VIDEO: Ron Dennis on the new McLaren MP4-12C
It's not hard to see who McLaren has in its sights with the new MP4-12C. The supercar was launched only shortly after – and is positioned only slightly higher – than Ferrari's brand-new 458 Italia. And while other automakers have delved into F1, only two current F1 teams have delved into building road-going supercars.
Though it's one thing to surmise such things, it's quite another to hear it explicitly coming from the mouth of the company's chairman. While the outfit might not bear his name, it might as well, because Ron Dennis is, for all intents and purposes, a modern day Enzo Ferrari. Follow the jump to see what he has to say about the new company with twenty years' experience and their first new product.
Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C
[Source: McLaren]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TigerMil 3:03PM (9/10/2009)
ROFLMAO! Three non-F1 drivers in the world capable of driving these cars, Leno maybe one of them. Let's set up a pool on when one of the non-three wrecks the first one going around a street corner! More and more power just wrecks them sooner!
Reply
Kevin 3:29PM (9/10/2009)
So what the hell are you saying? That only F1 drivers should be able to purchase these? *facepalm*
naggs 4:38PM (9/10/2009)
its not just bad drivers that crash, everyone crashes, if you are driving cars this fast 10/10ths you will crash, just a matter of time
zamafir 6:03PM (9/10/2009)
@naggs. Correct! Courtesy of the chairman of BMW (at the time):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20C/fe091363.jpg
Franz 3:05PM (9/10/2009)
I have crazy respect for Ron Dennis & what he's achieved with McLaren.
Reply
zamafir 4:14PM (9/10/2009)
wird, and this car. I'm surprised it's mentioned along with the F458, i get from a price/size stand point but given the weight, power, tech, it seems like it will be noticeably faster in all areas placing it closer to the Murcie sorta hypercars. Then again, with the F458 most certainly being quicker than the Enzo I guess it's right? I still can't get past how much lighter it is and how much power it packs. It's going to eat the F458 for lunch.
zamafir 4:18PM (9/10/2009)
also, those are the hottest mirrors i've ever seen.
Davin Black 9:59AM (9/11/2009)
@zamafir: that was the first thought I had when I saw the car. Those mirrors are **gorgeous**...almost unnecessarily gorgeous.
Overall, I'm really really excited to see this thing hit the track.
MRX19 3:17PM (9/10/2009)
Certainly spectacular, especially in the amber color. I think I like the styling of the 1st generation car better. This ones traditional seating arrangement will widen it's appeal if you happen to have a few mil sitting around. Introducing expensive toys is certainly a bit of a risk in today's dismal world economy.
Reply
meatbag 9:09PM (9/10/2009)
this is NOT the 2nd generation F1. the McLaren F1 is on a different planet from any other car ever made. (period)
the Bugatti Veyron comes close only because its a technological freakshow that is ultimately faster, but given the choice most drivers would take the McLaren over a Veyron any day of the week (i'd rather have a McLaren than two Veyrons)
That said, the MP4-15718349386736C is a less expensive, less powerful less capable car, however by most metrics will probably be as good or better than any production car available. the only thing that i would expect to come close would be the Pagani Zonda C12 S. i will agree though, the car is not as flashy as the F458 or the F430 or many other supercars, but i think thats a matter of form following function, and when you look closely its beauty shines moreso. the mirrors (as mentioned by zamfir) are hot. the nose, particulary the lower portion is pretty and the rear fenders are definitly attention grabbing.
Mayoman 3:22PM (9/10/2009)
I wasn't so sure about the car's looks in the first few photos, but seeing in that video. WOW, that's one good looking supercar.
Reply
Tael 3:21AM (9/11/2009)
AND you can plays in Windows Media Player!!11eleven1!!
Kevin 3:28PM (9/10/2009)
This is going to be a fantastic car. I can't wait to hear what it sounds like!!
I can't imagine someone wanting a Gallardo over one of these. Should be a great sports car.
