McLaren advances the MP4-12C development

The first high performance sports cars from McLaren Automotive, the independent car division based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, is under final stages of development. Scheduled to be launched in 2011, it is going after the supercars selling between £125,000 to £175,000, i.e. the Ferrari F458, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911 Turbo, Bentley Continental GT and Aston Martin DB9.

McLaren’s automotive division has built the world’s most critically acclaimed supercar, the McLaren F1 (1993-1998) and the world’s best-selling luxury supercar, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003-2009). McLaren Automotive now looks to the future with a new range of revolutionary sports cars, starting with the MP4-12C, a pure McLaren, featuring no carryover parts from any other car.

The name of the new McLaren sports car is MP4-12C, a specific combination of letters and numbers. ‘C’ refers to Carbon used for the Carbon MonoCell, ‘12’ represents the intense focus on complete performance, while ‘MP4’ represents the racing bloodline, used by all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981.

The McLaren MP4-12C’s body has been styled to support high levels of downforce, lateral grip and stability. Air flow has been managed to support all performance figures and light weight targets. Externally, the car had to be compact, yet internally it had to offer an unparalleled driver and passenger environment. Moving the driver and passenger closer together improves driving control.

A the heart of the McLaren MP4-12C is a carbon fibre composite chassis: the Carbon MonoCell, automotive version of a McLaren motor racing innovation from the 1981 MP4/1 Formula 1 car. It is produced applying the one-piece moulding manufacturing technique. The McLaren MP4-12C MonoCell, not only brings dynamic benefits, but also offers fundamental engineering opportunities, such as much narrower structure overall which in turn contributes to a more compact car that is easier to position on the road. The 12C MonoCell also offers greater occupant safety because it acts as a safety survival cell, as it does for a Formula 1 car.

Frank Stephenson, McLaren Automotive Design Director opted for a small, bespoke air-con unit that has been moved outside of the cockpit. Such a solution is unique in sports car design. In a narrow ceter console, there was space enough for the LCD touch screen in portrait orientation. It is used for the telematics and standard functions such as audio, navigation and telephony. Meridian, the renowned producer of state-of-the-art sound systems, is developing its first ever in car system for the 12C.

The McLaren MP4−12C is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8 litre 90° V8 engine - the ‘M838T’. It is a unique McLaren power unit, developed specifically for the 12C. Power is rated at 600 PS and 600 Nm.

All 7 gears of the Seamless Shift SSG (double clutch) gearbox are changable via Formula 1 style rocker shift that pivots in the centre of the steering wheel. It is actuated on either side of the steering wheel. The rocker moves with the steering wheel, rather than being mounted on the steering column, so that if a gear change is needed while lock is being applied the driver does not have to fumble around to change gear.

“By the time the 12C is launched in 2011 we expect the economic conditions to be much improved. We have already seen significant interest in the car and the supply of the 12C will be relatively scarce; in its first year we plan to produce just 1,000 cars which represents only 3.5 percent of the ‘core’ market,” explained Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director.

McLaren Automotive will distribute the 12C and future models through a brand-new retail network in all global markets.