McLaren Speedtail Reviews

A mysterious McLaren MP4-12C Spider has been testing at the Nürburgring and on some of the German race track’s surrounding roads for the past couple of weeks. Snapped by one of our photographers just a few days ago, it was initially thought this vehicle was being used to test mild updates for the 12C range.According to McLaren, the car is actually a very early test mule for the company’s next supercar, an entry-level model currently doing the rounds as the P13. A spokesman for the company told Auto Express the test mule was running with some of the P13’s mechanicals.This makes sense, as the 12C has been on the market for only two years and has already been updated once. Considering it can hit 100m/h in approximately 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 343km/h, we’re happy with McLaren leaving it as it is for now.It’s also natural for McLaren to use the 12C as a test mule for the P13 as both cars are expected to feature the same carbon fibre monocoque structure, called the MonoCell. You may recall the flagship P1 uses a modified version of this monocoque, which McLaren calls the MonoCage.The P13 will also likely come with a version of the Ricardo-built 3.8-litre V-8 fitted to both the 12C and P1, which in its latest application will almost certainly be detuned to deliver less than 373 kilowatts so that it doesn’t step on the toes of its big brothers. The 12C was recently re-rated at 459 kilowatts and the P1 is delivering as much as 673 kilowatts in total, so this would leave a healthy gap between all three.Also common to all three cars should be the Graziano-sourced SSG seven-speed dual-clutch transmission already found in the 12C and P1. In terms of styling, McLaren previously told us the P13 will look something like a cross between the 12C and P1, and be the smallest of the three cars. It will debut as a coupe but will eventually be joined by a convertible.Despite its entry-level positioning in the McLaren lineup, it will still be a highly-capable supercar, targeting the likes of the Audi R8, Ferrari California (and its replacement), a new model from Mercedes' AMG division, and high-end Porsche 911 variants. Look for a debut of the P13 at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, with sales to commence shortly after.Production will take place at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, where all McLarens are built, and volumes are expected to be between 2,000 and 2,500 units per year. Together with the 12C and P1, the P13 will see McLaren’s annual production reach the 4,000 vehicle target promised by Ron Dennis several years ago.www.motorauthority.com 

Since going on sale two years ago, McLaren’s 12C supercar has received a power hike, spawned a convertible and gone racing, but the introduction of changes and new variants shows no sign of abating. A prototype 12C Spider has been spotted carving up the Nurburgring and is believed to  preview a facelifted version of the car due out towards the end of the year as a 2014 model.This time around the tweaks are expected to be mainly cosmetic, which we have no qualms about considering the 12C can already hit 100kmh in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 329kmh. That means peak output from the car’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 should remain pegged at 460kW of power and 600Nm of torque.Instead of power gains this time, look for tweaks to the bumper designs, new headlights, new wheel patterns and some additional trim options for the interior. Some items borrowed from the P1, like the race-style digital gauge cluster, are also likely. A reveal of the facelifted 2014 McLaren 12C range could happen as early as September’s 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. While you wait for the reveal, read our driving impressions of the current car.www.motorauthority.com 

