Auto journalist and tester extraordinaire Chris Harris is really the only player who can come close to the level of access the UK’s Top Gear folks receive. Well, he out does himself once again with this extended video where he gets up close and personal with the unreal $1.2-million McLaren. Check out Harris’ once in a lifetime experience as he heads to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi to get behind the wheel of this 950 HP, turbocharged V8 hybrid-electric British built McLaren P1. Of course no Chris Harris video would be complete without him sliding it around the racetrack as he is famous for doing in all his tests.
The P1 features a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 gasoline engine similar to the engine found in the MP4-12C, but it’s tuned to deliver 727 HP and 531 lb ft at 7500 rpm. Combined with an in-house developed electric motor, which produces 176 HP and 192 lb ft, the P1 will have a total power and torque output of 903 HP and 722 lb ft.
We thought it was time to take a closer look at one of the coolest supercars available today. We are talking about the McLaren MP4-12C, the amazing sports car designed and manufactured by the UK’s McLaren Automotive. It is the first production car wholly designed and built by McLaren since the McLaren F1. With a sticker price in the $250,000 CAD range the MP4-12C is priced to compete with the Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari 458. Although the price is elitist to say the least, there are recent reports that 55 of the MP4-12C’s have been sold this year alone in Canada. Who says there’s a recession still?
The MP4-12C features a carbon fibre composite chassis, and is powered by a mid-mounted McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V8, twin-turbo engine developing approximately 592 HP and 443 lb ft of torque. According to McLaren, the MP4-12C can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 8.9 seconds, however if optional Corsa tires are used acceleration times are further improved on with 0 to 62 mph completed in 3.1 seconds. The car has a top speed of 333 km/h (207 mph) and can brake from 200 km/h (124 mph) to a complete stop in under 5 seconds. Braking from 100 km/h (62 mph) to zero can be done in under 30 metres (98 ft). Power is transmitted to the wheels through a 7-speed Seamless Shift dual-clutch gearbox.
This car and its performance stats are absolutely incredible and securely puts it in the ultimate supercar class. The MP4-12C also leverages its Formula 1 heritage by using F1 racing technologies such as “brake steer”, where the inside rear wheel is braked during fast cornering to reduce understeer.
And if this wasn’t enough, for those drivers who just won’t settle unless they have an open car there is also the incredible McLaren 12C Spider. It has all of the fun and performance of the closed model but with a unique retractable hard top (RHT) folding roof system.
To get a sense of the visceral experience of this super machine you need to watch the official launch video.
For more information on how you can get behind the wheel of this ultimate “Widowmaker” check out the official site of Woodbridge, Ontario based Toronto McLaren.
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