New McLaren MP4-12C in San Jose

McLaren Automotive is moving full-speed ahead with its efforts in launching the MP4-12C. The supercar was designed to take the brand into the world of volume exotics, and no expense was spared in the effort.

In May of this year, McLaren announced locations for 35 dealers. While McLaren has a rich automotive history known to us enthusiasts, they are starting from scratch in creating this dealer network. It will be separate from the network that serviced the F1 supercar.

As McLaren works to get that network ready for launch next year, CarThrottle attended a preview of the MP4-12C for the Palo Alto, California location. It will be referred to as McLaren San Francisco.

Over 600 businesses applied to become McLaren dealers – a very high number that was winnowed down to just 35 top-shelf dealers around the world.

McLaren says each was chosen to fit the company’s exacting standards, selecting dealers that already have established a strong network of customers.

These are the right dealers that will help the MP4-12C to avoid falling prey to speculators. It is a fate Lexus tried to avoid with its LFA supercar through a leasing program.

Also, as a part of McLaren’s tough standards, each dealer will be required to have on hand every part of the MP4-12C. This is a huge investment on the part of the dealer, and is done to ensure customers will not have to wait for delivery of parts.

The silver MP4-12C on hand was stunning inside and out, built to an impressive standard of fit and finish. The particular car shown had optional carbon fiber accents, which will be available to customers as standalone options when ordering.

The interior is very driver focused, with a roomy atmosphere and excellent visibility. Lack of visibility is a problem plaguing many supercars and an area this car stands out in.

Executives for the company plan to release a new variant about every year for the next 5 years. That includes new models and additional MP4-12C model lines.

What exactly is in the works is under wraps for now, but we think a race-focused model and a convertible variant of the MP4-12C is likely for the near future.

Three models will form the core of McLaren’s lineup – the MP4-12C and two additional model lines. There will be a new top end model as a successor to the F1 and a volume model competing in Porsche 911 GT2/GT3 territory. The model to come next will be the new supercar.

One of the things that sets the McLaren MP4-12C apart is its carbon fiber tub. It enables a cocoon-like safety cell for the driver and passenger, as well as offering lightness.

With extensive uses of carbon fiber and aluminum, MP4-12C weighs in at just 2,866 pounds. Producing 586 horsepower from its 3.8-liter V-8, this should ensure a 0-60 figure of less than 4 seconds.

Interest in the MP4-12C from consumers has been characterized as high, with thousands of expressions of interest. With McLaren’s no-expense spared approach with the MP4-12C, we can see why.

We’re looking forward to the comparison tests that will appear next year comparing the MP4-12C with its arch rival the Ferrari 458 Italia. The competition has been warned – a new competitor is in town.

New McLaren MP4-12C in San Jose

McLaren Automotive is moving full-speed ahead with its efforts in launching the MP4-12C. The supercar was designed to take the brand into the world of volume exotics, and no expense was spared in the effort.

In May of this year, McLaren announced locations for 35 dealers. While McLaren has a rich automotive history known to us enthusiasts, they are starting from scratch in creating this dealer network. It will be separate from the network that serviced the F1 supercar.

As McLaren works to get that network ready for launch next year, CarThrottle attended a preview of the MP4-12C for the Palo Alto, California location. It will be referred to as McLaren San Francisco.

Over 600 businesses applied to become McLaren dealers – a very high number that was winnowed down to just 35 top-shelf dealers around the world.

McLaren says each was chosen to fit the company’s exacting standards, selecting dealers that already have established a strong network of customers.

These are the right dealers that will help the MP4-12C to avoid falling prey to speculators. It is a fate Lexus tried to avoid with its LFA supercar through a leasing program.

Also, as a part of McLaren’s tough standards, each dealer will be required to have on hand every part of the MP4-12C. This is a huge investment on the part of the dealer, and is done to ensure customers will not have to wait for delivery of parts.

The silver MP4-12C on hand was stunning inside and out, built to an impressive standard of fit and finish. The particular car shown had optional carbon fiber accents, which will be available to customers as standalone options when ordering.

The interior is very driver focused, with a roomy atmosphere and excellent visibility. Lack of visibility is a problem plaguing many supercars and an area this car stands out in.

Executives for the company plan to release a new variant about every year for the next 5 years. That includes new models and additional MP4-12C model lines.

What exactly is in the works is under wraps for now, but we think a race-focused model and a convertible variant of the MP4-12C is likely for the near future.

Three models will form the core of McLaren’s lineup – the MP4-12C and two additional model lines. There will be a new top end model as a successor to the F1 and a volume model competing in Porsche 911 GT2/GT3 territory. The model to come next will be the new supercar.

