[roundincircles]

Just some tittle tattle.

I bumped into a Mclaren development engineer who has been working full tilt on the Mega Mac for 3 years. He did the MercMac as well which surprised me as he looked like he had only just started shaving.....but it is a good life in Ron's World and he clearly enjoyed his work.

Anyway, so how many cylinders.....well a lot...more than 8......well it's difficult to say......oh come on.......but it will have 'ultimate performance'. Direct injection? Well all cars will have to go direct injection to meet emission and mpg targets......even the MP12? Definitely at some future point.

Is the suspension different, well it will be an everyday car......so will I be able to tow a Caravan? Well we had not dialled that into the development programme......will you ask Ron? Don't think so, I want to stay at Mclaren.

Will it look sensational in a Mclaren way? It is very Frank Stevenson and he has always done Iconic......Mini, Fiat 500 and other 'Old School' fastish cars so I think it will be seen as very special.

After going roundincircles I have to say the enthusiasm,dedication and professionalism of each Mclaren employee I meet is too good to be true. They really are a motivated bunch in Ron'sWorld

Now how can I convince my wife we need a fast towing car?

 

[SSO]

Suprised you got that much info out of him. They are very closed lipped.

 

[Osiris_x11]

Any ETA for its premiere at a show (ie. Zurich, Frankfurt, Birmingham, etc) or else?

 

[roundincircles]

No , just an impression it will be leaked or announced Autumn 2012. But it's a guess.

 

[MitchF1GTR]

"...will you ask Ron? Don't think so, I want to stay at Mclaren...."
And Clarkson called the McLaren engineers dull...

 

[Peloton25]

I still think we will see it first on the concept green at Pebble Beach this year.

North America is stated to be their strongest market, they haven't been doing the auto show route so there's really no better place to unveil it.

>8^)
ER

 

[roundincircles]

Thinking about the launch it will have to be announced this year so the order book can be opened and to give customers time to arrange finance

 

[HyperMac954]

Thinking about the launch it will have to be announced this year so the order book can be opened and to give customers time to arrange finance

You mean you don't just keep $1M cash under the bed in a shoebox labeled "P12"?

(That's only marginally sarcastic, my portfolio account that was used to buy the 12C was labeled "McLaren")

 

[falb]

This article states that this is the spyder 12C but it looks like P12 to me. Notice the exhaust pipes. Also the roof looks fixed with the glass rear cover. Looks like they may be testing acoustics with that sensor hanging off the end.


http://www.eurocarsdiary.com/spy-pictures-mclaren-mp4-12c-spider-prototype

 

[SSO]

Body shape is too close to the MP4-12C. Would expect something a bit more different.

 

[Peloton25]

When you consider this was one of the Enzo Prototypes it is hard to judge anything on the shape of the body these days. Mercedes Benz used Dodge Vipers for the SLS testing, McLaren used TVRs for the SLR. What's underneath is anyone's guess.

I was told by an insider that many of the 12C Validation Prototypes were not going to be immediately crushed, but rather would be retained for "future product testing".

>8^)
ER

 

[SSO]

When you consider this was one of the Enzo Prototypes it is hard to judge anything on the shape of the body these days. Mercedes Benz used Dodge Vipers for the SLS testing, McLaren used TVRs for the SLR. What's underneath is anyone's guess.

I was told by an insider that many of the 12C Validation Prototypes were not going to be immediately crushed, but rather would be retained for "future product testing".

>8^)
ER

Very true, mules could be any mid/rear engined car. Come to think of it, I have seen a number of Lotus Evoras in the area of the factory.

 

[HyperMac954]

New speculation from CAR - the interesting bit is that supposedly the car will use the same engine out of the 12C, just upgraded and with KERS

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret...s,+scoops,+spy+pics,+car+pics,+long+term+test

McLaren P12 (2013): CAR's scoop on the F1 successor

By Tim Pollard

Spy shots

18 January 2012 09:12

The new February 2012 issue of CAR Magazine leads on our exclusive inside story on the new McLaren P12 - Woking's spiritual successor to the F1.

We'll see the new hypercar within the next 12 months, but CAR has compiled a scoop dossier on the P12. Buy the new February issue to see the full set of three artist's impressions, compiled with the help of sources within McLaren who have seen the clay styling buck.
McLaren P12: the artist's impressions

The P12 looks 'like something out of iRobot,' according to our insider – way more dramatic than the supercar-by-numbers MP4-12C.

