The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C

 

McLaren's Attack On The Ferrari 458 Italia

   
 

 

     Have you ever wanted a supercar that looks like a Ferrari but is British. If so McLaren has the answer for you in the form of the MP4-12C supercar.

     The MP4-12C is a rear mid-engine rear-wheel drive supercar equipped with a 3.8 liter twin-turbo V8 made by McLaren themselves that produces approximately 592 bhp and around 443 lb-ft of torque. The redline tops off at 8,500 rpm which 500 lest than it's Ferrari 458 Italia rival. Eighty percent of torque is given at 2,000 rpm. However McLaren upgraded the engine to deliver 616 bhp while keeping the carbon dioxide emissions the same. Top speed is 213.2 mph. The MP4-12C can reach 62 mph in a very impressive 3.1 seconds. I'm sure Ferrari is angry about that. The engine is coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission made by Grazio Oerlikon. This has been dubbed the "Seamless Shift Gearbox" and features a system cubbed "Pre-Cog" that allows the driver to preselect the next gear by lightly tapping one of the paddles behind the steering wheel.

     The MP4-12C's chassis is based around a F1 style one-piece carbon fiber tub, called the Carbon Monocell, which weighs 176 lbs. In fact most of the MP4-12C is made of carbon fiber. Other components are used in the construction as well, possibly aluminium. The suspension used is called a ProActive Chassis Control. The PCC has four settings which include Winter, Normal, Sport, and Track. The brakes use cast iron discs with forged aluminium hubs. The tires used are the often reliable Pirelli P-Zeros. High performance tires are also an option. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the MP4-12C is it's airbrake that activates at high speeds and hard braking to help keep the car in control and to prevent it from going too fast.  The MP4-12C also has two seats as opposed to three in the F1.

     The cost of a MP4-12C in the United States is $229,000. That makes it a tiny bit cheaper than the Ferrari 458 Italia.