McLaren Automotive, commonly referred to as McLaren, is a British automotive manufacturer of high performance vehicles.
McLaren Automotive is currently developing a sports car, the MP4-12C, as a successor to the McLaren F1. Rumours were confirmed when Britain##Q##s CAR Magazine and icars.sg published the spy shots of the car (then known as P11).
The rear wheel drive MP4-12C will be powered by a mid-mounted bespoke McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V12 twin-turbo engine and will have a revolutionary “Carbon MonoCell” carbon fibre chassis.
The McLaren MP4-12C also features F1-inspired technology like brake steer, which brakes the inside rear wheel during fast cornering to reduce understeer, and a seven speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG) with a technology called Pre-Cog.
Pre-Cog is the name given to a system whereby the driver can half-pull the paddle shifter behind the steering wheel to get the transmission ready for an upshift, then instantaneous gear change once the paddle is fully pulled.
This short film features appearances from Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, the 2008 and 2009 FIA Formula 1 Drivers##Q## World Champions.
Both have enjoyed testing prototype 12Cs and continue to feed back their thoughts on the car##Q##s development.
The video also captures visitors##Q## reactions to the 12C at its debut events. Brand new footage reveals McLaren Automotive##Q##s Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin taking the car winter testing at Dunsfold Aerodrome — also known as the BBC Top Gear test track — as he assesses ESP calibration on Winter settings as part of the 12C##Q##s variable Proactive Chassis Control system.
To mark the occasion they have released video of Formula 1 world champions, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button behind the wheel of two pre-production test prototypes at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, Southern England.