A new supercar is brewing, one with the performance and looks to rival a Bugatti Veyron. The project is taking place right here in Australia, and right now is in its very early stages.The new supercar, which hasn’t even received a name yet, is the brainchild of Australian entrepreneur Paul Halstead. The 67-year-old, who made his fortune in the IT business, has long dreamed of building his own car and came close to accomplishing it during the 1980s.Back then, Halstead was running a performance car dealership and attempted to build and sell Alfa Romeo Sprint coupes modified to fit a mid-mounted V-8. The car was called the Giocattolo and was extremely advanced for its day, coming complete with Kevlar body panels, Brembo brakes and suspension developed by former McLaren F1 engineer Barry Lock.Unfortunately, Halstead only managed to build 15 examples before he had to fold operations due to poor sales. Now, 30 years on since the Giocattolo, Halstead is working on a new mid-engined supercar.Halstead is also in charge of an automotive design and engineering firm, HAL, which among its numerous duties supplied De Tomaso with Ford V-8 engines and built a Pantera race car. More recently HAL built a Holden Monaro concept powered by a 7.0-litre V-8 sourced from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.It is this engine, the race-bred LS7, that will serve as the basis of Halstead’s new supercar, albeit with a twist: two of the engines, rolled over at 45 degrees, will be bolted together and used to power the wheels. Instead of merging their internals to form a single crankshaft, like in the aforementioned Veyron, which essentially features two W-8s on a common crank, Halstead explains that a “trick” transfer case will allow the two separate crankshafts of the LS7s to match up with a single six-speed sequential gearbox.An estimated peak output of 895 kilowatts will be derived from the 14.0 litres of swept capacity, which will then be channelled to the rear wheels via the sequential ‘box and a limited-slip differential. The mighty powerplant will be mounted to a lightweight carbon fibre tub and housed in a svelte body composed of more carbon fibre and Kevlar.Looking at the official drawings, it’s clear Halstead and his design team were influenced by the McLaren F1 as well as some modern Maseratis. The front, in particular, is reminiscent of a Maserati GranTurismo, while inside there is a central driver’s seat with a passenger seat to either side, just like in the iconic F1 supercar. Instead of doors, Halstead’s design calls for a jet fighter-style sliding canopy.As for production, Halstead says the project is simply a bit of fun and not a serious business venture. He plans to show the completed version, due in 2016, at the Detroit Autorama hot rod event where he hopes to win the prestigious Ridler Award. The final performance of the car and the level of interest, particularly from potential investors, will dictate whether a small run will enter production.Halstead is a great admirer of men like Horacio Pagani and Christian von Koenigsegg, who have achieved their dream of building world-class supercars, but concedes it’s a very difficult business. “I have been there with the 15 Giocattolos I built in the ‘80s and I really do understand just how difficult it is to become a Pagani,” Halstead explains. “That man is a true legend for what he has achieved.”www.motorauthority.com

Special-edition cars to mark anniversaries are nothing new, but for McLaren, having its own production car around to commemorate the occasion is. The brand borne from racing is capitalising on the opportunity, with the new McLaren 50 12C and McLaren 50 12C Spider, celebrating the brand's 50th anniversary.These special-edition models will be limited to a run of just 50 cars each for coupe and spider. Unique styling and specification elements by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) mark them apart from the normal versions.Upgrades for the McLaren 50 models include: a remodelled, CFD-optimised front bumper; new carbon fibre and Kevlar exterior elements; a black F1-inspired heritage badge; standard carbon ceramic brake discs; unique 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels that save 2kg total; and a full leather upgrade inside the cabin, with carbon fibre accents and floor mats. A special dedication plate numbers each of the limited-run cars.Three colours will be available for the McLaren 50 12C and 12C Spider: Carbon Black, Supernova Silver, and McLaren Orange.Each also gets its own monogrammed black and silver car cover, a limited-edition key in a carbon fibre presentation box, and a specially commissioned art print signed by McLaren Automotive's design director, Frank Stephenson.Global deliveries of the McLaren 50 12C should begin something after the official anniversary date of September 2. So far, only UK pricing has been announced, with the coupe priced from £196,000, and the spider from £215,500.www.motorauthority.com 

With more than 673kW, a top speed of 350km/h, and active aerodynamics, the McLaren P1 was, quite literally, built for speed and lap times. It appears the designers' goals may have been met, with rumours of a new record lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife.If the time proves to be the real deal, McLaren won't have simply shaved a few tenths off of the previous lap record, held by the Radical SR8 (a barely disguised, technically road-legal sports racer). It will have completely reset the world's frame of reference for what a road-legal supercar can do.The time? According to an image credited to Autohome.com.cn, and published by Jalopnik, the McLaren P1 lapped the 'Ring in just 6:33.26. That's about 15 seconds faster than the current record, and just 22 seconds off Stefan Bellof's record 6:11.13 run in a Porsche 956 race car during a qualifying session in 1983.www.motorauthority.com 

Honda is heading back to Formula One racing, and the automaker is doing so with former motorsports partner McLaren. This is big news for F1 fans, as it reminds many of a truly glorious era of Formula One racing.Interestingly, McLaren has a made a bit of news as of late on the street-legal side of the road. The MP4-12C is, by all accounts, a supremely super supercar and the new P1 should prove to be even wilder. Now comes talk that McLaren wants to build a car to take on the Porsche 911.Motor Trend seems to think this might mean that Honda and McLaren are cozying up even more tightly than it would appear.Honda is showing their desire to get back into the sports car world, both on and off the track. The NSX is (hopefully) just around the model-year corner, and teaming up with McLaren for F1 could bring about exciting bits of engine technology.Perhaps this merger could lead to a McLaren designed vehicle with Honda internals. If that thought doesn't tickle your enthusiast fancy, you need to go back and watch clips of Ayrton Senna using his loafers to heel-toe an Acura NSX around the track.www.motorauthority.com 

Luxury car buyers in Australia are paying too much, according to a British exotic brand that has just slashed a massive $100,000 from its local pricetags.

McLaren has sharpened the pricing pencil to slice massive amounts off the price of the 12C and 12C Spider, in what may be the biggest price cuts in car history.The hardtop 12C now carries an RRP of $398,000 (from $493,100), and the Spider drops to $441,780 (from $543,900), with the 19 per cent cut arriving exactly 12 months after the model’s local debut.Effective from today, McLaren says the new pricing brings transparency to the 12C’s segment, which it says is prone to premium-pricing policies, with vehicles being sold discretely beneath their advertised prices.The 12C’s nearest rival, Ferrari’s 458 Italia carries an RRP of $526,950 in hardtop guise, making the 12C somewhat of a value leader in the mid-engined V8 supercar echelon.The 460kW twin-turbo V8 12C and 12C Spider are the first road cars to be developed by the legendary British racing brand since the hallowed F1 of the 90s, and will be joined internationally by the 673kW hybrid P1 flagship by the end of the year.“McLaren (is) leading the way in the super luxury sports car segment by benchmarking its pricing against competitive international markets,” said Ian Gorsuch, Regional Director Asia Pacific at McLaren Automotive.Whilst subject to different tax structures, the new 12C and 12C Spider Australian prices are still over $150,000 greater than their US pricing, despite near parity between currencies.McLaren has sold a total of 30 12C models (to April 30) in Australia since it went on sale in May last year, with seven sold in the first four months of 2013.  But existing 12C owners won’t necessarily be short changed, with McLaren pledging to offer an unspecified ‘special trade-in allowance’ if they trade-up to a new McLaren in future.The new pricing applies to any new MP4-12C ordered from today, and includes all existing Australian stock.

A fortnight ago, we brought you news that McLaren was about to launch an online interactive experience centering on its new P1 supercar. Featuring the heading Designed By Air, the interactive experience has just gone live and is ready to be pricked and prodded by P1 fans as well as those with a general interest in supercar design and development. The new interactive experience offers a detailed insight as to how the P1 is born from raw metallic and carbon elements and then crafted by airflow. The journey evolves to unveil the car within the wind tunnel, highlighting the aerodynamic focus of the design. There is also a 3D model with information about the finely honed aerodynamic features, along with simulations of the P1’s aerodynamics working in various locations including urban, highway, alpine and race track environments. What separates the P1 from most other high-powered cars is its aerodynamics, which McLaren concedes is the key to the car’s performance. Leveraging decades of Formula One know-how, McLaren engineers looked at managing air flow in and around the P1’s bodywork and optimised the aerodynamics in order to reach the performance targets for the car. This had the added benefited of creating a highly unique and emotive shape. Designed by Air is the first of a two part series telling the extraordinary story behind the P1’s design. We’ll bring you an update as soon as the second part is launched. But enough time wasting, click here to access Designed By Air. http://designedbyair.com/ www.motorauthority.com