McLaren 12C | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | McLaren Automotive |
Production | February 2011 – April 2014 |
Assembly | United Kingdom: Woking, Surrey |
Designer | Frank Stephenson |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sports car |
Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door retractable hard-top convertible |
Layout | Longitudinal rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
Doors | Dihedral |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.8 L M838T twin-turbocharged V8 |
Transmission | 7-speed SSG Graziano dual-clutch |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,670 mm (105.1 in) [1] |
Length | 4,509 mm (177.5 in) [2] |
Width | 1,908 mm (75.1 in) [1] |
Height | 1,204 mm (47.4 in) [2] |
Kerb weight | 1,434 kg (3,161 lb) [3] |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (Direct) McLaren F1 (Branded As Just McLaren) |
Successor | McLaren 650S |
The McLaren MP4-12C, later rebranded as the McLaren 12C, is a sports car produced by the British carmaker McLaren Automotive. Manufactured between 2011 and 2014 and designed by Frank Stephenson, the MP4-12C was available as both a coupe and a retractable hard-top convertible, the latter known as the "Spider".
McLaren started developing the 12C in 2005. The company used prototypes from other carmakers as test vehicles for the upcoming project. The 12C marked McLaren's return to producing a production car since the F1, which ceased production in 1998. The 12C debuted online as the MP4-12C in September 2009, and McLaren began series manufacturing the car in February 2011, at the company's facility in Woking, Surrey. The 12C has a carbon fibre composite chassis and a turbocharged V8 engine that generates a power output of 453 kilowatts (607 bhp) and a torque output of 600 newton-metres (440 lbf⋅ft).
McLaren debuted the 12C Spider in July 2012. The production of the 12C ended in April 2014, following a manufacturing period of three years during which more than 3,400 units were manufactured. It was succeeded by the 650S, with which the 12C shares most of its components.
The McLaren Formula One team has used the "MP4" prefix as its chassis designation since 1981. This acronym stands for "McLaren Project 4", which originated from the merger of Ron Dennis' organisation, Project Four Racing, with McLaren. The "12" in the name refers to McLaren's internal "Vehicle Performance" index, which evaluates cars based on four key criteria: power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamics. The "C" in the name signifies that the car features a carbon structure. [4] In 2012, McLaren dropped the "MP4" part of its name, simplifying it to "12C". [5]
McLaren began developing the 12C in 2005. [6] In June 2007, the magazine Autocar reported that the McLaren's upcoming sports car would be independently built by the company, stating that this would give the company "a chance to re-establish [its] credentials at the top-end of the market". [7] The upcoming sports car would mark McLaren's return to producing a production car since the F1, which ceased production in 1998. [8] To develop the upcoming sports car, McLaren used modified versions of existing vehicles from other manufacturers as test mules. The first prototype, called the MV1, was a Ferrari 360 that featured a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine and side vents for additional cooling, which were incorporated into the production model. A second prototype, the MV2, was a modified Ultima GTR used to test the braking system and suspension components. A third prototype, the MV3, was another modified Ferrari 360 used to test the exhaust system. McLaren subsequently developed two in-house prototypes, the CP1 and CP2, which featured a "MonoCell" monocoque and were used to test heat management and performance. [9]
McLaren produced over fifty experimental prototypes and tested in various regions to evaluate their performance in different environments. The testing locations included hot weather conditions in Bahrain, Arizona, and Nevada, cold weather conditions in the Arctic and Sweden, high-altitude conditions in South Africa and endurance testing on various circuits and roads in Europe. The head of testing for the programme, Geoff Grose, noted that the development team established bases at Idiada in northern Spain and the Prototipo facility near Nardo in Italy, where they conducted 24-hour testing sessions as well as 18-hour sessions from 8 am to 2 am the next day. [6]
In 2008, Frank Stephenson was appointed as the lead design director of McLaren, [10] [11] becoming chief of the project late in its development. Stephenson made some adjustments to the design of its headlights, front bumper, and interior elements. His contributions were mainly small alterations, as the overall design of the car was already well-established at that point. [12] The final design of the MP4-12C was unveiled online in September 2009, [13] [14] [15] with its physical debut occurring at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2010. [16] [17] [18] Following McLaren's investment of £50 million into its production facility at Woking, Surrey, which could build approximately 4,000 cars annually, [9] [19] the official manufacture of the MP4-12C began on 2 February 2011. [20] [21] David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, officially opened the building on 18 November 2011. [22] [23] [24]
