Skip to Content

mclaren

McLaren Unveils All-New, All-Conquering MP4-12C Supercar

Filed under: Wheels



Most automakers involved in Formula One racing produce cars first, and race second. Only a handful are racing teams first, and produce road cars second. And they tend to be the most successful, and the most desirable. Only one example comes to mind, and that's Ferrari. But the Italian "scuderia" has now got some company from its toughest on-track competition.

After producing the legendary McLaren F1, the championship-winning racing team partnered up with Mercedes-Benz on the SLR supercar. But now they've back on their own with the newly unveiled MP4-12C. Built entirely in-house, the new McLaren boasts a twin-turbo V8 with approximately 600 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque, boasting the highest power-to-emissions ratio of any engine on the market. The custom-crafted powerplant resides in a carbon fiber body designed by former Ferrari stylist Frank Stephenson and encompasses the very latest in race-derived technology. Only 1000 examples will be built in the first year before McLaren ramps up production to meet anticipated growing demand, with a price tag in the neighborhood of $265,000. Have a look in the high-resolution image gallery below.


Project Kahn McLaren SLR Carbon

Filed under: Wheels


Luxist readers will be familiar with the ultra-luxe customized Rolls-Royce motorcars made by bespoke British auto conversions house Project Kahn, such as the White Pearl Phantom and Drophead Coupe we wrote about previously. Now they've announced their newest model, the McLaren SLR Carbon. Based on the amazing Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR supercar, Project Kahn's version adds "stealth" exterior styling and carbon fiber features making it even more exclusive. Bonnet vents and badges blended black and smoked rear lights augment the stealth aspect, as does the privacy tinted glass. Kahn carbon F1-X wheels, a combination of carbon fiber with light magnesium alloy and Kahn valve caps complete the look. Inside a high gloss piano black or carbon fiber finish steering wheel complements front seats, door panels and dashboard finished in full beautiful Nappa leather or Alcantara.

$2 Million Supercar Catches Fire in California

Filed under: Wheels



The internet is rife with reports of wealthy motorists – evidently possessing more money than driving skill – completely wrecking their six- or seven-figure exotic sportscars. But this one's a special case. What you're looking at here is the burnt-out husk of a McLaren F1, one of only 100 ever made and even fewer imported by the grey market to the United States. Its owner reportedly likes taking his prized possession on long journeys, but evidently hadn't started it up in a while – six months, according to reports – before taking a drive through Santa Rosa, California, where the engine burst out in flames last week on Airport Boulevard. Ordinarily that kind of damage would be cause for an insurance write-off, but considering that the car is said to be worth $2-2.5 million and is insured for $3 million, and that the repairs surely wouldn't come anywhere near that amount, the insurance actuaries decided to pack it up and send the vehicle back to England where it was made to be repaired.

McLaren Hits the Ground Running with New Footwear Collection

Filed under: Wheels, Shoes

mclaren shoes

McLaren spends all their energy chasing Ferrari around the race track. And as often as not, they catch them. But the British racing team is going after Ferrari off the track too, with new sportscars coming out to follow the departing SLR to take the fight to Ferrari in the road car market where the Italian team has been king for decades. In the meantime, Ferrari has come to dominate another area as well, with a vast empire of licensed merchandise on the market. So its arch-nemesis will fight it on that ground too, and to that end has launched its latest footwear collection.

Bearing construction and design inspired by its Formula One cars, McLaren shoes boast hi-tech materials and fashion-forward lines evocative of the technology-driven image which McLaren projects. Realized by Spanish licensee FasionVentures 21, the collection includes both casual and more formal models, recently supplemented by the collection's latest Spring/Summer 2009 line which you can see in the gallery below. Prices start around $200, available from McLaren's online shop and various retailers worldwide.

Multimillion $ Ferraris & More in London Sale

Filed under: Wheels, Auctions


On October 29, RM Auctions will present an amazing collection of classic sports cars, including several stunning multimillion dollar Ferraris, at their Automobiles of London event. The star of the sale is a highly-prized 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California, estimated at $5 million - $6 million. Other hot-ticket Ferraris on the London block include a 1965 250 LM Berlinetta, est. $4.3 million - $4.8 million; a 1959 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta, Est. $3 million - $3.8 million; and a gorgeous black 1968 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta (above), est. $1.3 million - $1.4 million. Also on offer is the ex-Park Lane 1997 McLaren F1, the last roadgoing F1 ever produced, est. $1.9 million - $2.4 million; and an ultra-rare 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante, est. $970,000 - $1.1 million. See the gallery for pix.

Enzo Crash Driver Stefan Eriksson Arrested

Filed under: Wheels

Well, it certainly took long enough but Stefan Eriksson, the former Gizmondo chief who spectacularly smashed a Ferrari Enzo on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, has been arrested on suspicion of grand theft. Eriksson was arrested at his Bel-Air home on Saturday but it's not clear whether or not they thing he stole the Ferrari. He is being held without bail. As we mentioned earlier, last month  police impounded a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren driven by Eriksson's wife. I guess this means what we suspected all along, that the shadowy figure of "Dietrich" that Eriksson said was driving the car didn't really exist.

Paris Hilton And Her New Mercedes McLaren

Filed under: Wheels, Celebrity Shopping

Here you go, yet another reason to envy Paris Hilton, she's traded in her Bentley for a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Sky News has pictures of Paris out at (where else) The Ivy in L.A. driving the new black beauty. How much does it cost? Well, it isn't a Bugatti Veyron (maybe next year Paris) but according to the recent Forbes List of Most Expensive Cars, the McLaren sells for a cool $452,750.


Join Luxist on Facebook!

Featured Galleries

Langham Yangtze Shanghai
Robb Report Limited Edition Series
Felix Rey
Celebrity Pilots
Penthouse West
Barry Sternlicht in Greenwich
Stella McCartney for GAP Kids
Catherine Malandrino for Cointreau
Georgica Manor