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Video: Need For Speed: The Run "On The Edge"It’s hard to top the last video of Need For Speed: The Run, especially when it featured steaming Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. For their part, though, the people over at NFS have just released the latest promo video for their soon-to-be-released racing game. No, it doesn’t come with any scantily-clad foxes, but what it does feature are two supercars considered two of the most desirable exotics on the market today: the McLaren MP4-12C and the Pagani Huayra. As always, the video offers plenty of breathtaking racing between the two supercars with a short and ultimately crash-tastic cameo of an out-of-its-element police car. But the real highlight of the video is the race between the MP4-12C and the Huayra. Here’s a spoiler, though: if you’re a fan of either one of these cars, then prepare to weep as one of them gets thrown off a cliff. We’re not kidding. Check out the video and find out which one goes flying off the mountain.
Video: Ferrari 458 chases McLaren MP4-12C in a tunnelThe Ferrari 458 Italia and the McLaren MP4-12C are currently natural born enemies in the sports car segment. Both models have had problems at the beginning - the Ferrari was recalled last year and the McLaren recently had to stop production due to safety concerns - but all that aside, they are both fantastically superior machines with killer engines to exploit. There will always be a competitive vein connecting these two sports cars which is why a video displaying both of their strengths is always a must see. This video shows a black Ferrari 458 Italia chasing a MP4-12C into a tunnel. If you want to see the beautiful curves of both models, find another video. But if you want to hear the glorious and thunderous sound escaping the exhausts, turn the volume up. The Ferrari 458 Italia is powered by a 4,499 cc V8 engine that delivers a total of 570 HP at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 398 lb-ft at 6000 rpm. The engine is mated to a F1 dual-clutch gearbox and sprints the sports car from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds while top speed goes up to an impressive 201 mph. The McLaren MP4-12C is powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 weighing only 439 lbs. The engine produces 592hp at 7,000rpm and 443 lb-ft. of torque between 3,000 and 7,000rpm. It will reach 60mph in 3.3 seconds and an even faster 3.1 seconds with the optional high-performance tire option. The new team made sure the top speed of the 12C would be formidable topping out at 205mph. So which supercar would you prefer, Italian or British? Wallpapers: Stig’s Supercar Showdown 
Italy’s Stelvio Pass is known as one of the most dangerous, as well as the most amazing roads in the world. So when Top Gear wanted to do some testing shots with a truly unprecedented selection of performance cars currently on the market, Stelvio Pass was an obvious choice for the location. In this group was the fastest production car ever, the Bugatti Veyron Supersport; Ferrari’s new FF; the McLaren MP4-12C; Porsche’s finest ever 911, the GT3 RS 4.0; Jaguar’s new XKR-S; Ariel’s mental Atom Mugen; BMW’s new accessible thrill machine, the 1-Series M Coupe; the Ford Mustang Boss Laguna Seca; and the Zonda F. That list already presented a mouthful and there were still more vehicles present. All the cars in the show were estimated at £3,718,090 - or about $5,217,907 at the current exchange rates - and delivered a combined output of 6,071bhp. So, which one do you like best? McLaren stops MP4-12C production due to safety concerns
McLaren has finally started to deliver their newest supercar - the MP4-12C - and two of the units have already crashed. According to Wrecked Exotics, the first model crashed near the McLaren Technical Center in Woking, UK and the second in Hamburg, Germany. It is believed that the incident happened after drivers lost control of their cars at high speeds. Now it seems as though McLaren has decided to stop production of the supercar due to safety problems. We don’t know if McLaren’s decision stemmed from these crashes or not, but AutoEvolution reports that the problems could affect driving safety and comfort, ranging from the brake hoses and door opening system to the glass engine cover and Iris entertainment system. There are also problems with the water ingress and the electrical cables in the dashboard. We don’t know about you, but this sounds like a serious cause for concern and McLaren should definitely take another look at the MP4-12C. We just can’t believe that after years of development and production pushbacks, there could be so many disastrous problems with the vehicle. This could raise some serious doubt about McLaren’s future. Can they survive without Daimler? Hit us up in the comments section below! 2012 McLaren MP4-12C Mehron GT by Merdad
A few weeks ago, Merdad dropped a teaser photo of their tuning package for the McLaren MP4-12C, the first program to be done for the British supercar. Today, the UK tuning firm has finally unearthed a few details about the car, including the car’s name: the MehRon GT. The bodykit added to the MP4-12C features a dramatic styling make-over that not only looks wider, but far more aggressive than what McLaren came up with. There’s another newly-released photo that shows the supercar’s more muscular rear end, which predictably comes packed with carbon fiber. And in addition to the extensive exterior modifications, the MP4-12C’s interior also comes with plenty of personalization options depending on the customer’s preferences. As far as the performance modifications on the car are concerned, Merdad is still keeping that in house for now, opting only to share that the supercar comes with a new SuperSound exhaust system, special design set Merdad lightweight forged wheels and, most importantly, a significant increase in power. The car is scheduled to be unveiled next year, which means that it gives Merdad plenty of time to completely blow us away. There’s a lot of pressure considering that it’s the very first tuning program for the MP4-12C, but as far as the early returns are concerned, these guys are definitely on the right track. McLaren Exclusive to offer special customization programs for the MP4-12CNow that the MP4-12C is getting ready to be delivered to customers, McLaren used the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to