Wheelsandmore unveils McLaren MP4-12C Toxique Evil

The tuners from Wheelsandmore have unveiled a new project based on the McLaren MP4-12C which they’ve called the Toxique Evil. This “diabolical” sports car is motivated by the same V8 3.8-liter twin-turbo engine that features an optimized ECU and also a new sports exhaust system.

Thanks to these modifications, the engine in this McLaren MP4-12C Toxique Evil by Wheelsandmore is able to produce no less than 666 hp (hence the “evil” name) (675 PS / 497 kW) and a peak torque of 472 lb.-ft (640 Nm) of torque, which is 66 hp (67 PS / 49 kW) and 30 lb.-ft (40 Nm) more than the standard configuration of the power unit.

The tuner has announced that they are already working on a new turbo and intercooler package that will be able to increase the output of the engine to 800 hp (811 PS / 597 kW). Aside from the power boost, this McLaren MP4-12C comes with a 25mm reduced ride height, a full-length body stripe and rides on 20- / 21-inch alloys that have Continental Sport Contact 5P rubber.

Source: Wheelsandmore via WCF

Post tags: Tags: McLaren, mclaren mp4-12c, Tuning, wheelsandmore

McLaren MP4-12C by Hennessey pumps out 800 hp

The standard version of the McLaren MP4-12C offers 450 hp which for lots of people is more than enough. However, the engineers from Hennessey Performance have a different opinion and they have decided to increase the power of the engine to an amazing 800 hp.

The tuner’s HPE800 Twin Turbo remains a concept at the moment but most likely pretty soon they will start producing it, much like their own version of the Lotus Elise known as the Venom GT. Aside from this significant increase in power, the McLaren MP4-12C comes with beefier brakes, an upgraded suspension and new aerodynamics.

The body kit of the HPE800 Twin Turbo is manufactured from carbon fiber and includes a big rear diffuser, new front and rear aprons, a discreet rear wing, modified side skirts and a new design of the hood. The car rides on massive Monoblock rims that are wrapped around in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. For the inside, Hennessey Performance is also offering a bunch of bespoke components for the interior cabin.

The car has the same 3.8-liter V8 engine but it has received a couple of modifications. The intercooler and the ball-bearing turbochargers have been upgraded, just like the fuel and engine management system. In addition, the car features blow-off valves and wastegates, along with a new transmission cooler as well as a more robust transmission clutch system. Aside from these, the McLaren MP4-12C features a titanium exhaust system developed entirely by the tuner.

Source: Hennessey Performance via ZerCustoms

Post tags: Tags: hennessey, hennessey performance, HPE800 Twin Turbo, McLaren, mclaren mp4-12c, Tuning

McLaren F1 successor might get a twin-turbo V8 3.8-liter engine

McLaren F1

We are less than a year away from the launch of the highly anticipated successor for the McLaren F1. Dubbed the P12, the car will adopt a dramatic styling and should feature a double-bubble roof as well as a canopy-like greenhouse.

Car Magazine says that the car will be motivated by a twin-turbo V8 3.8-liter engine which will be capable of producing 800 hp (811 PS / 597 kW). The power unit might be backed up by a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) which will be able to give the vehicle short bursts of added performance.

The successor of the F1 will probably ride on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis that is quite similar to the one that McLaren used for the gorgeous MP4-12C. The one which will come in the P12 will be more advanced and lighter.

As for the price tag, the car will most likely cost somewhere around $962,700 (750,000 euros / 623,921 pounds) for the base model.

Source: Car Magazine

Post tags: Tags: McLaren, mclaren f1, mclaren f1 successor, mclaren p12

Spy shots – McLaren MP4-12C Spider

These would have to be the very first spy shots with the upcoming Spider version of the beautiful McLaren MP4-12C. The shots were taken by a photographer from Auto Express who spied the car while undergoing some tests in the south of Europe.

As you probably know this by now, McLaren has revealed that they will be releasing a new model every year until 2015 and the next model that will be launched is a rival for the Ferrari 458 Spider. The MP4-12C Spider will probably get a folding metal roof that looks just about the same as it does on the Ferrari model.

Most likely, it will feature a central panel that will flip upwards and back in order to lie flat between the passenger compartment and the car’s engine bay. This new roof mechanism will probably be manufactured from carbon fiber or aluminum so that it will not increase the curb weight of the car significantly.

The car will be motivated by the same twin-turbocharged V8 3.8-liter engine that generates 592 hp which will allow the MP4-12C Spider to hit a top speed of 200 mph. The sports car will probably get its official debut sometime in 2012 and it will hit the dealerships one year later.

