RE: Pic Of The Week: McLaren MP4-12C

[chunkymonkey71]

otolith said:

Would "Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust" be preferable?

Maybe a British metereological phenomenon would be appropriate - Maserati Ghibli, Pagani Zonda, Ford Lightning, McLaren A Bit Overcast? McLaren Spitting A Bit? McLaren That Fine Rain That Soaks You Through?

Letters and numbers are fine, they fit the corporate image.

Yes! Long Live the McLaren Hammerhead Eagle iThrust!!!

[otolith]

TVRWannabee said:

Like the ideas but maybe McLaren 'Ping On Ferrari's Parade' might be a better one?

[E21_Ross]

SWoll said:

doublelink said:

I don't know why there is so much negativity surrounding this car overtime it appears on your pages? It is British, Beautiful and Beats the 458 Italia in to the middle of next week. For goodness sake fellas, (and ladies, obviously), take a little pride for a job well done and get behind the wheel and the vision, enterprise and engineering excellence that made this car ours! When did any of you ever hear an Italian criticise a Ferrari or a Lambo? Never! Well done Ron & his team, investors et al.

1) British - Yes
2) Beautiful - Subjective
3) Beats the 458 Italia - In what way? TG test track?
4) I think we all appreciate the quality of the engineering etc. but are a little concerned that all of the feedback from the motoring press seems to agree on a lack of "emotion". Surely a key component for a supercar?
5) I think it is good that we are willing to admit to the negatives of the MP4 as in doing so it should hopefully make it an even better machine.

3 - acceleration, ride comfort, top speed, handling, braking, economy, practicality (having bigger boot), nicer interior to name a few key points.

[SWoll]

E21_Ross said:

3 - acceleration, ride comfort, top speed, handling, braking, economy, practicality (having bigger boot), nicer interior to name a few key points.

From what I have read there appear to be a few question marks hanging over the ride comfort (great at 10/10ths and around town but not so good at normal fast road speeds), handling (bags of grip yes, adjustability and steering response?), braking (wooden pedal feel and difficult to modulate).

Dont get me wrong, I love the MP4 and hope they can sort these issues and trump the 458 in all areas but at the moment I think that stating it "Beats the 458 italia into the middle of next week" is rather an overstatement.

Edited by SWoll on Friday 22 July 14:35

[Caractacus]

SWoll said:

1) British - Yes
2) Beautiful - Subjective
3) Beats the 458 Italia - In what way? TG test track?
4) I think we all appreciate the quality of the engineering etc. but are a little concerned that all of the feedback from the motoring press seems to agree on a lack of "emotion". Surely a key component for a supercar?
5) I think it is good that we are willing to admit to the negatives of the MP4 as in doing so it should hopefully make it an even better machine.

2/ Indeed it is subjective, but I'd rather not have a Ferrari as a massive % of the general public think "look at that w@nker in his Ferrari"
3/ In what way? All the ways folk generally regard super cars. 0-60, top speed, cornering ability, acceleration through the gears, ride comfort, braking, economy (not usually uttered in the same breath as super cars or sports cars though), practicality, better/less garish interior, electronic wizardry, etc, etc.
4/ lack of 'emotion? FFS, that's subjective also. I'm biased, I admit, but Mclaren gives me more positive emotion than any other super car.
5/ Fair point. If this makes it an even better car then the 458 may as well retire now, as opposed to next month.

[P9UNK]

NotNormal said:

chunkymonkey71 said:

I know its just a wee simple thing, but wouldn't giving it a better name; you know, something that doesn't sound so much like a washing machine give it a bit more character and soul?

Just a teeny bit?

Because the numbers 458 or 599 have character and soul do they..............



IMO for that reason this whole "name sounds boring" is just irrelevant waffle

well said NotNormal...






Great pic of the week though, love the capture of the heat haze out back.

[Riggers]

toppstuff said:

Chris-R said:

I saw a similar criticism in the latest Evo - was it Harry M?

Yes, indeed, but because of EVO's general all-round awesomeness in mechanical engineering and their not inconsiderable clout, they made Mclaren change the car.


"Darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of EVO moved upon the face of the waters.

And EVO Harry said, Let there be noise and lighter gearchange paddles.

And there was noise and lighter gearchange paddles.

And EVO Harry saw the noise, that it was good: and divided the noise from the quiet"

Pure Genius. More than deserves a

[M666 EVO]

chunkymonkey71 said:

NotNormal said:

Because the numbers 458 or 599 have character and soul do they..............



IMO for that reason this whole "name sounds boring" is just irrelevant waffle

Great pic of the week though, love the capture of the heat haze out back.

Frankly, you are not normal.

Who calls it the MP4-12C anyway? Isn't it known as simply 'The New McLaren'?

[Auburn852]

Nice heat haze off the engine bay.

But where's the smoke pouring off the rear tyres? If this British car can do this, why can't Ron's?

[Hugo a Gogo]

wiki said:

The name of the new McLaren sports car is MP4-12C. 'MP4' has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. Since 1997, "MP4" has stood for McLaren Project 4 (from 1981 to 1996, when McLaren's title sponsor was Marlboro, the "M" stood for this), resulting from the merger of Ron Dennis' Project 4 organisation with McLaren. The '12' refers to McLaren's internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car's development. The 'C' refers to Carbon, highlighting the unique application of carbon fibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars. The elements of this name represent everything that the McLaren MP4-12C stands for..

what a load of toss

so the m stands for McLaren? the McLaren McLaren Projects 4 dash 12 Carbon?

I think it should called the "GSV What Are The Civilian Applications?"

[Auburn852]

Sssshhhh... Don't tell anyone, but a NOTW journalist told me he'd hacked into Ron's voicemail and found out what it really stands for:

MP4-12C: "Might Pass For 12 Cylinder".

[E21_Ross]

Hugo a Gogo said:

wiki said:

The name of the new McLaren sports car is MP4-12C. 'MP4' has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. Since 1997, "MP4" has stood for McLaren Project 4 (from 1981 to 1996, when McLaren's title sponsor was Marlboro, the "M" stood for this), resulting from the merger of Ron Dennis' Project 4 organisation with McLaren. The '12' refers to McLaren's internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car's development. The 'C' refers to Carbon, highlighting the unique application of carbon fibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars. The elements of this name represent everything that the McLaren MP4-12C stands for..

what a load of toss

so the m stands for McLaren? the McLaren McLaren Projects 4 dash 12 Carbon?

I think it should called the "GSV What Are The Civilian Applications?"

although the name isn't great, but come on, something like a noble M600 doesn't get any slack. how are M600, 458, 612, 430, DB9 etc any better?

the 12, i believe, represents Mclarens performance rating for the car (i think either 15 or 20 would be highest.

so please do explain why you think something like M600 or 458 is a much better name for a car. who gives a flying fk about the name of a car anyway!? i'd personally rather care about how it goes to be honest. i'd rather a great car called fking fairy dust rather than a st heap called something exotic to be honest.

people are just finding reasons to slate this car when it's nothing short of superb. so it isn't what some people were expecting, it doesn't stop it being absolutely fantastic.

[Warwick67]

I dont know what it is I just cant get excited about this car, as fabulous as it is on paper it just doesn't move my soul. I don think its a beautiful car like say a Lambourghini Miura, or, modern, a Ferrari 458. I dont have the funds to ever have to make the choice so it doesn't really matter what I think. Its British and I wish it every success, I'm just glad there are people out there prepared to build a car like this and people prepared to buy it...

[saxon]

I too don't understand why the McLaren has had such a muted reception from the press either - I mean since the demise of TVR we've frankly lacked a truly British marque to sock it to the Germans and Italians. So after all this time out comes McLaren with a car that is faster, more omfortable, better handling, more spacioous and better built than the equivalent Ferrari or Porker and people are knocking it.

