Has MP4-12C supercar's Launch Been Delayed?

Rumors the MP4-12C supercar's launch has been delayed are incorrect, according to McLaren execs. "Because we have made a decision not to exhibit at the L.A. Show, somebody has made the decision that implies we're delaying," says McLaren Automotive PR chief Mark Harrison, who described the Web-sourced rumors as "daft". "All is still on track for production commence in late 2010, with the auto going on sale early to mid-2011."

McLaren Automotive technical director Dick Glover heads a 50-strong screening and development crew that is been working with eight progress autos (referred to as XP autos in McLaren-speak) for the duration of the past year. The 2009 screening system has focused heavily on two of essentially the most well-known tracks within the planet -- the notorious Nurburgring Nordschleife and also the BBC Top Gear test observe at Dunsfold Aerodrome.

A McLaren MP4-12C prototype undergoing hot weather screening in Bahrain.
"Having to produce a brand new array of vehicles from scratch to the criteria expected of McLaren, featuring ground-breaking new structures and powertrain is the ultimate challenge," says Glover. "But now we know just what the 12C is capable of, we are capable of push on into 2010."

Glover's crew is making use of encounter gained from McLaren's extended experience in Formula 1, where engineers continuously create and implement main vehicle adjustments in quite brief time frames. Detailed daily reports from all MP4-12C check sessions are sent to personnel in a wide array of functions, ensuring the full variety from the company's engineers, designers and management are able to contribute their practical experience. Simulation and rapid engineering practices -- two core elements of a profitable Method 1 group -- are then employed to re-calibrate the XP check cars and trucks for the following day, or night's, development targets.
 
A special F1-inspired program also brings the total improvement group together at one particular venue over a period of up to two weeks. Large strides are gained in the course of these intense testing periods as all automobile systems are stretched to their limits in combination and as a total, rather than component by aspect in sequence.

"McLaren has usually set itself the highest requirements," says chief test driver Chris Goodwin. "We are the most effective ever motor racing staff; we designed and built 1 from the world's most iconic sports cars in the globe [the McLaren F1], and pioneered carbon fiber progress on race and road vehicles. We took those expectations into the advancement plan for the MP4-12C."