When Mclaren launched the F1, a fire-breathing monster in 1992, it was every boys dream to get their hands on one as soon as possible and the closest they’ve ever gotten is, on the Need for Speed series or giant posters of it on a wall. The F1 was responsible for scorching tracks and setting all lap times on fire. Sadly though, this beloved dragon was put to rest by 1998. in its life-time there was a total of only 106 produced some were variants of each other but they all were able to hit a top speed was 390kmph without a rev limiter, a world record held throughout its production days for being the fastest production car. It could blast off from 0-60mph in just 3.2 secs. All these figures are bewildering, ten years ago. Since then there have been many attempts to dethrone the king and sadly they have been successful, like the Koenigsegg CCR, the Bugatti Veyron and the SSC Ultimate Aero TT. Don’t get me wrong, all these cars are fantastic but you always tend to like the first one the most, for whatever reason. The Mclaren seemed to be beaten by the new age machines that can rocket up to speeds more than 400kmph with ease.

Now, after 10-12 years or so, there is a new one. Mclaren have released the MP4-12C, a car aimed to rival the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche’s 911 Turbo, Bentley’s Continental GT, and Aston Martin’s DB9. But you’d say, aren’t they supposed to beat the hyper car segment first? Well you see the Mclaren F1 has not yet been beaten, how?….all the cars mentioned above depend on force induction techniques to make them reach their top speeds whereas the F1 is the only car in the world that reached top speed by a normal- aspirated engine.

So the MP4-12C is a by product and contains elements of hyper car material to brush off its rivals say Ron Dennis, Formula 1 team boss.

The engine low-down is as follows, 3.8 liter mid-mounted twin-turbo V8 with DOHC 32-valves hammering out 600bhp, just 27 shy from the F1and produces a torque of 442lb/ft. this assembly is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch manual transmission. This engine powers the rear wheels of the car. The engine can rev a whopping 8500 rpm and also there are a variety of shift options ranging from fully automatic mode to a full-commando race mode, complete with launch control. Paddle shifts provide gear selection, slight pressure on the right paddle for up-shifts and the left one for downshifts. This primes the clutch and torque handover processes for smooth gear shifts. It weighs in at 3086 lbs, which is decent because it is lighter than most rivals. The suspension and power train components hang off lightweight aluminum sub-frames that are bolted to the front and rear of a molded carbon fiber core structure. This  structure, called the MonoCell  is resin molded and is ready in just four hours.

The suspension is double-wishbone all around, with coil springs and hydraulically interconnected shocks that permit adaptive damping and adjustable body- roll control. The AP Racing brakes are composites, featuring cast iron rotors mounted on forged aluminum bells, saving 17.6 pounds per corner. Caron ceramic brakes are optional. The center section of the F1, pivots to work as an airbrake that also helps move the center of aerodynamic pressure towards the back of the car under heavy braking and can be used to generate more downforce by setting it at a higher angle of attack.

Most of the exterior styling resembles the F1, the windshields , the fenders, the prominent intake scoops on either side, which imitate the shape of the McLaren badge. These scoops direct cool air into the side-mounted radiators and the engine.

The interiors are basic but very comfortable. There is plenty of headroom and legroom. The center console consists of hordes of functions to enhance the driving experience, starting with the most needed, engine start and stop button, dynamic-control activation switch, winter-driving mode and the launch control. Two rotary switches manage the power-train and handling functions, the first one changes the throttle response, transmission shift strategy, gear-shift times and feel, a co-axial Manual button controls the use of manual transmission functions; the second switch changes stability control, steering weight, suspension firmness and roll stiffness, with a co-axial Aero button that sets the rear spoiler into a high down-force mode.

All I can say right now is , Mclarens rivals , competitors and whole the lot, better be on your guard, I feel a storm is brewing.

The MP4-12C is priced between $220,000-$250,000 and expected to hit the market in 2011. judging from the Ferrari F430 you can expect a convertible and a hard-core race pack to be announced.

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