The 12C incorporates a carbon fibre structure called the "MonoCell". Compared to traditional riveted alloy structures, the MonoCell's weight is reduced and its stiffness is improved. The design's cost-effectiveness, swift production and flexibility made it suitable for adoption in other McLaren models. [25] The company invested £127.7 million into the MonoCell. Manufactured by Carbo Tech in Salzburg, Austria, [26] the carbon fibre structure weighs 80 kilograms (176 lb). [27] [28] [29] The advances in carbon fibre fabrication reduced the time required to produce a MonoCell from 3,000 hours for the F1 and 500 hours for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, to four hours for the 12C. [30] [31] [32] The development of the MonoCell also created approximately 100 new jobs, both in the construction of the new facility and in the production of the monocoque. Carbo Tech went on to manufacture the MonoCell for McLaren cars for over eight years, making this the world's largest carbon fibre order for series-produced cars. [33]
Working with McLaren Automotive in taking this fundamental engineering step in carbon-fibre engineering and production will, we believe, enable carbon technology to establish itself ever more in motor-vehicle production.
The 12C is a sports car [34] [35] with the body style of a two-door coupe. [36] [37] [38] It has dihedral doors, [39] [40] and it has a rear-wheel drive layout with a longitudinally-placed mid-engine. [41] [42] The 12C features a double wishbone and hydraulic suspension, the latter referred to as the ProActive Chassis Control. [43] [44] [45] The car uses rack-and-pinion and electric power steering. The standard front brakes of the car feature a four-piston fixed calliper configuration, paired with a two-piece front rotor. [46] The 12C uses a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine codenamed "M838T", [47] [48] which was produced by Ricardo PLC in West Sussex, England. [49] [50] It produces a power output of 453 kilowatts (616 PS) at 7,500 revolutions per minute (rpm) and a torque output of 601 newton-metres (443 lb⋅ft) at 3,000 rpm, [51] sufficient to give the car a 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) acceleration time of 3.1 seconds and a maximum speed of 333 km/h (207 mph). [52] [53] [54] The car's transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch manufactured by Graziano called the SSG. [55] [note 1] Its fuel economy rating is 279 grams per kilometre (15.8 oz/mi), [58] [59] while its average fuel consumption is about 18.5 miles per US gallon (12.7 L/100 km; 22.2 mpg‑imp). [60]
The centre console of the 12C is equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen that controls the Meridian entertainment system and phone functionalities. The car also features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options. [61] The vehicle features ultra-low-profile Pirelli tires, with 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear. [62] [63]
On 10 July 2011, the MP4-12C set the second fastest lap around Top Gear's test track, posting a time of 1 minute and 16.2 seconds. [64] The car was developed and tested by McLaren on the Top Gear test track as part of their product development, long before its appearance on the show. It was 1.1 seconds slower than the Ariel Atom 500 and 2.4 seconds slower than the Pagani Huayra. [65]
The MP4-12C lapped the Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 28 seconds. [66]
The MP4-12C won the Middle East "Car of the Year" Award as "Best Supercar" in 2012 and overall "Car of the Year" at the Middle East Motor Awards the same year. [67] [68]
The 12C Spider is a convertible version of the MP4-12C with a retractable hardtop. Because the coupe was designed from the outset with a convertible version in mind, no additional strengthening was needed for the Spider and it weighs only 40 kg (88 lb) more than the coupe. [69] McLaren has worked to keep the Spider's top speed 204 mph (328 km/h) close to the coupé's 207 mph (333 km/h) top speed and up to 196 mph (315 km/h) is possible roof down. Meanwhile, the dihedral doors of the coupé are retained. [70]
In March 2012, McLaren released pictures of five 12C HS taken in front of the McLaren Technology Center. The HS stands for High Sport. The 12C HS has different wheels and revised aerodynamic features inspired from the 12C GT3 such as a revised front end and rear bumper, larger vents and diffuser and a modified rear wing. Power was also increased by 75 horsepower. [71] Mclaren only made 10 units of the MP4-12C HS. In January 2016, a 12C HS painted in F1 Vodafone Racing Team colours reportedly commissioned by Ron Dennis was offered for sale at Mecum's Kissimmee auction with 203 miles. It had an estimate of $1,300,000 – $1,600,000 and didn't sell. [72] The same F1 Vodafone Racing Team was offered again in January 2017 at Mecum's Kissimmee auction with an estimate of $950,000 – $1,200,000 where it still didn't sell. [73]
