McLaren MP4-12C 2012 review

I have never driven an F1, the iconic McLaren supercar of the 1990s, so this is my first experience with the brand.

However, I have driven his rival Ferrari, the 458 Italia, and it is a very exciting car. Stunning to look at and sound great, these are four alarms for your hair follicles. 

British McLaren MP4-12C reviews find that the MP4-12C claims are supported by their own testing. He's faster than a Ferrari. But many left without goosebumps.

Clarkson said that if the 12C was a pair of tights, then the Ferrari 458 Italia was a pair of stockings. This is a powerful metaphor, and there is some truth in it. The 458 features a more dramatic design and greater musical range. Inside, it's more of a luxury statement.

Even the name is more sonorous. MP4-12C is hard to say. Driving out of the McLaren showroom in Sydney this week, I saw a Lotus Evora and mistook it for another 12C. Impossible to imagine confusing 458 with something else.

That's true, but that's not the whole story. I'm about to wander into the dangerous territory of national stereotypes. You have been warned. Model 458 is bright and loud.

If he had hands, he would be gesticulating wildly. It's Italian and it's a thing to remember. If the British did something similar, we would be interested in what they were ingesting.

Design

The 12C is as understated as the 458 is extravagant. Its merits are less conspicuous. It elicits polite curiosity rather than close attention. And there is something British about his ability to understate. These are not stockings and tights; It's Keira Knightley vs Sophia Loren.

The appearance is not flashy, but up close it is special. These discreet curves offer plenty to think about. Doors are opened by a proximity sensor with a flick of the wrist.

The interior is a beautiful combination of leather and Alcantara and fascinates with its unfamiliarity. The controls are laid out logically, but not necessarily where or how you would expect them to be; the air conditioner switches are in the armrests, and the control screen is a vertical touch panel.

Reasonable use of carbon fiber and no embellishments. Though it's less luxurious and more functional than a Ferrari, its details - down to the air vent spokes - are nonetheless impressive.

There is a small steering wheel that defies the recent button craze. Seats are great, gauges are crisp, pedals are solid.

McLaren set out to avoid the supercar bogeymanship of poor visibility, and to a large extent it succeeded because forward visibility is excellent. When the airbrake deploys, it fills the rear window, at least momentarily. But how quickly it stops!

The 12C sits lower to the ground than you'd expect, although the way its nose and tail are angled makes this less of an issue than some.

Technologies

The engine starts without a far-fetched "explosion to life", and the gear selection buttons - D, N and R - are tactile. The engine sounds like a V8 - a businesslike roar of a baritone accompanied by a turbocharger. It's incredibly responsive, holds high gears uphill, and is quiet when the transmission selector is in N for normal driving.

Driving

Everything that has been said about a comfortable ride is true. Compliant and civilized, it would put some luxury sedans to shame. It also feels solid and tight, without the squeaks and groans that are usually part of the supercar deal. As an everyday offering, the 12C makes more sense than any of its competitors.

The range of his abilities is impressive. Move the transmission and control selectors to the S (sport) position and everything gets louder and faster. The front end doesn't lift up under acceleration and the body stays flat in corners. The 12C turns so fast it surprises you the first time you hit it, and the steering is graceful.

The chassis responds to turns by finding the right position and staying there. It's unperturbed. It just goes through corners at phenomenal speed, and on public roads you can't even get close to its dynamic limits.

Things get even higher when you choose T for tracking. And on the track I ran out of ability long before the car. In terms of direct performance, there are few machines that could stay with 12C. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, but it takes just 5.8 seconds to reach 200 km/h as the engine reaches the peak of its mid range. 

This is where it sounds best. While it lacks the goosebumps of a naturally aspirated V8, unless your second car is a Ferrari, you're unlikely to notice the difference.

Verdict

Yes, the 12C does feel businesslike next to the 458. But the benefits are just as great because they're less obvious. And the qualities that show up over time can bring much more satisfaction.