When tuning company Hennessey Performance out of Sealy, Texas makes an announcement, it’s usually something fantastic. In this case, they posted details on their site about a new McLaren MP4-12C concept that wrings an extra 208 horsepower out of the car’s 3.8-liter V8.

They manage the incredible feat by performing major surgery on  the drivetrain, dropping in everything from a better intercooler, exhaust, air intake and much more into the mix. Of course, the company backs all its tweaking with a warranty. Click here for the full specs.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Hennessey without a wickedly redefined look. As per ususal, that philosophy is alive and well. The car will get a new set of wheels, a CarbonAero body upgrade that compliments the wheel color and delivers a two-tone look and a redesigned custom interior.

Normally such an awesome machine wouldn’t be a laughing matter, but we have to make fun of the Texan lads a little. They claim on their site to have taken the MP4-12C from “mild to wild.”

While we don’t doubt the concept’s capacity for rambunctious hoonage, calling anything bearing the McLaren badge “mild” is a little like saying habanero  peppers are tangy. Sorry Hennessey.

There aren’t price details listed yet, but this is just a concept car. In case you hadn’t already figured it out, this is one of those cases where having to ask the price means you can’t afford to play. If this one makes it to market, expect a healthy margin on top of the $229,000 base price for the mild version.

Whittled down from all the cars in the world, a group of 66 automotive journalists from across the globe have released their top 10 picks for the 2012 World Car of the Year and World Performance Car.

That list, which will be further narrowed this month, is initially selected by secret ballot and then submitted for re-evaluation by the panel.

Members then have a chance to rate each car based on overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal, and significance. The top three are then scheduled to be announced March 6 at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show during a press conference.

The 2011 World Car of the Year was the Nissan Leaf, while the World Performance Car was the Ferrari 458 Italia. What we’re most curious about this year is the fact that the Porsche 911 made it into both categories.

The 2012 World Performance Car finalists are:

• Audi RS 3 Sportback
• BMW 1 Series M Coupé
• BMW M5
• Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
• Ferrari FF
• Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4
• McLaren MP4-12C
• Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG
• Mercedes-Benz C-63 Coupe AMG Black Series
• Porsche 911

The 2012 World Car of the Year finalists are:

• Audi A6 Sedan / Avant
• Audi Q3
• BMW 1 Series
• BMW 3 Series
• Chevrolet Volt / Opel/Vauxhall Ampera
• Citroen DS5
• Ford Focus
• Land Rover Evoque
• Porsche 911
• Volkswagen Up!

Be sure to tune in for our coverage of the 2012 Geneva Auto Show, where we’ll be bringing you the latest. Also, let us know what you think of both lists in the comments section below.

When the McLaren MP4-12C debuted, it was seen as a disappointment by many. Certainly the car’s performance was amazing, but not the Bugatti-beating numbers some had expected. That’s because it was never built as a Veyron rival but rather a Ferrari 458 killer. A proper successor to the McLaren F1 would come, however, and according to a new report by CAR Magazine, it will launch some time this year.

Powering the car, code named the P12, will be an up-rated version of the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 used in the MP4-12C, with one important change – KERS. Yes, the newest McLAren machine will utilize a kinetic energy recovery system, generating power under baking and then making that energy available in the form of electric boost on demand.

As for the chassis, it will reportedly be a similar structure to the MP4-12C as well, but with an even higher use of carbon for minimum weight.

Styling for the vehicle is said to be vastly more dramatic than the 12C (we certainly hope so), but with a conventional side-by-side cockpit, rather than a three-seat layout like the F1.

Pricing is said to be around $1.2 million.

[Source: CAR]

A bit of a surprise has appeared on the Internet, with a McLaren MP4-12C High Sport model making an appearance at The Collection in Miami, Florida. The McLaren MP4-12C HS features improved aerodynamics inspired by their GT3 racecar which allows the MP4-12C to benefit from extra boost safely, increasing horsepower by 75 from the factory’s 592-hp.

The aero package includes a new front bumper, rear bumper, enlarged vents, bigger diffuser and a modified rear wing to go along with its new wheels. As a result, the intercoolers get plenty more cool air allowing McLaren the ability to safely turn up the boost for the extra horsepower. Only five HS models will be built according to McLaren and two have already been spoken for: one to the crown prince of Bahrain and one to McLaren chairman Ron Dennis.

We wish we knew what the MP4-12C HS retails for, but we’re guessing if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. With its extremely limited availability and the fact that it’s even more radically tuned than the standard MP4-12C, they’ll be hard to come across and will be a true collector’s item. Hopefully we’ll see one end up on the track to see just how it fares compared to the standard model.