introduce ’McLaren Exclusive,’ the British supercar maker’s very own vehicle customization program. With brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini launching their own vehicle customization programs, it was only a matter of time before McLaren followed suit, and they certainly didn’t wait long before joining in the customization ranks. McLaren’s vehicle customization program will touch on the MP4-12C, as well as two other soon-to-be-announced supercars, to provide customers a variety of new features that can be outfitted to their supercar depending on their tastes and preferences. Among the modifications available for the MP4-12C - as shown by the customized MP4-12C that was previewed at Pebble Beach - include a custom Satin Orange paint finish, a slew of aerodynamic parts that have been lifted from the brand’s resident race car - the MP4-12C GT3 - and a host of carbon fiber details that can be used on various parts of the supercar. The price for McLaren’s vehicle customization program will vary depending on the features that are added on the car. Using the above model as an example, all the changes made on it tacked an extra $50,000 on the MP4-12C’s $230,000 price tag. 2012 McLaren MP4-12C by Gemballa Racing Team
After an eventful 2010 year that saw their founder kidnapped and killed in South Africa, 2011 has been a relatively quiet year for German tuning company, Gemballa. The new brass over at Gemballa is determined to turn over a new leaf and investor, Steffen Korbach, is initiating a new chapter in the company’s history by starting a new Gemballa racing team that hopes to begin competing in the 2012 motor racing season. With a new team in hand, Korbach wanted a car that can be competitive from the get-go and they seemed to have found it in a pair of McLaren MP4-12C GT3 models. "We deliberately went for the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 for our motor sport commitment, because we think the car has enormous potential to be among the season’s leaders," Korbach said. Powered by the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine found on the production version, the MP4-12C GT3 comes with a de-tuned output of only 500 horsepower at a limited 7,500rpm. The engine is then mounted to the car’s carbon fiber MonoCell chassis and tuned to racing specifications. In addition to scoring a pair of MP4-12C GT3s, Korbach also tapped race vet, Sascha Bert, to serve as team manager with the names of prospective drivers scheduled to be announced soon. UPDATE 12/27/12: The Gemballa Racing Team McLaren MP4-12C is now on sale for an "affordable" price of just €350,000, which is around $460,000 based on current exchange rates. McLaren modifies MP4-12C after press test drive critiques
McLaren began its research for the MP4-12C back in 2005 with a little something called “Project 11.” This project consisted of the most advanced simulation software in the world and was used to test the future car’s ability at any track and any conditions. It’s been six years, and many grueling tests and revisions, later and it seems as if the MP4-12C is still not 100% up to the task. A McLaren spokesman has announced that the first units of the supercar to be delivered will feature additional revisions in response to the critique the supercar has received from the press. After initial press test drives, many journalists placed the McLaren supercar below Ferrari’s latest toy, the 458 Italia because "it lacked the aural drama and sense of occasion to match its pace and dynamic ability." With the hard work and dedication already put into the MP4-12C, McLaren felt it necessary to tweak the supercar before it was delivered to its high-paying customers. Modifications such as an improved throttle response and a "fruitier" exhaust note were applied and will take effect only in Track mode. McLaren also said that these modifications were already planned, but the press criticism made the company hightail the changes before the vehicles were delivered. "We want drivers to enjoy the car a bit more," a McLaren spokesman said. "The changes don’t lead to any performance increase, but they do lead to an emotional increase when you drive the car. It was a bit too sensible before. You won’t notice the changes in normal mode, just when you’re really having fun and pushing it." Video: Top Gear compares the McLaren MP4-12c and Ferrari 458 ItaliaFollowing Fifth Gear’s comparison of two of the most impressive supercars of the moment, Top Gear has taken their turn comparing the McLaren MP4-12C and the Ferrari 458 Italia. Considering that, at the MP4-12C’s official launch, the company announced that the MP4-12C was better than the 458 Italia in every mathematical way, this was a scenario that had to be put to the test. Do you think Jeremy Clarkson agrees with McLaren’s bold statement? Check out the video to find out! Short reminder: The MP4-12C is powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that delivers a total of 592 HP and 443 lb-ft. of torque, and will sprint the car to a top speed of 205 mph. The 458 Italia, on the other hand, is powered by a 4.5 Liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 570 HP. The Ferrari model can hit a top speed of 202 mph. Top Gear Season 17: Episode 3 The third episode of Top Gear was aired over the weekend and to our surprise, the show can actually put out a meaningful 60 minutes without all the usual wisecracks. Granted, there were still jokes, but humor was somehow left in the sidelines in lieu of some pretty fascinating reviews on the McLaren MP4-12C and the Range Rover Evoque. On top of that, reigning Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel also stopped by for a quick chat with Jeremy Clarkson while also taking his talents behind the wheel of a Kia Cee’d as part of the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment. The two best segments though include the Stig’s scintillating lap of the MP4-12C, posting a lap time that you wouldn’t believe until you see it and a segment on second-hand cars that left us with an idea on the merits of owning a brand-new city car as opposed to a second-hand version of something that’s more appropriate to our tastes. Check out full details of Top Gear Season 17 Episode 3 after the jump. Full story | Find us on Facebook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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