What I would like to see in the MP4-12C R&D dept.

13938 Views 121 Replies 27 Participants Last post by Gazza, Jul 21, 2012

Gazza

Discussion Starter · Jun 21, 2012

If I was running the show here's what I would like to seen be done in R&D and released to the customer. I'll add to this list as I think of more important upgrades. Comments welcome. Factory please consider!

1. Reduce the door closing resistance.
2. Increase the opening height of the door. Im 6' tall and its awkard.
3. Lower the obstruction height of the lower door sill.
4. Use remote controlled valves in the exhaust system for user control of the exhaust volume.
5. Investigate the use of a LSD.
6. Investigate the use of lowering the suspension for track use by user control.
7. Offer a GT3 aero package or a street version GT3.
8. Offer harness and fire extingusher options / brackets.
9. Offer screw in tie down eyelets.
10. Compare brake force sensitivty to ideal Porsche PCCB.
11. Reduce the travel in the throttle. Reference Porsche.
12. Look at making the new door release button as a stick on type and retofittable and reversable, keeping the old touch sensor for those who what it. The new button could be passive magnetic actuation.

Several items I would have mentioned are already being done now so no need to list those.
Nothing too difficuilt really!

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andy c

· #4 · Jun 21, 2012 (Edited)

Chris2011 said:
My view on the door opening would be it would be easier if there was a groove or something on the underside that guided your handed to the sensor

Not needed Chris,if you use the whole of the flat of your hand it works everytime,whats good about it is when your used to it,it works every time!!
So its only those that dont own a car that have a problem

(or dont use it enough)

andy c

· #5 · Jun 21, 2012

Gazza said:
If I was running the show here's what I would like to seen be done in R&D and released to the customer. I'll add to this list as I think of more important upgrades. Comments welcome. Factory please consider!

1. Reduce the door closing resistance.
2. Increase the opening height of the door. Im 6' tall and its awkard.
3. Lower the obstruction height of the lower door sill.
4. Use remote controlled valves in the exhaust system for user control of the exhaust volume.
5. Investigate the use of a LSD.
6. Investigate the use of lowering the suspension for track use by user control.
7. Offer a GT3 aero package or a street version GT3.
8. Offer harness and fire extingusher options / brackets.
9. Offer screw in tie down eyelets.
10. Compare brake force sensitivty to ideal Porsche PCCB.
11. Reduce the travel in the throttle. Reference Porsche.
12. Look at making the new door release button as a stick on type and retofittable and reversable, keeping the old touch sensor for those who what it. The new button could be passive magnetic actuation.

Several items I would have mentioned are already being done now so no need to list those.
Nothing too difficuilt really!

Just a SMALL point Gazza,ive owned porsches for 27 years,this is not a Porsche and thats the reason i wanted one!!

andy c

· #15 · Jun 22, 2012

Gazza,your still getting a bit beyond yourself,you must realise that Mclaren do everything for a reason,and that they have spent many thousands of hours either thinking about it or perfecting it,they did not have an agenda like porsche so could focus on everthing individually and producing something that is best in class for the right reasons.

AS for number 13,this car needs a rear view camera as much as saloon car,its no different to a cayman or a 911,and in many ways far better,ive never been in a car that has such a footprint that feel so small.
I think the best thing you can do is squeeze a flat 6 into your car,it will be far cheaper and you will be far happier

andy c

· #17 · Jun 22, 2012

McDc said:
What I'd like to see:

1. Sport Seats and 5/6 point harness (bar) as a factory option
2. Michelin SS as standard Tires
3. Michelin Cup Tires as an option

Agree

andy c

· #19 · Jun 22, 2012

McDc said:
What I'd like to see:

1. Sport Seats and 5/6 point harness (bar) as a factory option
2. Michelin SS as standard Tires
3. Michelin Cup Tires as an option

Agree

andy c

· #28 · Jun 22, 2012

:

Gazza said:
Sheesh, I put down my ideas list and now Im considered a wind up merchant???
I assure everyone that that is not my intention.
Whats next, I gotta give out my credentials or something?

Wtdoom: Yes good one!

And no I dont want a flat six in it. Thats is just too funny.
I do want it to be faster than a Nissan GTR pigdog however.

You mis-understood Gazza,from what your requests were,i was suggesting that if you could sqeeze a flat 6 in your Cayman,then that would be your perfect car,rather than tryng to make the 12c into your version of the porsche you would want,from the meaning you suggested that Porsche had an agenda in not making the cayman better the the 911!!
I didnt suggest you were a wind up merchant,but i think you are looking at it from a porsche point of view,when you need to look outside the box

andy c

· #32 · Jun 22, 2012

texas mongrel said:
Re; the fire extinguisher, I had this issue at a race where I needed an extinguisher accessible from inside by both driver and navigator. I made a bracket from aluminum plate and attached the fire extinguisher to it. I then used the four thumb screws that hold the little mesh storage thingie between the seats to attach the plate to the rear bulkhead - works perfectly, takes a couple of minutes to install or remove, and requires no mods to the car. If I wasn't such a lazy sod I'd go fit it and take a picture, maybe next time I race....

