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The McLaren MP4-12C, also simply called the 12C, is a sports car designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. It is the first production car wholly designed and built by McLaren since the McLaren F1 in 1998. The car's final design was unveiled in September 2009, and was launched in 2011.
The MP4-12C features a carbon fibre composite chassis, and is powered by a mid-mounted McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V8, twin-turbo engine developing approximately 616 bhp (459 kW; 625 PS) and around 443 lb·ft (601 N·m) of torque. The car makes use of Formula 1-sourced technologies such as "brake steer", where the inside rear wheel is braked during fast cornering to reduce understeer. Power is transmitted to the wheels through a seven-speed seamless-shift dual-clutch gearbox.
The 12C Spider is a convertible version of the MP4-12C with a retractable hardtop. Because the coupe was designed from the outset with a convertible version in mind, no additional strengthening was needed for the Spider and it weighs only 40 kilograms (88 lb) more than the coupe. McLaren has worked to keep the Spider's top speed, 204 mph (328 km/h), close to the coupé's 207 mph (333 km/h) top speed, and up to 196 mph (315 km/h) is possible with the roof down. Meanwhile, the dihedral doors of the coupé are retained.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.