2011 McLaren MP4-12C revealed
September 9, 2009 by Matt Brogan
The first McLaren to be released since the manufacturer’s groundbreaking 1993 F1 model, the MP4-12C, is due to go on sale early in 2011.
The two-seater will have a price tag of roughly £160,000 (AUD$306,000) and utilise a McLaren built (M838T) 3.8-litre 90-degree V8 engine, developing “around 450kW and 600Nm”, as means of motivation.
The engine is twin-turbocharged unit with an 8500rpm red-line featuring a dry sump and flat plane crank that drives the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
McLaren claims 80 per cent of the MP4-12C’s torque will be available from below 2000rpm which should see low three second 0-100km/h times and a top speed in excess of 320km/h.
Considering the MP4-12C will utilise a carbon fibre MonoCell skeleton (weighing in at just 80kg), with aluminium and SMC plastic panels, this should see a kerb weight of roughly 1300 kilograms.
The car will feature conventional brakes with forged aluminium hubs which believe it or not are some 8kg lighter than ceramic units.
Braking is further assisted by an air brake that pops up at speed to improve stopping ability.
Entry to the cabin is via dihedral doors which are touchpad operated. The seating is said to be “thin” but spot on in terms of support.
An upright seven-inch multimedia screen sits in the centre console while the view out the front windscreen is clear of obstruction.
Driver aids include switchable ESC, launch control, selectable throttle response (normal, sport & high performance) as well as settings to adjust gearshift timing and suspension damping.
Print it: 
at 300k, that would be a ‘bargain’!
you have to remember that price excludes taxes and tings like that… by the time if gets to australia, (if it did), it would be close to the 500k mark
a f430 cost £143,150 in the uk. and that 11.7% less then the £160000 McLaren.
so in theroy, f430’s rrp in aus of $460,900 +11.7% would eually and gives a closer estimation of the actuall price here. ($460,900 +11.7% = $514,926)
that is if someone is going to bring it over, which I highly doubt.
Actually it’s 135,690 for the hard top F430, the Spider is around 145,000.
your price is a list price… my price is the on the road price for f1 gear box. I used the F1 gear box price because the McLaren is only available in auto, and it would give a closers comparison.
Nice, very competitive price too. Undercuts the Ferrari buy a long way. Where are the rear lights?
looks a bit ordianry….Is this an F1 sucessor?
No, it’s supposed to compete with cars like the Ferrari 458 and Lamborghini Gallardo. McLaren are working on two more cars, one which is cheaper than this, and another which is supposed to be quicker.
So this thing weighs just about as much as a mini? Pretty awesome.
Don’t get carried away on the price, the AUD price is just a straight conversion from pounds at the current exchange rate. The BMW 760i V12 sells for 98,000 pounds in the UK, but 368,000 here. At that ratio you would be looking around the 600K mark in Aus. We might be lucky and get it for around half a million
Take a look and weep at what a 760i sells for in the USA…
All numbers game… US Population in excess of 300million, entire AUS has less than population of NY, London or even Bombay… on scale of economy aside, we have virtually no rapsters, gangsters, rich multinationals, frauds (the last one was shot down in Sydney), Basketball players, uhhhmmm Drug dealers, damn with all that salary cap in AFL & Soccer that includes rich sports stars too.. AUS is the last market any luxury car maker would ever send their cars to..(especially Left Hand Drive european ones)
In fact its sad that even in technology AUS is lagging 2 generations behind Stateside.. Trust me.. I lived there before moving to AUS.. but thank GOD for ebay (for electronics)… as for cars.. Lets all weep together!!!
gimme gimme, gimme, gimme gimme more!
Very nice.
Should be an interesting comparison between this and the new ferrari 458
One of the best interiors I have seen for a drivers car. No tinsel, all purpose. LOVE IT.
Exterior styling is less successful but you’d hardly call it ugly.
Love the doors too.
And the spec is fantastic…
Impeccable brand cred too….
Yeah, I’ll have a black one!
JJ
that weight and that power!
I’d have this over any Ferrari or Lamborghini or Maserati… over an Aston Martin ????
Although Aston Martin are in another class to the others
Should have kept the trademark middle setting position. Now its just another Aston Alternative.
this car is magnificent. I especially like the interior along with the center console, but if it isnt meant to replace the F1 then who does it compete with. This cant be a real veyron competitor can it??
English cars will never match Italian and German cars.
But I’d rather the English make a supercar than Australians and Americans…
427kw $160k HSV’s…LOL
Ferrari, Lamborghini,–All show-mobiles. This car is a weapon and nothing under twice its price will touch it. Reckon it looks the goods too. Hopefully the bigger version to replace the old f1 will take on the bugatti