The McLaren X-1 is a one-off sports car based on the McLaren 12C and built by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). It was displayed at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. According to Paul MacKenzie, MSO Programme Director, the X-1 has been developed for the past three years. To style the X-1, McLaren used ideas from a 1961 Facel Vega, a 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance Ghia, a 1959 Buick Electra, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K and a 1971 Citroën SM. [74] [75]
In December 2010, McLaren announced that they would produce a small number of MP4-12C cars in order for them to compete in the FIA Group GT3. McLaren stated that they would provide maintenance for the cars and begin racing in 2012 with the CRS Racing team. [76] The MP4-12C was the first car to compete in sportscar racing for the company since the F1 GTR. [77] It received its début with a single car entry for the Spa Francorchamps round of the British GT championship. This was followed by a three car entry in the 2011 Spa 24 Hours. [78] Another car was also entered in the GT cup of the 2011 Macau Grand Prix, driven by Danny Watts. [79]
In March 2012, McLaren readied 25 MP4-12C GT3 cars for a full racing season in the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship, and its GT drivers tested the car on its Dunsfold test track, the same test track as used in the Top Gear BBC television show. [80] McLaren released several promotional videos for the MP4-12C in the lead up to the racing season, including one of Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton driving the car at locations in the U.S.
Compared to the road car, the MP4-12C GT3 produces less power with only 493 bhp (368 kW; 500 PS) due to homologation. The car features a bespoke six-speed gearbox that is 80 kg (176 lb) lighter than the road car's seven-speed, developed with Ricardo. The steering wheel is sourced from the McLaren MP4-24 Formula 1 car. [81]
The car took its first victories in the world at the two races of the Circuito de Navarra round of the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship season being run by Hexis Racing.
Tag Heuer produced a limited (1,000 units) series of Carrera MP4-12C Chronograph wrist watch inspired by the MP4-12C sports car. The watch was unveiled in 2011 TAG Heuer Mastering Speed Exhibition at Halle Secheron in Geneva. [82] [83] [84]
McLaren Racing Limited is a British motor racing team based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. The team is a subsidiary of the McLaren Group, which owns a majority of the team. McLaren is best known as a Formula One chassis constructor, the second-oldest active team and the second-most successful Formula One team after Ferrari, having won 189 races, 12 Drivers' Championships, and nine Constructors' Championships. McLaren also has a history in American open wheel racing as both an entrant and a chassis constructor, and has won the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) sports car racing championship. McLaren is one of only three constructors, and the only team, to complete the Triple Crown of Motorsport.
The McLaren F1 is a sports car designed and manufactured by British automobile manufacturer McLaren Cars and powered by the BMW S70/2 V12 engine, of which a limited number was produced. The original concept was conceived by Gordon Murray, who successfully convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and hired car designer Peter Stevens to design the exterior and interior of the car. On 31 March 1998, the XP5 prototype with a modified rev limiter set the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest production car, reaching 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h), surpassing the Jaguar XJ220's 217.1 mph (349.4 km/h) record from 1992 achieved with an increased rev limit and catalytic converters removed.
Ian Gordon Murray, is a South African-British designer of Formula One racing cars for Brabham and McLaren and the McLaren F1 high-performance road car. Founder and CEO of Gordon Murray Design and Gordon Murray Automotive, he has subsequently designed and built a number of sports cars and a variety of other automotive vehicles.
McLaren Automotive is a British luxury automotive manufacturer based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. The main products of the company are sports cars, which are produced in-house in designated production facilities. In July 2017, McLaren Automotive became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the wider McLaren Group, which is wholly owned by Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Evo is a British automobile magazine dedicated to performance cars, from hot hatches to supercars published by Carwow.