One of the things that sets the McLaren MP4-12C apart is its carbon fiber tub. It enables a cocoon-like safety cell for the driver and passenger, as well as offering lightness.

With extensive uses of carbon fiber and aluminum, MP4-12C weighs in at just 2,866 pounds. Producing 586 horsepower from its 3.8-liter V-8, this should ensure a 0-60 figure of less than 4 seconds.

Interest in the MP4-12C from consumers has been characterized as high, with thousands of expressions of interest. With McLaren’s no-expense spared approach with the MP4-12C, we can see why.

We’re looking forward to the comparison tests that will appear next year comparing the MP4-12C with its arch rival the Ferrari 458 Italia. The competition has been warned – a new competitor is in town.

New fast McLaren Announces MP4-12C

The McLaren MP4-12C is a supercar that has been in the works for quite some time. McLaren Automotive has put a staggering amount of attention to detail in to the car, obsessing over the final product. That has resulted in a bit of time before announcement last year and delivery of the production model next year.

CarThrottle attended a preview of the vehicle last month and was quite impressed with what we saw. One of the few things about the car that hasn’t been known for certain – pricing information, has now been revealed for global markets.

Until now pricing for the MP4-12C has been pegged in the $250,000-range. While the United States has yet to see pricing officially released, that looks to have been a pretty accurate figure.

For the United Kingdom the MP4-12C is priced at 168,500, coming in at about $262,000 USD at current exchange rates. Other markets with announced pricing include Germany, at €200,000, France and Monaco at €201,000, Italy at €201,680 in and Belgium checking in with the highest figure at €203,360.

Pricing announcements for other markets, including the United States, will be forthcoming. European countries markets are the likeliest to see first deliveries of the MP4-12C, so the timing makes sense. Antony Sheriff, Managing Director of McLaren Automotive commented on the figures, saying:

“With a unique carbon chassis as the foundation, and a powerful, but highly efficient McLaren engine at its heart, the 12C offers staggering value: no other carbon-based car can compete at this price-point, or with the 12C’s technology and performance.” Deliveries are slated to begin in the Spring of 2011.

New McLaren MP4-12C Production Begins

Over the past few years we have been witnessing the birth of a new volume manufacturer in the super car industry – McLaren. When we met with McLaren executives at an event in San Jose last year, it was clear there was a real excitement about the company and a view that was taking place was something big.

The company has undertaken an extensive and meticulous five-year development process of the MP4-12C. That process has finally culminated with the MP4-12C’s official start of production, which took place yesterday.

Chassis 01 has yet to be completed but it is winding it’s way through the production process at McLaren’s Technical Center (MTC) in Woking, England.

The site where most MP4-12Cs will be built is a site adjacent to the MTC, and it is called McLaren Production Center. It is under construction and due for completion in May, being a more mass-production facility than the MTC.

McLaren plans to produce 1,000 MP4-12Cs over the course of this year. You can check
out some photographs of Chassis 01 as well as a new video McLaren has released to document the car’s journey.

It features F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, 2008 and 2009 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champions. The two have been testing preproduction MP4-12Cs and have been providing input on development.

New McLaren MP4-12C Comes in at $229,000

McLaren has been readying its MP4-12C supercar for quite some time – we’ve been hearing about the car for years but the official unveiling took place in late 2009. Since then there have been a few delays, but the car is on track for global sale this year.

The length of time is part of a painstaking development process that results in the impressive vehicle we hear about today.

In San Jose last year, CarThrottle attended an unveiling and launch of McLaren San Francisco by Price Family Dealers. We came away impressed – its a car that pictures just don’t do justice to.

One thing we haven’t known about the car is its pricetag – various figures have been bandied about, with them mostly being pegged around the $225-250,000 range. Those were about right, but the good news is the final figure has come in at the low end of those estimates – $229,000.

That places the MP4-12C’s right in the heart of the supercar market, and that makes sense as McLaren is clearly gunning for the competition.

The Ferrari 458 Italia comes in at $225,000 and the Lamborghini LP-570-4 at around $237,000. Get ready for some really interesting comparison tests over the next few months as the three duke it out.

Mercedes-Benz is building the last examples of the SLR

The end of a great era: Mercedes-Benz is building the last examples of the SLRStuttgart/Woking - The last examples of the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss are currently being built, bringing the active era of the SLR super sports car from Mercedes-Benz and McLaren to an end. In 2004, with the swing-wing Coupé, Mercedes-Benz and McLaren jointly set out to continue the story of the legendary SLR