2012 McLaren MP4-12C

Let’s see now. You’ve got your Ferrari 458 Italia, your Porsche 911 GT2 RS and 911 Turbo S and Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 570-4. After all, if we’re setting the scene properly on the most important supersports car inauguration in quite some time – the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C – we should, in this first privileged go, at least be keeping our minds on sub-12-cylinder mid- and rear-engine road beasts. For now, that is. So if anyone brings up the 2012 Nissan GT-R or Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, that’ll be us snapping your back side with a wet towel at the health club. You’ve been warned.

Before we’ve dropped into the Recaro support-o-rama seats of the MP4-12C, one of the Queen’s lairds of the realm announces, “Be prepared to drive the best handling sports car in history.” What do you say to Sir Ron Dennis, boss of the newly formed McLaren Automotive Company (a.k.a. the MAC daddy), when he puts pressure on like that? It’s like Bill Gates looking at us and asking enthusiastically, “So, don’t you just love that Windows 7?” What happens if you don’t?

But as luck would have it, the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C is quite possibly the best handling supersports road and weekend track car in history. Yes, this will certainly take some ‘splainin’, but bear with us. We’re just pleased that no royal beheadings will now be called for, as Sir Ron is not renowned for his merciful treatment of dissenters.

McLaren MP4-12C enters production, Hamilton and Button celebrate

The very first McLaren MP4-12C built for public consumption has begun to make its way through the production process. Chassis 01 isn’t quite finished yet, as you can see by our high-res image gallery below, but it will be soon enough and McLaren plans to build up to 999 more in 2011.

Starting at $229,000, the MP4-12C is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 that produces 600 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Prototype versions have been out running at various locations and events, including the Goodwood Festival of Speed and a very snowy Top Gear Test Track.

To celebrate Chassis 01 entering production, McLaren has put together a short clip that highlights its past year of testing. Click past the jump to watch Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button put the McLaren MP4-12C through a set of workouts.

 

 Source:Autoblog

McLaren brings back the SLR for a limited-edition swan song

It’s been a year since the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was discontinued. 2,000 examples of five different variants of the extravagant supercar were made over the course of five years of production. And in its wake,Mercedes-Benz and McLaren have gone their separate ways, both on the track and off. Both have been keeping plenty busy since the divorce, but they’ve apparently gotten back together for one last hurrah.

Apparently created by McLaren as an aftermarket kit for existing models and unveiled at the Essen Motor Show (think of it as Germany’s SEMA), this McLaren Edition SLR packs revised aerodyanamics, steering, suspension and interior. The result is an exclusive swan-song for the exotic McMerc (only 25 examples will be offered), and it looks like it’s mated with a MG SV. Take a closer look with the images below and the video after the jump, where you may notice that the Mercedes part of the equation has been decidedly de-emphasized.

McLaren New Edition

You heard right; McLaren has officially priced its MP4-12C at €200,000 in Germany and £168,500 in the UK. So far, there’s no word on U.S. pricing. For that low price, buyers can expect to slide into a carbon-fiber body structure with a 592-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V8 nestled in just the right spot. 

As you might have guessed, those with the means will be allowed to a certain level of customization, especially in the cabin. McLaren says that it will offer a total of 14 different trim variations indoors along with a host of performance upgrades. You know, in case that kind of power in a 2,866-pound chassis just isn’t enough for you.

The go-faster tricks include a sports exhaust system, carbon-ceramic brakes and a slew of lightweight wheels. McLaren is only planning on cranking out 1,000 MP4-12C models in the first year of production, each of which will be turned out of the company’s new manufacturing facility that’s expected to be up and running by the middle of next year. That gives us just over six months to start sticking away our lunch money for one of these beasts. Hit the jump for the full press release.

McLaren MP4-12C priced from €200,000

You heard right; McLaren has officially priced its MP4-12C at €200,000 in Germany and £168,500 in the UK. So far, there’s no word on U.S. pricing. For that low price, buyers can expect to slide into a carbon-fiber body structure with a 592-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V8 nestled in just the right spot. 

As you might have guessed, those with the means will be allowed to a certain level of customization, especially in the cabin. McLaren says that it will offer a total of 14 different trim variations indoors along with a host of performance upgrades. You know, in case that kind of power in a 2,866-pound chassis just isn’t enough for you.

The go-faster tricks include a sports exhaust system, carbon-ceramic brakes and a slew of lightweight wheels. McLaren is only planning on cranking out 1,000 MP4-12C models in the first year of production, each of which will be turned out of the company’s new manufacturing facility that’s expected to be up and running by the middle of next year. That gives us just over six months to start sticking away our lunch money for one of these beasts. Hit the jump for the full press release.