This is McLaren design chief Frank Stephenson's first clean-sheet design; he could only influence minor details on the 12C, like the front bumper. Hence the double-bubble roof and a canopy-style glasshouse which is said to dominate the front of the P12.
The tech powering the 800bhp McLaren P12

Our eight-page magazine feature reveals plenty of detail about the new McLaren supercar, codenamed P12. It follows in the footsteps of the P11, the project codename which begat the MP4-12C (and also comprehensively scooped by CAR Magazine – four years before it went on sale!).

The P12 will use a similar carbon Monocell structure as the MP4-12C, but with less budgetary restraint – the P12 will cost a reputed €750,000 – there is even more carbon in the bodyshell and structure, to trim weight to the absolute minimum.

The MP4-12C's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 will be used in the P12, but it will be paired with a KERS energy storage system to provide bursts of electric power for overtaking. Our story reveals how early styling mock-ups of the P12's cabin had F1-style pistol grip steering wheels with big red boost buttons to deploy the KERS overtaking boost.

Unlike the original F1, the P12 will have a two-seat cabin, this time; McLaren Automotive managing director Anthony Sherrif told CAR they experimented with a three-seat layout like before, but it messed with the dimensions too much.

 

[falb]

That P12 render is likely far off the mark. Just doesnt seem to fit the function over form.

 

[TAG]

P12 vs fx70

The FX70 will use a new CF tub mated to titanium subframes. CF body! Weight FX70 approx:1100 kg (dry). FX70 810 PS! 100 kilos more than the millechili concept! Close to the first F40 weight and even more exciting to drive than F50 they say! 8 speed gearbox (Getrag)! HY KERS (Bosch)! Direct Injection V12 6500cc!

P12 is going to be ultra light! >50 kg lighter than the FX70! NEW 8 speed Ricardo DSG gearbox! 12C has a Graziano as in the Aventador! V8 TT 5.0 litre! 825-850 ps! Direct Injection! Coupe and a Targa version?? (Electric CF roof setup aka 458 Italia and 12C Spider)! GTR model is lighter and has 900-915 ps! Short tail and longtail roadgoing GTR's is approved from the board! GTR is another 50 kilos lighter!

Performance from these machines will be fantastic! FX70 is said to improve by a whopping 5-6 sec over the Enzo (Fiorano)! That would mean at least 2 sec faster than the 12C at Dunsfold.

12C GT is coming 2013 Q3! Price about 315000 $! 650 ps and 100-125 lb less weight! Better aero numbers and improved handling! Count on another few seconds faster around a track!

12C Spider shown at Paris or Frankfurt Q3 2012!

Lamborghini is preparing the improved Aventador with 750 bhp! And that's not the best thing.. The best thing is that a SV version is coming a year after with 800 ps! Another year after that comes the Lamborghini Urus! Reventon replacement! 850 ps! Costing a cool 1 million bucks! Laptimes well just look at TG (TopGears Shows from the past) The last SV Murcilago compared to the first 580 ps! Similar improvements are possible for the future according to a Lamborghini spokeswoman!

McLaren promise that they don't fear Ferrari's almighty FX70! Chassi setup according to Frank S is said to be bigger improvement than btw 12C and 458 Italia! Let's hope this is true! The P12.s price is coming pretty close to a cool million sterling pounds including VAT! Similar to FX70 it seems! 750000 Euros could be true but probably this is without the value added taxes!

No, no, no i cannot say who informs me but i don't think you need to take this information with to much of pinch of salt!

Have a fantastic goodnight ladies and gents!

Lukie

 

[Peloton25]

That P12 render is likely far off the mark. Just doesnt seem to fit the function over form.

Agreed.

This was what CAR Magazine suggested the 12C was going to look like and clearly the shape is similar but there's a wide gap on the details.

>8^)
ER

 

[SSO]

I will be very suprised if it does not have a V12 (or at least a V10).

 

[Peloton25]

I am with you on that as well. I think the flagship car is going to have more cylinders. A V12 would be ideal, but for packaging reasons as well as weight and emissions I am not sure they will take it that far. I do believe they will be sticking with forced induction.

>8^)
ER

 

[Marin 12C]

I think that everyone, especially Car, is going to be surprised...

 

[Peloton25]

Well I do like surprises.

>8^)
ER