We had some time this weekend at the StreetCarDrags event at Palm Beach International Raceway to line up a couple of the most competitive super cars out today, the McLaren MP4-12C and the Ferrari 458 Italia from ADV.1. The McLaren MP4-12C comes into the ring weighing in at 3,118 pounds with a 3.8L Twin Turbo V8 pushing out 616 horsepower through a 7 speed dual clutch seamless shift gearbox while the Ferrari is a little heavier at 3,200 pounds and a naturally aspirated 4.5L V8 pushing out 562 horsepower through a 7 speed dual clutch transmission.
Both the McLaren MP4-12C and Ferrari 458 were using their launch control systems which come off the line at 3,000 RPM, but extra low-end torque from the McLaren’s turbocharged engine proves to be an advantage allowing the MP4-12C to bolt off the line and use it’s extra power and less weight to keep on pulling away. The McLaren MP4-12C was running 10.5-10.6 @ 133-134 MPH for these races and Ferrari 458 was running 11.2 – 11.3 @ 124-126 MPH.
We had some time testing out the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C to get some real world all out drag racing and performance results at Palm Beach International Raceway. The McLaren MP4-12C is powered by a 3.8L Twin Turbocharged V8 pumping out 616HP through a 7 speed dual clutch transmission. The car we tested had the 2013 updates provided by McLaren that brings the 2012 to the 2013 spec which includes a bump in power from 592 to 616HP as well as reprogrammed transmission logic.
This McLaren was equipped with the carbon ceramic brakes, sport exhaust and super light wheels which saves precious weight coming in at just 3,118 pounds with 1/4 tank of fuel. This puts the power to weight ratio at 5.06 pounds per HP.
We used the McLaren’s launch control system which held the RPMs at 3,000 and catapulted the car from 0-60 MPH in just 2.9 seconds, 0-100 MPH in 5.9 seconds and a 1/4 mile time of 10.55 @ 134.56 MPH. The in car VBOX also recorded a 60-130 MPH time of 6.59 seconds.
This was done on the factory provided 305/30/20 Pirelli PZero tires and the launch had a decent amount of wheel spin. With some sticker tires and no wheel spin we’re confident this lightweight British monster will go even quicker into the 10.40′s.
This real world actual drag strip 10.55 run puts the McLaren MP4-12C ahead of the $450k Lamborghini Aventador and makes the McLaren the quickest stock production car in the world bested only by the $1.6M Bugatti Veyron. This is a pretty amazing feat considering the McLaren is rear wheel drive. Take a look at the pictures, videos and timeslips below.
Here is a heads up race between a 2005 Ford GT and a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at the recent StreetCarDrags Event at Palm Beach International Raceway. The Ford GT has a pulley and tune upgrade by Heffner Performance and the ZR1 is stock. Both were running on street tires and struggling a bit off the line with the best run of the day for the Ford GT at 11.09 @ 131 MPH and 11.3 @ 128 MPH for the ZR1. We also weighed both cars with the Ford GT coming in at 3,430 pounds and the ZR1 3,299 pounds.
Here is a heads up race between a 2005 