Final McLaren Specification Announced
Finalized specifications have just been announced for the long-awaited McLaren MP4-12C super-sports car, due to go on sale in May.
As we reported on this website early last year, the 12C is a two-seater, extreme performance sports coupé with a mid-mounted, twin-turbo V8 engine and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission designed to McLaren’s own specification. At the time the initial details were made public, McLaren would go no further than stating target values for horsepower and torque – at 600 hp and 600 Nm respectively, and expressing confidence that homologated CO2 emissions figures would be below 300 g/km, substantially lower than competitor models, such as the Ferrari 458 Italia.
Nor would McLaren at the time give details about design or industrial partners for the most crucial mechanical assemblies – the engine and the transmission. Now, however, with the disclosure of the full specification comes not only the confirmation that the engine power and torque output targets have been attained, but also that the engine will be assembled by specialist low-volume niche manufacturer Ricardo at an all- new facility.
The M838T engine delivers its maximum power of 600 hp at 7,000 rpm, while the 600 Nm peak torque is maintained all the way from 3,000 to 7,000 rpm – well short of the 8,500 red line and electronic rev limiter. The SSG – for seamless shift gearbox – is, as we reported earlier, unusual in its architecture, with McLaren having opted for two separate wet clutches for the twin layshaft design in preference to concentric units. This, explained McLaren, helped save some 200 mm in transmission length. It also brought the mass of the transmission further forward in relation to the rear axle, to the benefit not only of weight distribution and handling balance but also of aerodynamic efficiency, thanks to the space gained for the central part of the diffuser ramp. Even rear crash performance has benefited, says the company.
We have already reported on the Active Dynamics control modes for the transmission, allowing the driver to switch between Normal, Sport and Track settings. Also included on the Active Dynamics panel are Automatic, Launch Control and Winter modes. The center-hinged, one-piece rocker that forms the shift paddles on either side of the steering wheel can be pulled or pushed, allowing up- or downshifting with one hand. Its action has a defined mechanical click, says McLaren. Light initial pressure on the rocker activates the so-called "pre-cog" function – preloading the clutch for the next shift and, in McLaren's words, "...thereby decreasing latency to virtually zero when the paddle is fully depressed between the shift message being sent and action being taken by the transmission to swap ratios. Gear shifting becomes virtually instantaneous."
A further innovative feature of the SSG transmission is a form of automatic downshifting should the driver misjudge his speed – all too easy in a car capable of 330 km/h and hitting 200 km/h in just 9.1 seconds – and enter a curve that is unexpectedly tight. Not only will the Brake Steer control help eliminate understeer by selectively braking only the inside rear wheel, but if the driver pulls and holds the left (downshift) paddle under braking, just as a race car driver would, the transmission will automatically shift down to the correct lowest gear and match the engine rpm accordingly.
An additional brake-related duty of the gearbox is unique to McLaren. Under heavy braking from over 95 km/h, a piston operated by the transmission hydraulics raises the airbrake – mounted above the rear deck – to its initial angle of 32 degrees. Once at this point, the airflow forces the wing further back to its maximum 69-degree operating angle, so that it can create additional rear downforce to load the rear tires and enable higher rear brake pressures and even shorter stopping distances. This typically clever McLaren solution is for the purpose of weight reduction. The company claims that this idea took almost 50 percent of the weight out of the mechanism.
Other ideas, such as the replacement of a potentially weighty, active differential with a stability solution operating through the brake software, also help reduce the 12C’s mass – to the point that, at just 1336 kg ready for the road, it sets new standards for lightness, structural integrity and, of course, sheer power.
The benefit of that lightness is seen in a parameter that will be of only passing concern to those able to afford the 12C’s €200,000 ($275,000) price, but which is very impressive to those who appreciate fine engineering. Despite its near-Formula One levels of performance, with 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and 200 in 9.1, the new McLaren emits just 279 grams of CO2 per kilometer – that’s less than a Mercedes C-Class AMG.
| McLaren MP4-12C − Official Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.8 liter twin-turbo V8 |
| Transmission | 7-speed wet clutch DCT |
| Target Max Power | 600 hp at 7000 rpm |
| Target Peak Torque | 600 Nm at 3000-7000 rpm |
| CO2 Emissions | 279 g/km |
| Fuel Consumption | 11.7 l/100 km (19.3 U.S. mpg) |
| Maximum Speed | 330 km/h (205 mph) |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (62 mph) | 3.3 sec (3.1 sec with Corsa tires) |
| Acceleration 0-200 km/h (124 mph) | 9.1 sec (8.9 sec with Corsa tires) |
| Braking 200-0 km/h | 123 m (403 ft) |
| Dry Weight | 1336 kg (2945 lb) 1301 kg (lightweight options) |
| Price (approx) | £200,000 ($275,000) |
| Availability | May 2011 |
Story Filed: 3/15/2011
By Tony Lewin, managing editor DCTfacts.com