MCLAREN 12C

MCLAREN 12C

Mclaren 12C

The 12C, originally known as MP4-12C is a mid-engined sports car designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. 12C is the first production car designed and built wholly by Mclaren since it’s legendary supercar Mclaren F1. The car was launched in 2011. The car uses Formula-1 technologies such as “brake steer”, where the inside rear wheel is braked during fast cornering to reduce understeer. 12C features a 75 kg carbon fibre composite chassis. The 12C was the main rival of Ferrari’s universaly admired 458 Italia.

The Mclaren 12C is featured in many racing video games. Some of them are Need For Speed : Run, Shift, Shift 2 Unleashed, Hot Pursuit (2010), Forza Horizon series, Forza Motorsport series, Gran Turismo 5 & 6 and The Crew.

Mclaren 12C in Need For Speed : Shift

Mclaren 12C in Forza Horizon 2

PERFORMANCE

The 12C uses a mid-mounted McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V8, twin-turbo engine developing 592 bhp and around 601 Nm of torque.  For the first time, McLaren has specified a unique engine, developed and built in the UK by Ricardo. The power is delivered through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic unit with a manual, paddle-shifting override. . The results are impressive. 12C reaches from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.1 seconds. It has a top speed of 352 kmph (218 mph). It is unbelievably fast and also one of the fastest cars to go on TopGear test track. DragTimes.com posted a YouTube video of a stock McLaren 12C accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, the 3rd fastest verified time for a stock production car at the time. McLaren differs most from rivals is in its suspension design. Like most cars of its ilk it uses coil-sprung double wishbones at each end, but the rule-braking part is a set of linked hydraulic dampers, each of whose internal pressures (and thus damper rates) can be varied to resist roll and pitch, and also deliver three levels of ride quality according to the driver’s choice. The system removes any requirement for conventional steel anti-roll bars. As standard, the MP4-12C’s disc brakes are steel, with carbon-ceramics an option. McLaren says the steel discs can give a shorter stopping distance but that carbon-ceramics are more resistant to fade with repeated track use.

DESIGN

Mclaren hired Frank Stephenson as design director for their reborn production car project. As with the McLaren F1, carbon fibre is used extensively in the vehicle to minimise weight. The MP4-12C weighs 1,301 kg. The chassis is based around a F1 style one-piece carbon fibre tub, called the Carbon MonoCell, weighing only 80 kg (176 lb). The MonoCell is made in a single pressing by using a set of patented processes, using Bi-Axial and Tri-Axial carbon fibre multiaxial fabrics. The car has a conventional two side-by-side seating arrangement, unlike its predecessor the McLaren F1 which featured an irregular three seat formation (front centre, two behind either side). To make up for this however, the car's central console is narrower than in other cars, seating the driver closer to the centre. Interior trim and materials can be specified in asymmetric configuration – known as "Driver Zone". Aluminium subframes are mounted at each end to carry the engine, front and rear suspension and ancillaries, and to provide a crash structure. Body panels are made from a mixture of aluminium or composite materials, but to keep repair costs under control none of the outer skin is made from carbonfibre.

There are 3 driving modes in 12C - Normal mode: handling and powertrain deliver comfort and refinement, Sport mode: ideal for spirited driving, Track mode: to unleash the racing pedigree.

INTERIOR

The Mclaren 12C interior is more business like interior. It is sophisticated and does not look as sporty as it’s rival 458. But in total it is comfortable and convenient. There’s a small and thin steering wheel which is solely made for turing purpose only. There’s no control on the steering. Everything’s on the centre console. The driving position is straight and comfortable. The 12C’s metal gearshift paddles resemble those regularly used by grand prix drivers and require a stiffer pull than those fitted to most road machinery. There’s an  intuitive telematics touchscreen which gives you full control over the 12C’s entertainment, media and communications systems. The IRIS system adds state-of-the-art navigation, and includes a bespoke seven-speaker Meridian audio experience that delivers fully immersive surround-sound. 

Mclaren 12C's Interior