McLaren MP4-12C
| McLaren 12C | |
|---|---|
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|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | McLaren Automotive |
| Production | 2011–2014 |
| Assembly | Woking, Surrey, England |
| Designer | Frank Stephenson |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car (S) |
| Body style | 2-door coupé 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Longitudinal, Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related |
McLaren 650S McLaren P1 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | McLaren M838T twin-turbo 3.8 L V8 |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mm (105.1 in) |
| Length | 4,509 mm (177.5 in) |
| Width | 1,908 mm (75.1 in) |
| Height | 1,199 mm (47.2 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,434 kg (3,161 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | McLaren 650S |
| McLaren X-1 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 2012 |
| Designer | Hong Yeo |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | McLaren M838T twin-turbo 3.8 L V8 |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mm (105.1 in) |
| Length | 4,616 mm (181.7 in) |
| Width | 2,097 mm (82.6 in) |
| Height | 1,199 mm (47.2 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,400 kg (3,086 lb) |
The McLaren MP4-12C, later known simply as the McLaren 12C, is a sports car designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. It is the first production car wholly designed and built by McLaren since the McLaren F1, which ended production in 1998. The car's final design was unveiled in September 2009, and was launched in mid-2011.
The MP4-12C features a carbon fibre composite chassis, and is powered by a mid-mounted McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V8, twin-turbo engine developing approximately 592 hp (441 kW; 600 PS) and around 443 lb·ft (601 N·m) of torque. The car makes use of Formula 1-sourced technologies such as "brake steer", where the inside rear wheel is braked during fast cornering to reduce understeer. Power is transmitted to the wheels through a seven-speed seamless shift dual-clutch gearbox.
A convertible version of the car called the MP4-12C Spider, renamed the 12C Spider in 2012, is also available. In February 2014, McLaren announced the related 650S, with revised bodywork, upgraded engine and other technical improvements. In April 2014, McLaren announced the end of production of the 12C.
In 2008, 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 (2,868 lb) dry.
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 produced by Formax UK Ltd. with the MonoCell manufactured by Carbo Tech in Salzburg, Austria. This has reduced the time required to produce a MonoCell from 3,000 hours for the F1 and 500 hours for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, to 4 hours for the MP4-12C.
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