A little over three years ago Ron Dennis, the executive chairman of McLaren Group , advised architect Norman Foster to reduce the length and width of the futuristic factory he was designing outside of London for McLaren’s new road-car division by precisely one meter. Why? Because Dennis had calculated that the adjustment would eliminate the need to trim a single one of the building’s 218,000 ceramic floor tiles.
Dennis was right, and his suggestion saved three weeks’ work.
You can take it as read, therefore, that the construction of McLaren’s highly anticipated supercar, the voluptuous, low-slung MP4-12C, is nothing short of meticulous. The British outfit, known chiefly for its exploits in Formula 1, has spent five years developing the model. Earliest deliveries went to European customers last summer, but now, with the cutting-edge Foster + Partners–designed McLaren Production Centre up and running (and situated next to the McLaren Technology Centre, a kidney-shaped Foster project from 2004), the firm has increased output and begun sending MP4s across the Atlantic as well—priced at $229,000 apiece.
The MP4 aims to compete with the likes of the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Lamborghini Gallardo, and it has at least one feature its Italian rivals don’t: a Formula 1–style Carbon MonoCell chassis, the first ever to be used in a production car. This molded piece of carbon composite—superrigid and lightweight, with no seams or joints—helps to make the MP4 responsive, fuel efficient, and, most important, blazingly fast.
Speed is the machine’s true reason for being. It may have lovely lines and audacious dihedral doors (inspired by the legendary McLaren F1 of the 1990s), but this is not a vehicle targeted at exhibitionists. “The car hasn’t been styled, but designed around the functions it needs to perform,” explains Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive managing director. “We purposely avoided trying to make the car look spectacular just for the sake of it.”
To that end, the interior is minimal: the surfaces clad in hand-stitched leather, just two seats, and only a scattering of screens, buttons, and switches to contend with. Set the power train to “normal” mode and the mid-mounted V-8, 600-horsepower engine is blessedly quiet, the hydraulic suspension ensuring a supple ride. Put it in “sport” or “track” mode and the experience becomes quite a bit more visceral—the engine unashamedly loud, the acceleration lightning quick (zero–60 in 3.2 seconds). Not every buyer will have a track at his or her disposal, but even in the fast lane, the MP4 will seem every inch a race car.
All the parts that compose this British import have been custom made, from the gearbox to the steering wheel to the window toggles. It represents the culmination of 35 years of Formula 1 engineering know-how, and McLaren plans to produce only 525 for the U.S. market. Deep-pocketed thrill seekers take notice: Now is the time to get in line.