Frankly I think it's absolutely gorgeous and I would have one over any Ferrari or Porsche ever made. The 458 looks overstyled and fiddly compared to the purity of line of the McLaren - just looks at those stupid holes by the headlights on the Fezza? Just look at the aero-brake on the McLaren - I mean what could be cooler than that. What were Fezza thinking of with the 458 - it looks like something has fallen offnear the headlights! I also find the interiors of all Ferraris since the 355 and 456 bitty, plasticky and lacking in any cohesive design and finesse. About the only cars that do seriously compete with the McLaren in looks are in fact the Lambo's which everyone must acknowledge have a raw aggression to their shape that is aesthetically very impressive.

We should be waving union jacks for McLaren right now - they are the only genuinely British challenger for the best supercar in the world title ad they have brought state of the art design materials and technology on to the public road.

I'd have one in a heartbeat...

Saxon

[Ipelm]

Went to the Silverstone Classic today, saw the competition version of the Ferrari Dino, the 206 SP; used I think for the European Hillclimb. They may even have called it 'mountain championship' or something simillar back then. Targa and Nurburgring I think, sorry to be so hazy on detail.

Fundamentally different from the road car, but I think absolutely beautiful, a delight viewed from any angle with the most wonderful combination of curves and sharp lines. In different lights there is always some new subtlety to see, stunning. The very best example of art and desireability in 'modern' car design. Something that this Mclaren has nothing of.

Edited by Ipelm on Friday 22 July 22:59

[Mini1275]

saxon said:

I too don't understand why the McLaren has had such a muted reception from the press either - I mean since the demise of TVR we've frankly lacked a truly British marque to sock it to the Germans and Italians. So after all this time out comes McLaren with a car that is faster, more omfortable, better handling, more spacioous and better built than the equivalent Ferrari or Porker and people are knocking it.

Frankly I think it's absolutely gorgeous and I would have one over any Ferrari or Porsche ever made. The 458 looks overstyled and fiddly compared to the purity of line of the McLaren - just looks at those stupid holes by the headlights on the Fezza? Just look at the aero-brake on the McLaren - I mean what could be cooler than that. What were Fezza thinking of with the 458 - it looks like something has fallen offnear the headlights! I also find the interiors of all Ferraris since the 355 and 456 bitty, plasticky and lacking in any cohesive design and finesse. About the only cars that do seriously compete with the McLaren in looks are in fact the Lambo's which everyone must acknowledge have a raw aggression to their shape that is aesthetically very impressive.

We should be waving union jacks for McLaren right now - they are the only genuinely British challenger for the best supercar in the world title ad they have brought state of the art design materials and technology on to the public road.

I'd have one in a heartbeat...

Saxon

I can't really add anything better that that, it sums it up quite nicely.

If this is McLaren's base model, what are the faster, higher-end models going to be like?!.

I for one can't wait to see what McLaren bring out in the next few years.

[E21_Ross]

Mini1275 said:

saxon said:

I too don't understand why the McLaren has had such a muted reception from the press either - I mean since the demise of TVR we've frankly lacked a truly British marque to sock it to the Germans and Italians. So after all this time out comes McLaren with a car that is faster, more omfortable, better handling, more spacioous and better built than the equivalent Ferrari or Porker and people are knocking it.

Frankly I think it's absolutely gorgeous and I would have one over any Ferrari or Porsche ever made. The 458 looks overstyled and fiddly compared to the purity of line of the McLaren - just looks at those stupid holes by the headlights on the Fezza? Just look at the aero-brake on the McLaren - I mean what could be cooler than that. What were Fezza thinking of with the 458 - it looks like something has fallen offnear the headlights! I also find the interiors of all Ferraris since the 355 and 456 bitty, plasticky and lacking in any cohesive design and finesse. About the only cars that do seriously compete with the McLaren in looks are in fact the Lambo's which everyone must acknowledge have a raw aggression to their shape that is aesthetically very impressive.

We should be waving union jacks for McLaren right now - they are the only genuinely British challenger for the best supercar in the world title ad they have brought state of the art design materials and technology on to the public road.

I'd have one in a heartbeat...

Saxon

I can't really add anything better that that, it sums it up quite nicely.

If this is McLaren's base model, what are the faster, higher-end models going to be like?!.

