McLaren MP4-12C taking F1 Design To a New Level

After ambitiously launching its own separate automotive division to follow in the footsteps of arch-rival Ferrari, the British race engineering firm has finally released its long-anticipated new supercar. The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C taking F1 design to a new level. The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C has many fresh features

that will excite aficionados of the brand.

Every part of the sports car is manufactured and designed by the car company itself. The chassis is now made using a Carbon MonoCell called 12C MonoCell. The 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.

The use of forged aluminum hubs for brakes reduces car mass by 8 kilograms. The car also uses a condensed engine which reduces the length and weight of the vehicle.

This also limits the area between the driver and passenger seats, which then makes the body more compact and light. The structure is more slender than former models, which in turn allows the car to be maneuvered and positioned easier on the road.

The extras on the car we saw today included carbon-ceramic brakes; navigation; carbon-fiber engine-bay trim; and a front-, rear-, and in-car multi-camera system that allows the owner to export the footage via USB to a flash drive—perfect for analyzing track days.

McLaren MP4-12C uses a 3.8 litre M838T engine. This engine produces a horsepower of about 600 because of its V8 twin turbochargers. It is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 200 mph.