McLaren reveals cutting-edge MP4-12C

The Frankfurt motor show is still a week out, but McLaren Automotive has already opened fire by releasing a swag of images and details of its tech-intensive MP4-12C supercar, which goes on sale internationally in early 2011.

Mercedes-Benz is countering with its gullwinged SLS AMG, which will be one of the Mac's chief rivals.

McLaren is still being cagey regarding pricing for the MP4-12C, saying for now that it will compete in the "sports car market segment for cars costing between £125,000 and £175,000 ($240K-$337K)".

Our extrapolation points to a circa-$500K price for the McLaren by the time it lands in Oz, putting it in the same ballpark as the Ferrari F430 (due to be replaced by the 458 Italia) and Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, both of which start in the mid-$400,000s.

The company stresses its new offering is "pure McLaren, featuring no carryover parts from any other car".

"All the parts of the McLaren MP4-12C are bespoke and unique to this car," says the company. "Everything from the engine right down to the tailor-made switches and buttons is pure McLaren: nothing has come from another manufacturer's parts bin."

Motive power for the 12C comes from a bespoke McLaren 'M838T' 3.8-litre, V8 twin-turbo engine producing around 600bhp (448kW), driving through a McLaren seven-speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG).

McLaren says it's targeting not only new standards for power and performance in its sector, but also class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions; supported by McLaren's Formula One-derived experience of active aerodynamics to aid cooling, grip, handling and roadholding.

The MP4-12C is built around what's claimed to be a revolutionary carbonfibre chassis structure, the 'Carbon MonoCell'.

McLaren claims this is the first time a car in this market segment is based around "such a strong and lightweight racing car engineering solution" and the first time any car has ever featured a one-piece carbonfibre structure.

This step change in sports car design means that the 12C introduces new standards not just in handling, ride and outright performance, but also safety, economy and practicality in an already competitive sector, boasts the company.

In the words of McLaren: "The 12C MonoCell not only brings dynamic benefits, but also offers fundamental engineering opportunities that form the basis of the car's unique character. It has been designed to allow a much narrower structure overall which in turn contributes to a more compact car that is easier to position on the road and more rewarding to drive."

The company claims the MP4-12C has the highest specific power output in its class as well as "extraordinary power- and torque-to-weight ratios".

In addition, the Proactive Chassis Control system is claimed to offer "groundbreaking handling and ride comfort while an intense focus on occupant packaging offers new levels of comfort and everyday usability".

We'll only be able to test the veracity of these claims once we've had the opportunity to get our collective bums in the seat of the new Mac, which follows in the wheeltracks of the McLaren F1 (1993-1998) and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003-2009).

Oh, in case you're wondering about the long-winded MP4-12C nomenclature, here's what it all means...

'MP4' has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. It stands for McLaren Project 4, resulting from the merger of company boss Ron Dennis' Project 4 organisation with McLaren.

The '12' refers to McLaren's internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency.

The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car's development.

The 'C' refers to Carbon, highlighting the application of carbonfibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars.

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