McLaren MP4-12C: see it and hear it at pace
McLaren video series gives viewers an inside look at the supercar's developmentMcLaren has released the first in a series of short videos (watch it below) that present an insight into the development process behind its upcoming Ferrari/Lambo-rivalling MP4-12C.
As a brand-new car company, McLaren says it has "a unique and engaging story to tell" prior to the 2011 launch of its mid-engined coupe.
In the short film, entitled 'Inside McLaren: developing the MP4-12C', viewers are given a quick virtual tour of the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) and the MP4-12C test programme by McLaren Automotive technical director Dick Glover (pictured).
"Having to develop a brand new range of cars from scratch to the standards expected of McLaren, featuring ground-breaking new structures and powertrain is the ultimate challenge and one we are relishing," says Glover.
"Sure, we have challenges -- that is why we go to these places that absolutely push the cars to their limits and beyond -- but now we know just what the 12C is capable of, we are able to push on into 2010 and deliver cars of which McLaren will be rightly proud."
The video also features chief test driver Chris Goodwin, who elaborates a little on how the 12C performs in extreme test conditions, and there's footage of the car pounding around Bahrain International Circuit in extreme heat.
There's also the mandatory footage of the MP4-12C at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, which now serves as the default proving ground for any performance car worth its salt.
The car's testing regime included the ice and snow of the Arctic, and thousands of kays of 'real world' on-road driving on the UK's notoriously poor tarmac surfaces.
The result, according to McLaren, is a "a revolutionary high performance sports car that features unique engineering solutions to deliver new standards in comfort, driving dynamics, economy and performance in the core sports car market."
In the video, vehicle development engineer Simon Andrew explains how results of a testing session's road and track performance are sent back daily and rapidly assessed within MTC using some of the methodology employed by the company's F1 team.
Simulation and rapid engineering practices are then used to re-calibrate the test cars in-situ ready for the following day (or night's) development targets.
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