This edition of the McLaren MP4-12C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo Spider is the 7 speed / Paddle Shift version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 W-Motors Lykan HyperSport 3.7L Twin Turbo.This particular McLaren MP4-12C has a 3799cc Twin Turbo Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.
The MP4-12C shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the MP4-12C's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.
Weighing in at 1474 kgs (3249 lbs) this makes the McLaren MP4-12C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo Spider in the same weight category as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.
In terms of power the 3799cc 32V V8 engine produces 616 bhp (459 kW) @ 7500 rpm similar to the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (611 bhp) or the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (616 bhp).
The Twin Turbo V8 throws out 443 lb-ft (600.6 Nm) @ 3000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (418 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne S 4.0 V8 Turbo (443 lb-ft).
If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the McLaren MP4-12C you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.
The 2003 Porsche Carrera GT (442.7 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the McLaren MP4-12C.
The McLaren MP4-12C has a Power to weight ratio of 417.9 bhp per ton and 300.5 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 MP4-12C competing with the 2003 Porsche Carrera GT (442.7 bhp per ton) or the 2000 Saleen S7 7.0 V8 (441.0 bhp per ton).
If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the McLaren MP4-12C generating around 300.5 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S 997 (325.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 2017 Ferrari 812 Superfast - 6.5l V12 (325.1 lb-ft per ton).
With a 0-60mph time of 3.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 3.1 secs, this made the McLaren MP4-12C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo Spider as fast as the 2023 Pagani Utopia 6.0 V12 Twin Turbo (3.00 secs) the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 (3.00 secs) the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo (3.00 secs) the or the 2021 Nissan NSX Type S 3.5L V6 (3.00 secs). This McLaren MP4-12C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo Spider is also faster than the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 992 (3.10 secs) the 2022 Lamborghini Urus Performante Twin Turbo (3.10 secs) the 2022 Aston-Martin DBX 707 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (3.10 secs) the and the 2021 Porsche Cayenne GT 4.0 V8 Bi-Turbo (3.10 secs).
When talking about the performance of the McLaren MP4-12C on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 11.15 secs @ 122.7 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2015 Lexus GS -F 5.0 V8 (11.10 secs), the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (11.11 secs), and the 2005 Audi A8 S8 5.2 Quattro (11.12 secs).
Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the McLaren MP4-12C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo Spider has a maximum speed of 204mph.
If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo Spider then how about the 2006 Ascari A10 5.0 V8 (215 mph), the 2017 Ford GT 3.5 V6 Bi-Turbo (216 mph), or the 2023 Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12 Petrol Hybrid (217 mph).
Mercedes CLS Class 63 AMG Shooting Brake PP
Engine: Turbo Petrol | 5461cc 32v V8
Top Speed: 155 mph
0-60mph: 4.00 seconds
Volkswagen-VW Golf 2.3 V5
Engine: Naturally Aspirated Petrol | 2324cc 20v V5
Top Speed: 223.6 kph
0-100kph: 7.6 seconds