have ever seen, gorgeous.
steph said on 19th March 2010, 10:12
Agree although not a fan of the 458 looks but it has a bit of character to it.
DanThorn said on 19th March 2010, 10:47
If they could combine the looks and drama of the old F1 with the driving experience (if it’s good, which I’m assuming it will be) of the MP4-12C then they’ll be laughing.
ajokay said on 19th March 2010, 12:09
I still want this car in Forza 3 though, along with the new Honda Super GT-spec race car.
TheGreatCornholio said on 19th March 2010, 13:46
Ajokay, put a search into youtube for the Honda you mentioned and you can see them testing it at Suzuka. It sounds bloody amazing! Apologies for not being able to give you the exact link details but i’m using my mobile. Think its honda hsv10 GT or something similar! Enjoy:)
Monosodico said on 19th March 2010, 14:10
Honda HSV-010 Super GT
http://www.modified.com/news/modp-1001-honda-hsv-010-super-gt/index.html
Invoke said on 18th March 2010, 21:42
I agree with everyone else the Italia has the looks, but this is McLaren and form will most definitely follow function. I heard the Nissan GTR was designed by wind tunnel figures not a designer, I imagine the 12C had a similar design phase.
Sush Meerkat said on 18th March 2010, 22:42
Machines building machines?, this cannot end well.
Adrian said on 19th March 2010, 13:07
It doesn’t, I’ve seen the films…
TheGreatCornholio said on 19th March 2010, 13:49
Lmao:) Brilliant!
Invoke said on 22nd March 2010, 11:49
haha I have only just seen this reply!
…now I’m half expecting the McLaren technology centre to sprout legs and start terrorizing Surrey!
BasCB said on 19th March 2010, 14:04
Personally i like the looks of the McLaren more. The italia reminds me of an overstyled Alfa Romeo model. Especially the head lights and the back.
HG said on 18th March 2010, 21:54
it looks quite tall and bulbous compared to the F1
ErBearJ24 said on 18th March 2010, 22:02
This will be an interesting battle between Ferrari and McLaren. I think McLaren will definitely hold their own because a lot of the concepts for the MP4-12C stem from the McLaren F1 car. I agree with Spud though. Let me go out and win the lottery and then I may consider buying one. Or maybe just sell my house and live in my MP4-12C!
Bartholomew said on 18th March 2010, 22:10
Ron should also consider making some FRONT ENGINED models, with very elegant styling like the Mercedes Mac SLR and the Mercedes Stirling Moss replica.
Dont make them all rear-engined, Ron!
pSynrg said on 21st March 2010, 10:00
It’s mid-engined not rear engined. In a similar relative position to the engine in an F1 and other mid-engined configurations. There’s a real functional reason, look it up.
George said on 18th March 2010, 22:53
Strange they took a LHD model to Goodwood (or are they all LHD?)
zplol said on 18th March 2010, 22:58
The headlight covers look stupid to be honest.
where are the mclaren badges?
thestig84 said on 18th March 2010, 23:49
Really!? Its a prototype! The headlights and badges are normal on the production version. Check the website and launch video.
chaosthoery said on 18th March 2010, 23:39
That McLaren F1 car still looks awesome, after 15 years (or more?), Compering it to Ferrari models from that time it still looks young :)
Harvs said on 19th March 2010, 4:09
ha, remember mclaren said…
…”the McLaren F1, 39 times better than the F40″.
I Agree.
joe said on 18th March 2010, 23:57
The 458 will be faster than the mp412 around circuits and as near as makes no difference in a straight line. Im looking forward to ferrari releasing an uprated version of the 458 to really make mclaren fanboys spew and demolish any ideas that the mclaren may have a chance
Jack said on 29th March 2010, 12:09
I don’t wanna break your bubble or anything. But McLaren have already come out saying that this will beat anything in its segment. That includes the 458. The 12c has more power and is lighter. Pretty clear cut.
sato113 said on 19th March 2010, 1:00
it looks like a ferrari from the front!
Dane said on 19th March 2010, 4:48
I agree. Maybe they got the design info through Spygate
DanThorn said on 19th March 2010, 10:49
It looks like the old 360, which was a bit of a hippo.
Becken said on 19th March 2010, 1:40
The guys from Autocar are suggesting that the car will destroy the competition in straight line:
LINK: http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/anythinggoes/archive/2010/03/16/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-mclaren.aspx
wasiF1 said on 19th March 2010, 2:22
I don’t know too much about the economy but I doubt that Mclaren will be able to attract people to buy this car.But am liking the idea that all the F1 manufacturer are now having a battle offtrack in the market just as on track.I hope in the future when Mclaren will buy back it’s share from Mercedes we may see Mclaren engine in F1.
What about Renault, doesn’t they make any sports car? I know they have Renault WIND which is a small sports car.
Jack said on 29th March 2010, 12:11
1600 confirmed orders says different.