Rides : McLaren “Mega Mac” Prepares for an Assault on the Bugatti Veyron in 2014

The McLaren has gone up against the Bugatti Veyron before, during an episode of Top Gear. The 627 horsepower McLaren F1 lined up against the 1,001 horsepower Veyron, and while its light frame pulled off the line slightly quicker, the final result of the quarter mile proved Bugatti the clear winner.
On March 31st, 1998, The McLaren F1 became the fastest road car in the world, at 240 mph. Since then, the Bugatti Veyron has set the new benchmark at 268 mph. Fueled by the desire to regain their domination, the McLaren team has been busy crunching numbers and schematics in the hopes of recreating the perfect balance between minimal weight and non-asperated horsepower. All this effort has accumulated into their newest halo car, the Mega Mac.
The BMW sourced 6.1-liter powerplant (627 horsepower) which powered past F1′s, will now be replaced by a 5.0-liter V-8, producing around 799 horsepower and 599 lb-ft of torque. This new found grunt combined with the McLaren’s lightweight carbon fiber chassis, hydraulic anti-roll/adaptive dampers, 5-stage traction control, and improved aerodynamics, should put it in the neighborhood of 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, 0-100 in 5.5 seconds, and 0-200 in 20 seconds (the Bugatti hits 200 is 22 seconds).
According to the British magazine, Autocar, the Mega Mac will resemble the past F1 and current MP4-12, but will be “bigger, angrier, and more functional”. Its specs will include a Graziano 7-speed dual clutch transmission, Brembo (carbon ceramic) brakes, rear air brakes, and an active rear and front spoiler (deployed on demand). Autocar estimates only 500 of these production models will make it into existence in 2014 at roughly $650,000 US.
Rest assured, the Bugatti Veyron will not be lying around occupying itself with Oprah re-runs for the next two years, so we should be looking at one hell of a rematch.

Rides : McLaren MP4-12C GT3: McLaren GT Unveils Team and Development Program

McLaren Automotive, McLaren Racing, McLaren Electronic Systems and McLaren Applied Technologies have joined forces with CRS Racing in development and support of new MP4-12C GT3, with the aim to put 12C GT3 customers at the front of the grid. McLaren GT plans to offer MP4-12C GT3 owners access to advanced McLaren Simulator programs from 2012.
The new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will be the first McLaren car built for FIA* GT series racing since the McLaren F1 GTR finished production in1997. The 12C GT3 is based on the new MP4-12C high-performance sports car and a team of engineers, designers and test drivers with vast experience in Formula 1 and GT racing has been assembled to undertake the process of adapting the carbon chassis-based 12C to racing specification.
McLaren GT aims to deliver the highest quality, most reliable and most drivable car on the GT3 grid when 20 cars are delivered to privateer teams for racing in Europe in 2012. McLaren GT plans to debut the new MP4-12C GT3 at this season’s Blancpain Endurance Series race at Spain’s Circuito de Navarra, followed by Magny-Cours in France and Silverstone in England. As part of the development program for the 12C GT3, McLaren GT also expects to enter the Total 24 Hours of Spa endurance race.
CRS Racing Team Andrew Kirkaldy will be joined by 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey and Portuguese racing driver Álvaro Parente in the McLaren GT driver line-up for the 2011 development program.

Rides - Video : Meet the McLaren MP4-12C

“Our goal was to create the ultimate drivers car. We put everything in place to build a car that we believe will be the best super sports car that the market has seen.”
—Antony Sheriff, Managing Director

McLaren has begun production on their MP4-12C, and it promises to deliver the world for just $229,000. Their recipe has always been simple: Bantam Weight + Maximum Performance = Magnificence in Engineering.

The MP4-12C is comprised of an ultra light chassis, and an even lighter carbon fiber shell. Even the engine is relatively compact, at just 3.8-liters, but she carry’s with her one hell of a punch. The twin-turbocharged V-8 is capable of 592 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, which translates to 0-124 mph in less than 10 seconds. I would have included a 0-60 reference, but when you’re talking about the McLaren, anything under 100 mph is mere child’s play.

Even more impressive, the McLaren can drop back down from 124-0 mph in just 5-seconds. From 60-0 it skids only about seven car lengths before coming to a complete stop. It will rule the asphalt and can even handle itself on the snow (as the video below explains). While the first car has just begun production, McLaren will only build another 999 before closing the book on yet another great legacy.

But enough jibber-jabbor, let’s allow the car (and manufacturer) to speak for themselves…