McLaren MP4-12C Enters Production, 1,000 Cars to be Built this Year [with Video]

McLaren Automotive's brand new MP4-12C has reached another milestone with the start of production at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, England. The British sports car maker said it plans to build up to 1,000 examples of the MP4-12Cs this year, with most cars to be manufactured in a bespoke new £40m McLaren Production Centre, which is due for completion in May on a site neighboring the MTC facility.

The MP4-12C was first presented to the public at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in southern England in July 2010, ahead of a North American debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August of the same year.

It is powered by a mid-mounted 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged V8 with 600HP and 443 lb-ft, developed in-house by McLaren, and can complete the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in under 3.0 seconds and the quarter mile in around 11 seconds, while reaching a top speed in excess of 200mph or 322km.

Prices for the MP4-12C start at around €200,000 in mainland Europe, £168,500 in the UK and at $229,000 in the US.

Today, McLaren also released a new short film called 'Best of 2010', which features appearances from F1 racing stars Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, visitors’ reactions to the 12C at its debut events as well as new footage of the car winter testing at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Scroll down to watch it.

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The McLaren MP4-12C of Chronograph Watches

McLaren and TAG Heuer are celebrating their 26-year long partnership as well as the 20th anniversary of the original McLaren F1 with the launch of the limited edition TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph watch. Taking inspiration from the upcoming MP4-12C supercar, the watch boasts a matching color scheme and is built from exotic materials such as carbon fiber.

The lightweight composite material was used for the dial, which features sapphire inserts that reveal the mechanism. The latter is protected by a highly durable titanium case, also minimizing weight. Other highlights include the alcantara leather strap evoking the MP4-12C’s interior, and orange luminescent markers on the hands, complemented by orange stitching.

Pilots and track drivers will appreciate the Flyback function, which allows the chronograph to be reset to zero and instantly restarted by pressing only once on the push button. There’s also a tachymeter at hand, indicating what distance is travelled, while the chronograph can record time intervals between two locations.

“I love watches and have always wanted to design one myself. The TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph was a particularly interesting project as we have combined our passion for precision technology, engineering and performance and included some of the most outstanding design features and materials that can be found in the MP4-12C”, said Frank Stephenson, Design Director McLaren Automotive.

The TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph will be produced in a limited run of 1,000 units. Those interested can purchase the watch through McLaren later this year.

As for the car that inspired the creation of the chronograph, the MP4-12C is powered by a 600HP mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8, developed in-house by McLaren. Capable of reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3 seconds and a top speed of 320+ km/h (200+ mph), the MP4-12C will hit the European market in spring 2011, at a base price of €200,000 in Germany and £168,500 in the UK. U.S. pricing will be released at a later date.

By Csaba Daradics

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McLaren MP4-12C details

The MP4-12C is a two-seat sports car built on a carbon fiber chassis. In the search for a weight under 1,300 kg, all parts of a balanced dish pharmacists. McLaren promise partly an average CO2 emissions below 300 g / km must continue. That’s better than the Ferrari 458 and the Mercedes AMG SLS.

The heart of the MP 4-12C is a self-developed 3.8-liter V8 with twin turbo. That must be something of a developing 600 hp in the production version. Official performance figures are not there yet, but he would in less than 10 seconds to 200 km / h are, and 5 seconds of that speed is stationary.

The car will only be offered in 19 countries, the price will remain slightly below 200,000 euros. McLaren suspect a thousand years in a first piece to sell.

Competition:

The McLaren is powered by a 3.8-liter V8 with 600 hp and a peak torque of 600 Nm. Thus, the MP4-12C according to its makers ‘less than three seconds’ from 0 to 100 km / h rage.
Thus, he checked the competition. The new 911 Turbo does it in 3.2 seconds part. The Gallardo and 458 do it in 3.4 and 3.3 seconds. McLaren gives a top speed yet, but we already know that spins from zero to 200 km / h in “less than ten seconds’ expires.

McLaren MP4-12C details

The MP4-12C is a two-seat sports car built on a carbon fiber chassis. In the search for a weight under 1,300 kg, all parts of a balanced dish pharmacists. McLaren promise partly an average CO2 emissions below 300 g / km must continue. That’s better than the Ferrari 458 and the Mercedes AMG SLS.

The heart of the MP 4-12C is a self-developed 3.8-liter V8 with twin turbo. That must be something of a developing 600 hp in the production version. Official performance figures are not there yet, but he would in less than 10 seconds to 200 km / h are, and 5 seconds of that speed is stationary.

The car will only be offered in 19 countries, the price will remain slightly below 200,000 euros. McLaren suspect a thousand years in a first piece to sell.

Competition:

The McLaren is powered by a 3.8-liter V8 with 600 hp and a peak torque of 600 Nm. Thus, the MP4-12C according to its makers ‘less than three seconds’ from 0 to 100 km / h rage.
Thus, he checked the competition. The new 911 Turbo does it in 3.2 seconds part. The Gallardo and 458 do it in 3.4 and 3.3 seconds. McLaren gives a top speed yet, but we already know that spins from zero to 200 km / h in “less than ten seconds’ expires.