Considering how similar the new McLaren MP4-12C and Ferrari 458 Italia are to one another in design template, and on price - the McLaren costs £168,500, the 458 £169,545 - it's intriguing to discover just how different they are to drive.
To begin with the McLaren seems far less edgy, and far less obviously exciting in its responses and is certainly less dramatic to listen to than the Ferrari, which feels more extrovert than the 12C in its personality, period. Yet the more time you spend with the 12C, the more impressive its monstrous dynamic capabilities become. In many ways it's quite a subtle car to begin with, because its ride is so well resolved, its gearchange less 'thumping' in its delivery (than a 458's), its engine more refined at low revs.
Once you've summoned the courage and found the right road on which to let rip in the 12C, though, a rather more fearsome side of its character becomes apparent. Truth is, the 12C can do things that the 458 driver cannot (or should not) even contemplate. It's that much faster in a straight line, that much more planted through corners taken at speed.
Sutters living it large in the McLaren 12C
And on paper the 458 would appear to be comfortably outgunned by the 12C. It has less power (562bhp to the 12C's 592bhp), less torque (442lb ft v 398lb ft) and weighs 50kg more. Its 4.5-litre atmospheric V8 also produces more g/km (307 v 279) and burns more fuel than the 12C's 3.8-litre twin turbo V8.
Whether all that makes the 12C a better car than the 458 overall is, of course, entirely up to the individual. The McLaren is a more capable car, no question, but whether it's as desirable is another matter entirely. Visually you could argue that it's not. But again the decision, as with all matters of style, is subjective.
Personally I prefer the look of the Ferrari but would go for the McLaren in just about every other department. The only certain conclusion is that if you have £170k to spend on a supercar right now, the choice just got a whole lot better.
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McLaren MP4-12C |
Ferrari 458 Italia |
Price |
£168,500 |
£169,545 |
0-60mph |
3.1sec (claimed) |
3.4sec (claimed) |
Top speed |
205mph (claimed) |
202mph (claimed) |
Economy |
24.1mpg (combined) |
21.2mpg (combined) |
CO2 emissions |
279g/km |
307g/km |
Kerb weight |
1434kg |
1485kg |
Engine layout |
V8, 3799cc Twin turbo |
V8, 4499cc |
Installation |
Mid Longitudinal Rear wheel-drive |
Mid Longitudinal Rear wheel-drive |
Power |
592bhp at 7000rpm |
562bhp at 9000rpm |
Torque |
442lb ft at 3000-7000rpm |
398lb ft at 6000rpm |
Power to weight |
455bhp/tonne |
413bhp/tonne |
Specific output |
155bhp/litre |
125bhp/litre |
Compression ratio |
8.7:1 |
12.5:1 |
Gearbox |
7-speed Dual clutch auto |
7-speed Dual clutch auto |
Length |
4507mm |
4527mm |
Width |
1909mm (ex mirrors) |
1937mm (ex mirrors) |
Height |
1199mm |
1213mm |
Wheelbase |
2670mm |
2650mm |
Fuel tank |
72 litres |
86 litres |
Range |
382 miles |
401 miles |
Front Suspension |
Double wishbones Coil springs Hydraulic anti-roll Active dampers |
Double wishbones Coil springs Anti-roll bar |
Rear Suspension |
Double wishbones Coil springs Hydraulic anti-roll Active dampers |
Double wishbones Coil springs Anti-roll bar |
Brakes |
370mm front 350mm rear Steel ventilated discs |
398mm front 360mm rear Carbon ceramic ventilated discs |
Wheels |
8.5Jx19in (front) 11.0J x20in (rear) |
8.5Jx20in (front) 10.5J x20in (rear) |
Tyres |
235/35 ZR19 front 305/30 ZR 20 rear |
235/35 ZR20 front 295/35 ZR 20 rear |
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