If you’re at all interested in cars, you’re certain to be interested in McLaren’s new exotic, the MP4-12C. And if you’ve read anything about the new Ferrari-fighter, you’re likely impressed by its technological sophistication and want to know more about it. Well today must be your lucky day as McLaren Automotive has just release a short video highlighting the company’s extensive development process.

Not only is the MP4-12C stunning, but it has been built to rival the world’s best, with a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine that makes 600hp and 433 ft-lbs of torque. No performance specs have yet been released but we expect a 0-60 mph time of around 3.5 seconds with a top speed in the 200 mph range.

The V8 engine is mated to a new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that promises even faster gear changes than conventional systems thanks to the ability to let the driver pre-load a gear by half pressing the shift paddle, which will ready the transmission for the next gear.

What really separates the MP4 from cars like the 458 however is the use of a full-cabon monocoque chassis (like the new Lexus LFA), rather than a weaker and heavier structure made of welded aluminum, steel, magnesium or other materials. This main chassis component weights just 176 lbs so we should expect the vehicle’s curb weight to be impressively low.

The MP4 will go on sale in 2011 with roughly 1,000 units being made ensuring the new car is highly exclusive. The car is expected to cost  £160,000 ($265k).

GALLERY: McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren has officially made it clear that the company’s new M4-12C exotic will be sold in North America with the appointment of a director to the region.

Anthony Joseph will head up McLaren Automotive North America, while Christian Marti was also appointed as the regional director for Europe. A network of 10 McLaren franchises in the U.S. and Canada will be set up for the MP4’s production launch in 2011.

“This is such an amazing opportunity to be part of the launch of not just a brand new range of high-tech sports cars, but the launch of a new car company in a region which will be a major market for McLaren Automotive,” said Joseph. “Utilizing our engineering expertise and racing heritage, we will build cars using nothing but McLaren components, in lower numbers, and higher quality than our competitors. This ensures exclusivity, which I’m sure will be a major factor in generating strong demand and ongoing high residual values from 2011.”

Joseph has a long history in the automotive industry, having started with Subaru of America in the 1990’s as a district sales manager, before moving to Porsche North America in 1998 and then on to Maserati and finally to Ferrari before landing the position at McLaren.

The McLaren MP4-12C is aimed squarely at exotics like the Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Gallardo. It is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine that makes 600hp and 433 ft-lbs of torque. No performance specs have yet been released but we expect a 0-60 mph time of around 3.5 seconds with a top speed in the 200 mph range. The V8 engine is mated to a new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The vehicle’s weight promises to be exceptionally low thanks to a full-carbon monocoque chassis, rather than a weaker and heavier structure made of welded aluminum, steel, magnesium or other materials.

The MP4 will go on sale in 2011 with roughly 1,000 units being made ensuring the new car is highly exclusive. The car is expected to cost £160,000 ($265k).

GALLERY: McLaren MP4-12C

Official release after the jump:

Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 9th, McLaren will unveil its next exotic, the MP4-12C. The name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it has an historical significance, namely, that it has the name MP4 name as all of the McLaren race cars.

In an interview with the Times of London ahead of the vehicle’s debut creator Ron Dennis revealed that he intends to not only build the MP4-12C, but two other sports cars, one to compete with the Porsche 911 and another along the lines of the Porsche Carrera GT.

As for the MP4, Dennis says it will have a timeless design, with a high-revving V8 engine, a seven-speed gearbox and a light-weight carbon fiber chassis. Oh, and scissor doors will also be a part of the package. Other features include a variable rate suspension that stiffens up with speed, as well as a wireless connection that will allow you to download MP3s from your driveway.

While it’s not expected to be at the same level as the F1 supercar, this exotic, says Dennis will, “on all performance parameters and price… be better than our competition.” Dennis also said he intends to produce racing versions of the car to compete in motorsports.

McLaren Automotive, which recently emerged when Dennis left the McLaren Group F1 team, is funded by Dennis, the Swiss engineering company TAG and Mumtalakat, a private equity firm of the Bahrain government. The group has already spent £100,000,000 on the project and will announce shortly that it will quadruple that number of the coming years. “We’re building more than a car,” said Dennis. “We’re building a brand.”

[Source: Times Online]