McLaren's new supercar will be called the MP4-12C.
The car, which as previously known by its codename, P11, will be unveiled this Wednesday, but company boss Ron Dennis revealed the name in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper.
See the McLaren MP4-12C spy picture gallery
Dennis also outlined McLaren's plans to build three new models over the next six years, eventually churning out 4000 cars a year.
“We’re building more than one car; we’re building a brand,” he said.
The McLaren MP4-12C name that echoes the company’s history in Formula One racing, according to Dennis.
Dennis also revealed some technical details of the car, stressing that it was a supercar that could be used everyday. To this end, it has self-adjusting suspension that varies the damper settings according to conditions. Power comes from a V8 engine, controlled via a seven-speed gearbox.
Inside, the sat-nav system has a wi-fi connection, allowing owners to download maps and music to the car’s onboard computer, while a floating centre console similar to the one found in some Volvos is reported to give the interior a futuristic feel.
The McLaren MP4-12C will cost £150,000 and McLaren hopes to sell 1000 in the first year. The mooted on-sale date is currently at some point in 2011.
It will be followed by two more as yet unnamed sports cars bearing the McLaren badge by 2015.
The first will be an entry-level model to rival the standard Porsche 911, which costs from £60,000; the second, a model to fill the gap left by the discontinued Carrera GT, which cost £330,000 in 2004.
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Re: McLaren MP4-12C supercar named
mclaren mp4-12c - looks like a honda nsx. hardly exciting. i have decided that any car that does above 85mph is illegal , www.KOOOLcr.com
Re: McLaren MP4-12C supercar named
The model name will be irelevant, as it will be one of those cases where it is enough to say you own a McLaren. Porsche used to be like that but now you have to worry that people think you might have a Cayenne or Panamera.
The opposite case is where you don't refer to the manufacturer at all. How many MX5 owners say they have a Mazda MX5?
Re: McLaren MP4-12C supercar named
Must admit to being a pub bore on this.... sorry. The name mirrors the naming system of the McLaren Formula 1 cars (as previously noted above). Before Ron Dennis became involved with McLaren in the early 80's he was running a successful Formula 2 organisation called Project 4. When the Ron Dennis regime 'took over' McLaren the cars numbering system was changed to run sequentially from MP4-1 onwards. MP4 being McLaren Project 4.
The MP4-12 was the 97 car, the first West car, and the MP4 13 won Hakkinen's first title. This year's car is the MP4-24.
What I dont understand is the numbering of this road car as MP4-12C. Does that mean work on this particular road car/project first began in 1997? I can't see how it makes sense otherwise?