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

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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..

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Continue reading: McLaren Special Operations customisation division

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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.

Continue reading: McLaren MP4-12C to get Aventador hypercar rival

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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

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McLaren has released more pics of its MP4-12C GT3 weapon and a few details about further modifications it has made to its GT3 class competitor. Its racing debut is planned for 2012 and the MP4-12C GT3 track testing which is underway is gradually providing information on how to improve the model for its racing career.

While the MP4-12C GT3 will go on show at Goodwood in new livery, technical modifications being made include a new front radiator and engine and transmission cooling system. A redesigned aerodynamic pack will be fitted with front splitter, rear wing and extractor all in carbonfibre.

The competition model has the same carbonfibre shell as the roadgoing model, and borrows steering wheel technology and set-up from McLaren F1 racers. Track testers for the MP4-12C GT3 are Andrew Kirkaldy, Alvaro Parente and Oliver Turvey and it’s expected that the team will continue to work on development until the end of 2011, so we’ll be seeing more modifications in the future.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 new pics

Continue reading: McLaren MP4-12C GT3 extra pics

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McLaren has no problems stating its very modest production ambitions for the next few years, bringing some British sense to the supercar industry, and taking a leaf out of the Italian luxury book, too. In reports from Asiaone, McLaren regional director Ian Gorsuch says:

“We are looking at sustainable production. We want to produce less cars than the competition. The key is making the dealership profitable. We will produce less cars but the dealers must have more cars than the competition because the long-term goal is profitability.”

The report comes with some interesting insight into McLaren and its Asian operations. With production numbers set at 1,000 units per year, the next three years of the MP4-12C are already sold out. McLaren has had to build an entirely new dealership network for its roadgoing supercar, and China is currently without a dealership among the 35 present in 19 countries around the world.

Heading to Asia in the future will probably be essential to McLaren sales, and a production increase might be required to achieve that. Currently McLaren is planning a China launch in 2013 because it doesn’t have enough cars right now to do that. Still, the slow but steady approach might pay off in a world where even luxury products aren’t quite as self-assured as before.

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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

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Evaluating the McLaren MP4-12C by pitting it against the historic McLaren F1 GTR is probably no way to do things but frankly, who cares? Any excuse to see the MP4-12C on the track in a different context is fine by us and we’re all kind of curious anyway as to how this might perform.

English understatements aside, the two get flogged on the track and the comparison does bring us a little closer to understanding the McLaren MP4-12C and how it might perform in the cut and thrust segment of supercars. For such expensive vehicles, it’s remarkable what a crowded segment this is. But no worries, because McLaren is certainly carving out its own space, and this video (partly) shows us how.

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