F1 mule, yes. But MP4-12C also???

[LuckyP]

Not normally one to miss a trick, just imagine my surprise when I scanned the Autocar insert on the making of the MP4-12C and found out that again, a GTR was used as a test mule for powertrain and chassis options....

....black one, of course!!!

Is this old news? Have I committed a pearoast faux pas??

Nice!!!

[deadscoob]

Are you sure Autocar aren't getting confused with the F1?

[LuckyP]

Nope. It's there with the other test mules.

Eric and Ernie (or whatever they were called), were crushed - way back.

I wonder what they called the new one?? In fact - might have been three.

[Pb3]

I was talking to a guy at Stoneleigh who told me the same thing... I said yer the F1, he said yes and the new one. Can't remember who he was now.

[Mjpmark]

From what i was told the chassis was great as it was a close resemblance of projected size. was very very early in the testing stage but still impressive for the old CV.

"McLaren called its very earliest prototype MP4-12Cs, built at the beginning of 2008, ‘MVs’, short for ‘mule vehicles’. There were three of them: two for very early powertrain work, the other for the earliest proving of McLaren’s Proactive interlinked hydraulic roll-control suspension."

“Our suspension car was photographed a few times,” explains Mark, pointing to the black Ultima-based chassis at the far end of the room. “We needed a car of roughly the right size and weight to experiment with this active suspension set-up, and the Ultima was perfect.” Must have delivered a frisson of amusement, too, throwing journalists and spy photographers so far off the scent with a mule car as left-field as Ultima"

[JoelRP]

I saw that too. Will Ultima's be used as test mules for every new mclaren?

[02PRUV]

Working pics would be great

[LuckyP]

Nice one Factory!!

I wonder if McLaren, at any stage said, "darn it. It ain't gonna be as good as this here Ultima. We might as well pack up and go home!!"

He-he!

[JoelRP]

Apparently, the owner of a mclaren dealership sent an mp4 to dunsfold and set an (unofficial) time of just over 1m 14. Not relevant or anything, just thought I'd tell you.

[LMRACER]

Whilst talking to a mate of mine that works at Mclaren, he said they used the black car very early on and then switched over to a Ferrari 430 mule.
These cars are ONLY used for drivetrain testing , no driving dynamic is important

[F.C.]

LMRACER said:

Whilst talking to a mate of mine that works at Mclaren, he said they used the black car very early on and then switched over to a Ferrari 430 mule.
These cars are ONLY used for drivetrain testing , no driving dynamic is important

Seems unlikely.
Why have a suspension car if the driving dynamic is not important?

[Storer]

Hi Richard

A nice complement by Aston and Mclaren.

Is the Black GTR720 the new factory demonstrator and if so what engine has it got?


Paul

[02PRUV]

Storer said:

Hi Richard

A nice complement by Aston and Mclaren.

Is the Black GTR720 the new factory demonstrator and if so what engine has it got?


Paul

Going by the similar photos on their website of the same location same car it's an LS7

[ezakimak]

Storer said:

Hi Richard

A nice complement by Aston and Mclaren.

Is the Black GTR720 the new factory demonstrator and if so what engine has it got?


Paul

Didnt see it when i was their on the 18th May. They Had the 2 red record cars and the Silver one which Ted took me for a spin in. a few customer cars were there as well and the shop was looking very full.

[AndyandChrisGTR]

ezakimak said:

Didnt see it when i was their on the 18th May. They Had the 2 red record cars and the Silver one which Ted took me for a spin in. a few customer cars were there as well and the shop was looking very full.

Did you enjoy the test ride???

[paulpsz008]

Ultima factory said:

McLaren MP4-12C Prototype

I saw a picture of this in a Kitcar magazine a few years ago with the headline "Ultima developing a new car" or similar.

[paulpsz008]

Ultima factory said:

paulpsz008 said:

Ultima factory said:

McLaren MP4-12C Prototype

I saw a picture of this in a Kitcar magazine a few years ago with the headline "Ultima developing a new car" or similar.

Sorry that is incorrect. I spoke to the editor at the time about it before he printed the article and there was no headline at all about "Ultima developing a new car". They also had to be careful about what to print as we were bound by a confidentiality agreement.

Hi Richard, Sorry If that came across the wrong way, but recall being left with the impression that it was Ultima's own development car.
I understand there wouldn't have been able to print who was actually running the car, in fact I think it was before MP4-12C was even announced?

Anyway, great compliment from the "big" manufacturers, I'd love to know what parts they were actually testing, but guess we'll never know in detail.

[LuckyP]

Ultima factory said:

LMRACER said:

Whilst talking to a mate of mine that works at Mclaren, he said they used the black car very early on and then switched over to a Ferrari 430 mule.
These cars are ONLY used for drivetrain testing , no driving dynamic is important

Incorrect. The Ultima used by McLaren had a Porsche transaxle fitted.

They probably had to switch to the 430 to guage how the drivetrain in a lesser performing chassis than the Ultima - something more in line with what the target market might drive!! Competitor benchmarking and all that! He-he!

[ezakimak]

AndyandChrisGTR said:

Did you enjoy the test ride???

Yes,A lot. Ted and Andy were both very professional and a pleasure to meet. The hard part now is to work out what the spec and the intent of the car should be! Was able to answer some of the big questions i had, ie do i fit and would i be happy with the fit and finish of the product, which was a resounding yes on both fronts.

I have only just got back and am still recovering from the jet lag. need to review the CAMS roll cage specs again as they have just changed them, also need to save up again, as the credit card has taken a bit of a hammering as the other half went to oxford st whilst i was visiting Ultima.

Ryan

[bluesatin]

So what has happened to the ultima?