Along Came a Spyder: McLaren MP4-12C production plans include retractable hardtop?
McLaren MP4-12C – Click above for high-res image gallery
Reports emerging from the UK are giving us a hint at what to expect in the near future from McLaren Automotive in its bid to make an assault on the exotic supercar market. The reports stem from plans filed by the F1 team's nascent road car division and its new manufacturing facility next to the current McLaren Technology Center in Woking, England.
According to Autocar, part of the layout for the new facility has been dedicated to "RHT Sub Assembly", indicating that McLaren could be preparing to produce a retractable hardtop version of the new MP4-12C. While the notion of fitting a lightweight supercar with a heavy folding roof mechanism may seem antithetical to its ethos, Ferrari made huge advances with the roof on the California, and McLaren will be looking to show up its chief rival. Insiders suggest the McLaren's folding roof could be made of either aluminum alloy or possibly carbon fiber.
The overall timeline for production, however, suggests that McLaren may have to begin producing the MP4 where the outgoing SLR has been assembled in its current facility. McLaren has ambitious plans for a new factory adjacent to its existing headquarters, but with delivery of the first new supercars scheduled for November, the new underground facility isn't likely to be ready in time.
Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Imag 11:37AM (10/07/2009)
Report: McLaren MP4-12C Spyder still to look like generic video game car, now with an even longer name.
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vespid82 12:05PM (10/07/2009)
Agreed. Maybe it's all the OTHER supercars that have come along in the 11 years since the F1 disappeared, but this car was probably the biggest disappointment of the year for me. I guess we're just jaded... :sigh:
Beastage 1:50PM (10/07/2009)
Oh come on, it looks nice, packs power, priced right, excellent interior, everything you need.
Sure, the name is weird, the design is a bit generic but I'd get one if I could... well first I'll get the 458 Italia.
Imag 2:12PM (10/07/2009)
Beastage - you hit the nail on the head at the end. For this price, there are too many other amazing cars to choose from.
Quan 5:55PM (10/07/2009)
It will definitely be fast and nice. But I completely agree. At first sight it looked like something from Burnout to me. I'd rather have an LP560-4 I think.
slicecom 11:50AM (10/07/2009)
I still can't believe how bland this car looks. I'm greatly disappointed in its appearance. Hopefully it's performance is up to McLaren F1 standards.
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BoxerFanatic 12:00PM (10/07/2009)
I don't think this is intended to be an F1 successor.
This is more in line with an alternative to a Ferrari mid-V8 F458, or a Lambo Gallardo.
It does look less ground-breaking than F1. But it isn't ugly. It is just perhaps a bit too normal and straight-forward, compared to the complete paradigm-shift that McLaren F1 was.
Not every album can be the Beatles White Album. :D
BoxerFanatic 12:01PM (10/07/2009)
A folding hard-top on a mid-engined car... that will be a neat trick. Where is the roof going to go, and how will it get there?
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vespid82 12:11PM (10/07/2009)
Well, look at the Chevrolet SSR. I know there's no engine in the back, but it's still a folding hardtop WITH a cargo area.
http://www.ssrfanatic.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/4614/size/big
It's all about how you "stack" the roof once it's folded, and the more vertical you can keep it, the better. :)
BoxerFanatic 12:24PM (10/07/2009)
Well, and SSR-type short roof would be interesting looking on a flowing super-car body...
and that would take some serious packaging and engineering to put a folding roof between the seat backs and the firewall.
Otherwise the roof stacks on top of the engine, or somehow gets stowed all the way in the back of the car.
The only other method I can think of is a sliding roof panel on flying buttresses, where the roof merely slides aft, over a flat engine cover.
Quan 5:57PM (10/07/2009)
They could do something SuperAmerica style as well. Although I think the best option would be for a cloth roof.
daleam 12:02PM (10/07/2009)
I think it's beautiful. People piss and whine too much.
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ken_aisin 12:16PM (10/07/2009)
I agree. It's very good looking. People that think it is bland are probably into cars such as the Honda CrossTour and the new Acura models.
ken_aisin 12:07PM (10/07/2009)
Interesting.... but where's the space for the retracted hardtop? The front? Or would it be the tiny space between the seats and the engine?
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brickkyard 12:07PM (10/07/2009)
Skip the hardtop. What is the point of the carbon fiber bathtub chassis thing-a-ma-bob( I forgot its official name) ?
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Bungle 7:53PM (10/07/2009)
Low weight, rigidity, exclusivity, simplicity (apparently it's tricky to manufacture, but it significantly reduces the number of chassis components). It's so light that the whole tub can be handled easily by two men.
cprice1269 12:11PM (10/07/2009)
When I first saw the nose shot of this car (and I bet it is awesome in person in the right color), I couldn't help but think:
Separated at Birth: Watto the Junk Dealer and MP4-12C.
The head-on shot is a spitting image... : ) See both shots at:
http://s695.photobucket.com/albums/vv318/roybans/?albumview=grid
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tom 12:54PM (10/07/2009)
Ok, that's pretty funny! Good one.
Flea 12:19PM (10/07/2009)
"honey, why is there an orange car parked in the kitchen?"
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Venom 12:19PM (10/07/2009)
I am sure it is a fantastic car but is just so plain, like a Tesla.
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