I for one can't wait to see what McLaren bring out in the next few years.

exactly. i for one am glad to see a high end sports car with styling which isn't all "look at me", it's a refreshing change. the interior is simply sublime, and how a modern interior should be. they've made it old-school in the sense that there are not 1 million buttons, buttons everywhere on the steering wheel. there is no excess. yet with the centre console they've still managed to sneak in all the latest creature comforts. best of both worlds IMO.

this won't be their base model, they will be releasing a lower end model in the 911 price range (probably 70-80k mark, maybe less) but they're also bringing out a 12C "RS" version which should be stonkingly good, if they can give it a tad more power and make it even lighter god knows what it could do!!

aren't there plans for 4-5 cars?? either way, i can't see how their current car can be seen as a failure. for everything they wanted to do with the car, they've done, and done it better than the competition IMO.

so it's styling isn't to everyones taste, nothing ever is. i like the 458 a lot, but i can't help but feeling it's a bit "try hard". it's as if you want everyone to look at you when you're driving. the mclaren still looks smart (certainly more than most things on the road), but it just goes about its business without shouting about it too much.

maybe that's why i also prefer german super saloons

[dandarez]

Chris-R said:

chunkymonkey71 said:

I know its just a wee simple thing, but wouldn't giving it a better name; you know, something that doesn't sound so much like a washing machine give it a bit more character and soul?

Just a teeny bit?

I saw a similar criticism in the latest Evo - was it Harry M?

Perhaps calling it the MP4 12C Brittannia would help...

(And how does the 911 struggle on?)

If they did add Brittannia I think the PH patriotic spelling nazis would be on the case!

[Hugo a Gogo]

E21_Ross said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

wiki said:

The name of the new McLaren sports car is MP4-12C. 'MP4' has been the chassis designation for all McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. Since 1997, "MP4" has stood for McLaren Project 4 (from 1981 to 1996, when McLaren's title sponsor was Marlboro, the "M" stood for this), resulting from the merger of Ron Dennis' Project 4 organisation with McLaren. The '12' refers to McLaren's internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car's development. The 'C' refers to Carbon, highlighting the unique application of carbon fibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars. The elements of this name represent everything that the McLaren MP4-12C stands for..

what a load of toss

so the m stands for McLaren? the McLaren McLaren Projects 4 dash 12 Carbon?

I think it should called the "GSV What Are The Civilian Applications?"

although the name isn't great, but come on, something like a noble M600 doesn't get any slack. how are M600, 458, 612, 430, DB9 etc any better?

the 12, i believe, represents Mclarens performance rating for the car (i think either 15 or 20 would be highest.

so please do explain why you think something like M600 or 458 is a much better name for a car. who gives a flying fk about the name of a car anyway!? i'd personally rather care about how it goes to be honest. i'd rather a great car called fking fairy dust rather than a st heap called something exotic to be honest.

people are just finding reasons to slate this car when it's nothing short of superb. so it isn't what some people were expecting, it doesn't stop it being absolutely fantastic.

doubtless it's a great car, but the name is still rubbish

all those others you mention have one thing in common, they're short - 3 syllables (ok, m600 is 4, also not the best name)

are they going to make more models, all called MP4? MP4-13C next?

[E21_Ross]

Hugo a Gogo said:

doubtless it's a great car, but the name is still rubbish

all those others you mention have one thing in common, they're short - 3 syllables (ok, m600 is 4, also not the best name)

are they going to make more models, all called MP4? MP4-13C next?

it's a name of a car ffs, do you really give a fk? what about a BMW 330ci, that's 5 syllables, does that make it a st name too? what about porsche 911 GT3 RS, that's a whopping 9...christ, that's a horrendously bad name then i guess?! how dare porsche give their car such a stupidly long name, who cares what it's like to drive add another 4 to that if you include 997.

yes, they're going to make more models but i have no idea on the naming. they will be making a stripped out (effectively RS/scuderia type of thing) version of the current car, a base 911 model, and a very expensive hypercar with circa 800bhp over the next few years.

i wonder though, when they do get released, people will comment more on how it drives, or more about the names of them. most car names sound st, i personally wouldn't give a toss if it drove nicely, but that's just me, i care more about how good things are rather than the names of them tbh.