McLaren Automotive Officially Launches As A Car Company
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As of today, McLaren is no longer solely a race car manufacturer producing cars seen at Formula 1 events. Now they are officially a car company with the launch of the MP4-12C or 12C as McLaren likes to call it.
The Chief Engineer Niel Patterson says that, “Our goal for the 12C, and future McLaren cars, is to offer what we call ‘accessible performance’, no matter what the driver’s ability.
“With that in mind, with the technologies we have introduced, and with a small and lightweight, low- and mid-mounted engine, we have been able to deliver what we feel is a perfectly balanced chassis. The 12C will be a joy to drive in town, on an Autobahn, or on a track. There is no compromise and huge flexibility.”
The 12C uses decades of carbon fiber know-how to create its unique carbon fiber monocoque called the “Mono Cell.” This gives the car excellent crash protection and its light curb weight, 2.866 pounds dry.
Weight savings are not restricted to the chassis alone. McLaren made sure to remove as much weight from the design as possible, including using a lithium-ion battery which saved 22 pounds. The forge aluminum brakes saved 11 pounds over carbon-ceramic brakes. Placing the cooling system in the rear saved countless pounds of piping. Even the wiring harness, using a hexagonal wire design, saved 9 pounds.
Powering the car is a 3.8L twin-turbo V-8 making 592 horsepower helps bring some amazing performance numbers that were released to day. The vague numbers for the 12C state it will get up to 125 mph in less than 10 seconds and back to zero mph in less than 5 seconds, and will top out at over 200mph.
The car will be available in the spring of 2011. Be sure to look for more coverage on the car here at Sports Car Monitor.
[McLaren]
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