17 years after the ground breaking McLaren F1 burst on to the automotive scene, McLaren have released official photos of their newest creation. Dubbed the MP4-12C it is powered by a 3.8-litre 90-degree V8 mounted amidships and producing 600 bhp and 443lb ft of torque.
Knowing that this is a Gordon Murray creation I am willing to bet that every single detail of this car has been fussed over. The original McLaren F1 was one of the first road cars to make extensive use of carbon fiber and the new MP4-12C seems to be no stranger to exotic materials.
McLaren calls the skeleton of the MP4-12C the Carbon MonoCell, an unusually light one-piece structure where most supercars normally use assembled composite architectures. Although pricey, it’s developed using a much quicker, cheaper production method than the McMerc SLR’s tub, and it’s clothed in aluminum and SMC plastic body panels.
Designe wise McLaren has stated that everything on the car is new and every panel is completely functional but I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed about the design. The front facia looks like the Ferrari F458 and the overall look of the car reminds me of the Lotus Evora.
The super car market has gotten predictable in the last few years with manufactures content to bump up horsepower, add some slight cosmetic changes and call that a all new model. What the industry needs is a radical leap forward, something that the The original F1 did in its day. Will the MP4-12C have the same impact or will be be just another ultra-fast super car forgotten in a few months time when the next shiny toy is unveiled?
[Source: Car]
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- McLaren MP4-12C Exterior
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- McLaren MP4-12C Rear
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- McLaren MP4-12C Rear
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- McLaren MP4-12C Side
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- McLaren MP4-12C Side Door
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- McLaren MP4-12C Tub
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- McLaren MP4-12C Interior
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- McLaren MP4-12C Steering Wheel
September 8, 2009
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