McLaren MP4-12C production starts

The production of the first McLaren MP4-12C high-performance sports car has already begun at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, England. After several presentations around the world what was once a dream is becoming reality.

For 2011 Mclaren Automotive has planned the production of 1,000 12Cs, with most of them being produced at the new £40m McLaren Production Centre that should be ready to start producing in May. At the moment ‘Chassis 01’ is being built in the existing MTC production facility.

“In five years, the MP4-12C has evolved from a concept we developed in our own Formula 1 simulator, to a groundbreaking high-performance sports car offering unique technologies and outstanding dynamic performance. It has been an intensive development programme, but now the fun really begins as our future owners look forward to taking delivery of their 12Cs,” said Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director.

Having premiered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in southern England in July 2010, the 12C then had its North American debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. Exclusive events also counted with the presence of the 12C where prospective customers and media could see the McLaren Automotive model. Some of those events took place in cities where the brand will install its network of 35 retailer launch locations.

Sheriff added: “Meeting our prospective customers at launch events around the world, from Dubai to Cape Town, Paris to Los Angeles, has filled us with inspiration. There is genuine desire for McLaren to be launching our own range of sports cars, and an exciting appreciation of what McLaren stands for: innovation, technology leadership, and a winning mentality.”

McLaren has now gathered the best moments of the 2010 launch year in a short film which can be seen on Autoviva’s MP4-12C profile.

In the film you can see Lewis Hamilton’s and Jenson Button’s testing with the 12C prototype and also visitors’ reactions to the 12C at its debut events. The video reveals a McLaren Automotive’s Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin taking the car winter testing at Dunsfold Aerodrome as he assesses ESP calibration on Winter settings as part of the 12C’s variable Proactive Chassis Control system.