McLaren MP4-12C Configurator

Since McLaren doesn’t have any other production road car available, the can pretty much dedicate their whole website just pimping the MP4-12C.

Thanks to the Internet and its new-fangled levels of interactivity, a configurator allows anyone visiting their site to customize the MP4-12C even if the person’s not buying. (Who has hundreds of thousands of dollars simply lying around anyway?)

The configurator allows visitors to customize the exterior styling, wheels and brakes, the interior, the entertainment system, safety and security features, and even slap on the “practical” stuff like battery chargers, and ashtrays. McLaren’s got pretty much everything covered really.

Check out the MP4-12C configurator.

McLaren MP4-12C: 0-60 MPH in Under 3 Seconds

The initial specs of the McLaren MP4-12C indicates that the car can go from 0-60 mph in the low 3-second range. Turns out that the car can even go quicker.

The car’s also packed with a launch-control system that allows it to break the 0-60 time in under 3 seconds. The launch control system works in perfect synch with the 7-speed Seamless Shift dual clutch transmission. The car can go from 0-124 mph in just under 10 seconds.

With those figures, the car easily pips the other cars in its class. The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 manages the sprint in 3.4 seconds, the Ferrari F430 Scuderia makes it in 3.5 seconds and even the mighty Lamborghini LP560-4 takes 3.2 seconds to get there.

Looks like the McLaren is shaping up to be quite the contender. Can’t wait to see Jezza’s take on the car and how it really shapes up against newer cars like the Ferrari 458 Italia.

Hamilton, Button Drive the McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren has finally come out with their first exclusively-developed high-performance supercar since the McLaren F1 – the McLaren MP4-12C.

The car’s powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8L V8 that dishes out 600 hp. The engine’s mated to a Seamless Shift dual-clutch gearbox. The powertrain combo allows the car to go from 0-62 mph in just the low 3 seconds and go all the way past 200 mph.

And what better way to publicize the production car than to have two of the most recent world champions drive them around? Here’s a video of McLaren Formula One drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton taking the MP4-12C for a spin.

Formula 1: McLaren MP4-25 Unveiled

After Ferrari showcased the F10, McLaren made an unveiling of their own with the new McLaren MP4-25 car which will be driven by world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Like Ferrari, McLaren struggled last season with the mandatory changes in the car design. Lewis Hamilton showed flashes of brilliance and you got to admit that he’s a much faster driver than Button but the car just wan’t working for him last season.

Among the improvements in this season’s racer is a higher-capacity fuel tank which would allow . The car also looks more striking thanks to the body regulations on aero bits.

The car will be powered by a Mercedes-Benz FO 108X 2.4 L V8 engine which can rev up to 18,000 RPM.

McLaren Planning MP4-12C Spider

How many convertible are due to come out in two years? Ferrari’s already announced the 458 Italia convertible in two years. Even Bentley’s considering a Continental Supersports convertible.

Well now that McLaren has its own sports car, it won’t be looking to far ahead in planning for an convertible version of the MP4. Details of its assembly factory revealed that it is considering a spider version of their comeback car.

The current MP4-12C is powered by a V8 from Mercedes that dishes out 550 hp. The engine is mated to a seven-speed sequential gearbox.

To keep the car’s performance, McLaren is said to be considering more lightweight components for the spider version either by employing alloy or carbon fiber.

Source: Autocar

McLaren P11 Spied at Nurburgring

This is the first of a couple of newsbits from the Nurgburgring today. Those miles of German track have surely become the proving ground for any car in development and in production.

This here’s a picture of the latest McLaren supercar, dubbed as the P11, making its rounds at the Nurburgring. Many test mules see action around the ‘Ring as automakers usually evaluate their cars’ performance using the data they get from ‘Ring test laps.

Remember when the Lexus LF-A was ushered back to the drawing board since the LF-A mule failed to beat the Nissan GT-R’s Nurburgring figures?

The P11 is a mid-engined supercar roughly the size of the Ferrari F430. The car is to be powered by a V8 dishing out 500 hp.

McLaren is now working independently ever since its partnership with Mercedes-Benz ended and the last of the SLR McLarens were produced. McLaren forged a deal with Aston Martin afterwards but the P11 is being made autonomously.

McLaren slates the car for a 2011 release.

Source: Autocar