The McLaren MP4-12C is a high performance two-seat mid-engine model in the core sports car market sector for cars costing between £125,000 and £175,000.
“Worldwide demand for high performance cars is strong, in large part because of great cars from great competitors. With McLaren joining that list, it will grow stronger still. What we are offering is a new approach to the market,” said Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive Chairman.
The market for high performance sports cars has grown substantially since the turn of the century. McLaren divides the market into segments that encompass both comfort–orientated GT cars and the hard-edged supercars for road and track use.
The core segment runs from around £125,000 to £175,000 featuring the Ferrari F458, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911 Turbo, Bentley Continental GT and Aston Martin DB9.
A second segment is the high category with prices ranging from £175,000 to £250,000 and consists largely of front-engined GT cars such as Ferrari‘s 599GT and 612, with just one mid-engined contender, the Lamborghini Murcielago.
The final segment is the ultimate group, a sector initiated by the McLaren F1 in 1993 and now populated by a select group of cars including the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Bugatti Veyron, and cars from the likes of Pagani and Koenigsegg that followed legends such as the Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari Enzo.
In 2011, McLaren will bring technology and performance exclusive to this ultimate sector into the core segment.
The name of the new McLaren sports car is MP4-12C. What does this signify? As one might expect at McLaren everything has a purpose and the nomenclature is no exception.
MP4 has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. It stands for McLaren Project 4, resulting from the merger of Ron Dennis’ Project 4 organisation with McLaren.
The 12 refers to McLaren‘s internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car‘s development. It represents power and efficiencies.
The C refers to Carbon, highlighting the unique application of carbon fibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars.
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