Tag: McLaren Automotive

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McLaren Automotive announces One Hyde Park showroom

McLaren Automotive

McLaren Automotive have announced their premier European dealership will be at One Hyde Park in London. The showroom will take up space at the The Residences at Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. The McLaren MP4-12C is due for release before the middle of 2011 and the McLaren London showroom will open its doors early next year.

Christian Marti, McLaren Automotive’s European Regional Director, said, “One Hyde Park has already established itself as a landmark location in London, and we are both proud and excited to be part of its future success.

“The McLaren London showroom at One Hyde Park will represent everything we strive for at McLaren: great attention to detail, form and function in its visual impact and atmosphere, and a focus on the customers’ requirements.

“We worked incredibly hard to ensure McLaren is represented by the world’s best retailers, and Jardine Motors Group worked incredibly hard to convince us that they were right for us in London. One Hyde Park completes the picture for both of our businesses as we move towards the launch of the 12C and our future range of sports cars.”

More from McLaren after the break.

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Highlights from McLaren Automotive launch

McLaren Automotive launch

If you haven’t read all 30,000+ words from the press release on the McLaren Automotive launch, and who could blame you, then you can watch a four and a half minute highlights package straight after the break. In fact, you’d probably be well advised to watch this, and if any of the MP4-12C‘s technology grabs your fancy you can refer back to the full press release and read some more detail.

For example, the Seamless Shift Gearbox uses a semi-pressed state to prime the transmission prior to its next change, in much the same way a digital SLR camera will auto focus with a light press of the shutter release. Then there’s Brake Steer technology. Not to mention the on-board diagnostics system that can contact McLaren headquarters as soon as a fault arises, and the list goes on.

McLaren has initial plans to set up a dealer network in 19 countries, including Australia. No official pricing on the company’s first model, the MP4-12C, has been announced yet, other than to say the twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8 powered coupé will be priced between £125,000-175,000 (AU$205,000–287,000). Similarly, no official performance figures have been declared, but during the launch Managing Director Antony Sherrif did reveal the 12C’s expected key performance data.

There is little doubt this latest development for the Woking-based company is the realisation of a life goal for Executive Chairman Ron Dennis. He uses the term “pure McLaren” quite a lot when describing the new venture. Dennis is one that often polarises opinion, but, like him or loathe him, you have to admire the drive and passion he has invested in creating Britain’s newest automotive manufacturer.

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Jenson Button & Lewis Hamilton test the McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C

Formula One world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton recently got their hands on a pair of prototype McLaren MP4-12Cs and were given an empty Goodwood track to test the car. With a 3.8 litre V8 ‘M838T’ engine producing 600bhp and an impressive 600Nm of torque, coupled to a, F1-like Seamless Shift Gearbox with seven gears, the lads were sure to have some fun.

Given their current employment status it’s no surprise that Button and Hamilton reckon the 12C is a tidy bit of kit. Jenson exclaims, “I was amazed by the car’s great stability at high speeds. It’s very quick in a straight line, too. In fact, the biggest problem with driving this car on a circuit is that sometimes you forget it’s a road car!”Meanwhile, Lewis says, “The 12C is a real driver’s car; it delivered on all my expectations. The visibility is great from the driver’s seat. You really appreciate that in tight corners. I loved the McLaren F1 when I drove it and, like that car, the huge front windscreen of the 12C allows you to take in all the information needed for perfect lines through apex turns.”

By the time the MP4-12C goes into final production more than 50 engineers will have driven 40-plus development cars in excess of 1,000,000 miles. That’s a lot of testing. Around 12 venues were used for testing, including the Top Gear test track and the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The 12C has also been pushed to extremes of another kind by being tested at temperatures of -50°C and +50°C.

There’s more after the break, including video of Jenson and Lewis at the wheel of the MP4-12C.

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McLaren Automotive – The launch of a new car company

McLaren MP4-12C

The live launch of McLaren Automotive has just finished and with it comes a plethora of press material. There is a lot of information included in the official press release, including transcripts from today’s launch. Actually, the amount of material below is overwhelming. I suggest you get yourself a nice warm cuppa and sit yourself down for a while.

However, McLaren is approaching their new sportscar venture, and the MP4-12C, in a methodical and considered way. As such there are numerous interesting factoids below and if you missed the launch I recommend you take in as much of the material as you can.

To close here before making the jump, the 12C is simply the first of McLaren’s new sportscar range. There’s already two other cars undergoing development. No rest for the wicked, hey.

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McLaren MP4-12C key performance stats

McLaren MP4-12C

Antony Sheriff, speaking at the launch of McLaren Automotive, has just revealed the key performance data for the company’s new road car, the MP4-12C. Outright acceleration of such a car is a given, as the under 10 second claim for 0-200km/h time suggests. However, take a look at the deceleration numbers. The MP4-12C can come to a complete halt from 200km/h in under five seconds. From 100km/h the 12C can come to a stop in under 30 metres, that’s around seven car lengths. That’s impressive!

So, too, is the news that Sheriff just confirmed the MP4-12C will be coming to Australia.

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McLaren Automotive launch

McLaren MP4-12C

According to Autocar McLaren Automotive will announce its future plans at 9:30pm tonight (AEDT). It is understood a production ready MP4-12C road car will be on show. Lewis Hamilton will also be in attendance to flash his pearly whites and tell us how great this new road car is. You can watch the streamed event live via the Autocar website on the link below.

[Source: Autocar]

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Inside look: McLaren’s XP files

McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren Automotive have given us another insight into the development of their upcoming MP4-12C road car. Due for release in 2011, this is the second behind the scenes look from McLaren and follows November’s update.

In this latest clip (available after the jump) two XP Beta-phase prototypes are shown driving in Spain on public roads near Tarragona and at the Applus IDIADA test facility.

The interaction between McLaren and its audience is to be commended. However, it does paint a rather large target on the back of the MP4-12C. Will the car live up to its growing hype?  We shall have to wait and see…

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