Aside from this model, McLaren is also working on a hypercar which will be the successor of the legendary F1 that was introduced in the early 90s.

Source: Auto Express

Post tags: Tags: McLaren, mclaren mp4-12 spider, Spy Shots

McLaren Working On A New Hypercar

According to Autocar, the testing of McLaren’s new hypercar has already begun and the car is scheduled for a release sometime in 2014. This will be the spiritual successor of the legendary McLaren F1 launched in the early 90s and wants to be quicker than the Veyron, the successor of the Enzo and the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder.

Company insiders have confirmed that the first tests of the car took place in Spain last month on closed roads and after that it went to Germany for further development. The same sources have said that the new hypercar from McLaren has also undergone some hot-weather testing, most likely in Bahrain.

The company plans on making only 500 units of the hypercar and the estimated price tag is of one million pounds. The aforementioned McLaren F1 was available upon launch for 540,000 pounds which in today’s money means about 810,000 pounds.

At the heart of the hypercar will be an all-new V8 5.0-liter engine that will churn 799 hp (160 hp / liter). This power unit is developed by McLaren with Ricardo and it will be linked to a 7-speed, dual-clutch Graziano gearbox that will send the power to the back wheels. The peak power will be available at 7,500 rpm while the maximum torque of 590 lb.-ft will be available between 3,500 rpm and 6,800 rpm. According to Autocar, the new hypercar will be able to do the 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds, 0-100 mph in 5.5 seconds and 0-200 mph in 20 sec.

Just like the MP4-12C, the new hypercar from McLaren will be based on a lightweight carbon fiber monocell and will feature an aluminum pushrod suspension, along with adaptive dampers, hydraulic anti-roll control and a 5-stage traction control system. As standard, the model will feature carbon ceramic brakes from Brembo, along with brake steer and electronic brake force functions. Most likely, drivers will be able to switch off the ABS system.

Company insiders have said that the new hypercar will be “bigger, angrier and more functional” than the aforementioned MP4-12C, even though it will borrow some design cues from the original F1 and the MP4-12C.

As for luxuries, these will be kept down to a minimum in order to save weight. The interior cabin of the new hypercar developed by McLaren promises to offer excellent all-round visibility. Some of the features it will have inside the cabin include a video camera for filming circuit laps and an on-board data logger.

The car is scheduled to be produced at the McLaren Technology Center and the rate will be of 2-3 cars / week over a 4-year production cycle.

Source: Autocar

Post tags: Tags: McLaren

MP4-12C vs. 458 Italia (the fight is settled)

Before you find out the result of this competition, we’d like for you to pick your favorite contender. Than, remember why you like it so much and how it would look in your garage.

Would you put these two together, side by side, or would you give up one for the other?

The guys over at CarBuzz made a cute and useful infographic about the performance of both supercars and settled the dispute. Here is the data.

Post tags: Tags: 458 Italia, MP4-12C, MP4-12C vs. 458 Italia

McLaren Veyron-killer In The Works

It seems that McLaren is working hard on a new flagship model that will beat the all-mighty Bugatti Veyron and all other supercars to date. Known inside the company as the “Mega Mac”, the car will most likely be launched sometime in 2014 and only 500 units will be ever made. The price tag for the hypercar will probably be between 350,000 and 400,000 pounds.

Sources inside the company say that the new vehicle will be “bigger, angrier and more functional looking” than the MP4-12C, despite the fact that it will have a family resemblance to both the current model and the iconic McLaren F1. In addition, the car will sport active aerodynamic systems, including both front and rear spoilers which will be deployed in certain conditions, along with a rear airbake, similar to the one we already saw on the MP4-12C.

The interior cabin will offer all-round visibility while the luxury features will be kept down to a minimum, along with a limited luggage room located behind the seats. Rumors say that it will feature on-board data logging as well as a video camera in order to allow the driver of the car to film his/her own track time – pretty cool if you ask me.

Now to the really interesting stuff about the “Mega Mac” – it will be powered by a V8 5.0-liter engine that will produced 799 hp, offering 160 hp / liter. This power unit will be developed in partnership with Ricardo. All of the 590 ponies will be available at 7,500 rpm and the peak torque of 590 lb.-ft will be delivered between 3,500 and 6,800 rpm. This engine will be mated to a Graziano 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Performances are not set in stone at the moment, but we should expect to see a 0-60 mph sprint in 2.8 seconds, 0-100 mph in 5.5 seconds and a 0-200 mph time in 20 seconds.

