Autoblog

Along Came a Spyder: McLaren MP4-12C production plans include retractable hardtop?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, UK, Rumormill

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]

Along Came a Spyder: McLaren MP4-12C production plans include retractable hardtop? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

MP4-12C - Coming to America: McLaren Automotive sets up North American distribution

Noah Joseph — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising

McLaren MP4-12C - Click above for an image gallery

How many low-production exotic supercars have we had to gaze at longingly from across the ocean? The prohibitively high cost of homologation for the U.S. market has kept more than a few niche automakers away. Even the mighty McLaren F1 had to be brought in through loopholes, with considerable delays, costs and modifications. But the new McLaren MP4-12C won't follow the same path, as the racing outfit's nascent road car division has revealed its strategy for worldwide distribution, and North America is figuring large in its plans.

The company has just announced the appointment of regional managers for both North America and Europe as well as the Middle East and Africa, taking its worldwide distribution by the horns. McLaren North America will be based in the New York area and will be headed by one Anthony Joseph, a former regional manager for Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati, whose first task will be the establishment of ten dealer franchises in the United States and Canada. Of course, McLaren first needs to begin production of the MP4-12C, its initial new offering, with sales projected to begin in the spring of 2011. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

[Source: McLaren]

Continue reading MP4-12C - Coming to America: McLaren Automotive sets up North American distribution

MP4-12C - Coming to America: McLaren Automotive sets up North American distribution originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Ron Dennis on the new McLaren MP4-12C

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos

Ron Dennis on the McLaren MP4-12C - Click above to watch video after the jump

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]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ron Dennis on the new McLaren MP4-12C

VIDEO: Ron Dennis on the new McLaren MP4-12C originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pics Aplenty: McLaren MP4-12C is ready for its close up

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

McLaren MP4-12C - Click above for high-res image gallery

For those who've been anxiously awaiting the replacement of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, last night was a very big night indeed. Not only did the new Mercedes SLS AMG leak out, but McLaren itself released full details of its new MP4-12C. We ran the info as soon as we could gather it along with an initial batch of images, and now we're back with more for your viewing and desktop-plastering pleasure.

The design of McLaren's new supercar - its first independent road-car project since the legendary McLaren F1 - comes from the hand of one Frank Stephenson, the multi-national, American-educated designer responsible for the reborn Mini, BMW X5, Fiat 500 and countless Maseratis and Ferraris. His design of the MP4-12C is dominated by McLaren's tick logo, which figures large in the air vents all around the car as well as the LED lights. The shape is otherwise clean and streamlined, aided by the use of adaptive aerodynamics. The interior is accessed via signature McLaren forward-upward hinged doors, and though lamentably without the 1+2 configuration made famous by its precursor, envelops the driver and passenger in thin, molded bucket seats. The dashboard is dominated by a 7-inch multimedia display, and the Pre-Cog gear system is operated via paddles mounted on a rocker, allowing up and downshifts to be affected from either side, just like in McLaren's championship-winning grand prix cars. Check it all out in the high-resolution image gallery below, and stay tuned for video footage to follow shortly.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

[Source: McLaren]

Pics Aplenty: McLaren MP4-12C is ready for its close up originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

McLaren MP4-12C: First batch of details and images surface

Noah Joseph — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:39:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, MISC

McLaren MP4-12C - Click above for an image gallery

Today's a big day for McLaren. After ambitiously launching its own separate automotive division to follow in the footsteps of arch-rival Ferrari, the British race engineering firm has finally released its long-anticipated new supercar. Called the MP4-12C, it's been developed entirely in-house, and features the latest advances in automotive technology derived from the Formula 1 circuit.

Ooh, where to start? The MP4-12C is built around an extremely light and rigid carbon fiber tub. But rather than the heavier multi-piece tubs used by its competitors and predecessors, the MP4's is made from a single piece, weighing a spritely 176 pounds). The body panels are all carbon fiber and composites, making the new McLaren more expensive to build than its competitors and resulting in an expected £160,000 ($265k) price tag - higher than either the new Ferrari 458 Italia or the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, but lighter in weight, too.

Behind the tub sits a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine producing around 600 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque, offering what McLaren claims is the highest horsepower to CO2 ratio of any internal combustion engine on the market - gasoline, diesel or even hybrid. Contrary to earlier speculation that suggested Mercedes could continue furnishing its erstwhile partner with at least the engine blocks while producing its own SLS supercar and furnishing Pagani as well, McLaren says the unit was developed entirely in house. The bespoke mill features a flat-plane crank, dry sump and can rev up to 8,500 rpm, though 80% of the torque is said to be available from as low as 2,000 rpm. That ought to be good for a 0-60 time in the low threes and a 200+ mph top end.

While you might have expected carbon ceramic brakes to keep all that power and speed in check, McLaren says its conventional discs actually weigh less. They're aided by a Brake Steer system that brakes the inside rear wheel to combat understeer. But the real trick system is in the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, where Pre-Cog lets the driver load up the next gear by half-squeezing the paddle and then engaging with gunshot speed.

With the new MP4-12C, McLaren's betting the economy will bounce back soon. It's planning on building 1000 units in 2011, a quarter of which will go each to the domestic UK market and over here to the United States. The C designation also suggests that they're planning a roadster version to join the coupe. But for now, we'll just enjoy this first batch of images in the gallery below and peruse the lengthy press release after the jump.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C first shots

[Source: McLaren via CAR Magazine]

Continue reading McLaren MP4-12C: First batch of details and images surface

McLaren MP4-12C: First batch of details and images surface originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Is DaimlerChrysler taking over McLaren?

Stuart Waterman — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Supercars, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz

Rumors surfaced in the German press Tuesday that minority shareholder DaimlerChrysler is close to buying the remaining 60 percent of McLaren F1 and McLaren Automotive that it does not yet own. DaimlerChrysler currently owns 40 percent, with the remaining 60 percent split equally between managing director Ron Dennis, and Saudi investor Mansour Ojjeh. The Mercedes stake in McLaren was valued at $400 million in 1999 when the automaker became part-owner.

If it happens, the deal would see DaimlerChrysler/Mercedes-Benz joining Renault, BMW, Honda, Toyota and Ferrari in having controlling interest in their respective Formula 1 teams.

The deal could also make sense if Mercedes plans to increase McLaren's road car production in future, whether for new versions of the SLR, or for a less expensive supercar to compete with the likes of the Ferrari F430.

[Sources: Reuters, GrandPrix.com]

Is DaimlerChrysler taking over McLaren? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments