Now that McLaren has successfully bought back the remaining shares held by Daimler, the company is on a mission to excel in their future endeavors. This video was created to show the direction the company is taking to ensure that success.
It touches on the success the company has had in Formula One racing, but the company’s most recent achievement has to be the MP4-12C supercar. So, what will the future bring for McLaren? As far as we know, there will be a Spyder version of the MP4-12C, a new successor for the legendary F1 supercar - rumored to be called MP4-27 - and a 2+2 version for the MP4-12C. All of these new models are set to arrive in the next 2-3 years!
At a meeting at the McLaren headquarters in Woking, Surrey, McLaren chairman Ron Dennis stated: “We’re a relentlessly competitive entity, bred on high-performance and determined to bring to market ground-breaking products and solutions that are set apart by their top quality and dependence on totally unique and highly innovative steps in performance. To take just one example, we’re poised on the verge of a hugely exciting automotive programme with our high-performance sports car, the MP4-12C.”
He continued “Through everything we do, we’re absolutely dedicated to fostering the rebirth of one of Great Britain’s industrial cornerstones: beautiful and meticulously crafted high-tech industrial design and manufacture... everything that McLaren is has been built on the founding principles of good design and solid, seamlessly efficient engineering and manufacturing.”
McLaren has unveiled their new MP4-27 Formula 1 Race Car that will be used during the 2012 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. This year, the car will be driven by the two world champions: Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
The new MP4-27 is a natural evolution of last year’s six-race-winning car, but it has received a number of modifications in order to comply with the new FIA regulations. The 2012 chassis has been substantially revised from the ground-up, with all major systems updated or re-designed for the new season. The racing car has also received more tightly waisted rear bodywork, developed to improve flow to the rear of the car, and a revised cooling system, which re-directs the gearbox oil-cooler. The U-shaped sidepods from last year’s model have also been re-designed due to the new exhaust regulations.
The McLaren MP4-27 Formula 1 Race Car will begin testing on Tuesday February 7th, 2012 at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez with Jenson Button behind the wheel.
The most impressive model in Hennessey’s line-up at this point is without a doubt the Venom GT, but with Hennessey, the best always seems to get one-upped by their next project. The vehicle ready to take on the challenge is the new HPE800 Concept based on the new McLaren MP4-12C. As its name suggests, the HPE800 will get a power upgrade to the tune of 800 HP - up from the current 592 HP. Next to this, the tuner will also be offering a more aggressive aero package, new wheels, and interior changes.
Hennessey was able to massage more power out of the McLaren’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 by adding an upgraded intercooler system, air intake system, and ball-bearing turbochargers, as well as ECU updates and, of course, a new Hennessey titanium exhaust system. These updates will allow the MP4-12C to push out the aforementioned 800 HP.
With a power update like the one provided by Hennessey, the super car also had to get a mini makeover for both the exterior and interior to balance itself out. For this, the tuner installed a new, center-positioned frontal air inlet with hood extractor that will allow room for larger heat exchangers for improved engine intercooling as well as transmission cooling. The new set of wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires, while the interior combines carbon fiber, Alcantara, and leather for a luxuriously supple feel.
A few weeks ago, Jay Leno’s brand new McLaren MP4-12C was caught in California and now the late night talk show host is ready to put it in the spotlight. Something tells us he is very proud of his brand new $230,000 acquisition.
Leno has sat behind the wheel of the MP4-12C many times considering he has repeatedly invited McLaren to his Garage for some test runs, but in this 15 minute video, Leno gets a bit more personal and goes into details of the MP4-12C that have never been addressed in other reviews.
As a refresher, Leno’s McLaren MP4-12C is painted in a very cool Volcano Orange and is powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 that delivers a total of 592 HP at 7,000rpm and 443 lb-ft. of torque between 3,000 and 7,000rpm. It can hit a top speed of 205 mph.
Now that McLaren has solved the problems associated with the MP4-12C Coupe, it’s time to focus our attention to the Spyder version due to be unveiled later in 2012. British magazine, CAR, was lucky enough to get ahold of the first images of the vehicle without any camouflage or decoy body panels. As seen in this image, the MP4-12C SPyder is as gorgeous as its coupe brother and will be offered with a folding metal roof - just like its competitor, the Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder.
The McLaren MP4-12C Spyder’s three-piece roof will open and close in about 17 seconds and will operate at speeds of up to 5 mph. The rest of the car will be identical to the coupe version: it will be powered by a V8 engine with an output of 592 HP and 442 lb-ft of torque. However, performance figures won’t be similar because the Spyder will be heavier, so no one should expect the same 205 mph top speed.
