Great news guys:

McLaren MP4 spider planned

McLaren’s planning permission application for its new MP4-12C assemble facility included a factory plan showing shopfloor area given over to a ‘Webasto RHT Sub Assembly’ area.

This is a reference to the retractable hard-top (RHT) with which the forthcoming MP4 Spider is expected to be fitted.

The company says that factory layout has since been superseded and that Webasto is only “one of several potential suppliers”.

Autocar sources say the powered, folding hard-top for the MP4 Spider will feature lightweight construction, probably in alloy but possibly carbonfibre.

McLaren MP4 spider planned - Autocar.co.uk

 

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Bad McLaren, bad! Please don't turn the MP4-12C into a hairdresser's car...

 

Why not? Think of Zonda F and Zonda F Roadster.

 

If McLaren can add a convertible top to the car while retaining the rigidity of the coupe and not adding any weight, I'll be impressed. The Zonda F Roadster managed to keep the weight and rigidity nearly identical to the F Coupe but at a much higher cost than what McLaren could sell a MP4-12C Spyder for.

 

Veyron GS, MacMerc SLR vert', Zonda F, 16M, etc = Hairdresser's cars?

Come on Alex, it is widely known that you are the world's biggest F1 fan, but this MP is going to be an epic car. Trust me. MacLaren wouldn't put some uninspired pile of dog shi*t out as their first supercar in 14 years.....

 

Those cars are in a completely different category at a MUCH higher pricepoint and the Zonda is the only one that really didn't make any sacrifices when it lost its roof. I know the MP4-12C is going to be a great car (as a coupe) but I'm very skeptical of this new McLaren because I don't feel any McLaren road car can live up to its true potential without Gordon Murray on board. I'm sure it's going to be a brilliant car but I think this is more of a marketing scheme for McLaren than it is the be-all, end-all of entry level supercars for the next decade (like the F1 was in the "hypercar" category).

 

It'll be the car within the "entry-level supercar" category. And even if it isn't, Car, Evo, Top Gear, etc. will tell us that it is - no need to worry!

 

Fair enough. Do consider that the price point on the MP is considerably (very, very, very "considerably") less than the F1 when it was launched.

The entry level supercar market is far deeper that it was even 5 years ago. I still think the MP will be the be-all, end-all car for its price category.....

 

Another point to consider;

McLaren has in no way, shape or form even slightly alluded to the MP being a replacement or some "modern interpretation" of the F1. This is a different car, with higher production numbers and a much lower price point.

Ferrari, on the other hand, has "whored" out the California name for a modern interpretation of one of the most beautiful cars of all time. That is blasphemy, even if the new California was beautiful.

 

Yes, I can certainly agree that the F1 (when new) and the MP4 are targeted towards completely different markets. For the money, I think the performance will be very tough for any other mainstream entry level supercars to meet, much less beat.

I'm fully aware this was never meant to be anything like the F1 and as a result, McLaren had to change how they present the car and what sort of engineering goals they are trying to meet in order for the car to sell at the desired price point. I guess one must look at the MP4-12C as a new chapter in the McLaren history book, although I REALLY hope this car turns out to be a cash cow for McLaren that allows them the financial freedom to actually do justice to a second coming of the iconic F1 to silence the praise of the Veyron, CCXR, etc.