Latest Development of the New McLaren Super Car the MP4-12C (Video)

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The latest testing news about the MP4-12C is hitting the net. Is anyone else as excited about new street car as I am? The McLaren F1 is the super car in my mind and now to have McLaren rolling out a new no holds bared super car is a dream come true. I can't wait to see how the new car stacks up to everything else on the market, the F1 and of course the Bugatti Veyron.

If you've haven't heard of the new car from McLaren check out their site here - The Official McLaren Automotive website - McLaren Automotive.com

Enjoy the info on the latest development from PistonHeads. How excited are you about the New McLaren?

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Development of the MP4-12C is entering its final phase, says McLaren, which has just released a new teaser video showing 'works in progress'.

The new high-performance sports car is due to launch in 2011, and the latest Experimental Prototype (XP) 12Cs are undergoing intensive appraisal at a number of test locations around the world - including Spain's Applus IDIADA facility where this movie footage was captured.

The XP Beta cars are also seen in action on public roads in the foothills near Tarragona in a short video McLaren says offers an insight into the testing programme from the perspective of the development team responsible for the 12C.

Featured in the short film are XP8 and XP10, two XP Beta-phase prototypes. Wrapped almost entirely in matt black vinyl, XP Beta cars are clearly discernable from 2009's XP cars, which have been seen sporting black and white camouflage exteriors.

The XP Beta test cars feature significant technological advancements that take the 12C nearer to production, the company says. A revised iteration of the M838T twin-turbo engine, transmission featuring new gear ratios, a more efficient cooling package, new suspension geometry and upgraded electrical architecture are the headline features of current prototypes, denoting key differences between XP and XP Beta cars.

Indicative performance figures generated by the XP Beta cars are expected to be announced in March, but feedback from February's testing suggests McLaren's aspiration to out-perform its competitors is on target, they say.

Mark Vinnels, McLaren Automotive Programme Director, is leading the engineering team. "There is an extensive list of subjective and objective targets set for our prototype vehicles. These XP Beta cars are already achieving outstanding results in many of the subjective areas, which includes ride quality, handling and many other aspects of dynamic performance," he says.

"The benchmark competitor vehicles we have tested become nervous and twitchy at higher speed, but the 12C feels more stable than anything I have driven. Because the bump rejection is so good, the ride is smooth and the steering is solid.

"Between now and production the vehicles and the team are working flat out. All this is geared towards not just achieving our unprecedented levels of performance but also guaranteeing the levels of quality, reliability and durability with which we expect to delight future McLaren customers."

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