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

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McLaren is set to have their 2013 MP4-12C Spider debut sometime later this year and reports are coming in that the exotic convertible will get a fully-retractable hard top constructed from carbon fiber.

A carbon fiber hard top further adds to the sportiness of the MP4-12C, and helps save some weight from the convertible variant of McLaren’s newest sports car. It’s anticipated that the MP4-12C Spider will have the same powerplant of its Coupe variant, a 3.8L twin-turbocharged V8 with 600-hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. It’ll be mated to the same seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that’s seen in the standard MP4-12C.

[Source: GT Spirit]

McLaren recently celebrated the opening of its new production centre in Woking, England where even British Prime Minister David Cameron was invited to take a tour. The state-of-the-art production facility is the first step in McLaren Automotive’s goal of producing several models of vehicles in the coming years.

And with the Prime Minister’s visit, McLaren also took the time to announce its next project will be the MP4-27, but did not go into any details as to whether it’ll be a successor to the legendary McLaren F1 road car, or if it’ll be the company’s next race car. They did hint that they were nine months into the development program and have already sorted 18,918 individual components from more than 3,000 different work orders and signed off on more than 5,500 technical drawings.

McLaren Automotive’s immediate goals are to roll out 35 global dealerships by the end of 2012, preparing customers’ GT3 race cars for 2012 competition, and working on the design of a range of game-changing high-performance production cars that will bring McLaren Automotive’s annual vehicle production to 4,500 by 2014.

Check out two videos of the new production centre after the break.

GALLERY: McLaren Production Centre

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Horst von Saurma, editor-in-chief of Sport Auto magazine, took McLaren’s MP4-12C out to Nurburgring for a single lap to see what the machine could do. Obviously we should all take the 7 minute and 28 second lap time with a grain of salt, considering the driver only had a single lap despite being very experienced at the ‘Ring.

McLaren did confirm that the MP4-12C was completely stock, including the factory Pirelli P-Zero Corsa rubber. It’s worth noting that the video doesn’t feature von Saurma’s MP4-12C that he lapped on the Nurburgring, but rather another car that was used on a separate lap day earlier in the year. Unfortunately that vehicle wasn’t able to complete a lap due to rain.

For comparison’s sake, the current production car record holder is the Viper ACR with a 7:12 while the MP4′s closest rival, the Ferrari 458, has a recorded best of 7:32.

Nonetheless, the video is entertaining to watch and McLaren has no plans of recording an official lap this year with their MP4-12C. (It’s a bit nippy in Germany this time of year).

Check out the video after the jump:

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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

If you are among those who feel that your upcoming McLaren MP4-12C is not special enough, then the new catalog from McLaren Special Operations would be of interest to you.

As part of this program, you can have your new supercar painted in any hue you want, and garnish it with add-ons like a gloss black roof, diamond cut wheels, MP4-12C branded carbon door sills, carbon steering wheel and plenty of other carbon bits to have your car stand out from the crowd.

McLaren launched this program at the recent Pebble Beach Concours event, where a Volcano Orange example was on display.

Paul Mackenzie, Programme Director at McLaren Automotive, with responsibility for McLaren Special Operations said: “It was a pleasure to meet some of the first 12C customers in North America at Pebble Beach.  For nearly twenty years we have been closely managing relationships with owners of the McLaren F1, and understanding their needs is a great foundation on which to launch a service that will now include 12C customers. McLaren Automotive already offers 12C customers extensive options to personalise their car.  However we recognise some owners have specific tastes and we have the knowledge and capability to design, engineer and produce almost anything a customer may desire for their 12C.”

Gallery: McLaren Special Operations

Check out the video below

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McLaren unveiled a customized MP4-12C at Pebble Beach, indicating the British automaker will offer a long line of individual options for customers. This particular McLaren features a host of new upgrades and modifications put together by the British automaker, most notable of which are the Satin Orange paint and aggressive new fenders. There are also carbon fiber bits all over the car including a windshield cowl, engine cover gilles along the outside of the glass, and a new carbon rear exhaust cover. The rims have a polished face with black painted centers and the roof panel has also been painted black. Standard options of the 12C include carbon mirrors, a carbon lower front spoiler and rear valence as well as a stealth package which blacks out the exhaust tips and wing supports.

Built on the chassis of an early validation prototype, this isn’t a oroduction car but merely a glimpse at what sort of custom options McLaren will be offering in the future to owners.

Priced at $229,000 for a standard model, the upgrades raise the asking price for this MP4-12C to around $270,000.

[Source: Team Speed]