Tex,apparently we all thought the optional extinguisher was to be located in the boot,i have since found out by those that ticked that box,that is is indeed located somewhere near to where you have put it.
HOWEVER, im sure your bracket is considerably cheaper

andy c

· #37 · Jun 22, 2012

texas mongrel said:
Andy, I ticked that box and indeed the Mac extinguisher is in the boot. It also is attached with a plastic bracket that many Track 'Techs won't approve. So, Ron, I paid a lot of money for an extinguisher in the wrong place made from the wrong materials...... It is a nice-looking unit however, all red and shiney

Seems different markets have different regulations(nothing new there!!)
Earlier in the year i was chatting with one of our middle eastern owners,and his is in the cockpit?????
Funny,because of different laws i would have sworn it might be the other way round,that is with America so hot on who is to blame (other than the user!!!)

andy c

· #59 · Jun 27, 2012

ergoproxy said:
Someone on fchat claimed the average amateur driver would post a quicker time in a 458 than a 12C. He had a lot of experience in both. Could this be due the higher grip and lower slip angle taking some getting used to?

Too True (not on the quciker time) , the grip is endless and it takes a brave man (or alot of room) to find the end of it.But i would still say you would post a quicker time as the 458 would be going sideways while the 12c was still gripping on

andy c

· #67 · Jul 5, 2012

6th element said:
Seems about right?

I would agree to that,ive seen both of them out of the car,and they seem very similar in size too

andy c

· #69 · Jul 6, 2012

997 said:
Conceptually one of the most interesting ones from that article was the V8 RUF made for the 997

Interesting that someone who improves all porsches as a stand alone manufacturer had the same idea as Mclaren

andy c

· #72 · Jul 6, 2012 (Edited)

997 said:
In what way Andy? That RUF V8 is NA and has some features you normally don't see on engines designed for road use. It has direct drive ancillaries and therefore no drive belts. 4.5L 550HP and less than 200kg

Sorry 997,i assumed wrongly that it would be a turbo,i agree that you dont normally see direct drive ancillaries on a road car,i suppose thats why the 12c is designed that way also.
So it is a combination of the best of a 458 and a 12c put together!!

andy c

· #76 · Jul 6, 2012

997 said:
Andy did I completely miss the fact that the 12C engine has direct drive ancillaries??

Good isnt it,not a belt in sight

But big respect to Alois Ruf,probably one of the best engineers of bespoke cars.

andy c

· #83 · Jul 12, 2012

macmadmark said:
Could those who went to Castle Combe and had the benefit of driving advice from the factory drivers please let us know what the official line is in regard to getting the best from brake steer? It would be very interesting to get the official line, please. (all puns deliberate)

From my point of view the brake steer is only noticable on sharp aggressive corners,i was trying hard and i would suspect coming out of the chicanes were you flicked the steering wheel quciker than normal would be were it was most noticable,but wether i wasnt good enough or i was concentrating too much,or it was working too smoothly to notice im not sure.One think i am sure about is i get it working on the road,so it must have been working on the track,but your imputs are far smoother on the track as you are doing the same corner over and over again every 80 seconds.
So all in all that was not alot of help was it??? other than the fact that on the track it must work because of the speed you are carrying,but smoothly so it hides it more!!

andy c

· #86 · Jul 12, 2012

Different styles different tracks Chris!! Im sure from what you say you are far more experianced than i will ever be (Castle coombe was my first tack day for 17 years!!!)
which probably explains my brakes lasting 15-20 mins before going soft (but still strong) and my engine temperature was up by 25%,but back to normal on the cool down lap,only disapointing thing about C/coombe was that the mclaren deveoplment drivers said it was too bumpy after the pit straight to use track handling,so it was left on sport all day.Im keen to try Donington again as i remeber the craner curves well,but not as well as you!!!

andy c

· #97 · Jul 16, 2012

falb said:
This seems to be running theme in the debate between brakes. Iron works fantastic, carbon work fantastic longer.

Got it in one falb,exactly to the point.

andy c

· #101 · Jul 17, 2012

roundincircles said:
I think Mclaren stated in early <acronym title="Google Page Ranking">PR</acronym> the mould tool for the tub can be split for more length .

Ric,im not sure why you would want a bigger tub?? Mclaren have stated they are only going to do 2 seater sports cars,for that the tub is the optimim size,even big enough to get a folding roof in.Any longer cars would just have a longer front or rear crash/cradle structure surely???

andy c

· #111 · Jul 17, 2012

One thing i know is that the current tub is to be used in the next 7 models,ie we already have 2 and another 5 on the way in the next 4/5 years

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