McLaren Automotive has released a new video entitled "Inside McLaren: developing the MP4-12C" that shows the 2009 development (XP) prototypes of the mid-engined supercar on road and track in England and Germany, and extreme hot weather testing in Bahrain, as well as a rare company footage and insight that reveal McLaren's plans, processes and challenges.The 2009 testing programme of the MP4-12C has focused primarily on two tracks up until now, the Nordschleife Nurburgring and the circuit used by the folks over at BBC's Top Gear TV show at Dunsfold Aerodrome
Dick Glover, Technical Director at McLaren Automotive who is responsible for the 50-strong Testing and Development team and the eight development (XP) cars that have particpated in the 2009 programme, said:
"I am really proud of what the team has achieved this year. Having to develop a brand new range of cars from scratch to the standards expected of McLaren, featuring ground-breaking new structures and powertrain is the ultimate challenge and one we are relishing. Sure, we have challenges – that is why we go to these places that absolutely push the cars to their limits and beyond – but now we know just what the 12C is capable of, we are able to push on into 2010 and deliver cars of which McLaren will be rightly proud."
The all-new MP4-12C is expected to go on sale worldwide in early 2011.
Only time will tell if the styling of the new McLaren MP4-12C will age well and look relevant years later, as the firm's chief designer Frank Stephenson hopes it will, but for now, most seem to agree that the British supercar's looks are unexciting - maybe even generic, especially when compared to the likes of the Ferrari 458 Italia. That doesn't seem to be the case though with this conceptual proposal for a flagship McLaren supercar from Matt Williams, a graduate of Coventry University's Transportation Design degree program.
William's, who created the LM5 as part of his final year project, designed the mid-engined supercar to sit atop the MP4-12C essentially playing the role of the F1's spiritual successor.
Not surprisingly, the F1 inspired the design of the LM5 which retains the same three-seat layout as the original model with the driver in the middle and two passengers on either side. However, the LM5 has its own distinct and rather aggressive styling personality (unlike the MP4-12C...)
In theory, the LM5 was designed to be powered by a massaged version of the BMW M5 / M6 5.0-liter V10 - apparently paying homage to the original F1 that sported a BMW M Division sourced and developed V12 engine.
Via: Diseno-art
One of the most anticipated sports cars of the year, McLaren Automotive's spanking new MP4-12C was formally introduced to the world on Wednesday with the release of the first photos and details. We know that you're lusting for an action packed video, but for now we'll have to be content with these two new videos showing the firm's bosses Ron Dennis and Antony Sheriff talking about the MP4-12C that can be seen turning around in the background. Hit the jump to watch both videos. 
Having recently formed its own independent automotive division, the British maker of the iconic F1 (1993-1998) and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003-2008) has finally revealed its first supercar, the McLaren MP4-12C. The two-seater mid-engine model has been developed in-house, meaning that it features no carryover parts from any other car, and will be produced by McLaren in the UK with sales expected to begin in early 2011.At the heart of the bespoke McLaren is a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that delivers "around 600 horsepower and 600Nm or 443 lb-ft", with 80 per cent of torque available below 2,000rpm. The engine drives the rear wheels through two wet clutches and a McLaren-developed seven speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG).
Performance figures haven't been released yet but expect a zero to 60mph - 100km/h sprint time under 4,0 seconds and a top speed of around 200 mph - 320km/h.
McLaren's engineers did their best to keep the MP4-12C's weight as low as possible and even though the company did not issue a kerbweight figure, it did say that the supercar features a one-piece carbon fibre chassis structure called Carbon MonoCell that weighs in at a mere 80kg or 176 pounds and is dressed in lightweight aluminum and plastic body panels.
The suspension is based on double wishbones with coil springs while the four adjustable dampers are interconnected hydraulically. There are three suspension modes - normal, sport and high performance, which adjust numerous parameters in the system.
The MP4-12C gets the usual suite of electronic aids that include ABS, ESP, ASR traction control, Electronic Brake Distribution, Hill Hold and Brake Steer that applies the inside rear brake as the car corners.
As with the F1 supercar and the SLR, McLarens's supercar model gets a rear-deck mounted airbrake that deploys hydraulically under braking, or when the driver wants to trim the car for increased downforce by using a switch on the Active Dynamics Panel.
In terms of styling, the MP4-12C is no stunner and is definitely far less extravagant that many of its rivals like the recently introduced Ferrari F458 Italia. But if we are to believe the firm's design director Frank Stephenson, the man responsible for the Mini Cooper, Fiat 500 and Alfa Romeo Mi.To, the design of the 12C was clearly led by aerodynamics.
"All the fins, vents and the flat underbody are there for a reason. No styling addenda have been incorporated for appeal or style alone," said Stephenson. "This aerodynamic purity explains why this car can hit top speed with great stability without resorting to tea tray wings or deep front air dams. I really feel that the styling communicates the 12C's engineering integrity and technical benefits and it is this purity that makes the design timeless."
The same, straightforward design philosophy is also evident in the car's cabin. McLaren claims that the interior is "extremely space efficient" and is designed to accommodate "98th percentile adults in comfort".
"With the interior, we have created a real step forward in the packaging of a sports car," says Stephenson. "Moving the driver and passenger closer together improves driving control and moving the pedals improves the problem of wheel well intrusion. We also repackaged many of the major components that normally sit under the dashboard to allow for more space and a unique form. Packaging is one of the 12C's really strong points."
According to McLaren, early planning indicates that half of the MP4-12C's sales will be evenly split between the UK and the USA with the remainder to the rest of the world, notably Germany and mainland Europe, the Middle East and some Far Eastern countries.
Via: Worldcarfans
