MP4-12C: Through the eyes of a Ferrari 458

Well, last week I got the chance of driving the new Mclaren MP4-12C. Two Mclarens waiting for us, for father and son, for a two hour long test drive all over Bahrain. Weather was a mere 10 degree’s and windy, and there it begins...

First Impression; standing close, being compared to the 458 the MP4-12C's exterior wasn’t very alluring and also to some extent it felt dull, however from a distance the driver gets this illusion of both cars being incredibly similar and that comes from the "shell" look both cars have at the first glance, but it is the manufacturing of both cars that makes them rather different from one and other.

Exterior, The Ferrari 458 feels like a masterpiece, I fell in love with the symmetry and the beautiful designs of the panels; the Ferrari to me is pure art. The MP4-12C however, was extraordinarily different; each and every exterior panel on the car was made by aerodynamics. The front headlights had a slight bump to them, allowing the air to flow smoothly without it having to change directions. The side view mirrors were built in such a way that they gave me as a driver the feeling that they were floating away from the car. The MP4-12C in my eyes, felt like it was made for wind rather than the sake of art, each and every panel was designed in such a way that it consequently lead the car to be flat on the ground.

One thing that caught my attention straight away is how the front LED lights and the rear reflectors of the MP4-12C’s were shaped as their logo, something small yet has a big effect on the driver. The doors are truly easy to open, not heavy like the Murcielagos’ doors. The only confusing element for a "first" time driver/passenger of this car faces is how to actually get in the car; there aren’t any levers or handles on the help the driver/passenger, also the doors open, lock and unlock with a simple hand gesture which is part of the confusion you get the first time you are around the car. After sometime it feels simple, yet confusing.


Interior, was actually very different, Straight to the point. Not like the Ferrari’s fine Italian leather, and its placement of the interior panels. The MP4-12C‘s interior is designed for more leg space. Also the air-conditioning instruments were on both sides of the car, and not in the center like how most cars have it. The A/C instruments were on the door, a small screen and some buttons. Its center panel and control units are very user friendly and accessible for both the driver and the passenger. The Ferrari’s multimedia is really made for the driver to use, the screen in the 458 is positioned in such a way that it's only for the drivers view rather than the passenger. The MP4-12C’s multimedia system was fixed right in the center of the car, not horizontally like in the majority of cars we see today. The two differences in the interior are the vertically fixed screen and more leg space for the driver/passenger. The sound system of the MP4-12C was pretty impressive as well. Took me a few minutes only to get the hang of the interior of the MP4-12C. I can say that the one thing I did not like about the interior was the seat control unit, it wasn’t very user friendly, and I had to duck under the seat in order to find the lever to move and adjust the entire seat. One factor I liked in the MP4-12C was the visibility, It felt like I was driving a glass bubble! I couldn’t find any spot where it wasn’t visible to me, I could see everything.

Starting the car with one click of a button there I went into the open road. With the car on “normal” mode it seemed and felt very quiet, didn’t feel like it had 592 horses. It was a quiet car, didn’t sound anything like a Ferrari, Lamborghini or even a Porsche. I actually felt like I was driving a completely different car, a normal car. Driving on some road humps that car didn’t feel to have a stiff suspension, also the gear changes were smooth, but nothing compared to Ferrari’s F1 transmission. In the 458, I wouldn’t even feel the car shifting, but in the MP4-12C, I did.

In a Couple of turns and there I was, out of Bahrain’s Financial Harbor and on the open highway. At first I decided to drive the car normally until I got the hang of it, and really got used to it, this continued for about 15 minutes, and during that time the car sounded completely quiet even though I was at a rate of 120km/h on the 7th gear. Everything seemed normal and fine until I switched the cars “power-train” to “sports” mode, and there you go, the exhaust note changed, becoming way louder at the speed I was cruising at.

A couple of kilometers later, the road was empty, and I drove the car the way it should be driven, the MP4-12C felt like a complete different thing, another animal. A new breed. In no time, I floored it from 120km and I was at 270km, I then knew the 458 had no match for the MP4-12C on a straight line. The car would just rocket, feeling those two turbo’s kick in after 3,500 rpms. On my way to Sakheer, home of the Formula 1 circuit, I come across a couple sharp turns and wanted to see how this car can turn, and damn was I impressed. No matter how fast I would turn at, the kick would not let me lose control, I could actually feel the traction control system or the “brake steer” help the car. It felt really different to turn this sharp in the MP4-12C and not feel the need to control an under-steer or an over-steer. It didn’t give me the feel of losing control of the car, it felt like as if the car was doing it all and not me. Didn’t give me that fear that speed demons look for, you knew that the car wouldn’t lose any grip. The handling more or less, felt like it was too good to be true, not something that I would like in real life, something I would see in a movie. One of the things I really found interesting in the car was the braking system and how it performed. At any given speed, once you slam on the brakes the air brakes lift up and cause your eye balls to fall out. The passenger, explained to me how their braking worked. As soon as you smack on the brakes, the airbrake would lift up causing the front nose to descend. But not in this car. You can actually feel the front suspension stabilize the cars ride height (I’m not really sure if you guys understood this concept of the airbrake and the car stabilizing itself automatically.) Last, is the traction control system in the car. Un-freaking-believable. Both MP4-12C’s were at a stand-still, the light turns green and we both floor it, and the car just rocketed. I could actually feel the traction hold and let go of the car, it was a very different feel to be honest. A car with this much power and this much torque I was expecting the traction to hold, but it didn’t. The traction felt as if it was pushing the car rather than holding the car. I cant really explain you the feel of the traction in the car works unless you actually drive this car. The one thing I actually was surprised of the MP4-12C was actually “How far can I take this car to?” I know that I drove this car for 2 hours only comparing it to driving the 458 for many months now, but I really could figure out the MP4-12c’s limit. The car felt like a rubber band that just wouldn’t snap.

Overall, the Mclaren MP4-12C, didn’t have the grunt of a Lamborghini, nor the feel of a Ferrari. It was in another world, I wouldn’t say that the Mclaren is better, no infact the Mclaren is different rather than better. The Mclaren lacked in an “exhaust note”, it was as if the boys at Mclaren found it ‘unnecessary’ to have a beautiful exhaust note, or have a body kit that would be different. The car felt as if it was made for its main purpose, racing, and that’s what it feels like. Mclaren really did focus on making this truly an ultimate luxury racing car, and that’s what they did.

Now to answer a few, after driving the 458 for a couple of months, would I own a MP4-12C along side a Ferrari 458? Yes I would, because they really aren’t the same. Both cars are remarkable machines from two of the greatest names in racing history. Two different rivals in the same ball game.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take any pictures of the Mclaren along side with the 458.

This is my first article so you guys can go easy on me

Hope you guys like it!

 

nice write up mate

 

very nice write up, thank you



btw i just saw ur 458 at lilou

 

Great review and analysis... Thx!

 

Good review!

 

Great review!!!

thanks!


btw...everything on the 458s exterior is aerodynamics as well...it all serves a purpose - thus it can live without spoilers and stuff(except the front splitter which is deforming with increasing airflow at speed)

 

A good read,thats exactly as i would put it.The ulimate luxury racing car,well said

 

Excellent review, great read indeed.

 

Nice review! Thanks for sharing!

 

Very fair comments, good analysis and well written! Thanks for sharing!

John