[SSO]

Anyone know why McLaren had 6 MP4-12Cs up at Millbrook testing grounds today? Cars were being run hard and it was clearly not a "client day" ? Several of the cars had the protective tape over them on the front and rear bumpers and side skirts but a few did not. Chris Goodwin was one of the drivers.

Are more changes in the works?

 

[6th element]

Anyone know why McLaren had 6 MP4-12Cs up at Millbrook testing grounds today? Cars were being run hard and it was clearly not a "client day" ? Several of the cars had the protective tape over them on the front and rear bumpers and side skirts but a few did not. Chris Goodwin was one of the drivers.

Are more changes in the works?

You sure they were 12Cs and not mules?

 

[andy c]

Anyone know why McLaren had 6 MP4-12Cs up at Millbrook testing grounds today? Cars were being run hard and it was clearly not a "client day" ? Several of the cars had the protective tape over them on the front and rear bumpers and side skirts but a few did not. Chris Goodwin was one of the drivers.

Are more changes in the works?

Could be testing the 8.2 upgrade,or maybe engine testing for the gt3,but i would think they would want to get the 12c fully sorted first,what was the reason for you been there Boxer?

 

[SSO]

You sure they were 12Cs and not mules?

Definitely not mules.

 

[roundincircles]

Last time I saw the MP12 at Milbrook they were testing engine mapping on the mile straight but only one car, no need for more cars? Curious no customers present with so many cars.


Was Goodwin swapping between cars?

 

[andy c]

Last time I saw the MP12 at Milbrook they were testing engine mapping on the mile straight but only one car, no need for more cars? Curious no customers present with so many cars.


Was Goodwin swapping between cars?

Maybe each car is testing a different part of the re-mapp to hurry things along????

 

[SSO]

Last time I saw the MP12 at Milbrook they were testing engine mapping on the mile straight but only one car, no need for more cars? Curious no customers present with so many cars.


Was Goodwin swapping between cars?

Didn't see him swapping cars. Also I do not believe it was engine testing for the GT3. Other than the protective tape, cars looked to be total stock.

 

[roundincircles]

Maybe they are demonstrators for far away shores? Need lots of proving before release.

Just a guess.

 

[AMLVantageV12]

More likely they are being shaken down prior to despatch I'd imagine.

 

[andy c]

More likely they are being shaken down prior to despatch I'd imagine.

Unlikely,as Boxer says they were being run hard,so what would be the point of doing the 600 miles easy run in when the customer takes delivery?

 

[AMLVantageV12]

Unlikely,as Boxer says they were being run hard,so what would be the point of doing the 600 miles easy run in when the customer takes delivery?

Fair point. Although I imagine a handful of hard miles would be far less damaging than 600 relatively hard miles. No idea truth be told!

 

[roundincircles]

They used to bed in the mercmac at Chobham which is a few miles from Ron's World. Milbrook has a serious number of tracks, pavements and roadways but is probably 3 or more hours drive from Woking......you would use Millbrook for it's extensive variety of facilities.....high and low speed, tight and sweeping tracks plus the demanding hill route. The high speed bowl is for endurance mainly.

Intrigueing. If the cars were left hand drive then it's maybe a serious shakedown ?

 

[TAG]

Spider.. .

http://www.gtspirit.com/2011/11/15/spyshots-2013-mclaren-mp4-12c-spider/

 

[roundincircles]

Yes, possible, you could shake the hell out of a roof at Milbrook.

 

[SSO]

More likely they are being shaken down prior to despatch I'd imagine.

Highly unlikely given that Millbrook is 3+ hours from Woking. For a simple shake down, they would use Longcross is is only a ten minute drive from the factory.

 

[Peloton25]

Maybe they are demonstrators for far away shores? Need lots of proving before release.

Just a guess.

I'd vote for this most likely. Maybe the closer location was unavailable?

>8^)
ER

 

[Senna]

Yes, possible, you could shake the hell out of a roof at Milbrook.

really doubt it was the cabriolet, you wouldn't need to test 6 of them hard all at the same time. I'm sure it was an engineering exercise of some sort, could be soft ware or hard ware, both need to go through the testing process to get signed off by engineering for production. It could be six cars getting mileage for the same system, or six cars testing six things, we might never know. Whats nice is McLaren continuing to test till death
Also don't rule out mules for something, just 'cause it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck..............

 

[SSO]

http://www.gtspirit.com/2011/11/15/spyshots-2013-mclaren-mp4-12c-spider/

Definitely not the Spider. They were all coupes.

I do wonder if this might have something to do with the engine concerns that were discussed a few months ago.

 

[roundincircles]

Can't see it as engine concerns as that can be uncovered in other ways. At Millbrook you would be there for weeks on the bowl 25/7 and the other tracks to flush out quirky surprises in my judgement.

I may be wrong but Mr Goodwin is about handling dynamics - steering,suspension,brakes,tyres,gearbox response etc,etc.......the engineers deal with engine internals and mapping but request Goodwins views.

Every time I have seen the MP12 there it's been with tech heads looking at the lap top after each run.

Would be good to know the facts......we should simply ask !

 

[roundincircles]

Boxer, we're they left hookers?