McLaren MP4-12C Spider 2013 Review

McLaren.Inc - The new McLaren MP4-12C Spider, unveiled at the 2012 Pebble Beach weekend in California, is the second vehicle in the growing range of high performance sports cars from McLaren Automotive. This lightweight, mid-engine open-top sports car combines the astonishing performance of the 12C with the increased exhilaration of roof-down motoring. Unlike most other spiders or convertibles, the 12C Spider offers the same performance, handling and driver enjoyment as the fixed-roof coupé version.

The 12C Spider uses the industry-leading carbon fibre MonoCell as the 12C, which needs no extra strengthening to provide the necessary rigidity and strength for an open roof car. In conventional steel or aluminium chassis cars, extra strengthening - and associated weight increase - is normal during the conversion from fixed-head coupé to open-roof convertible. This can compromise performance, handling and driving enjoyment.

The composure of a sports car, the fun of a convertible

'The 12C Spider utilises all of McLaren's Formula 1 knowledge and expertise at building lightweight driver-focused sports cars. Just like the 12C, the 12C Spider is "pure McLaren" - it is built without compromise to offer maximum driving enjoyment and performance, but with the added appeal of roof-down driving. No other sports car has this combination of abilities.'

The figures are much better than most high performance convertible sports cars, in keeping with McLaren's commitment to class-leading fuel efficiency. Maximum speed is 204 mph (329 km/h).

The Retractable Hard Top (RHT) on the 12C Spider is a fully automatic two-piece design which can be raised or lowered in less than 17 seconds at speeds of up to 30 km/h (19 mph). When lowered, the roof stows beneath a body coloured hard tonneau cover which incorporates twin buttresses.

The 12C Spider features a heated glass rear window, which can be operated independently of the roof. With the roof down, the rear window moves automatically to an 'aero' position to minimise buffeting. The detail changes of the 12C Spider extend to both the audio and climate control systems. Audio output changes when the roof is open - to compensate for extra external noise - while the climate control adapts when the roof is lowered.

12C programme included Spider from the outset

'The 12C Spider is not a converted version of the 12C,' notes Sheriff. The carbon fibre MonoCell chassis and all other mechanical components were designed to produce maximum performance in both configurations.

'The 12C Spider fully subscribes to the McLaren overriding principle, that every single component should be 'Pure McLaren'. The goal is to maximise driving enjoyment, performance and efficiency.

12C SPIDER: THE DETAILS

It is a 'pure' sports car, designed to deliver maximum driving appeal and performance, with unmatched efficiency. 'As with all McLarens, the 12C Spider is a racing car at heart,' notes Design Director Frank Stephenson.

Retractable Hard Top (RHT)

The Retractable Hard Top (RHT) has been designed specifically for the 12C Spider. Heated rear glass completes the roof construction.

It is controlled by a two-position switch on the centre panel within the cabin. At the end of the roof lowering cycle, the windows fully close, and the rear glass adopts an 'aero' position that also reduces cabin wind buffeting.

Dual-purpose tonneau cover

When lowered, the roof stows beneath a body coloured hard tonneau cover which incorporates twin buttresses.

Retractable rear glass provides increased audible drama Roof up, the rear glass can be lowered to allow more engine sound into the cabin and also allows for a semi-open driving experience even in inclement weather. Roof down, the screen acts as a wind deflector, minimising disturbance in the cabin.

Roll over protection system

A roll over protection system ensures maximum occupant safety. Each rear buttress contains a steel structure to absorb the impact energy and protect both driver and passenger. An 'active' pop-up system would have added unnecessary weight. Carbon fibre MonoCell ideally suited for convertible use As with the mechanically identical 12C, the 12C Spider is a mid-engine two-seat rear-drive high performance sports car. Unlike rivals, it uses a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, the MonoCell.

This confers major advantages in weight, strength and torsional rigidity - all improving handling, ride comfort and performance. 'It provides the perfect combination of occupant space, structural integrity and light weight,' explains Chief Engineer Neil Patterson. 'It is the ideal chassis to deliver groundbreaking efficiency and performance in the sports car market.' The MonoCell is unchanged from 12C to 12C Spider, as it was originally designed for both applications. This flex can compromise handling precision and reduce ride comfort; while the added weight affects performance.'

The carbon fibre MonoCell not only gives advantages in strength and weight, it also improves packaging. 'We started with the driver,' says Design Director Frank Stephenson. 'With the 12C and 12C Spider, the driver sits close to the centre line of the car, improving control and driver enjoyment.

