McLaren MP4-12C 2011 Review

When Grand Prix superstars Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button finish work on Sunday afternoon, they're riding home in something special.

The McLaren men now have their McLaren road cars as their F1 team accelerates in the supercar business and a new confrontation with Ferrari. The all-new McLaren promises everything from a carbon fiber chassis and 449 kilowatts to an all-leather interior and an innovative Australian-designed hydraulic suspension system.

It is a direct competitor to the Ferrari 458 Italia, which goes on sale in Australia in October for around $500,000. The first 20 orders have already arrived at the McLaren headquarters system in Woking, England, but Carsguide cannot wait…

So, I'm standing next to Jay Leno - yes, Tonight Show host from the US - in the lobby of McLaren and wondering what to expect from a supercar with such a stupid name. The McLaren is called MP4-12C, the name is also taken from the company's F1 program, and I'm about to take a very exclusive test drive that combines laps on the track with real time driving.

I know the McLaren will be super fast, but will it be a rough race car? Can it get close to the 458 I drove just five days ago in Sydney? Will Leno move to Ferrari after a similar trip?

VALUE

Putting a price on a supercar is always the hardest thing to do, because anyone who buys a McLaren will become a multi-millionaire and will likely have at least four more cars in their garage.

So there's plenty of technology, most of the world's high-tech automotive materials, and the ability to customize the car as you wish. The cabin isn't quite as impressive as the 458's and lacks the great smell of Ferrari's Italian leather, but the equipment is up to the mark for target buyers.

The base price is lower than the 458, but that's without the extra brakes, so the 12C is more likely to be the lineball on the bottom line. McLaren says resale results will be the same as Ferrari's, but no one knows yet. But its big advantage is that you're not likely to stop next to another McLaren at a coffee shop on a Saturday morning.

TECHNOLOGY

The 12C uses all sorts of F1 technology, from its one-piece carbon chassis to the operation of the paddle shifter and even the "brake control" system in the rear that was banned in Grand Prix racing. There is also a shiny hydraulic suspension, which means the end of anti-roll bars and three stiffness options.

The engine is also highly technical and intentionally turbocharged to maximize power and emissions efficiency. Thus, the 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 per cylinder bank delivers 441 kW at 7000 rpm, 600 Nm of torque at 3000–7000 rpm, and a claimed fuel economy of 11.6 l/100 km in CO02 emissions. 279. grams / kilometer.

The more you dig, the more you find, from an air-braked rear fender to adjustable engine settings, suspension and stability control, and even a chassis so high-tech that there's only a two-kilogram load difference on the front. tires - provided that the washer reservoir is full.

Design

Form 12C - slow burning. It seems conservative at first, at least compared to a 458 or Gallardo, but it grows on you and probably ages well. My favorite shapes are the rear-view mirrors and tailpipes.

Inside the cabin is understated, but well done. The seats are well shaped, the control placement is great, and the placement of the air conditioning switches on the doors is a great move. There's a brilliant scissor lift design on those doors, although you'll still have to reach across the thresholds to the seats.

There's also a handy stowage space in the nose, but for me, the text on the dash is too small, the stalk is too hard to operate, and the brake pedal is too small for my left foot to operate.

I would also like to see warning lights as you approach the 8500 redline, rather than just a little green arrow hinting at upshifts.

SECURITY

There will never be an ANCAP safety rating for the 12C, but McLaren has an impressive answer to my safety question. He used the same car for all three mandatory front crash tests and only had to replace the folding shock sections and body panels without even breaking the windshield.

It also comes with Australian-required ABS and one of the most advanced stability control systems in the world, as well as front and side airbags.

DRIVING

McLaren is a great drive. It's a racing car, fast and responsive on the track, yet incredibly quiet and comfortable on the road. The best things about the road are the superb view of the ultra-low nose, the mid-range punch from the V8 turbo, the overall sophistication and the impressive silence.

It really is the kind of car you can drive every day, leaving it in fully automatic mode for commuting or relaxing before a long interstate trip. The suspension is so smooth, soft and supple that it sets a new standard for supercars and even appliances like the Toyota Camry.

Below 4000 rpm there is some turbo lag, one of the 12C test cars had a metallic crunch in the front suspension, and switching suppliers meant there was no way to test the infotainment system.

I would also have preferred lighter paddle pressure, a larger brake pedal and maybe a few steering wheel warning lights - gleamingly shaped.

On the track, the McLaren is sensational. It's so, so fast - 3.3 seconds to 100 km/h, top speed of 330 km/h - but ridiculously easy to drive. You can easily go fast enough in full auto settings, but switch to track positions and the 12C has limits that even talented riders can't.

But there's an elephant in the room, and it's called a Ferrari 458. Driven so soon after the Italian hero, I can tell the McLaren isn't as emotional, provocative, or smile-inducing as its rival. The 12C feels faster on the track and definitely more relaxed on the road, which means it should win any comparison.

But there are people who want the badge and the theater that comes with the 458.

VERDICT

McLaren meets all the requirements of a supercar. It's bold, fast, rewarding and ultimately a great drive. The 12C - despite its name - is also a car for every day and every job. It can carry around the shops and it can also make you feel like a Formula 1 star on the track.

But there's always that Ferrari lurking in the background, so you have to consider the 458. For me, it's the difference between lust and love.

A Ferrari is a car that you want to drive, that you want to drive, that you want to enjoy, and that you want to show off to your friends. The McLaren is more restrained, but probably a little faster, and a car that will get better over time instead of giving you a headache.

So, for me, and assuming I was able to tweak a couple of small things, the McLaren MP4-12C was the winner.

And, just for the record, Hamilton chose racing red paint for his 12C, while Button prefers base black and Jay Leno opted for volcanic orange. My? I'd take it in classic McLaren racing orange, sport package and black wheels.

McLaren-MP4 12C

ENGINES: 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8, 441 kW/600 Nm

Chassis: Two-door coupe

The weight: 1435kg

Transmission: 7-speed DSG, rear-wheel drive

Thirst: 11.6L / 100km, 98RON, CO2 279g / km