McLaren MP4-12C
The McLaren 12C, called at the beginning and the MP4-12C, is designed and built by McLaren Automotive sports car with a carbon chassis structure and a 3.8 -liter V8 mid- engine, which was first shown in the fall of 2009 and since 2011 is delivered to the customers.
In November 2012, the sports car received the title of Car of the Year and the Award for Best supercar in the Middle East Auto Awards.
- 4.1 Spider
- 4.2 Can Am
Naming
MP4 stands for " McLaren Project 4". The name of a bridge to the Formula 1 team McLaren Racing, which has been known since 1981 ( merger of McLaren Racing with Project 4) all racing cars with the prefix MP4. The number 12 is a number on the internal performance index of McLaren, which involves both its vehicles and those of his competitors. C stands for "Carbon Fibre Mono Cell". The end of 2012 the name of the McLaren MP4 -12C was shortened to McLaren 12C.
Production
The MP4 - 12C and 12C is a complete self- development of McLaren. Most components are manufactured but at suppliers outside the home. The in-house MPC (McLaren Production Center ) are only the final assembly.
The result is the carbon fiber monocoque with the Austrian company CarboTech, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission comes from Italian company OC Oerlikon Graziano and the engine from the British manufacturer Ricardo.
Technical specification
Design
The final design of the car was presented on 8 September 2009, with the body of the two-seater follows aerodynamic requirements. In contrast to the three-seat supercar McLaren F1, the 12C has an ordinary two-seater arrangement.
Weight
The main focus in the design of the vehicle has been placed on a weight saving. The basis is very stable and very light carbon fiber chassis mono Cell serves. The compact design, car body panels made of ultra-thin sheet molding compound, fiber reinforced lightweight material, a lightweight composite brake system with a high aluminum content - optionally also a ceramic braking system is available - and a relocation of the radiator to the rear ( mounted longitudinally, so that shorter and lighter) help to keep the weight low.
Also on a CD player was waived because this is too difficult, so McLaren, and a lighter mp3 player can perform the same services. Self- gram scale weight was saved. The vehicle logo was incorporated on the engine block not as an emblem, but as engraving ( in the already existing aluminum).
Mono Cell
As the world's first and only series - vehicle McLaren 12C offers its customers an extremely torsion-resistant, less than 80 kg is carbon fiber monocoque with separate body, for road vehicles called mono Cell at McLaren.
CarboTech, a racing- oriented manufacturer of composite components, has developed with McLaren a technology that can be manufactured in one piece with the complex carbon-fiber structures (eg voids). The mono- Cell has a manufacturing tolerance of less than 0.5 millimeters. This safety cell forms the backbone of the sports car. CarboTech received in this context the so far largest construction contract for the monocoque. Every year should be produced approximately 4,000 pieces, with a total production volume of approximately 25,000 ( for 12C and its derivatives ).
In this cell, a frame is bolted in the rear, which accommodates the compact 3.8-liter V8 biturbo engine. A crash box is the rear end. Front windshield and also a crash box are added.
All frame components are made of lightweight and very torsion-resistant extruded aluminum. Even the add-on parts such as covers and the roof are made of aluminum, only the doors are made of fiberglass reinforced plastic. The 12C brings with it less than 1,400 kilos.
Motor
The 12C is powered by a model developed by McLaren and produced at Ricardo twin turbo V8 engine with 3.8 liters of displacement, which generates an output of 447 kW ( 608 hp) and a maximum torque of 572 Nm. With the 2013 model year, the performance of a newly programmed engine electronics to 460 kW ( 625 hp) was increased. Owners already delivered models can have the performance of their vehicles lift McLaren free. 80 percent of the torque are already in contact from a speed of 2,000 rpm and the maximum speed should be about 8,500 rpm. The engine charging occurs via one turbocharger per cylinder bank. The crankshaft was not executed as in the typical "American" V8 engine in the cross -plane design, but as a flat -plane crankshaft, making the engine with fewer counterweights and thus less total mass can be built. McLaren indicates that the engine is a better ratio of performance to CO2 emissions have than any other available at the time of combustion engines. The engine code is M838T.
Transmission
The power is transmitted via a signal supplied by OC Oerlikon Graziano dual-clutch transmission with seven gears. The transmission uses a "Pre -Cog " mentioned technique, in which the driver can select the next gear. The paddles can be this bias with little force. This allows for faster gear changes.
Brakes and wheels
12C utilizes the technologies of the formula 1, for example the so-called "brake steer", in which the inner rear wheel is braked at high corner speeds, to reduce the understeer of the vehicle. The aerodynamics optimize active body panels, additional delay work makes an air brake.
The forged wheels measuring 19 inches at the front and 20 inches rear.
Versions
Spider
In addition to a zweitürigigem coupe 12C is also offered as Spider- version with electrically retractable hardtop of carbon fibers. With the roof closed, the top compartment can be used as additional storage space of 52 liters. A bag concept case is supplied by McLaren.
Can Am
The McLaren 12C Can Am is a limited edition of 30 pieces special series not street legal. The engine's power was increased to 470 kW ( 639 hp) and reduced the weight of the vehicle compared to the standard model by about 100 kg. The features of the Can Am includes, among other things, a steering wheel in Formula 1 style, and a roll cage and two racing bucket seats with four-point belts. The price of the Can Am is about 470,000 euros.
Positioning in the market
The selling price in Germany is 200,000 euros and 230,000 euros for the Spider for the coupe. Accordingly, the direct competitor of the 12C of the Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo and Porsche 911 GT3. Even with the much more expensive supercars to the performance of the 12C can keep up.
The first sports cars were delivered to customers in August 2011. The mid-engine sports car is the first of four planned provisionally series models to account for 4,000 units annually. The technology of 12C from the maximum annual 1,500 units planned to be used in the proposed model.