Contrary to several erroneous reports, McLaren has not halted production of its MP4-12C says Tony Joseph director for McLaren North America.

Joseph is speaking out after some unsourced news stories hit the net claiming a production stoppage at the McLaren factory due to safety concerns and other issues. Speaking with AutoGuide Joseph admits that deliveries of vehicles have been put on hold for a period of three weeks. “The reasons are related to some minor electrical issues that are causing battery drainage. We do not have nor have we had any performance or safety related issues,” he said. “We have not halted production.”

McLaren produces the MP4-12C at its facility in Woking in the UK. The British exotic makes 600-hp from a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine and is capable of a 0-60 time of less than 3.0 seconds. Pricing for the MP4-12C is set at $225,000.

GALLERY: McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren hasn’t competed in endurance sports car racing since the F1 GTR ran at Le Mans back in 1995. That, however, will all change on July 30th with the storied British marque announcing a three car team of MP4-12C GT3 race cars will attempt to endure the 24 Hours of Spa.

Two teams will compete in the GT class, while a third will hit the track in the Pro-Am Cup class, with a total of 10 drivers.

Earlier this year McLaren did run the MP4-12C GT3 in the British GT Championship, but this marks the first 24 hour race for the vehicles.

“I’m delighted with the quality of the drivers we have enlisted as we take the 12C GT3 to its first 24 hour race,” said McLaren Automotive Chief Test driver Chris Goodwin. “This level of endurance racing is a crucial test for the car technically, and we need the best possible team working with us to ensure we receive intelligent, objective feedback on the 12C GT3 driving experience. We will use this feedback as we continue to develop the car in readiness for customers to go racing next year.”

In total, McLaren is planning to deliver 20 MP4-12C GT3 race cars to customer teams to compete in motorsports in 2012.

GALLERY: McLaren MP4-12C GT3

Hit the jump for a run-down of the cars and drivers for the 24 Hours of Spa.

Pro-Cup category

Car 58 (McLaren GT):
Rob Bell – GB
Chris Goodwin – GB
Tim Mullen – GB

Car 59 (McLaren GT):
Andrew Kirkaldy – GB
Álvaro Parente – POR
Oliver Turvey – GB

Pro-Am Cup category

Car 60 (McLaren GT and VonRyan Racing):
Adam Christodoulou – GB
Glynn Geddie – GB
Phil Quaife – GB
Roger Wills – NZL

Since it was launched, the McLaren MP4-12C has been criticized for lacking the emotional appeal of rivals such as the Ferrari 458, particularly when it comes to such aspects like exhaust note and the ‘thrill’ of acceleration.

As a result, the Woking based company has been hard at work instigating a few changes on the mid-engined machine, alterations that, according to an official statement from the company , were already in the planning stages, though the criticism has hastened their introduction.

Most of the tweaks revolve around the 12C’s Intake Sound Generator which incorporates a butterfly valve, to regulate the amount of noise entering the cabin. In track mode, said valve will now open wider, allowing drivers to experience more of the car’s V8 exhaust signature.

“It was a bit too sensible before,” declared a spokesman for McLaren. “You won’t notice the changes in normal mode, just when you’re having fun and really pushing it.”

[Source: Autocar]

On Tuesday, June 21, McLaren Automotive will officially launch it’s new world wide retailer network, with the opening of it’s flagship store in London’s posh Hyde Park district.

The store, which will officially be called McLaren London, is located on the site of the city’s newest and arguably most prestigious address. One Hyde Park; The Residences at Mandarin Oriental were specifically chosen as the premier location for McLaren’s first retail store because of it’s exemplary track record in customer service and after sales support.

Once the London store is up and running, McLaren will open two more stores in the UK, one in Manchester on June 30, with another to follow in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city and once home to it’s car industry, on July 5th.

From there, expansion will continue into continental Europe, with stores set to open in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. McLaren says it has a goal of having some 35 retailers, located in 19 different countries, operational by the end of the year.

Each of them will be stocked with every spare part imaginable for the MP4-12C, enabling customers to experience ‘pitstop’ service to ensure fast and efficient repair.

