http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/263737/new_mclaren_mp412c_review.html The new McLaren MP4-12C, rival to the Ferrari 458 Italia, offspring of Ron Dennis. It costs £168,500, so is cheaper than the Ferrari, too. Technical highlights? No roll bars, no LSD, hydraulically supported and connected suspension, adaptive dampers, a little under 600bhp, 1301kg dry, carbon tub, optional ceramic brakes, brake assist, twin turbochargers. More technology than we’ve ever seen in a sports car before. What’s it like to drive? Unlike any other sports car because it separates the roles of ride and roll-stiffness. On a straight, bumpy road, it’s more comfortable than a Merc E-Class, change direction and it’s sharper than a GT3. There are 3 chassis modes: comfort, sport and track which bring increased roll-stiffness and more relaxed intervention from the ESP. The powertrain is remarkable in its strength and ease-of-use: the MP4 is noticeably quicker than a 458, doesn’t feel that turbocharged and makes a great noise. Crucially, you can separate the chassis functions from the powertrain (again, comfort, sport and track) so it’s possible to have sharp throttle response and faster gearshifts, with supple suspension. It is the most talented machine I have ever driven. How does it compare? To what? I mean can you think of an obvious rival? Only kidding – it’s faster than a Ferrari 458 Italia, has more useable performance, rides better, has more mechanical grip and is much, much more useable. Anything else I should know? Yes - that no one understands the emotional side to these machines like Ferrari does, and the MP4-12C, for all its brilliance, serves as a reminder. It’s not unemotional, it sounds great in ‘track’ mode, it steers beautifully and its engineering is intriguing – but it is a car you admire deeply rather than one you sell your family to own. As you can tell, I need more space to tell this story…
Why compare it against the 458? according with McLaren Press Staff, their target is Porsche.... <A BORDER="0" HREF="http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?displayFAQ=y"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="pitlane/emoticons/wink.gif"></A>
For sure it's going to be great. Perhaps faster than the 458 (I mean the have had 2 years to improve it over the 458, when it comes out so why not?) Let's say it's going to be the best car ever made. Let's hope so for McL because it's for sure the most bland supercar ever made. What were they thinking? "Let's make the fastest Hyundai ever..."?? Lastes news I have heard (from an English guy who ordered one) is that delivery (expected in spring '11) has been postponed due to issues with the transmission....
I agree that they would have done better to get it to market at the same time as the 458, since they were announced pretty close together. It looks like it was worth the wait though.
I've never found the F1 to be anything close to beautiful. It looks great, but I'd never call it beautiful. This new one doesn't look great and it's not beautiful, but it sure is an impressive car!
So a car made with essentially no budget or cost cutting measures, with a total production run of less than 100 cars impresses you more than a volume production car made with an under 200k price point in mind? Shocking.
Another drive, similar impression: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/14/2012-mclaren-mp4-12c-first-drive-review-road-test/#continued "But as luck would have it, the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C is quite possibly the best handling supersports road and weekend track car in history."