The McLaren MP4/4, also known as the McLaren-Honda MP4/4, is one of the most successful Formula One car designs of all time. Powered by Honda's RA168E 1.5-litre V6-turbo engine and driven by teammates Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, the car competed during the 1988 Formula One season. The design of the car was led by American engineer Steve Nichols, the full responsibility for the design of the chassis having been conferred on him by Ron Dennis. Gordon Murray, as Technical Director, had the role of liaising between the drawing office and production.
The RUF RT 12 is a sports car built by RUF Automobile of Germany and based on the 997-generation Porsche 911.
Gemballa GmbH is an automobile manufacturing and tuning company based in Leonberg, Germany, specializing in customization and aftermarket parts mainly for Porsche cars. Gemballa was founded by and named after Uwe Gemballa in 1981.
The McLaren MP4/13 was the car with which the McLaren team competed in the 1998 Formula One World Championship. The chassis was designed by Adrian Newey, Steve Nichols, Neil Oatley and Henri Durand, with Mario Illien designing the bespoke Ilmor engine. Driven by Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard, the MP4/13 proved to be the dominant car of the season, with Häkkinen winning eight races en route to his first Drivers' Championship, while McLaren won their first Constructors' Championship since 1991. Until 2024, this was the last McLaren Formula One car to win the Constructors' Championship.
Stephen Christopher Goodwin is a British auto racing driver. Currently he works as Expert High Performance Test Driver for Aston Martin. Additionally he manages the racing career of Bruno Senna and continues to race in International GT Endurance events. He was also TV commentator on F1 for ESPN Star Sports for nearly ten years and occasionally still appears on EPS&M and other networks such as ITV.
CRS Racing is a British auto racing team founded by British driver Andrew Kirkaldy and Canadian-Greek driver and entrepreneur Chris Niarchos. The team was founded in 2007, but is based on the former team of Kirkaldy known as Team AKA which competed in the British Formula Renault Championship starting in 2004. Niarchos, founder of the Cobra Group, sponsored and then partnered with Kirkaldy's team before it was reformed in 2007 in order to expand beyond Formula Renault to enter the European FIA GT Championship and British GT Championship.
Zakary Challen Brown is an American businessman and former professional racing driver, currently residing in England. He is the chief executive officer of McLaren Racing. Born and raised in California, Brown raced professionally around the world for ten years before developing his skills in motorsport's business and commercial worlds.
United Autosports is a sports car racing team based in Wakefield, England, United Kingdom, founded by businessman Zak Brown and former driver Richard Dean.
The McLaren M838T engine is a 3.8-litre (3,798.6 cc) 90-degree twin-turbocharged flat-plane V8, designed and developed in collaboration with Ricardo.
Grégoire Demoustier is a French-Belgian racing driver, who competes in the World Touring Car Championship for Sébastien Loeb Racing.
The McLaren P1 is a flagship sports car produced by British marque McLaren Automotive. Styled by American car designer Frank Stephenson, it is the second installment in McLaren's Ultimate Series after the McLaren F1. Considered to be the spiritual successor to the F1, the P1 was one of the first high performance sports cars to be introduced incorporating hybrid technology; the Porsche 918 Spyder having begun taking orders prior to the P1 and the LaFerrari introduced alongside it. First shown as a concept on the 20th anniversary of the F1 at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the P1 made its debut at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show.
The McLaren 650S is a British sports car designed and manufactured by British automobile manufacturer McLaren Automotive. It was announced in February 2014 as a new model, but based on the existing MP4-12C with 25% new parts, and was formally unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
Antony Sheriff is an American and Italian businessman and was the Executive Chairman of luxury motor yacht manufacturer, Princess Yachts.
The McLaren 570S is a sports car designed and manufactured by the British car manufacturer McLaren Automotive, produced from 2015 until 2021. It was unveiled at the 2015 New York International Auto Show.
The McLaren 720S is a sports car designed and manufactured by British automobile manufacturer McLaren Automotive. It is the second all-new car in the McLaren Super Series, replacing the 650S beginning in May 2017.