With the MP4-12C, McLaren chose to enter the thick of the exotic car market for its reentry into road cars. The MP4-12C takes aim at segment best-sellers the Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Gallardo. The car most know McLaren for though is the F1.
That car made a splash as the fastest naturally-aspirated car in the world. Today, years later, it still has specs that are very impressive. Given this history, McLaren has a lot to live up to in the followup. While we’ve heard noises about another model additions to the McLaren range, such as a 911 competitor and a shooting brake, the supercar should be the British brand’s next big introduction.


Autoblog recently captured spy shots of the car testing. The new super car is clearly bigger than the MP4-12C, and it will probably draw a lot from the F1. According to Autoblog, the car is being designed by Frank Stephenson. If there is a criticism of the MP4-12C, it is that the styling is too tame. When Stephenson arrived, he reportedly didn’t have much time to influence the direction of the MP4-12C, but that won’t be the case with the new supercar. It will be his baby. Stephenson has worked at BMW,(where he designed the MINI) Ford, Fiat (the 500), Alfa Romeo, Ferrari (F430), Maserati and now, McLaren.
There has been varying reports of whether or not the new McLaren will try to top the Bugatti Veyron. Today’s supercars have gotten to insane levels of horsepower, torque and acceleration times. If anyone can top the Bugatti Veyron though, it will the be guys at McLaren. With the F1 in their past, they have a lot to live up to. A stand out design feature on the F1 was the three-seat cockpit design. No one else has ever done that, and it was done after a lot of thought about the driving experience. More pictures of the car can be checked out in AB’s gallery.