Automotive Addicts

Automotive Addicts

McLaren MP4-12C Production Slowed For ‘Quality Issues’

Posted: 07 Oct 2011 08:30 AM PDT


McLaren's MP4-12C. Image: © Copyright McLaren Automotive Limited

If you needed proof that every car is the sum of parts from the lowest bidder, here it is: McLaren is slowing production of its $231,400 MP4-12C to address what the company describes as "quality issues." Tony Joseph, McLaren's North American director, was quick to tell Autoweek, "There are no safety concerns for the delay. We've had some quality-related issues in a few cars we wanted to address before we continue to deliver customer cars."

The bulk of the reported problems are issues like condensation forming in the headlights, door operation problems and a battery drain problem caused by a faulty electrical head unit. McLaren has a temporary fix for cars already delivered to customers (lock the doors when parked, which shuts down the cars electronics), but is working on a more permanent solution to implement in production.

Some 59 McLaren MP4-12Cs have been delivered in Europe, and not all the cars have experienced these problems. North American deliveries are now delayed until McLaren can address the issues identified, so 179 customers on this side of the pond will need to wait an additional two or three weeks before taking delivery. If the delay produces a better final product, I'm sure no one will complain.

Watch The 2012 Camaro ZL1 Lap The ‘Ring In 7:41.27

Posted: 07 Oct 2011 06:30 AM PDT


Link hits the Foxhole matted in 5th gear, at 157 mph.

When Chevy's engineers set the specs for the 2012 Camaro ZL1, this much was clear: they wanted the car to be fast around a track, not just in a straight line. When word came in that the car had lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:41.27, it was pretty clear that they'd achieved their goals. The time puts the ZL1 on par with the latest Porsche 911 Turbo S, and just about seven-tenths of a second slower than the quasi-exotic Ford GT. It also makes the ZL1 faster than a 2009 Corvette ZR1, a Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV, an Audi R8 V-10 and a Pagani Zonda S.

Maybe the most impressive part of the video below is how hard GM test driver Aaron Link is working to go fast. There's no denying that the ZL1 is still a big, heavy car, and it isn't graceful on a tight and technically challenging circuit like the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Chevy calls the Camaro ZL1 used in the lap a "production intent" model, with no performance modifications added.

Link was pleased with the lap and impressed by the ZL1's capability, saying, "One of the best moments is coming through 'Fuchsröhre', or Foxhole. The ZL1 accelerates at an unbelievable rate down through the tunnel of trees, and into a sweeping left-hand corner flat out in fifth gear. You have to have an extremely well-mannered, confidence-inspiring car to take any corner at 160 mph without lifting off the throttle – and the ZL1 was just brilliant."