Wednesday 2nd October 2013

McLaren 12C Sprint price confirmed

Sprint announced at under £200K for a budget (by Mclaren standards) track-only 12C

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Thought the McLaren 12C line-up was just coupe and Spider? Think again! Already this year we've had the 50 edition, there's the GT3 for endurance races and the Can-Am for really fast endurance races.

And don't forget the Sprint, a kind of semi-skimmed GT3 with more power but a less focused dynamic set-up. Understood?

It'll be great on the track, less fun getting it there

The Sprint is newsworthy again today as McLaren as announced a price for its track-only 12C. Reflecting its status as a rung up the 12C ladder from the coupe, it will cost £195,000. That's £19,000 more than the regular coupe, and actually £500 less than the 12C Spider.

Our previous story contains the full Sprint details, but it's essentially a lower (by 40mm), harder 12C with a GT3-alike bodykit, race-spec brakes, a stripped-out interior and 'Pirelli competition tyres'. And when you need another set, the onboard air jacking system will have you back out on track in no time.

Now if you're struggling to see the point of a 12C that can't be used on road but isn't as track-biased as a GT3, we were similarly bemused. Over to Chris Goodwin, McLaren's chief test driver: "The 12C GT Sprint has been designed as a true track-focused racer, offering increased levels of downforce, grip and durable track performance. Retaining all of the innovative technology and characteristics of the 12C road car... the 12C GT Sprint takes things to a new level with the addition of many race track specific features." It should probably also be noted that the Sprint is around £100,000 less than a GT3 customer car would be.

That figure price tag can be swollen further by a few choice extras, as with the road car. The Sprint will surely be the ultimate in accessible track-only specials, but you can't help but think it's maybe a 12C too far?

 

[Oddball RS]

Isn't this what a 'Super car' is supposed to do anyway?

[Stew2000]

Two steps forward. One step back.

[urquattro]

McLaren are going to need another production shop soon, be a bit like a clean Dagenham with all these expensive cars coming out the doors.
Wonder if its like RR, full cash ip front before we build !!

[AyBee]

Surely making it a GT3/Scuderia rival would have been a much more sensible option?

[epom]

AyBee said:

Surely making it a GT3/Scuderia rival would have been a much more sensible option?

+1

[MyCC]

AyBee said:

Surely making it a GT3/Scuderia rival would have been a much more sensible option?

This.

When is it coming? All these 'special editions' are just confusing matters in the interim.

Regards,

My CC.

[bigzarelli]

Where's the GTE version for WEC?

[LotusEspritTurbo]

I'm still struggling to see the point.

Seems pointless.

[toppstuff]

epom said:

AyBee said:

Surely making it a GT3/Scuderia rival would have been a much more sensible option?

+1

+ eleventy

What a stupid idea to choose to make the car not road legal.

I am a huge Mclaren fan and love what they are doing.

But this is silly.

Give us a proper hardcore, roadgoing 12C please. A GT3 type car.

The finely honed wisdom that pervades Woking dropped a clanger here. What a stupid, stupid idea.

Muppets.

[Steff]

You can't realistically use even half of the 12c's full performance on the road so why not create a version that's more track focused but not an out and out racer. Go on a track day / hire a track once a month and get your kicks then get in your helicopter and fly home, doesn't seem so stupid to me and there must be a market or they wouldn't have bothered developing it.

[anonymous-user]

There are plenty enough wealthy people out there who will buy this, so who is the muppet?

[toppstuff]

jsf said:

There are plenty enough wealthy people out there who will buy this, so who is the muppet?

And there are considerably MORE wealthy people who will buy the car and want to drive it on the road.

Mclaren already offer a non-road going 12C ( more expensive than this one ) so why make another? In the meantime, Ferrari Scuderia buyers are being ignored by McLaren.

Not offering a road-legal hardcore 12C is just daft. Unless they have one waiting in the wings to launch soon... I hope so.

[GroundEffect]

458 Speciale makes much more sense.

I want one. Not this partially-race car. Just buy a proper GT3 if you want the race car experience!

[anonymous-user]

toppstuff said:

And there are considerably MORE wealthy people who will buy the car and want to drive it on the road.

Mclaren already offer a non-road going 12C ( more expensive than this one ) so why make another? In the meantime, Ferrari Scuderia buyers are being ignored by McLaren.

Not offering a road-legal hardcore 12C is just daft. Unless they have one waiting in the wings to launch soon... I hope so.

Plenty out there can have both.

You have the P1 hyper car coming out fairly soon if you want a stupidly fast McLaren road car.

[threespires]

Steff said:

You can't realistically use even half of the 12c's full performance on the road so why not create a version that's more track focused but not an out and out racer. Go on a track day / hire a track once a month and get your kicks then get in your helicopter and fly home, doesn't seem so stupid to me and there must be a market or they wouldn't have bothered developing it.

I agree 100%.

[Carl_Docklands]

GroundEffect said:

458 Speciale makes much more sense.

I want one. Not this partially-race car. Just buy a proper GT3 if you want the race car experience!

Yep.

Team Italy 1 - 0 Team GB.

[007 VXR]

threespires said:

Steff said:

You can't realistically use even half of the 12c's full performance on the road so why not create a version that's more track focused but not an out and out racer. Go on a track day / hire a track once a month and get your kicks then get in your helicopter and fly home, doesn't seem so stupid to me and there must be a market or they wouldn't have bothered developing it.

I agree 100%.

+1 I like..

[ukmike2000]

I don't agree that there are lots of people out there waiting for a McLaren track car. We might like to think that there are plenty of footballers/car enthusiasts/music stars/business millionaires out there who would want to spend all their spare time blasting around a track in their McLaren, but in reality these people use their spare time in other ways. Usually in finding ways to make more money.
It is more likely that in the Middle East and possibly China, the authorities are not as fussy about cars being road legal. So whilst the car may not actually be pointless it is certainly pointless for the UK.

[007 VXR]

ukmike2000 said:

I don't agree that there are lots of people out there waiting for a McLaren track car. We might like to think that there are plenty of footballers/car enthusiasts/music stars/business millionaires out there who would want to spend all their spare time blasting around a track in their McLaren, but in reality these people use their spare time in other ways. Usually in finding ways to make more money.
It is more likely that in the Middle East and possibly China, the authorities are not as fussy about cars being road legal. So whilst the car may not actually be pointless it is certainly pointless for the UK.

Earth to plant Mars, one to beam up

[mikEsprit]

ukmike2000 said:

I don't agree that there are lots of people out there waiting for a McLaren track car. We might like to think that there are plenty of footballers/car enthusiasts/music stars/business millionaires out there who would want to spend all their spare time blasting around a track in their McLaren, but in reality these people use their spare time in other ways. Usually in finding ways to make more money.
It is more likely that in the Middle East and possibly China, the authorities are not as fussy about cars being road legal. So whilst the car may not actually be pointless it is certainly pointless for the UK.

Is this true? It makes sense that this is who the car is designed for, if true.

As much as there is to like about the 12C, it commits the worst sin for an exotic sports car in that its looks are rather plain, imo.