Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Exotic
Production years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
In 2011, McLaren launched its first car after the iconic McLaren F1 back in 1992. It was named MP4-12C and, one-year later, the open-top version named MP4-12 C Spider was unveiled.
When a car manufacturer has more Formula 1 titles on its shelf than cars launched, it had to do something about it. It needs to get back something from that renowned name. By the time it launched the 12C, as it was known for short, it has eight Formula 1 constructor's championships won and 13 driver's championships. The MP4 resembles the first Formula 1 car built with a bodywork made out of carbon-fiber. And so was the MP4-12 Spider.
Since the beginning of the project, the 12C was designed to have a roadster version and since the carbon fiber is such a strong and light element, it was easy to convert the car from a coupe to an open-top vehicle. That added only 40 kg (88 lbs) to the vehicle, due to the retracting mechanism consisting of electric motors, levers, and cables.
The retractable hard-top can disappear in 17 seconds in a special design compartment behind the cabin. The interior of the car featured the same expensive materials show-off with carbon fiber, leather, and aluminum. The seats, air-conditioning, and the audio system were redesigned for the Spider version since they have to cope with open-top driving experience.
But more improvements were done to the technical side. The engine gained more power than the coupe and the ESP was re-calibrated for better control on the limits. The twin-turbo engine was re-tuned for better torque in the mid-range.
ENGINE SPECS - 3.8 v8 7AT (625 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 3799 cm3 |
Power: | 460 KW @ 7500 RPM 625 HP @ 7500 RPM 617 BHP @ 7500 RPM |
Torque: | 443 lb-ft @ 3000-7000 RPM 601 Nm @ 3000-7000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Turbocharged Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 204 mph (328 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 3.1 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 7-speed automatic (SSG) |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Cast Iron Discs with Forged Aluminium Hubs 370mm |
Rear: | Cast Iron Discs with Forged Aluminium Hubs 350mm |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | Pirelli P Zero 235/35 R19 – 305/30 R20 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 177.5 in (4509 mm) |
Width: | 82.4 in (2093 mm) |
Height: | 47.4 in (1204 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 65.2/62.3 in (1,656/1,582 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 105.1 in (2670 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 4.7 in (119 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 6.92 cuFT (196 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.36 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3034 lbs (1376 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3505 lbs (1590 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 14 mpg US (16.8 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 22 mpg US (10.7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 18 mpg US (13.1 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 279 g/km |