McLaren: The carbon innovators

The carbon fibre MonoCell of the 12C and 12C Spider follows more than three decades of McLaren carbon innovation. In 1981, McLaren Racing introduced the carbon monocoque to Formula 1™. The legendary McLaren F1 road car, launched in 1992, was the first road car to use a carbon chassis and body. In fact, since 1981 McLaren has never built a car without a carbon chassis.

Apart from the roof, and the engine cover, body panels are identical to the 12C. A redesigned glass engine cover maintains an unobstructed view of the handsome twin turbo V8 engine. 'The front and rear aluminium structures are easy to repair,' adds Patterson.

Unique Airbrake provides active aerodynamics

As with the 12C, the 12C Spider is fitted with the unique McLaren Airbrake - an 'active' rear wing that increases its angle to boost downforce and improve stopping power and stability through corners. This weight-saving thinking has reduced the weight of the mechanism by 50 per cent.'

The 'active' aerodynamics of the McLaren Airbrake

is another Formula 1™-derived innovation - although now banned, as it conferred a substantial performance advantage. The total weight of the new 12C Spider is 1,474 kg, an increase of only 40 kg on the 12C, less than any other car in the class. Overall, the 12C Spider is substantially lighter than most comparable convertibles, as well as being stronger and stiffer.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

The light weight philosophy does not begin and end with the body and chassis of the 12C Spider. A light structure enables the designers to save weight through the whole design process. This includes the unique 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine, which weighs just 199 kg (439lbs).

Designed by McLaren Automotive, the British-made M838T engine features dry sump lubrication and a flat plane crankshaft, both of which have helped engineers place the engine extremely low in the chassis, lowering the centre of gravity and optimising handling and agility. 'The engine in the 12C and 12C Spider offers low weight, low-rev tractability, potent mid-range performance and extensive high-rev reach,' says Richard Farquhar, Function Group Manager for Powertrain.

This system works by controlling engine intake noise within the cabin at differing levels, depending on the Powertrain mode selected for the car. The exhaust system is the only part of the engine that has been changed for the 12C Spider. To ensure the audible experience is optimised for open-top driving, the exhaust has been developed to suit the harmonics of the 12C Spider body shape. It utilizes the Model Year 2013 upgrades, including crisper throttle response and improved clutch control.

SUSPENSION

The goal with the 12C and 12C Spider was to offer executive car-like ride quality and sharp, agile handling. The 12C Spider is a revelation.

ProActive Chassis Control makes anti-roll bars redundant The 12C Spider uses the same ProActive Chassis Control that proved such a revelation with the 12C. Normal, Sport and Track settings are available which operate independently of the transmission settings.

Notes Paul Burnham, McLaren Automotive Vehicle Dynamics Manager: 'An anti-roll bar is a popular and simple solution to reducing a car's roll. The ProActive Chassis Control system, with its interconnected adaptive dampers, takes care of body roll without the need to use separate metal anti-roll bars. It is a large factor in our goal to offer the best high performance sports car handling and yet also offer executive car ride suppleness.'

Brake Steer is another important technology that helps to boost the agility of the 12C Spider. The system uses the hardware of the 12C's existing Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to apply braking forces to the inside rear wheel, improving turn-in to corners, boosting cornering speed, agility and driver confidence. Standard brakes - forged aluminium bell and cast iron ventilated and cross-drilled discs - are optimised for weight, saving around 8 kg from standard cast iron.

INTERIOR

The McLaren MP4-12C Spider cabin design is identical to the 12C, offering a range of material and colour options allowing customers a great degree of freedom to personalise their car. The interior of the RHT roof panels are lined either in Carbon Black Fabric or optional Carbon Black Alcantara.

Audio and climate systems specially calibrated for the 12C Spider Typical of McLaren attention to detail, the climate control and audio systems have been totally recalibrated, to compensate for top-down driving. Meridian was involved in the audio system's development from the very outset of the car's design, to optimise audio quality.

The Automatic Volume Control (AVC) and Automatic Tone Control (ATC) are both recalibrated for the 12C Spider. The climate control system is also recalibrated to automatically adjust when the roof is lowered.

MANUFACTURING

The McLaren MP4-12C Spider is built at the new £40 million McLaren Production Centre (MPC) facility in Woking, Surrey, adjacent to the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC).