McLaren reportedly working on MP4-12C Spider

McLaren MP4-12C Spider artist rendering / TeamSpeed.com

By Thami Masemola
October 7, 2009 6:23 PM
Filed Under: European, McLaren, Rumours

McLaren is building a new factory and layout plans include a "Webasto RHT Sub Assembly" area. Webasto is known for its expertise in advanced motor roof systems including sunroofs and folding hard tops. RHT stands for Retractable Hard-Top. Sources claim a powered hard top is on the cards with carbon fibre as a possible construction material. However the company says layout plans have been set aside and Webasto is only "one of several potential suppliers".

Planning permission for the new 18,000 sq-ft factory was apparently obtained a few weeks ago but it appears a rush is imminent as construction has not even begun. The first customer cars are scheduled for delivery in spring 2011. Should the new location not be ready in time, the contingency plan involves assembling at the same facility previously used to build the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

Once the plant is ready an annual production run of about 4,500 cars can be fulfilled within a few years. In comparison the stand-in facility is able to produce between two and three units a day.

The McLaren MP4-12C Spider will be based on the confirmed lightweight coupe version of the same name. It will be powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo engine making about 447kW (608hp) and 600Nm of torque.

Special thanks to Teamspeed.com for the rendering!

Source: autocar.co.uk

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Tags: McLaren MP4-12C Spider, McLaren MP4-12C

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Comments

kimbo

October 7, 2009 6:51 PM

Double clutch transmission, comfort features, twin turbo engine and a spider version? Does it have something in common with the principle of old, proper, brutal and hardcore supercar called McLaren F1? Where are you Mr Murray?

sideskraper

October 7, 2009 7:17 PM

It's called progress. Also don't be so quick to judge a book by it's cover.

McNamara68

October 7, 2009 11:05 PM

i agree kimbo, the purists (gordon murray and others) would not approve of this. but mclaren is no longer that small company in woking, they're trying to turn themselves into a consistent, mass-production automotive outfit. to do that, they'll need to succumb to the market and cater to the guy who wants to look good and doesn't so much care about owning the world's best driving car. i'm not saying they can't do both, but kimbo's right, this is a definite change in philosophy.

cronan

October 8, 2009 12:40 AM

This is not the F1 replacer, that one will come later in the lineup.

kimbo

October 8, 2009 1:35 AM

I know it's not F1 replacement. I only say that McLaren had an idea to make F1 big adrenaline pump and pure race car for the road with naturally aspirated engine, lowest possible weight, not much soundproofing and no comfort feautures apart from superlight stereo system (yeas, even stereo was built with weight in mind), and now they're creating completely different animal, built for the same guys that buy red ferrari spiders with F1 transmission, a car for posers, not petrolheads.

sideskraper

October 8, 2009 5:39 PM

Sorry, still not buying the "cars for posers" argument. Sure it's in a very different market sector to the F1 but that was always the way it was going to be with this project. They are catering to a broader market. This leverages the brand to provide them money to fund other projects (like a "ReAl F1 RePlAcEmEnT").

And how do you know that this car won't blow everything else out of the water? Are you one of their test drivers? Were you intimately involved in the development of this car? The company behind this has a track record as one of the consistently best teams in the history of Formula 1 racing. Not to mention producing some of the best road cars ever made.

The F1 was not just developed by Gordon Murray on his ruler without anybody else touching the design. Nor was the SLR designed completely in one office in Stuttgart then sent to Woking to get a McLaren badge stuck on it.

Writing this car off before it's even made it out into the real world is senseless. Especially with this brake steering system they are talking about.

FWIW I have a feeling that when the spider is finally unveiled, it will have a side profile reminiscent of the Carrera GT

Edited by user on October 8, 2009 at 5:44 PM

nederina

October 7, 2009 7:13 PM

I can't help to think that the spider would ended up look an orange soaped-bar gallardo spider. they could have sticked with the three seater layout. i am curious to know how the mclaren built engine and powertrain perform - this is going to be exciting

GRAVE

October 7, 2009 8:24 PM

Nice, can't wait for it, but why the engine size is 3.8 only? why not a 4.0L+ engine with TT?

Swifty

October 7, 2009 8:53 PM

@sidekraper:

don't worry Mr. Murray is working on his own project too, but it will be the truly succseder to original F1!