McLaren's Ron Dennis On MP4-12C: "We’re going to be best in class"

I'll say it again, lose that additional blade in the air intake, bring the center of the front bumper all the way down to the bumper and you have a huge winner.

— GreenPlease (View Profile)

Posted on 10/23/2009 6:55:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Now this... this car pawns the LFL

MP4 12C vs LF-L
600hp vs 560hp
443ftlbs vs 354ftlbs
2866lbs vs 3263lbs
$250,000 vs $375,000
7 speed vs 6 speed
Dual Clutch vs Single Clutch
2 turbo's vs no forced induction
3.8L vs 4.8L
8500rpm vs 9000rpm
mid engine vs front engine

So aside from 500rpm this Mclaren has this Lexus beat in every measurable regard I see possible. Also, it might be interesting to note that "the whole Carbon Monocell weighs in at only 176 lbs, second, it's done in one piece and only takes four hours to build, which is on par with or faster than steel frames take"

— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 10/23/2009 8:56:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

Ron Dennis knows how to have a good time with pit lane babes, ask Max Mosley.

— MSP6 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/23/2009 11:02:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

So far the best one is 458, we'll see.

— dlin (View Profile)

Posted on 10/23/2009 11:23:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

MP4-12C seems mighty impressive and looks like will be a benchmark. But it also has to be as Mclaren only had to work for one model. Ferrari, Lambo, Lexus and Audi make more models so there focus is divided.

and joe-limon, LFA is more of a competitor to 599GTB, LP640, DBS...etc and not MP4-12C and 458 Italia.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 10/24/2009 9:32:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Joe_Limon

You know F430 is entry level Ferrari but still outperforms the most expensive Ferrari currently on sale, the 612 Scaglietti also F430 Scuderia is cheaper than 599 but outperforms it.

Reason is there is difference in models, the difference is less but there is market for it so manufacturers make models to meet the demand. 599GTB is more comfortable, luxurious and powerful than 430 scuderia. Same case with LFA, it will be great on track (Toyota seems like they tried their best to find maximum compromise) but at the same time will be luxurious, comfortable, lots of features and options that you won't find in strictly performance oriented and aerodynamic led models like 12C and 458 Italia.

I can't say more becuase there aren't enough articles and i haven't driven any yet, but so far it's almost 100% that LFA is more like 599 and DBS than 458 and 12C. If you still don't believe then explain why 612 cost more than F430 despite slower at everything and same case with 599 vs scuderia. Even the 458 italia is going to be cheaper than 599 but will outperform it, explain that? Why people should buy 458 and not 599.

Also don't forget LFA will be limited to 500 units only and will extremely customizable unlike Mclaren and Ferrari. Ron Dennis in the interview said, they will produce 1000 12Cs in it's first production year.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 10/24/2009 8:01:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

none of the posters here can take it like a man cus none of the posters here act like a man. They act like european brain children. Washed in the head by the Porsches Mercedes McLarens BMWS and Ferrari's. Shame it is when they realize that a car like the LFA is able to compete with them. See the LFA isn't a wannabee supercar, they aren't some company that thinks they have a custom interior with carbon fiber they can charge 1million bucks. 3.7 seconds to 62mph? I think it's a lot faster than what Lexus estimates it at. Automakers estimates are always slower than the actual real life performance. At least they didn't charge 1.1 million for an all carbon fiber supercar with a mercedes engine. Like Pagani. They came up with their own engine, their own carbon fiber, their own chassis. their own interior, their own everything.

— freshseth83 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 3:06:32 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

lf-a: 375000
mp4: 250000
people arguing about cars they can't afford: priceless

and freshseth: you're really comparing the r&d and production capacities of pagani and toyota? pls, do yourself a favor and stop posting comments here.

— 100octane (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 5:52:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lexus is not a Crap but definetely is not better than Mclaren if you compare all their resources agains the resources of Mclaren, ...Mclaren is by far superior to Lexus. Starting with the engine which is smaller with more torque and power and then the light weight of th car...and so on...and again, all that without the resourses of Of Toyota...please...think twice before to speak....Lexus is great but not the "ONE"...I would like to see what Mclaren could do if they have the Toyota's resources....

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 1:08:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Yonder
What Toyota could do if they only had to make one model. You know Mclaren was only developing one model for the last few years.

If there is difference in resources, there is also difference in number of models produced between the 2 companies.

And Koenigsegg's 4.7 Supercharged V8 produces 800+ BHP. So they have got better engine than Mclaren and Koenigsegg is surely not as wealthy and big company as Mclaren.

Understand the different models and don't just blindly hate.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 6:09:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

One, this car is gonna be a serious threat. Two, why does the LFA keep coming out all of your mouths. The LFA is a more of a Ferrari 599 competitor, a front engine GT supercar, not a mid-eingine lightweight hyper car. I see even in this topic the LFA has your tongues wagging. How about trying to focus on whether the TT V8 in this Mclaren was devloped by Mclaren themselves, or is a Mercedes unit developed by Mahle. Or how about the fact that Mclaren is not releasing who did the 7 speed Dual Clutch tranny for this car. And that there is no real working model on for this car These are questions I would like to ask, not whether the LFA can cure cancer or bring about world peace, in ever single car topic.

— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 1:29:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Joe, Autocar, speculates thats the Engine is sourced from Mercedes and developed by Mahle, and Mclaren is mum on where the Dual Clutch tranny came from...if it's all them, then they would have said it, now wouldn't they? You are thinking about the LFA, that is what drove up costs

— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 3:04:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2