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The two-seater MP4-12C doesn’t go on sale until early 2011, when it'll wade into what McLaren Automotive calls the ‘core sports car market’ spanning from £125,000-£175,000. Expect a pricetag around £160,000, pitching it a notch above Ferrari’s new 458 Italia.
Why so expensive? Blame the extensive – and expensive – use of carbonfibre, a technology McLaren first introduced to roadcarkind in 1993’s F1. McLaren calls the skeleton of the MP4-12C the Carbon MonoCell, an unusually light one-piece structure where most supercars normally use assembled composite architectures. Although pricey, it's developed using a much quicker, cheaper production method than the McMerc SLR's tub, and it's clothed in aluminium and SMC plastic body panels.
It’s a 3.8-litre 90-degree V8 mounted amidships and producing ‘around 600bhp and 443lb ft’. ‘It delivers the highest horsepower to CO2 ratio of any car on the market today with an internal combustion engines – and that includes petrol and diesel hybrids,’ boasts Antony Sheriff, MD of McLaren Automotive. Expect a CO2 output somewhere just south of 300g/km.
Contrary to earlier speculation, this is McLaren’s own V8, dubbed M838T and breathed on by twin turbos and driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (no manual is available). The V8 has a dry sump and a flat-plane crank like a race engine, to lower the centre of gravity and allow a higher rev limit of 8500rpm.
Every single component of the MP4-12C is unique, vows McLaren. Not a single switch or part is pilfered from a rival’s parts bin.
McLaren claims that 80% of the MP4-12C's torque is available below 2000rpm, so it'll be damned quick. Actual performance figures aren’t available yet, but we hear the 0-60mph time will be in the three-point-something-second bracket and it seems a dead cert that the MP4-12C will top 200mph with some ease.
I thought i'd make a post about one of the ugliest cars i've ever seen:
Nissan Qazana
Nissan's quirky-looking Qazana is being readied for production, and these are the pictures that prove it! Despite the heavy camouflage it's clear that the bulbous, rugged looks from the Geneva Motor Show concept are set to return on this eye-catching cross-over. The aggressive front end, dominated by a mouth-shaped grille and two large headlights can just be made out in these pictures. Also immediately obvious is the low, raking roofline and short overhang at the front and rear. Reports suggest that inside, the Qazana will take its styling cues from the striking interior that featured on the concept. That means we can expect to see a motorcycle fuel tank inspired centre console and protruding dashboard. There's no word yet on pricing or release dates but it's likely that we'll see the Qazana make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year.
The Galibier is back in black! Bugatti has released these moody new shots of its super-saloon concept which is expected to begin production when the Veyron is discontinued in 2012. Previously shown in a two-tone blue and chrome paint-job, the four-seater nowsportsa solid black finish. Although technically still a concept, the 16C Galibier is almost production ready. As it stands the newcomer gets the 8.0-litre 16-cylinder engine from the Veyron but de-tuned down to around 800bhp. To help improve the performance further still, a lightweight body, built of carbon fibre and aluminium will feature. With the emphasis of the design and engineering firmly on ultimate luxury, the £900,000 model also gets a distinctive wood and leather trimmed interior.
It's already one of the rarest supercars on the planet – but Lexus has gone a stage further with this special edition LF-A!
Called the Nurburgring Edition, it honours the famous German racing circuit where the LF-A was developed. Inspired by the competition versions that raced at the 12.9-mile track, it gets a huge fixed rear wing and front splitter, stiffer, more adjustable suspension and lightweight alloys with track-spec tyres.
Lexus engineers have also liberated an extra 10bhp from the LF-A's 4.8-litre V10 engine, taking total power output to 562bhp. A range of four colours will be available – including gloss black, matt black and orange – while the production run is expected to be tiny, given that just 500 examples of the 'standard' LF-A will be built. Expect a price tag in excess of £400,000 too.
It's already one of the rarest supercars on the planet – but Lexus has gone a stage further with this special edition LF-A!
Read more:http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/249586/lexus_lfa_ring_edition.html#ixzz0iHLVRJzi
Called the Nurburgring Edition, it honours the famous German racing circuit where the LF-A was developed. Inspired by the competition versions that raced at the 12.9-mile track, it gets a huge fixed rear wing and front splitter, stiffer, more adjustable suspension and lightweight alloys with track-spec tyres.
Lexus engineers have also liberated an extra 10bhp from the LF-A's 4.8-litre V10 engine, taking total power output to 562bhp. A range of four colours will be available – including gloss black, matt black and orange – while the production run is expected to be tiny, given that just 500 examples of the 'standard' LF-A will be built. Expect a price tag in excess of £400,000 too.
It's already one of the rarest supercars on the planet – but Lexus has gone a stage further with this special edition LF-A!
Read more:http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/249586/lexus_lfa_ring_edition.html#ixzz0iHLVRJzi