All posts tagged mclaren
UK PM David Cameron opens McLaren new production center
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 MP4-12C laps the Nurburgring in 7 min and 28": video available
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 MP4-12C: Ron Dennis minimizes quality issues
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 MP4-12C: production halted?
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 MP4-12C GT3 new pics and launch video
The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 racing car has been launched and we get to see the GT3 specs along with it. The vehicle will race in the 2012 FIA GT3 championship and is wider than the road-going model by ten centimetres, and is clearly lower. A new aerodynamics system has been studied for the car which gives it impressive looks, and the GT3 gets race-worthy brakes and suspension system. The key to the MP4-12C - its carbonfibre monocell - has been borrowed, and there is a Formula 1 set-up to the steering wheel.
It all makes for a formidable package on the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, which gets an updated 3.8-litre V8 twinturbo engine with 500 hp and a more track-focused sequential six-speed transmission. That figure makes the GT3 less powerful than the standard, road going MP4-12C, but McLaren says the racing DNA on its road model meant that they didn’t have to bump up power, focusing instead on other racing characteristics like the suspension and transmission. 20 of the new McLaren GT3 will be built and it will driven by Andrew Kirkaldy, Oliver Turvey and Alvaro Parente.
Continue reading: McLaren MP4-12C GT3 new pics and launch video
McLaren MP4-12C GT3 track video
The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 track car has been homologated for FIA GT3 competition and in this video we see it in its first outing on the track, driven by Alvaro Parente. The MP4-12C GT3 has been developed with the collaboration of CRS Racing and is different from the stock car with its new aerodynamic kit, Ricardo racing transmission and more powerful brakes. Suspension modifications have also been carried out and tested in the Woking Technology Centre. The 3.8-litre V8 engine remains the same. We’ll be seeing the GT3 version of the McLaren road car debut in 2012.
McLaren MP4-12C vs Ferrari 458 Italia and Porsche 911 Turbo
The first of the McLaren MP4-12C video challenges has emerged in this drag race against the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche 911 Turbo. The challenge takes place at the Portimao track and was organised by McLaren - clearly confident of the results of its new weapon. The MP4-12C has a declared sprint time of 3.3 seconds to reach 100 km/hr, which drops to 3.1 seconds when using the optional Corsa tyres.
The Ferrari 458 Italia, already considered one of the queens of the 100 km/hr race has a time of 3.4 seconds. The McLaren is supposed to be lighter, though, and quicker despite the Ferrari’s higher top speed of 325 km/hr. The challenge was organised during the media presentation of the new MP4-12C and while we find the video slightly disappointing (obviously the time it takes to wave the starting flag is longer than the overall acceleration of the vehicles), see what you think in the video.
New McLaren MP4-12C videos and pics
The performance specs of the McLaren MP4-12C get the video treatment here as we see the new supercar in action, including a Jenson Button MP4-12C track drive with journalists. If you’re not into statistics, which I personally am not, you may feel that the focus on numbers detracts from the romance of the world’s latest new supercar. You’re possibly right, but then it could hardly be a supercar if we weren’t talking of sprint times and top speeds.
The Jenson Button drive of the MP4-12C will put some of that romance back for you as we hardly need a spec sheet to appreciate the sound and speed of this car. The first video above is for those of you who love the numbers game and it’s nothing short of overwhelming. The two videos after the jump feature the press launch and the Jenson Button MP4-12C drive (tough job he’s got, cruising around in a McLaren for a day), and the relationship between the MP4-12C and the McLaren Formula One simulator.
McLaren MP4-12C technical specs revealed
In announcing the first production units of the McLaren MP4-12C, the specifications of the new supercar have also been revealed. The McLaren MP4-12C has a 3.8-litre V8 engine with 600 hp at 7,000 rpm, and 600 Nm of torque between 3,000 and 7,000 rpm. The MP4-12C sprints to 100 km/hr in 3.3 seconds, gets to 200 km/hr in 9.1 seconds and can cover a quarter of a mile in 10.9 seconds, getting to 216 km/hr in the meantime. From a standing start, the MP4-12C does a kilometre in 19.1 seconds, with exit speed of that kilometre measured at 272 km/hr. Overall top speed for the McLaren is 330 km/hr.
The MP4-12C weighs 1,336 kg (dry) or 1,434 kg according to DIN standards. The power to weight ratio is 461 hp per tonne. Obviously on this kind of machine the braking system is equal to the rest of the figures, as at 100 km/hr the car comes to a halt in 30.5 metres (123 metres for 200 km/hr). These specifications of the McLaren MP4-12C are clearly for the statisticians among you, and can be compared to the Ferrari 458 Italia, considered one of the main rivals to the MP4-12C. It covers 100 km/hr in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 325 km/hr. Braking at a speed of 100 km/hr takes 31.9 metres.
Mercedes SLR McLaren edition
The famous SLR model will be pulled out of the garage by McLaren as it makes another 25 new units of the SLR a year after the model exited production. The SLR Edition, as it will be called, will have a new aerodynamic kit with large front air intakes, new bumpers and rear extractor.
The cynical take would be that there were still a few bits and pieces of the SLR to be used up and while the McLaren edition SLR has the look of a tuning job gone slightly overboard, anyone who is an SLR fan will probably welcome a brief return of the legendary model.
This special version keeps the 5.4-litre V8 as is, modifying the suspension and updating the body kit as above. The car was quietly revealed at the Essen motor show and no pricing or other details are available yet. For the moment we’re taking this is as a one-off, tuned SLR until an official statement of the McLaren edition is released. A video is after the jump.
McLaren: five new models in production plan
After its stunning MP4-12C model, McLaren is planning another five products to be released over the next five years. The announcement was made by McLaren North America head Tony Joseph as he tours McLaren dealers in the US and is part of McLaren’s plan to reach total production levels of 4,500 units.
McLaren is undertaking a transition from producing race cars to entering the street car market and has been developing this plan, and the models to be released, for at least six years. While the company might be the ‘new kid on the block’ for in the consumer supercar market, its racing tradition is providing it not only with quality technology, but also a brand image that should help to keep things grounded.
The company has said its racing roots mean “substance over flash” is their philosophy, and that it will focus on low, but quality, production. McLaren will have some work to do on the marketing side as it establishes itself as a real player but if it produces the kind of quality cars we’re expecting, driving purists who will be looking at McLaren anyway are sure to be further satisfied.
Only 1,000 of the first McLaren street-legal MP4-12C cars will be sold in the first year of production and as the company focuses on quality built in small units, that number will easily be reached. The challenge lies in increasing those figures, or even meeting the reported registered interest of 2,700 buyers. Most of those buyers, according to the company, are already Porsche owners who understand the substance over style philosophy, meaning that McLaren is not just out to be beat Ferrari or Lamborghini (and not just on price, either).
Source | AutoGuide
McLaren MP4-12C at Goodwood with Hamilton and Button
44 seconds of the McLaren MP4-12C in the video above is just not enough to satisfy us! At the Goodwood Festival of Speed the new McLaren supercar does a smooth run and if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll even see the spoiler pop up as it brakes into a corner. In the video after the jump you can see F1 drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton drive the car at the festival (with Hamilton’s usual laid-back approach - there’s no way you’d catch me cruising along in the MP4-12C with just one hand on the steering wheel).
McLaren seems very aware that it comes from a racing tradition and has no guaranteed success in competing with the likes of Ferrari, for years in the supercar luxury road car sector. But there’s a lot of pride associated with the car, and more than enough pedigree to ensure that it should be equally as successful.
Continue reading: McLaren MP4-12C at Goodwood with Hamilton and Button
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