VIDEO: New McLaren MP4-12C Beats the Snot Out of Ferrari 458 Italia and Porsche 911 Turbo in Drag Race

Even before McLaren released the final specifications on the brand-new MP4-12C, we knew that the British firm's supercar was fast, but if we are to believe this video that mysteriously popped up on Youtube, then the MP4-12C has a serious speed edge over some of its most famed rivals - at least in a straight line race. The video shows the McLaren MP4-12C clearly beating both the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche 911 Turbo MkII [997] in a drag race believed to have taken place at the Portimao Circuit in Portugal. You can watch the short clip along with a couple more fresh videos released by McLaren right after the jump.

Via: GTspirit & McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C Final figures [Official]

• 0 - 200kph in 9.1s (8.9s on optional Corsa tyres)
• CO₂ emissions of 279g/km (equating to 24.2 EU mpg combined)
• 0 - 100kph in 3.3s (3.1s with optional Corsa tyres)
• top speed: 330kph (205mph)
• 100 - 0 kph in 30.5 m (100 ft)
• ¼ mile: 10.9s @ 135 mph
• dry weight (with lightweight options): 1301kgs / 2868 lbs
• carbon MonoCell chassis weight: 75kgs / 165 lbs
• power: weight (lightweight options): 461PS / 455bhp per tonne.
• power: 600PS (592bhp) at 7,000 rpm
• torque: 600Nm between 3,000 – 7,000 rpm

SPECIFICATIONS

McLaren MP4-12C Enters Production, 1,000 Cars to be Built this Year [with Video]

McLaren Automotive's brand new MP4-12C has reached another milestone with the start of production at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, England. The British sports car maker said it plans to build up to 1,000 examples of the MP4-12Cs this year, with most cars to be manufactured in a bespoke new £40m McLaren Production Centre, which is due for completion in May on a site neighboring the MTC facility.

The MP4-12C was first presented to the public at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in southern England in July 2010, ahead of a North American debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August of the same year.

It is powered by a mid-mounted 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged V8 with 600HP and 443 lb-ft, developed in-house by McLaren, and can complete the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in under 3.0 seconds and the quarter mile in around 11 seconds, while reaching a top speed in excess of 200mph or 322km.

Prices for the MP4-12C start at around €200,000 in mainland Europe, £168,500 in the UK and at $229,000 in the US.

Today, McLaren also released a new short film called 'Best of 2010', which features appearances from F1 racing stars Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, visitors’ reactions to the 12C at its debut events as well as new footage of the car winter testing at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Scroll down to watch it.

Man Amasses Ridiculously Awesome Gulf Oil-Liveried Racing Car Collection

The ROFGO Gulf Collection by Duncan Hamilton is one man's dream of assembling the largest assortment of racing cars ever to compete in the legendary colors of Gulf Oil. The collection comprises 14 of the most prominent Gulf Oil-liveried competition cars and has been created by Duncan Hamilton & Co.’s Chairman, Adrian Hamilton, for an unnamed but obviously passionate and extremely wealthy client.

All 14 cars were tracked down and acquired in just two years. The collection includes a variety of models ranging in age from the 1967 Mirage, which was the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans, to the 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo that competed in the GT2 Championship.

Commenting on the collection, Adrian Hamilton said: “My career has been punctuated by many remarkable cars – eg the one and only Mercedes-Benz 196 Grand Prix car in private hands, some nine Ferrari 250 GT0s, 20 GT40s, seven Porsche 917s and numerous Jaguar C and D-Types etc – but few projects have been as enjoyable and satisfying as this one. Like all racing enthusiasts I’ve grown up with the Gulf brand and it is a tremendous privilege to be able to build such a unique and lasting tribute to one of the greatest names in our sport. I am extremely indebted to my client for the opportunity.”

A total of 12 cars from the ROFGO Gulf Collection by Duncan Hamilton will get their first public outing for all to see at Retromobile, an annual show of classic road and racing cars, which takes place at Porte de Versailles in Paris, from February 2 to 6.

