The McLaren 12c GT3 is yet another fast supercar that has entered the market. McLaren’s 12C race program has grown in just two years thanks to an increase in customer racing data.
When compared to tidy saloon racing cars, the 12C GT3’s operating window is said to be intimidating. According to McLaren, the 2013 car Edition of this model had some teething problems at first. The good news is that the fruits of effective work on the issue are starting to accumulate.
Features
From the 2013-spec 12C GT3, in the long run, some alterations have been made. Starting with the car’s exterior built, the aerodynamics package has evolved to deliver superior tire wear and better overall balance. The bonnet also has new ducting and scoops to expel heat more efficiently and thus improve the car’s cooling. The EUC, after undergoing some revision, has had its electrical architecture tweaked.
The “Seamless Shift Gearbox” is a dual-clutch transmission system McLaren calls “Seamless Shift.” It is controlled by paddles and has modes like normal, performance, sports, launch, and automatic.
The Exterior
This model, shaped like an aero sports car with fat slicks, commands great respect wherever it goes. From the outside, this model looks like a heavyweight, but it is lightweight due to its construction from lightweight components; high-strength aluminum alloy bolted to the front and back of the Carbon Monocell. The engine weighs just 331 lbs and is mounted as low as possible, thanks to the dry sump lubrication. The carbon fiber tub is the most intriguing construction piece here, considering the car’s backbone. McLaren, however, named it the Carbon Monocell. It is an industry first for a production car.
The model has the following dimensions; It is 47.2 inches high, 177.5 inches long, and 75 inches wide without the side mirrors. It has a total wheelbase of 105.1 inches.
The car has amazing wheels that help boost its performance. It has a set of forged aluminum wheels going 18-by-12 inches up front and 18-by-13 inches on the rear. The model is halted after pressing the brakes by Akebono monoblock calipers with ventilated discs featuring six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the back.
The Interior
The interior of this model offers great comfort to both driver and passenger. The steering wheel is an odd, squashed circular-shaped wheel with several buttons that make it busy. Some of these buttons are; an ignition button, a bank of touch-sensitive push buttons in a binnacle to the right, and surprisingly but interestingly, small paddles to change gear.
Like the traditional 12C, this model has two seat side each other. The interior also gives out a classy vibe as you get the sleek feeling of the mixture of Swedish simplicity.
The use of carbon fiber material dominates the interior. The interior is either colored black or metallic ash. There is a noise cancellation intercom system for all vehicles and the latest onboard HD image and data capture.
Performance and Engine
“The 12C GT3 is designed to be accessible to the latest generation of gentleman drivers.”, the Commercial Director of McLaren GT, Daryl Cozen, says. Nonetheless, this is quite a serious car with its fast and blazingly hi-tech. It has what the racing rules and requirements called the ‘balance of performance.’ This means that the race car version is actually 126bhp less powerful than the one Joe Schmo can buy.
The gearbox is a six-speed automatic transmission system instead of the regular 12C’s seven-speed system. It produces a total power of 592 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, 80 percent of which is available from less than 2,000 rpm. This model comes with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 which has also been tuned to suit race conditions, and the GT3 adds bespoke brake and suspension systems.
This model goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat. The Italian 458, when compared, does it in 3.2 seconds. Its top speed in excess is 200 mph. It goes from 0 to 100 mph for about 8.9 seconds faster than the Ferrari Enzo, which reaches 100 mph in almost 10 seconds.
Safety
In the case of a front-end collision, the sections up the front of the vehicle are designed to crumple on impact. This thus avoids the energy that the Monocell tub would normally absorb. The total curb weight of this model is just 2,868 lbs.
Its safety features include antilock brakes, stability control, front impact airbags, side impact airbags, knee airbags, and security systems.
Pricing
Just as it is with any car of this caliber, speed doesn’t come cheap. Even with this, the McLaren 12C GT3 is affordable.
The MSRP of the Base starts at $231,400. This price is slightly below the Italian 458, whose base price is $240,000.
As regards fuel efficiency, this model seems to be great. It is said to beat out, Interestingly, the Ferrari’s efforts to go green. It does 24 mpg combined, whereas the 458 does only 21 mpg. Official EPA certification reports haven’t been brought out yet, though.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- It’s comfortable
- It’s intimidating to many saloon race cars in a good way
- It is an energy-efficient car
Cons
- It is quite expensive
- The steering wheel is too busy
- It is not easy to operate without being informed
Conclusion
Race cars are indeed classy, but we can’t deny the simplicity that comes with them, along with their amazing functionality.
While the McLaren 12C GT3 is best for racing games, it can even be taken on the ride daily. You should buy this model if you want a great sportscar with great speed, fuel efficiency, durable materials, and one that does little harm to the environment.
