Fresh off its Silverstone Circuit (UK) tests, the new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 made its pictorial debut today. The McLaren race car hasn’t announced plans for its upcoming race season, but we do know a few tidbits about the goods underneath that glossy yellow paint.
The engine is the same 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V-8 found inside the production model, except it has been tweaked to give it better track response. The transmission is a seven-speed SSG dual clutch Graziano, controlled via a Ricardo-designed bespoke paddle wheel shifter.
The GT3 is almost 4-inches wider than the production MP4-12C, and has a host of aerodynamic extras, including a new front splitter, fender diffusers, door blades, and redesigned rear wing. In addition, a set of Akebono brakes now rest inside its alloy rims, with a custom Bosch ABS system added to fine tune its overall stopping power.
McLaren also changed up the suspension, going with a bare bones, race-ready, anti roll bar/damper system in place of the electronic ProActive system found on the production model. To finish up the package, the GT3 gets a restructured wiring harness and race-inspired cockpit.
A beautiful car in pictures, but twice as beautiful in motion!
Issue 74 Features:
