MP4-12C versus 458 Italia

With a price tag of £168,500 in the UK, €200,000 in the Eurozone and $229,000 in the US, there was only ever going to be one car that the McLaren MP4-12C would be compared against: the incredibly talented, £173,132 Ferrari 458 Italia.

 

So, what’s the verdict? Judging by the reviews in Autocar, Evo and Car, McLaren has succeeded in eclipsing the Ferrari, thanks to an innovative chassis and usable performance from its 3.8 litre twin-turbo engine. The MP4-12C’s looks might have received some criticism for not being dramatic enough, but it’s still a very attractive design.



On paper the McLaren also has the upper hand, boasting more power, lighter weight, faster acceleration, a higher top speed and lower emissions:

McLaren MP4-12C versus Ferrari 458 Italia
Parameter	MP4-12C	458 Italia
Engine
Capacity (litres)	3.8	4.5
Cylinders	V8	V8
Power (bhp / kW / PS)	592 / 441 / 600 @ 7,000 rpm	570 / 425 / 577 @ 9,000 rpm
Torque (Nm / lb/ft)	600 / 443 @ 3,000 - 7,000 rpm	540 / 398 @ 6,000 rpm
Transmission
Gearbox	7-speed dual clutch	7-speed dual clutch
Performance
Acceleration (0-62 mph (100 km/h) seconds)	3.3 (3.1 with Corsa tyre option)	3.4
Top speed (mph / km/h)	205 / 330	202 / 325
Efficiency
Combined cycle (mpg (UK) / l/100km)	24.2 / 11.7	21.2 / 13.3
CO2 emissions (g/km)	279	307
Dry weight (kg / lbs)	1,336 / 2,945	1,380 / 3,042

McLaren Automotive has released videos of its MP4-12C undergoing virtual testing at the McLaren Technology Centre, as well as it being driven during the recent media test drive event at the Autodrómo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal. The journos were also treated some properly quick laps with Jenson Button behind the wheel, something that not all of them seemed to enjoy as much…

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McLaren MP4-12C GT3

458 Italia wrecked

Spec a McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C GT3

McLaren has announced plans to take its MP4-12C racing.

The MP4-12C GT3, which will compete against cars such as the BMW Z4 GT3, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and the ubiquitous Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S, is being built primarily for privateer entrants in Europe.



McLaren has been working in collaboration with Leicestershire-based CRS Racing who will build, sell and provide support to owners. The plan is for a small production run of cars for the 2012 European FIA GT3 Series, although before that there will be a limited race programme during 2011 as part of the development process.



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Spec a McLaren MP4-12C

Spec a McLaren MP4-12C

Although for many ownership of an MP4-12C will remain only a fantasy, McLaren has launched a configuration tool to help the dream come true… virtually, at least.

As expected, various paintwork and interior trim finishes can be specified. There’s also a choice of wheels and brakes, and optional carbon fibre can be selected for several panels around the car.

On the inside the standard in-car media, which features Bluetooth and a 40GB hard drive, can be upgraded to McLaren’s ‘Iris’ system. This includes a voice-activated navigation system, a larger capacity 80GB hard drive, and wireless connectivity to allow transfer of music tracks and other files directly from a laptop.

The one thing the configurator doesn’t do is tell you how much your finished creation would cost. However, it’s thought the MP4-12C will be priced below £175,000 when sales commence at the end of this year.