McLaren is working on a new Shooting Brake sports car, built on a carbon and aluminum chassis based on the MP4-12C model: according to the latest rumours, the car will be conceptually inspired by the Ferrari FF, but with a competitive price of around £150,000.

Compared to the Italian, the British saloon with rear-wheel drive will sport only two seats, however providing a larger boot space. The engine will be a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 with output of 600 hp, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in around 3 seconds reaching a top speed of 325 km/h.

Via | Autoexpress

McLaren has released a new official video of the new MP4-12C GT3. The race version of the British supercar will make its racing debut this weekend at the VLN championship at Nürburgring Nordschliefe and the ADAC GT Masters at Oschersleben.

The engine of the racing version is the same supercharged V8 of 3799cc displacement, detuned from around 600 hp to 500 hp to meet championship class rules. The transmission is managed by a 6-speed sequential gearbox developed in partnership with Ricardo and the rear axle is fitted with a new fully adjustable limited slip differential.

To be included in the specifications imposed by the regulations, McLaren engineers have added a roll cage fitted inside the passenger compartment and new aerodynamic parts featuring a new front splitter and a rear diffuser in the front fenders. The brakes are Akebono with 6-piston on the front and 4 on the rear with iron ventilated discs measuring 378 and 355mm respectively.

Video footage and pictures of the previously unknown McLaren MP4-12C HS (High Sport) have emerged on the internet, marking the unveiling this special version of the notorious British supercar without any official communication coming from the carmaker.

Accordingly to website teamspeed.com, the car is the direct evolution of the MP4-12C presented by McLaren Special Operations (an official McLaren division responsible for bespoke customer projects) at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The model has a completely redesigned nose, a little rear wing and features a rear bumper with integrated diffuser and air outlets that is pretty similar to what we have seen on the MP4-12C GT3 racecar. Apparently, the model will also get an extra 75 hp under the bonnet, boosting the total output up to 667 hp.

Moreover, Jodito20 (the youtube user who uploaded the footage) says that there are only five MP4-12C HS models in the world two of which are owned by the crown prince of Bahrain and by McLaren executive chairman and main man himself, Mr. Ron Dennis. We just hope to get more info on the model as soon as possible.

pictures | McLarenLife.com

McLaren’s Group Executive Chairman Ron Dennis invited UK Prime Minister David Cameron to open McLaren’s brand new production center in Woking, England, a facility that is yet another piece in the 1 billion dollars plan set by Mr.Dennis to transform McLaren Automotive into a fully-fledged car company. The new Production Center will surely produce a spider version of the MP4-12C, while other interesting projects are currently in the works.

Rumor has it that McLaren will introduce two new models by 2015: the first one will be a 800 hp V8 model intended to replace the legandary McLaren F1 - which was launched in 1992 - and the other one should be a sort of entry-level model that will be priced at around 100,000 € and produced in larger numbers than the aforementioned V8 model. McLaren is aiming at a 4,000 sold units per year target.

View the full McLaren’s new production center photo gallery

McLaren just released an official video featuring the MP4-12C lapping the Nurburgring North Course with circuit specialist Horst von Saurma behind the wheel, recording an impressive lap-time of 7 minutes and 28 seconds. The video does not show the full lap.

As pointedly noted by GTSpirit.com, the table on display at the end of this clip is the one used by German magazine SportAuto, which is not the one that is usually referred to as benchmark, provided by website Fastestlaps.com. The McLaren model is credited with a laptime of 7 min 28 sec on both charts while arch-rival Ferrari 458 Italia is credited with a lap-time of 7 min 38 sec on the former and 7 min 28 sec on the latter. It just seems like the never-ending war between these 2 supercars will last forever..

McLaren main man Ron Dennis sent a letter to all MP4-12C owners playing down the recent reliability issues of the model, most notably infotainment system and warning lights malfunctions. Dennis described these flaws as mere “early software bugs” that can be easily fixed at any McLaren dealership. All customers affected by these problems will receive a free copy of ‘McLaren: The Wins’, a book with images and stories behind McLaren 636 victories in motorsport.

Via | World Car Fans

McLaren has begun testing the successor of the F1 - currently known as ‘P12′ - that is supposed to surface in 2014. The new model will join the MP4-12C in the McLaren range and will challenge the likes of Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari Enzo’s successor in the supercars’ top league. According to Autocar.co.uk, the first tests took place in Spain, Germany and Bahrain in order to collect as many data as possible in different weather conditions, before getting to the final setting stage.

Just like the F1 in 1994, this new model will be a pretty exclusive car as McLaren is planning to produce 500 units only by 2018, each one bearing a 1 Million Pounds price tag which - with the due proportions - is even more than what was asked for Gordon Murray’s F1. The car will have a carbon fibre composite chassis and a brand new turbocharged 5.0 V8 engine, producing 800 hp and developed together with Ricardo, the British engineering company that worked with McLaren on the MP4-12C engine as well. The new rear-wheel drive car will come with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission by Graziano and should deliver its maximum torque of 794 Nm between 3500 and 6800 rpm, which would give it a basically endless thrust. It is safe to assume that the final version of the P12 will reach 100km/h from standstill in less than 3 seconds, and will probably boast a sprint time from 0 to 320km/h of about 20 seconds.