Reply
hoyaCS08 3:37PM (9/10/2009)
He makes a good point, the only F1 team able to sustain itself since the 60s did so on the back of a successful road car business. So I respect the motivation behind this venture - become like Ferrari and finance your F1 team with these cars.
But this is a different era to when Enzo got started. I don't think the racing heritage transfers as well to marketing road cars today as it did then, when owners would actually race their Ferraris. Why should your "average" millionaire buy this car over a Ferrari? Performance and looks will be pretty similar, but they'll spend hours explaining what a "McLaren" is to the guys at the yacht club. As much as we average car nuts hate it, the typical buyers of these cars do so for status, which means name-recognition. To really establish yourself as a major supercar manufacturer today, you have to offer some new or different, to build some hype and a separate niche in the market for yourself. Even with a long racing heritage to draw on.
Look at the only recently-founded supercar company that's really been able to make an impact on the "big 3" - Pagani. He did it by offering something truly unique, a car that took the art and drama of a supercar to the next level. The Zonda.
I really hope McLaren can get there and mix it up with the big boys of roadgoing supercars (more variety for us to drool over), but I'd say they need something a little less generic than this for their next effort.
Reply
Arkz 4:44PM (9/10/2009)
I seriously doubt that very many millionaires have never heard of McLaren, or the F1, for that matter. Besides, what better status symbol is there than an engine bay lined with gold. Too bad this one doesn't have that. Not that it really matters to me as I probably can't even afford a single button in that thing.
J-MON 3:39PM (9/10/2009)
Is Mclaren building a static sculpture or a dynamic technological marvel derived from two decades of investment, research, and engineering state-of-the-art F1 technology ?
Everyone who simply points and laments this cars visuals and does not speak to the performance, the heritage, and for lack of a better word the "cohonas" to take on Ferrari ..... put down the latte, take off your sandals (Jonny Lieberman), get on your knees and pray for forgiveness to the car gods (which includes Ron Dennis).
Reply
hoyaCS08 3:51PM (9/10/2009)
Eh, Ron Dennis is a talented executive who brought the right people to McLaren. John Barnard, Gordon Murray, and later Adrian Newey were the ones designing the race-winners, so I wouldn't qualify Dennis as a "car god"
Franz 4:23PM (9/10/2009)
@ hoyaCS08:
One of the first parts of being a genius is identifying exactly what it is you suck at, and then employing and partnering with people better at these to do them for you so you can further your ideals and interests. While Dennis isn't a design or aerodynamics God in the same sense as Barnard, Murray or Newey, nor is he an engine God like "Nocken" (Camshaft) Paul Rosche (responsible for various BMW motors, including the V12 in the McLaren F1) He's the mastermind who got all these people together, and got them involved in masterpieces like the various championship winning Formula cars and the F1 road car. I'd say he's way up there with the rest of the more obvious "Car Gods"... just not for the same reasons. It's a matter of perspective IMO.
J-MON 4:32PM (9/10/2009)
"Cripes it's Gordon Murray !" "We're not worthy, we're not worthy ..."
Big difference building an ultra-exotic dream-supercar designed with a no price-limit and unlimited design budget with only performance benchmarks to meet vs. engineering, building, and marketing a 'mainstream' supercar with a much higher expected volume of sales annually. Can we at least agree that Ron Dennis is an automotive demi-god ?
hoyaCS08 5:02PM (9/10/2009)
@ Franz and J-Mon:
No argument, Dennis is a genius and one of the most successful race-team principals ever. Just to me, "car god" more appropriately refers to the guys actually thinking up, designing and building the dream machines we lust after, whether that's with an unlimited target price/performance (F1) or within a certain range (MP4-12C).
Nowadays that's usually a team of extremely talented engineers, of course, but a few individuals have managed to stand out from the crowd as truly exceptional, guys like Murray. To me, those are the "car gods".
Compromise? We can call Dennis a "race team god" or "management god".