In chronological order the 14 cars are:

• 1967 Mirage

Chassis No.10002 – the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans

• 1968 Ford GT40

Chassis No.1084 – 4^th, SPA 1000 km, Hawkins/Hobbs

• 1969 Brabham BT26

Chassis No.BT26/4 - 1^st German GP, Ickx

• 1970 McLaren M14

Chassis No.M14/A2 – 2^nd South African GP, Hulme

• 1971 Porsche 917

Chassis No.026 – 2^nd, Le Mans 24 Hours, Attwood/Muller

• 1970 Porsche 908/3

Chassis No.12 – Nürburgring 1000 km, Siffert, DNF

• 1972 McLaren M20

Chassis No.M20/3 – 1^st, Watkins Glen, Hulme

• 1974 Mirage

Chassis No.704 – 4^th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Hailwood

• 1994 Kremer K8

Chassis No.K8/07/SP – 6^th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Lassig/Donovan

• 1996 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail

Chassis No.022 – 3^rd, Hockenheim 4 Hours, Bscher/Nielson

• 2006 Courage C65 LMP2

Chassis No.07 – 7^th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Gosselin/Ojeh/Ragues

• 2008 Aston Martin DBR9

Chassis No.007 – 4^th in GT1, Le Mans 24 Hours, Frentzen/Piccili/Wendlinger

• 2009 Aston Martin LMP1

Chassis No.DBR1-2/2 – 1^st, Asian Le Mans series, Okayama, Mucke/Primat

• 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo

GT2 Championship, Giroix/Goethe

McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C



McLaren MP4-12C


McLaren MP4-12C


McLaren MP4-12C

The Best Of Sporty Car McLaren MP4-12C

Luxury Car McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C Images

Elegant Concept McLaren MP4-12C Car

Exclusive McLaren MP4-12C Car

McLaren MP4-12C Interior Car

Beautiful Car McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren MP4-12C

The super cool McLaren MP4-12C super car features the latest advances in automotive technology taken straight from the Formula 1 circuit. The McLaren MP4-12C is built around an extremely light and rigid carbon fiber tub. But rather than the heavier multi-piece tubs used by its competitors and predecessors, the MP4's is made from a single piece, weighing a spritely 176 pounds).




The body panels are all carbon fiber and composites, making the new McLaren more expensive to build than its competitors and resulting in an expected £160,000 ($265k) price tag – higher than either the new Ferrari 458 Italia or the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, but lighter in weight, too.


Behind the tub sits a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine producing around 600 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque, offering what McLaren claims is the highest horsepower to CO2 ratio of any internal combustion engine on the market – gasoline, diesel or even hybrid. Contrary to earlier speculation that suggested Mercedes could continue furnishing its erstwhile partner with at least the engine blocks while producing its own SLS supercar and furnishing Pagani as well, McLaren says the unit was developed entirely in house. The bespoke mill features a flat-plane crank, dry sump and can rev up to 8,500 rpm, though 80% of the torque is said to be available from as low as 2,000 rpm. That ought to be good for a 0-60 time in the low threes and a 200+ mph top end.

While you might have expected carbon ceramic brakes to keep all that power and speed in check, McLaren says its conventional discs actually weigh less. They're aided by a Brake Steer system that brakes the inside rear wheel to combat understeer. But the real trick system is in the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, where Pre-Cog lets the driver load up the next gear by half-squeezing the paddle and then engaging with gunshot speed.

McLaren MP4-12C Interior Pictures

With the new MP4-12C, McLaren's betting the economy will bounce back soon. It's planning on building 1000 units in 2011, a quarter of which will go each to the domestic UK market and over here to the United States. The C designation also suggests that they're planning a roadster version to join the coupe. But for now, we'll just enjoy this first batch of images in the gallery below and peruse the lengthy press release after the jump.

McLaren MP4-12C