Suspension settings will probably be lifted from the MP4-12C, including the advanced electronic control system, hydraulic stabilizer bars and adjustable traction control. Obviously the braking system has to be top-notch as well, therefore McLaren chose the last generation of carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo. Aerodynamics will also be heavily inspired by the MP4-12C but the exterior design will be more sharp and aggressive, with some Formula 1 element too. The signature 3 seat/driver-in-the-middle solution adopted for the cabin of the F1 will not be used for the new model.

Quoting “multiple unofficial reports”, website Autoevolution.com has declared that McLaren MP4-12C production has come to a halt because of safety reasons. Apparently, the English carmaker has put the sports car production line on hold in order to focus on certain problems concerning brake hoses, door locks, glass engine cover and even the Iris infotainment system. It is rumoured that dashboard’s wiring and gaskets might have some issues too as a few owners noticed some water leak.

McLaren has not released any official statement on the matter yet, and it is not clear whether the current owners of the MP4-12C have been warned or if the units already sold will be recalled.

McLaren Special Operations is the company’s newly launched bespoke client customisation division and the name says it all - it’s all about making you feel special (or the lucky customers of a new McLaren MP4-12C, that is). So just how can you customise a McLaren? In an infinite number of ways it seems, and the British supercar manufacturer is certainly taking the battle to Ferrari and its customisation program.

The McLaren MP4-12C Pebble Beach bespoke model was the launch car for the new division and it had new satin matte Volcano Orange paintwork, a gloss black roof, diamond cut finish wheels with gloss black inners, MP4-12C branded carbon sill panels, carbon steering wheel, front wheel arch louvres and carbon fibre engine cover vents, rear deck vent and wiper system cover.

And that’s just the introduction of the program. Paul Mackenzie, Programme Director, says:

McLaren Automotive already offers 12C customers extensive options to personalise their car. However we recognise some owners have specific tastes and we have the knowledge and capability to design, engineer and produce almost anything a customer may desire for their 12C.

While McLaren has a long history in Formula 1, it could hardly become a start-up supercar roadgoing business if it were to rely on just one model. The McLaren MP4-12C has a lot going for it and will only become the starting point for future McLaren models and variants.

According to MotorTrend, the “new” British supercar business will work on a three-tier model of which the MP4-12C represents the middle tier. It’s to compete with the Ferrari 458 Italia, mostly, and also the Lamborghini Gallardo. An MP4-12C Spider will be in the future range, and above is a rendering of what that might look like.

Moving up a tier the MP4-12C (or P11), becomes the McLaren hypercar P12 to compete with the new Lamborghini Aventador, for example. It will probably represent the closest roadgoing model to McLaren’s Formula 1 efforts and will be the benchmark McLaren model in the future, having about 800 hp as an initial rough estimate.

Going back down a couple of notches, the entry-level McLaren tier will be the P13 and it will obviously be McLaren’s swipe at the Porsche 911 (but a non-turbo alternative). Future development plans including the use of carbon, and keeping best performance principles at heart.

Obviously we’re talking some serious investment and R&D, but in the future the new McLaren factory will have a capacity to produce 4,000 units a year, making the future business plan feasible. What’s more, when that 4,000 figure is spread out across the three tiers, McLaren is making a firm bid to emulate Ferrari’s practice of always making less than what will meet demand.

Gemballa Racing will compete in the 2012 GT3 category with two McLaren MP4-12C GT3 models. The new racing unit from the German tuner has chosen the new McLaren vehicles for their potential to be among the leaders in the new season, and the models will obviously get the modifications required.

The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 from Gemballa Racing will get a new front splitter, improved air vents, a larger rear wing and rear diffuser; and on the inside it will be equipped with a carbon safety cell around the cockpit, an F1-style steering wheel and integrated display.

The Gemballa team will be headed by Sacha Bert, race drive and instructor, and the rest of the team and the drivers will be announced later. Gemballa investor, Steffen Korbach says:

We deliberately went for the McClaren MP4-12C GT3 for our motor sport commitment, because we think the car has enormous potential to be among the season’s leaders. Together with a renowned deployment team that’s already won everything in sight and exceptional drivers, we obviously want to drive to win. Racing is in our blood.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 by Gemballa Racing

Source | WCF

After only recently appearing on the Top Gear show, reports are that Rowan Atkinson has crashed his McLaren F1 supercar in the UK, in wet weather. In dramatic reports, Atkinson crashed the F1 into a lamppost and a tree, apparently losing control of the vehicle before it burst into flames.

In scenes reminiscent of Johnny English, Atkinson apparently crawled from the flaming vehicle and was taken to hospital with only a shoulder injury. It’s the second time he’s crashed his McLaren F1, with the first time happening in 1999. The car is estimated as having a value of £650,000, though probably not right now.

Atkinson was the fastest “star in a reasonably priced car” on the Top Gear show (see video above) and has a collection of vintage and supercar models. The F1 is apparently with the McLaren recovery team right now to get it back into shape.

Source | Daily Mirror