Great Expectations: McLaren MP4-12C

HK Golfer profiles the McLaren MP4-12C, perhaps the most eagerly
anticipated supercar of recent times

Expect the standard MP4-12C to match the Ferrari on price, with future open- top and hardcore, lightweight versions costing more. Performance data is still secret but insiders insist the McLaren will outperform all its rivals, with a 0-100kph time in the low three-second range, and a top speed in excess of 330kph.

Just like the F1 and the racecars, the chassis is made from ultra-light, ultra-stiff carbon fibre. While most low-volume sports car makers borrow an engine from a big carmaker – McLaren went to BMW for the motive power for the F1 – this time they’ve designed their own. It’s a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 mounted behind the rear seats and pumping out around 600bhp; the exact specification is still secret. It aims to answer the environmentalists by producing less carbon dioxide per unit of power than any other engine, including hybrids, but satisfy buyers with a screaming 8500rpm redline and a carefully tuned soundtrack.

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Written by Ben Oliver

Click here to see the published article.

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