Despite the fact that the 0-60 mph time is longer than the one of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, McLaren’s hypercar will reach 200 mph faster than Bugatti’s 22 seconds.

Just like the aforementioned MP-12C, the new model from McLaren will benefit from a carbonfibre Monocell, using similar, but updated, aluminum pushrod suspension, along with a 5-stage traction control system, adaptive dampers and hydraulic anti-roll control. To stop the car in an efficient manner, the engineers will install Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes, along with Brake Steer and electronic brake force distribution.

Source: AutoCar.co.uk

Post tags: Tags: mclaren mega mac, renderings, rumors

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Revealed

All the juicy details about the GT3 version of the McLaren MP4-12C are out and now we can share them with you. It has the same V8 3.8-liter twin-turbo engine as the production version, but produces “only” 493 hp (500 PS / 368 kW) in comparison to the road-legal model that cranks out 592 hp (600 PS / 441 kW).

The car went on a diet, especially in the gearbox department, where the new one weighs 80 kg less than the 7-speed transmission available for the standard variant. In addition, the competition-tuned MP4-12C features a race suspension and borrows some F1 tech for the electronic systems, tires, seats and the steering wheel.

The car will take part in the 24 hours race at Spa, as well as in the Blancpain Endurance Series at the Circuito de Navarra in Spain. The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will also be showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

You can get one for yourself if you are willing to spare 310,000 pounds.

[youtube width="470" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en0n-XD03TA[/youtube]

Source: McLaren via WCF

Post tags: Tags: McLaren, McLaren MP4-12C GT3

McLaren Venge Aero Road Bike

McLaren Venge

A popular trend among automakers these days is to introduce bicycles, inspired from their production models. BMW’s M division announced the Carbon Racer a couple of weeks ago, and Range Rover did the same thing with their Evoque bicycle. Now, McLaren combined forces with SPC to create this Venge Aero road bike, which has an awful color in my opinion.

McLaren Venge

This race bicycle has a very lightweight carbon-fiber frame that was developed by McLaren Applied Technologies. MAT’s engineers optimized the way the carbon was cut & applied, and improved the overall efficiency by up to 15%. They did this by choosing the most suitable plies, managing to shave off 2.09 lbs (950 g) from the frame’s weight.

McLaren Venge

The McLaren Venge Aero had its official debut last weekend at the Milan-Remo race where Mark Cavendish managed to finish on the 52nd position, out of more than 150 competitors. The race was won by Matthew Harley Goss, an Australian racer for the HTC-Highroad team that managed to travel the 298 km distance in 6:51:10.

[youtube width="450" height="280"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlRyAGf2zSg[/youtube]

Source: Carscoop, MilanSanRemo

Post tags: Tags: bicycle, mclaren venge

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Unleashed

Last year McLaren revealed a teaser with the MP4-12C GT3 and this week they’ve unveiled the orange beast. The car was developed in close collaboration with CRS Racing and comes with a composite body that has a new front splitter, updated side skirts and a more aggressive rear diffuser. It also got carbon fiber canards, wider front fenders and a fixed rear wing.

The MP4-12C GT3 is powered by a V8 3.8-liter twin-turbo engine that has been “tuned to race specification.” Although no further information was revealed about the power unit, we know that it will be mated to an all-new Ricardo paddle-shift transmission that promises to deliver almost instantaneous gear changes.

As far as the handling is concerned, the engineers have fitted the car with a bespoke suspension that eschews the ProActive Chassis Control System for race-specific dampers and anti-roll bars. The braking system has been revised with Akebono calipers, while the electronics package has been updated.

[youtube width="470" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=375-d3t0guw[/youtube]

The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will have to undergo a series of tests at FIA-approved tracks across Europe, before being offered to private racing teams next year.

Source: McLaren

Post tags: Tags: McLaren MP4-12C GT3

McLaren MP4-12C vs. Ferrari 458 and Porsche 997 Turbo

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3s0Uw1ADkk[/youtube]

Here is an interesting drag race between three beautiful cars: the new McLaren MP4-12C, the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche 911 Turbo. Most likely, this clip was recorded a couple of days ago at the MP4-12C media event which was organized in Portimao, Portugal. The result it isn’t very concluding, but it still is quite interesting to see the duel.

Speaking of McLaren, they finally revealed all the specifications of their new MP4-12C model which will have a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that outputs 592 hp (441 kW / 600 PS) and 443 lb.-ft (600 Nm) of torque. With such power under the hood, the car can sprint to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds (3.1 with the Corsa tires), onto a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h). To reach 200 km/h (124 mph), the McLaren MP4-12C needs 9.1 seconds with regular tires and 8.9 with the Corsa racing rubber.

