High interest in McLaren supercar

McLaren MP-12C

McLaren has had more than 2700 firm expressions of interests from people interested in buying its new MP-12C.

The initial expressions of interests, if converted into sales, are enough to account for at least two years of MP4-12C production.

The MP4-12C was first seen in public at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month and it proved to be a hit with showgoers, as well as prospective customers.

The MP4 is now entering its final stages of development – having completed more than one million test miles on five continents – and building work is underway at the McLaren Production Centre where the car will be built from early 2011, although initial production will commence at the McLaren Technology Centre later this year.

The MP4 has been given a target price of less than £175,000, and company boss Ron Dennis has pledged that buyers will not only get the fastest car money can buy, but also the highest build quality and highest level of dealer and aftersales support from any car manufacturer.

The MP4’s Ricardo-developed twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre 90-degree V8 engine will rev to 8500rpm, with its maximum 592bhp output arriving at 7000rpm. The peak 442lb ft of torque is available from 3000rpm, although 80 per cent is available between 2000-6500rpm.

McLaren says the car will travel from 0-124mph in less than ten seconds, and stop from 124mph in less than five seconds. It will stop from 100mph in 30 meters – or seven car lengths.

McLaren will follow up the MP4-12C with an all-new F1 in 2012, as well as a smaller, entry-level supercar. Autocar