[6th element]

For those who are interested, there is a great feature going on over at MotorTrend.com. They are writing up a car a day and introducing them with Randy Pobst doing hotlaps at the awesome Laguna Seca track. Lexus LFA, GT3 RS, Z06, 458, Cayman R and a few others till now. Not sure if they managed to scoop a 12C from McLaren for the test, but you may be surprised which car has the best lap time, so far!

The site is badly laid out and you'll have to click around to see all the pages, but well worth it as the track footage is excellent.

 

[texas mongrel]

Did you read the latest Car and Driver yet? Comparison test between MP-4, 458, and GT2-RS. The Mac wins, and best of all its spec'd exactly like mine, so now I know what it will look like!
Seems like the US mags like the MP more than the Brits, who focus on BS like "soul" and whether the boss's name sound right, instead of looking at the undisputable facts!

 

[6th element]

yep we discussed the C&D test here:
http://www.mclarenlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281

This Motor Trend feature is great. But I think chances are slim that they got a 12C for the test. Haven't heard of any 12C being driven in anger in the U.S. yet, by anybody. C&D went to UK to do their article, I think, right?

Would LOVE to see footage of the 12C tackling the Corkscrew turn. I've driven Laguna myself and it is quite a ride!!

 

[falb]

Everyone likes to discount the corvettes but they are no joke.

In the measly 260hp Radical, little ol' me was doing 1:29s @ Laguna. epic fun...

 

[6th element]

Godzilla's write-up and lap is up on Motor Trend site. The narrated intro to the hotlap video is hilarious.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/performance/1108_2012_nissan_gt_r_best_drivers_car_contender/

 

[gallardo62]

it was my track car this year, not sure i will be able to easily beat my times with the future mp4.

this 2011 is pretty fast, with good brakes and a chassis who is at last funny.

 

[falb]

Clearly they had a normal customer 458 italia.

 

[falb]

The vette and the Porsche had sport cups and the 458 had super sport tires.

 

[andy c]

Clearly they had a normal customer 458 italia.

Amazing how on other sites they cannot believe why the 458 didnt blow them all away.
one well known advocate of the 458 uses the excuse that he dosent think that there are any press spec cars in the USA at the moment. If ever i have to say that about a MCLAREN them im off

 

[GT-TT]

Hahah that is an awesome comment from the 458 advocate. Victory at any cost! Even by cheating lol!
Andy you ve had a looong history of 911 s! Will you attempt to mod the mp4 to get the torque you had in your last one?

 

[andy c]

Hahah that is an awesome comment from the 458 advocate. Victory at any cost! Even by cheating lol!
Andy you ve had a looong history of 911 s! Will you attempt to mod the mp4 to get the torque you had in your last one?

I think at the moment i cant afford to negate the warrenty!!!,also with all the electronics going on,do you not think it might actually be a negative move.In the past moding 911,s they end up with more hp and torque,then when a new model comes out i find that the factory have done a far superior job anyway.look at some of the german tuning houses,they get great acceleration and top speed,but they can never beat a factory car on lap times.

 

[gallardo62]

a friend of mine returning from maranello to see the 458 spider, they made him understand that the ferrari tested in uk had some special features of a new version coming next year (optimized one or scuderia like)

 

[andy c]

a friend of mine returning from maranello to see the 458 spider, they made him understand that the ferrari tested in uk had some special features of a new version coming next year (optimized one or scuderia like)

That must be a nice kick in the balls for the first 2 to 3 thousand 458 customers,wonder if this is the first time they have done this,fair enough if its a scuderia,but then why not be honest and tell the press they are not
comparing like for like.
At least they will have shot their bolt for when the 12c gt3 comes out.

 

[GT-TT]

Incredible.. Those Italians are such cheats
And they don't need to do this as they have a good and unique product. But they do it because they can

 

[6th element]

a friend of mine returning from maranello to see the 458 spider, they made him understand that the ferrari tested in uk had some special features of a new version coming next year (optimized one or scuderia like)

The arrogance of that company knows no bounds. Seriously. Your friend should email Steve Sutcliffe at Autocar and fill him in on the conversation as I'm sure he'd love to blog about that.

 

[Owl]

The 458 press car in France has 610 bhp (source: a Ferrari dealer)

 

[Osiris_x11]

a friend of mine returning from maranello to see the 458 spider, they made him understand that the ferrari tested in uk had some special features of a new version coming next year (optimized one or scuderia like)

That must be a nice kick in the balls for the first 2 to 3 thousand 458 customers,wonder if this is the first time they have done this,fair enough if its a scuderia,but then why not be honest and tell the press they are not
comparing like for like.
At least they will have shot their bolt for when the 12c gt3 comes out.

Incredible.. Those Italians are such cheats
And they don't need to do this as they have a good and unique product. But they do it because they can

Your friend should email Steve Sutcliffe at Autocar and fill him in on the conversation as I'm sure he'd love to blog about that.

In-essence, all this just reaffirms Chris Harris' outing of Maranello's finest earlier this past year here (a GREAT read)!