The car’s MonoCell carbon-fiber chassis weights only 165 lbs (75 kg) which helps maintain the vehicle’s curb weight at only 2868 lbs (1301 kg). The engine is mated to a 7-speed SSG gearbox that offers three driving modes: Normal, Sport and Track.

The car will be available through a network of 35 retailers located in 19 countries and it will have a base price of about $229,000. The MP4-12C will hit the dealerships sometime this year.

Source: WorldCarFans

Post tags: Tags: drag race, ferrari 458, mclaren mp4-12c, porsche 997 turbo

TAG Heuer Preps MP4-12C Anniversary Watch

TAG Heuer and McLaren are celebrating their 26-year long collaboration plus the 20^th anniversary of the legendary McLaren F1 by launching this limited edition MP-12C Chronograph watch. The design of this beauty was inspired from the soon-to-be-released MP4-12C model and has a matching color scheme along with a couple of exotic materials like carbon fiber.

This lightweight material was used for the dial of the watch that features sapphire inserts which reveal the mechanism. The latter is protected with the help of the titanium case which is very durable and at the same time minimizes the weight of the watch. This TAG Heuer watch comes with an alcantara leather strap which evokes the interior of McLaren’s supercar, along with orange luminescent markers on the hands that are complemented by the orange stitching.

The watch benefits from the Flyback function which will come in hand for pilots and track drivers as it allows the chronograph to be reset to 0 and start again instantly with the help of a single push button. In addition, the TAG Heuer MP4-12C has a tachymeter which indicates what distance is travelled and the chronograph is capable of recording the intervals between two areas.

TAG Heuer will be making only 1,000 units of this model and it will be available for purchase also through McLaren later on this year.

Post tags: Tags: McLaren, MP4-12C, tag heuer

Top 10 Supercars Until 2010

Finding out the fastest 10 supercars until this year was not actually a hard thing to do because there weren’t that many cars launched that could fit in this top. In the following you will see some cars that are more than 10 years old that are still eligible for the “supercar” title.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport – easily the most expensive car you will find in this list with an incredible price tag of $2.4 million. The first version of the Veyron was launched back in 2005 and it became the fastest production car in the world. In 2010, Bugatti Automobiles, owned by the Volkswagen Group, came back with another iteration of their model, the Super Sport. This new yet still the same model is capable of producing 1200 hp (in comparison to 1001 hp) from the massive W16 8.0-liter power unit. The car is capable of doing the 0-60 mph in just 2.2 seconds, onto a top speed of 267 mph.

SSC Ultimate Aero – produced in a limited quantity of only 24 cars between 2006 and 2007, the Aero was recognized by Guinness Book as the fastest car in the world in March 2007. Although things have changed since then, the Aero is still an incredible car with its twin-turbo engine that is capable of outputting 1183 hp. The car will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 257 mph. The price for the car was $485.000.  The company is at the moment working on a car that will dethrone the Veyron.

Koenigsegg CCX – the car made its first appearance on February 28, 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show and shocked the world with its powerful 90 degree V8 power unit that develops 806 hp. This Swedish supercar only needs 3.2 seconds to reach 60 mph from start and has a remarkable top speed of over 250 mph. The price for the standard model is $1.82 million while the top of the line model will set you back $2.050 mil.

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo – made in United States, the S7 is equipped with a 100% aluminum V8 engine that packs no more than 750 hp. This twin-turbocharged piece of engineering went on sale in 2005 and had a price tag of $585.296, replacing the standard non-turbo S7 car. It is capable of doing the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.2 seconds, onto a top speed of 248 mph. The American supercar maker is offering an optional competition package which will further increase the power of the car by 33%.

McLaren F1 – one of the oldest cars from the top, the McLaren was launched in the early 90s and it broke all current records. The car was powered by a massive V12 engine that was capable of outputting more than 600 hp which was remarkable at that time. The car will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 240 mph. The car became popular right after the launch thanks to its proprietary doors that look like bat wings. It was produced until 1998 at a price tag of about $970,000. Today, if you want to get your hands on this car you will have to pay almost double that price.

Gumpert Apollo – you might have never heard about this car but it is definitely worth a place in our top. Made in Altenburg, Germany, the Apollo is a supercar that needs 2.7 seconds to reach 60 mph and has a top speed of 220 mph. The mid-engined RWD 2-seater is made on a tubular chromoly frame, with fiberglass as standard or for extra money, with carbon fiber body panels that reduce the weight of the car. The car is available with three engine choices, the race version outputs 789 hp. The Apollo went into production in October 2005 at a hefty starting price of $400.000.