In terms of delivering cars to its customers and retailers, McLaren says that it will produce approximately 1000 MP4-12Cs this year with the goal of ramping up production to some 4,000 units annually by 2015.

After officially revealing its MP4-12C exotic several months back, McLaren Automotive has now announced estimated performance numbers and they’re as shockingly amazing as the rest of the car. The British sports car maker and Formula 1 team claims a 0-60 mph time of less than 3.0 seconds. The elapsed time to 124-mph (200 km/h) is set at under 10 seconds.

How does the car achieve such an astonishingly low time. Well, its a combination of light weight and horsepower. McLaren has already released that the MP4-12C’s twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 makes 600-hp and 433 ft-lbs of torque and will come with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. No curb weight numbers are yet available, but a dry weight (without fluids) is set at 2,860 lbs – meaning it should still only to out at 3,200 lbs total. Much of this has to do with the car’s ultra-light carbon monocoque chassis.

In terms of acceleration, the MP4-12C (according to McLaren, of course) is faster than the Corvette ZR1, Ferrari F430 Scuderia and Porsche GT2.

But how does it handle? See after the jump for video of McLaren F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button driving the MP4-12C on the track.

Watch out Ferrari.

[Source: Car & Driver]

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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:

McLaren Automotive announces Regional Directors for North America and Europe

* McLaren Automotive global network takes shape with appointments of European and North American regional directors
* Anthony Joseph to head up McLaren Automotive North America
* Christian Marti to head up McLaren Automotive Europe
* Joseph and Marti join Ian Gorsuch, Regional Director Middle East and Africa, in McLaren Automotive global network

Following the recent unveiling of the new McLaren MP4-12C, the first in the company’s range of high performance sports cars, McLaren Automotive can now confirm two senior appointments within its global operations.

Anthony Joseph joins the company as Regional Director of North America and Christian Marti as Regional Director of Europe. In preparation for the global launch of the 12C in 2011 they are joining the previously appointed Regional Director of Middle East and Africa, Ian Gorsuch, to begin building a global retail network, and sales and marketing teams for each region.

McLaren North America will be based in the New York tri-state area and McLaren Europe will be based within the McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, UK.

Joseph and Marti’s teams will contribute to a global sales, marketing and aftersales network challenged with setting new standards for service in the performance car sector, whilst ensuring that McLaren Automotive’s quality and performance goals are transferred throughout their regions.

Joseph will develop a team to support an initial network of up to 10 dedicated McLaren franchises in the USA and Canada. Marti’s team will initially work with up to 15 retailers in Europe.

With vast experience in the performance car retail and wholesale business, Joseph said of his appointment: “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. Utilising 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.

“We are initially working to locate and establish a select group of retail partners to best serve our customer base and represent McLaren Automotive going forward. There has been significant enthusiasm from a number of existing luxury car retailers throughout North America, and our first challenge is finding those who really buy-in to our evolving business aspirations.”

Marti, who complements Joseph with his experience of launching premium brand automotive organisations in new markets, said of his appointment: “It is a wonderful chance to be a part of a new organisation launching such an exciting and ground-breaking car. With McLaren’s racing pedigree well known and appreciated across Europe, coupled with the passion amongst automotive aficionados for the McLaren F1, I feel that this will ensure a growing demand for the McLaren range in the region.

“Starting a business from scratch is such a unique opportunity, and to have the flexibility to focus our attentions on what is best for the business gives us an immediate competitive advantage. By working to recruit a relatively small retail network I am looking to uphold the McLaren philosophy – ‘everything for a reason’, by ensuring that our customers get the best service possible, and that they get nothing but pure McLaren.”

Both Joseph and Marti will report into Antony Sheriff, Managing Director of McLaren Automotive, based at the company’s global headquarters, the McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, UK.

Sheriff said of the appointments: “I am really pleased that Tony and Christian have joined us. Not only are we driven to launch the best sports cars in the world, but we are passionate about doing that in a new way that focuses attention on the customer. Tony and Christian immediately bought into that ethos and will push forward this attitude through their sales and marketing networks. Their respective skills will add to our global operation and this is a fundamental aspect of how we work – we are a team and want our regional people and our customers to be part of that team.”

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]