McLaren MP4-12C

[autogyro]

I have to agree with you on the visual appeal and the noise.
However with noise restrictions the sound is a long way from open pipes and real macho thunder. A neutered version with silencers and cats fitted.

I have one of these sports cars myself so I cant argue with the visual appeal.
You have to agree though that it is simply an indulgence and not a responsible purchase in any way. I just dont like taking passengers in mine.

Hanging on to the noise issue is a bit like a cave man hanging on to a stone axe.
There realy is no longer a need to annoy others with such a selfish indulgence, at least in road cars. I have recently listened to engineers discusing ways to produce what they call a decent exhaust note to match the model of car, sad.

[autogyro]

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/09/13/mc ... ehicle-co/

The above link shows that McLaren are seriously looking to develop hybrid and maybe electric vehicles.
Surely this must open some interesting debate as to the future of the MP4-12C.
Does this make Ron Dennis, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton greenies?

[Pup]

I think it's almost a given that they'll do a hybrid supercar.

[747heavy]

some info about the suspension in the MP4-12C

!!!CAUTION!!! - this article may contains pure suspension porn.
Parental guidance is strongly recommended

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightlin ... round.html

Edit on request

[Pup]

That's just pure suspension porn. You should add a warning.

This is going to be a defining car.

[xpensive]

Aaah...those Alu-suspension parts, thought they were investment-cast at first, but they are probably hi-pressure die-cast with an incredible finish, but I seriously hope that the moron who selected the hex-head bolts from IKEA will be fired.

[alelanza]

some info about the suspension in the MP4-12C

!!!CAUTION!!! - this article may contains pure suspension porn.
Parental guidance is strongly recommended

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightlin ... round.html

Edit on request

Wow, little by little this car is moving from 'ok generic' towards quite impressive. Great link, thanks!

[autogyro]

I still think Ron Dennis will have a problem selling enough of these but I am beginning to agree that is is some awesome road car.

[xpensive]

Engineering-wise amazing, attention to detail (xcept for those hex-heads) is just impeccable. Wonder how much MB knew about what McLaren had in the pipeline when they decided to go for the AMG Abrams, I cannot believe they turned this down?

[segedunum]

Starting something new is always a risk but they at least have a chance. They've got a decent brand, have an image of cleanliness, attention to detail and engineering excellence and they even have an identifiable colour which never does a car company harm. They can certainly out-engineer the competition. I see the hex bolts there though. They need something that blends in. I can't imagine that will pass big Ron by.

I can't believe people can criticise McLaren in the SLR fallout when they produce this stuff. You can see where that broke down now. Are you really going to want a SLM or SLS when you see this?

[xpensive]

The steel hex-heads from IKEA must be a temporary solution for some prototypes, while waiting for Alu socket-heads?
The steel-bolts are also too long at certain places, why this should be rectified come series production as well.

But look at that hydraulic anti-roll bar, now that's engineering for you!

[Formula None]

Truth is that Mercedes engineers wanted a chrome-steel tubular frame, a de dion rearaxle, inboard front brakes and their flat-12 from Group-C in the SLR...

Sorry to reply to an older post, but can you post a source for this? Sounds awesome.

[Belatti]

I was told the Enzo suspension had similar features... cant confirm it because have no pics of the suspension.

[RacingManiac]

The steel hex-heads from IKEA must be a temporary solution for some prototypes, while waiting for Alu socket-heads?
The steel-bolts are also too long at certain places, why this should be rectified come series production as well.

But look at that hydraulic anti-roll bar, now that's engineering for you!

If they work like many companies in the industry, they contract out "display parts" to outside company who does these things, so the bolt bits might just be a fault of the display maker. In the case of the company I work for, when we sent out display part we sent them stuff and they put it together.

The hydraulic anti-roll system isn't new(Kinetic system), but I think this might be the first application for it on a high performance "pavement" car(outside of Formula SAE that is). As mentioned by that piece it was used on Xsara WRC, and also Mitsubishi Dakar car(also banned in that), and in production its also in Toyota 4-Runner/Lexus GX. It might also be the first case of it to work with adaptive damping....

[RacingManiac]

Sales brochure from Tenneco:
http://www.tenneco.com/media/uploads/pd ... _GB_10.pdf