Ron Dennis of McLaren Automotive will reveal the McLaren F1 successor on Wednesday. The MP4-12C supercar promises to be the best in technological innovation.
McLaren Automotive will reveal one of the most anticipated supercars this year on Wednesday, September 9th. After months of spy photos and some official information, McLaren Automotive will unveil the MP4-12C.
The car was previously known as P11 and will go on sale in 2011. It will be a spiritual successor of the McLaren F1 supercar, going head-tohead with the Porsche 911 Turbo (and Ferrari 458 Italia).
Thanks to Formula One, it is expected to be a leader in technical innovation. WCF has obtained details that the MP4-12C will feature a monocoque carbon-fiber body structure. The MP4-12C’s big innovation, however, is directly related to its predecessor, the MP4-12 F1 racing car from 1997. The MP4-12C, which was first seen on the racecar but was later banned by the FIA for its brake steering technology, will be available to the public. The driver can brake both rear wheels using a second brake pedal, resulting in less wheelspin and elimination of understeer.
The engine will be powered by a twin-turbo, 6.0-liter V8 petrol motor and will be connected through a seven-speed gearbox that will produce 600 to 700 bhp. The MP4-12C is a supercar, but its designers aren’t skimping on everyday useability. The 200-mph road runner will come with features such as wi-fi, an onboard computer, and self-adjusting suspension. It also has vertically opening doors.
Previous reports already state that this car is not the only one. Ron Dennis CEO of the company, Ron Dennis said that his company isn’t just building one model but also building a brand. Expect to see three models in the next six-years, which will result in sales of approximately 4,000 annually. Ferrari, on the other hand, produces approximately 6,000 cars per year. Porsche is expected to face a culling its top-selling non-sports models under its new VW home.
The MP4-12C, the mid-sized car of the three new cars, is expected to be the most expensive. It will cost PS150,000 (US$246,000) in the future. The initial lineup will include a 911 competitor for around PS60,000 (US$98,000.) and a Lamborghini Murcielago rival.
The rendering above shows that it is very similar to the real thing, except for the headlamps, which are more boomerang-shaped. Maybe an early draft of the design.