MCLAREN MP4-12C: FURTHER DETAILS

Full details of the upcoming McLaren MP4-12C supercar have been released by the McLaren Automotive company, including the power figures, indicative pricing in UK pounds and all 35 dealers across 19 countries. One of these is Daytona Motors which is located in Sandton, close to landmarks like Sandton City. In fact there are some impressive links between the car and South Africa.

“Launching a new car company is a great challenge that is exciting everyone at McLaren,” says company Chairman Ron Dennis. “Everything is in place and on schedule for the first of our new range of cars to go on sale in the first half of 2011. These are exciting times - for McLaren, for car enthusiasts and, just as importantly, for people who are passionate about technology, innovation and engineering.”

The relatively small company has already spent around £40 million on its manufacturing facility in the UK. The pressure is already on for directors and executives like Dennis, Managing Director Antony Sheriff, and South African-raised Sales and Marketing Director, Greg Levine.

Says Sheriff: "Whether it's the revolutionary carbon MonoCell, the ProActive Chassis Control, or a desire to design cars that can be repaired more quickly and accurately than our competitors, we will deliver cars and a service to our customers of which we are personally proud.

"So, our performance goals do not just relate to the 12C, but to the car ownership experience itself: McLaren Automotive will offer new standards of customer service through its dedicated network of the world's best car retailers.”

The engine is an incredible feat of engineering displacing 3.8-litres, made of aluminium and shaped like the letter V. Gunning it along are two turbos helping it produce a stunning 441kW at 7000rpm, and peak torque of 600Nm between 3000rpm and 7000rpm. Transmission is a 7-speed twin clutch SSG system with super quick changes. All power goes to the rear wheels, with the front two used only to steer.

Three different modes can be actuated. Normal, Sport and Track change the car’s dynamic properties to suit prevailing road conditions, whether it’s everyday driving or extreme track bashing.

For something that weighs only 1 400kg, the MP4-12C sure brings in the big guns. Nought to 100km/h is said to go by in only 3.3 seconds (3.1 if you take the Corsa tyre option), 0 – 200km/h in 9.1 seconds (8.9 with Corsa) and top speed is 330km/h. C02 emissions are 279 g/km.

Geoff Grose, McLaren Automotive Head of Testing and Development said: “We've undertaken rigorous test schedules in every imaginable environment. Our teams have tested 12C prototypes in Sweden for cold weather programmes, Bahrain in summer dust storms, Arizona at temperatures upwards of 115°F (46.1°C), South Africa for high altitude testing and endless circuit and road testing in Europe.”

The 12C will go on sale in Europe in late Northern Hemisphere spring, North America, the Middle East, and South Africa through the summer and autumn, and Asia-Pacific towards the end of the year. New retailers will be appointed in future years, as the company moves to a global network of around 75 retailers in established and emerging markets.

Prices will tick in at under £200 000 (R2.3 million) in the UK.