Mid-mounted 3.8-liter V8 Engine Developed In-House

Eight years ago, the "SLR McLaren," a super sports car with a carbon monocoque body, was born from a joint development between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. A total of 2,200 units were produced, with production ending in 2009 with the limited edition model "Sterling Moss."

"The fact that the SLR McLaren recorded over 2,000 units in production gave us great confidence in commercializing the MP4-12C, as it proved the feasibility of mass-producing carbon monocoques," said Ian Gorsuch, Regional Director of McLaren Automotive, who took the stage at the Japan premiere.

McLaren is known for introducing the world's first carbon monocoque chassis to an F1 car in 1981. For the MP4-12C, similar to the SLR, McLaren has maximized the technology cultivated in the world of F1 by adopting an innovative one-piece carbon fiber cell called "MonoCell," which balances strength and lightness. As a result, the vehicle weighs 1,434 kg, achieving a power-to-weight ratio of 2.17 kg/ps. This is combined with McLaren's independently developed "M838T" 3.8-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, boasting a maximum output of 600 ps at 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 600 Nm between 3,000-7,000 rpm, mounted mid-ship. It is truly a new generation of super sports car, worthy of being called a road-going F1.

The engine, which could be mounted lower thanks to the adoption of a dry-sump system and a flat-plane crankshaft, is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission "SSG" with paddle shifters. Acceleration performance is 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 330 km/h. For comparison, the Ferrari 458 Italia, considered a direct rival, achieves 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 325 km/h, placing the MP4-12C slightly ahead.

Showrooms Scheduled to Open in Tokyo (Spring 2012) and Osaka (Early 2012)

The suspension features double wishbones front and rear, and a control system called "Proactive Control" allows drivers to select from three driving modes—Normal, Sport, and High Performance—via a switch on the instrument panel. For braking, "Brake Steer" is employed, which automatically applies the brakes to the inner rear wheel during cornering to counteract understeer. Instead of conventional carbon-ceramic rotors, steel rotors are used for city driving, offering greater lightness and robustness.

The exterior, designed to pursue aerodynamics and generate immense downforce at high speeds, is both aggressive and elegant, embodying the essence of a supercar. The body dimensions are 4,509mm in length, 1,908mm in width, and 1,199mm in height, making it slightly more compact than the Ferrari 458 Italia, with a length 18mm shorter, width 28mm narrower, and height 14mm lower.

The interior, designed with ergonomics in mind, features a 7-inch touchscreen with telematics technology on a tilted, slim console. Leather or Alcantara is used extensively throughout the cabin. Both doors are equipped with controllers to adjust the cabin temperature, and an audio system is also included.

For the Japan launch, McLaren Automotive has entered into official import and dealership agreements with two companies: "MT International" in Tokyo and "Hakko Car Group" in Osaka. The Tokyo showroom and service facility, named "McLaren Tokyo," is scheduled to open in Spring 2012, while "McLaren Osaka," the Osaka showroom and service center, will open in early 2012 within Osaka city.

Although the initial production target was 1,000 units for the first year, the McLaren MP4-12C has already received over 4,000 inquiries. With plans for further lineup expansion in the future, McLaren's developments are certainly worth keeping an eye on.

McLaren MP4-12C

Body Dimensions | Length 4,509 x Width 1,908 x Height 1,199mm
Vehicle Weight | 1,434kg
Engine | 3.8-liter V8 Twin-Turbo
Maximum Output | 600 ps (441 kW) / 7,000 rpm
Maximum Torque | 600 Nm / 3,000-7,000 rpm
Transmission | 7-speed Dual-Clutch
Fuel Economy | 11.7 L/100km
CO2 Emissions | 279 g/km
Price | ¥27.9 million

McLaren Tokyo
Tel. 03-5411-1510

McLaren Osaka Hakko Preparation Office
Tel. 06-6531-8886
E-mail | mclaren.osaka@hakko-group.co.jp
URL | http://www.mclaren-hakko.com

Performance Comparison with Rival Cars