The twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine wedged low behind our seat howls and barks as we crack off rapid-fire upshifts down a short interior straightaway at Auto Club Speedway in the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C.

The braking zone for a left-right chicane comes up insanely quick, but the binders are unperturbed and the steering carves with immediate precision. In no time we're back hard on the gas as the big rear tires catapult us toward the exit curbing and the corner beyond.

Any intimidation we carried with us into the cockpit of this exotic supercar drains away before this, the first flying lap, is complete. Beyond mere speed, our confidence in the McLaren's unwavering grip and balance has ratcheted up so quickly that our focus has already begun to shift to finding the fastest line around the circuit.

Who knew that a 592-horsepower supercar could be this intuitive?