| |
When Ron Dennis stepped down as the head of the McLaren Formula 1 team in January 2009, and took over McLaren’s new production car program, he had quite a challenge ahead of him – that being creating a successor to the Gordon Murray designed McLaren F1 road car, which many consider to be the finest supercar ever built. Well, Ron Dennis isn’t one to shy away from a challenge.
On the 18th of March, at the McLaren Technology Center in the UK, Ron Dennis, with the aid of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button no less, unveiled the McLaren MP4-12C, and with that brought McLaren Automotive to life. He said, “We will set new standards for quality, performance, efficiency, and the ownership experience. It’s inspired by Formula 1, and rich in McLaren DNA.” And anyone who knows Ron Dennis knows to take him seriously. Are you listening Ferrari and Lamborghini?
Like an F1 car, the driver in the 12C sits in a rigid carbon fibre safety cell, which is not only very strong, but also extremely light. Like in the McLaren F1 road car before it, every part that’s gone into the 12C has been specifically lightened. Nonetheless, driver and occupant comfort is still a priority, and you even get a bespoke in-car information system. Also bespoke is the engine – an all new McLaren 3.8 liter, twin-turbo, V8 producing 600 horsepower and 440lb/ft of torque.
Other F1 derived technology includes ‘Brake Steer,’ which is the ability to apply the brakes on individual rear wheels to get the car to turn in better on tight corners. The rear wheels are powered through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox that features what McLaren calls ‘Pre-Cog’ technology, which allows the driver to pre-select a particular gear by pulling back lightly on the steering mounted paddles. The car will be built in limited numbers at an all-new purpose built production facility in the UK.
All we can say is that the 12C looks absolutely stupendous, and if it goes even half as well as it looks, then the supercar makers of the world better watch out – Ron Dennis is about to crash Ferrari’s party once again it seems!
|
|
| |
Tata Motors officially introduced Jaguar Land Rover to the Indian market last year in July by opening a luxurious and sprawling showroom in Worli, Mumbai. Well, the Tata flagship brands have now taken a leap into the Capital as well, with its Delhi showroom located in the heart of the city – across the street from the Le Meridien hotel.
AMP Motors will carry the entire JLR range, consisting of the Jaguar XJ, XF, XK, as well as the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover Discovery and Freelander 2. In addition to the showroom, AMP Motors also has a fully equipped service center on Mathura Road, which appears to have become the industrial heart for car sales and service centers in New Delhi. Tata Motors plan to expand the number of dealerships to five in the near future, and Hyderabad will be the next city to join this elite list by May this year. |
|
