McLaren MP4-12C: the most impressive stat blog on Evo Community by Stephen Dobie

MCLAREN MP4-12C: THE MOST IMPRESSIVE STAT

March 18, 2010 8:34 PM | Posted By: Stephen Dobie
Rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by 1 member | 7 Comments | 8918 Views
Related Categories: Random car stuff

I’ve got to admit, when I first clapped eyes on the McLaren MP4-12C last year, I felt pangs of disappointment.

Post-Ferrari 458 Italia, it lacked drama, with too many hints of Farbio GTS and Lotus Evora in its styling. Both good cars, but several rungs down from the McLaren on the performance coupe ladder.

Alas, I’m now a bit in love with the MP4. The looks I can still largely give or take, but I now understand what it’s about: technology and engineering prowess. There’s something about a car that’s had love and obsessive attention pored over its finer details that really inspires me, and one McLaren stat sticks out above all others for me: 2.4 grams.

Namely, the 2.4 grams saved by engraving the company logo on parts of the car rather than embossing it. Nerdy, yes; geeky, definitely. But such OTT attention to detail has to be admired, even if getting your change from a pint of milk in copper money rather than silver instantly cancels it out.

Anyone else inexplicably amused by random car facts? Share them below…

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COMMENTS

sandokan at 10:16 AM June 4, 2010

I think this is an example of the ethos in which the car was built, i.e. that attention to detail multiplied thousands of times, not that the particular 2.4 grams per se will make a difference... I to love the fantastic detailing (oh those pedals and exhaust...) but the car does lack some drama in the styling department, a bit of a lost opoortunity there, 5 star handling or not.

vvvrally at 3:36 AM March 31, 2010

Oh pleeaase...spare us! Even if we were to entertain that 2.4 grams was important to the designers for a toffee-nosed second, we would realise that they would've made the 'engravings' (nee stampings) larger - fact is with the mountains of torque the MP4 serves up, 2.4 grams or 25kg for that matter, would be for all (but the most race focused) intents, negligible.

zagrebzagreb at 11:20 PM March 25, 2010

As the introduction of the MP4-12C is evidently turning into a McLaren vs Ferrari free-for-all, I would like to add my favorite bit of Ferrari trivia... Ferrari uses timing belts - instead of long-lived and reliable timing chains or gears - simply because it means Ferrari owners must bring their cars every few years or 36,000 miles to dealers and have the belts changed. This excellent design feature allows Ferrari shops to stay busy and keeps mecahnics well-versed on engine extraction techniques. It also means their tools stay free of dust and provides valuable off-road time for the cars. Lastly - and rather brilliantly - it helps to reduce vehicle weight, as the owners' wallets are invariably much lighter when they climb back into their cars and leave the dealer. Yeah, Ferrari!

azfelix at 6:58 PM March 25, 2010

A good BM or even simple expectoration of phlegm before departure would be as effective.

nomoregti at 5:38 PM March 22, 2010

The car is TFT-led??? No you wouldn't catch ferrari doing that, with good reason. I can think of a thousand other things a supercar/supercar company should be led by (not the least of which is the weight saving achieved from engraving).... I like TFTs but I like steering feel more.

bad_roo at 5:08 PM March 19, 2010

Ron Dennis was only mentioning in the press presentation how McLaren was a TFT-led company and the MP4-12C's basic design had hinged around the orientation of its multimedia screen. You wouldn't catch Ferrari being this innovative.

Simba at 9:19 PM March 18, 2010

I blogged about this not too long ago! (http://bit.ly/cNPhYX). I love reeling off trivia about the MP4-12C and the McLaren automotive website is full of interesting titbits! My favourite fact is how the multimedia screen is in portrait form rather than landscape because this allowed a thin centre console and in turn, placement of the seats closer together to allow the driver to sit closer to the car's centre-line. This gives rise a seating layout that mimics single-seat racing cars [or indeed the F1]. Brilliant car!

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