Ascari A10 – designed for racing A10, it is very well capable for normal roads. 2.8 seconds are required for the 0-60 mph sprint, onto a top speed of 220 mph. The heart of this car is a modified BMW V8 5.0-liter engine that packs 625 hp. The car was manufactured in Banbury, England and had a price tag of about $650.000. It was a limited edition car as only 50 units were ever produced.

Ferrari Enzo – no top is relevant without a Ferrari. In this top we have included the spectacular Enzo with its F140 V12 engine that is capable of producing 660 hp. At the moment it is one of the most powerful naturally aspirated automobiles in the world, with a top speed of 217 mph. The Enzo will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.2 seconds. Only 399 cars were ever produced and they sell at auctions for about $1 million.

Pagani Zonda F – an upgrade from the Zonda S, the “F” has a top speed of 215 mph and will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.5 seconds. The heart of this engine is a very powerful V12 engine, developed by Mercedes-Benz, packing 650 hp. The starting price for the Zonda F is $694,000.

Jaguar XJ 220 – the oldest car from our top, launched back in 1992. With a top speed of 217 mph and only 4 seconds to reach 60 mph, it still is a remarkable car after almost 20 years. The car features a V6 engine that outputs 542 hp and only 281 units were ever made, the last one rolled out of Jaguar’s factory in 1997. The remaining cars sell new for about 150,000 pounds.

There are other cars that didn’t made our top but the above 10 will definitely remain in the supercar history as all have huge engines, great looks and incredible price tags, making them the most exclusive cars in the world not only because of their price, but also because of their limited production.

Post tags: Tags: apollo, ascari, bugatti veyron supersport, enzo, Ferrari, gumpert, Jaguar, koenigsegg ccx, mclaren f1, Pagani, saleen, zonda

McLaren MP4-12C – Yours For 200k Euros

After a couple of months of waiting, the people at McLaren have officially set a price for their MP4-12C model. If you live in Germany and want to drive this supercar, you have to say goodbye to €200,000 from your bank account. U.K. residents will have to pay £168,500. However, there is still no pricing information for the United States market.

If you don’t remember the specifications of the MP4-12C, here they are: 3.8-liter V8 engine, twin-turbocharged capable of offering 592 hp. The car features a carbon-fiber body and will be available in 14 different trim variations for the indoor with several performance upgrades. In the first year of production, McLaren is planning to sell only 1,000 units of which all will be tuned at the new facility which should be fully functional starting with June next year.

To sum up what the people at McLaren nicely wrote in their official press release, here are the most important facts about their new car:

-          One-piece carbon chassis (the carbon MonoCell) that reduces weight, improves safety and performance;

-          The car was conceived, designed and developed within a real Formula 1 manufacturing unit;

-          The 3.8 600 PS engine produces less than 300g/km CO2 emissions;

-          14 interior trims and 17 high-grade exterior paint finishes will be available for the MP4-12C;

-          Clients can get performance upgrades like carbon ceramic brake discs, two lightweight forged wheel options and polished-finish calipers;

-          The car will be available in 19 countries worldwide;

-          The standard model comes with just one piece of carbon – the MonoCell – but owners of the car can get for additional money, other carbon fiber options for the engine cover, engine bay panels and mirror casings;

-          A £40 million manufacturing unit is under construction at the moment and will be fully operational by the middle of next year and in the future McLaren is planning on building 4,000 cars per year in comparison to the first year of production in which they will create only 1000 cars.

Source: McLaren

Post tags: Tags: McLaren, MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C targets Porsche owners, US CEO says

According to the CEO of McLaren USA, Anthony Joseph, things aren’t exactly so. In terms of customers, the British company competes with Porsche, as they both target people who want performance over brand name. Ferrari customers, on the other hand, want the prestige of the brand first, and performance later.

Still, even though it competes with lower priced Porsche models, Joseph says that around 2,700 letters of interest have been filed for the MP4-12C. Even though concrete orders haven’t been taken just yet, the new supercar is expected to exceed the first year sales estimates of 1,000 cars.

Last but not least, the McLaren USA CEO has also confirmed that new models and MP4-12C versions will appear in the next few years, as previously rumored.

(more…)

Post tags: Tags: Ferrari, McLaren, mclaren mp4-12c, Porsche, supercar