SCIENCE

McLaren Automotive has revealed the all-important performance figures for the brand new MP4-12C, and the debut model from the world's newest sports car company will raise the bar to new heights in the sports car sector when it goes on sale in the Middle East this summer.

The unique new M838T engine powering the MP4-12C is a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 unit, mated to a seven speed transmission. This McLaren Automotive-developed engine delivers a massive 592 bhp, which is 22 bhp more than the Ferrari 458 Italia and some 40 bhp more than the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4. Maximum torque of 600 Nm is returned at 7,000 rpm.

All of which means that the MP4-12C can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds on hot-weather Corsa tyres, making it even quicker than the legendary McLaren F1 road car, acknowledged by many experts as the best car ever built. The 0-200 km/h figure is an equally breathtaking 8.9 seconds.

The MP4-12C continues to redefine high-performance sports car benchmarks with a maximum speed of 330 km/h. More importantly when it comes to occupant safety, the new McLaren is equally adept at coming to a halt - it can brake from 100 km/h to standstill in just 30.5 metres, equivalent to less than seven bodylengths.

While it sets new standards for performance across the class, the designers of the MP4-12C were determined that efficiency wouldn't be overlooked. So while the 12C is the most powerful car in its class, with a CO2 figure of just 279 g/km, each horsepower is produced more efficiently than virtually any car on sale today featuring a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine.

"One fundamental result of this passion to produce a pure McLaren is that the 12C is what I call the AND car. Compared to main rivals, it has better performance AND is more fuel efficient; it is lighter AND stronger, safer AND fully equipped. It is smaller in its exterior dimensions AND spacious inside, and it has better handling AND is more comfortable," said Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive's Managing Director.

The McLaren MP4-12C combines Formula 1 technologies, a revolutionary carbon MonoCell and McLaren's winning design and development approach that has proved so successful during the company's decades in motorsport. It also follows in the footsteps of its famous predecessors, the McLaren F1 and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.