McLaren MP4-12C set for our shores

Production of McLaren's MP4-12C is due to begin late this year. New Zealand customers will have to part with at least $264,000 for the new model. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand is one of four countries McLaren Automotive will use to test its new supercar, the MP4-12C, the first car in the world with a one-piece carbon-fibre structure.

The British carmaker says it will announce official performance figures for the mid-engined 12C around mid-year, after further testing in "New Zealand, Arizona, Spain, and at Germany's Nurburgring circuit".

It is not known yet what tests McLaren has in store for the car in New Zealand, although it has been said its appearance will be just as much a tribute to the man who founded the McLaren badge, New Zealand Formula One and CanAm racer Bruce McLaren.

Company chief Ron Dennis has pledged the 12C will be the fastest car money can buy, backed by the highest build quality and one of the most complete aftersales service packages.

The company is lining up 35 dedicated retail outlets globally, one of which will be in Australia. The outlets have been pared down from more than 500 applications and will be announced around June. The MP4-12C will be sold in 19 countries.

Production begins at the McLaren Technology Centre, in Woking, near London, late this year.

The car has a target price of between £125,000 and £175,000 ($264,000-$370,000).

First deliveries will begin to European customers in the first half of 2011. The North American market is next on the distribution list and, like Europe, is likely to pick up 30 to 40 per cent of production. It will be followed by South Africa and the Middle East. The Asia Pacific (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand) will be last in line.

McLaren wants to sell a "range of around 4000 high-performance sportscars" by 2015, or around 4 per cent of the global market.

The company has admitted the range includes two further models, said to be a Porsche 911 rival and a replacement for the McLaren F1, the world's fastest naturally aspirated car made between 1992 and 1998.

"We intend to have a diverse product range but they will all have two seats," said Dennis, who left Formula One to head 12C development.

"This is our heritage - we are sportscar-makers and the engine will be in the back of all our cars."

McLaren says the V8-powered 12C will offer class-leading interior space, comfort and practicality, making it "well packaged, fully equipped and a comfortable place to be on a drive from London to Monte Carlo, New York to Miami or Sydney to Perth".

The twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre engine has been developed by British go-fast specialist Ricardo and drives the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

McLaren claims the engine delivers 442kW/600Nm and propels the 1300kg two-seater from zero to 200km/h in under 10 seconds and on to a top speed beyond 325km/h. McLaren says it will reveal the car's zero to 100km/h sprint time in a few months.

The 12C has a 2670mm wheelbase and is 4507mm long, 1908mm wide and 1199mm high. Front/rear weight distribution is 43/57. McLaren says the once-piece chassis (it weighs 80kg) moulding is more cost-effective than the practice of bonding several components together but offers the many advantages of carbon composite, such as light weight, strength and torsional rigidity.

Among the many electronic performance aids on the 12C is Brake Steer. It brakes the inside rear wheel for better cornering control. Other top-end carmakers use a similar system.