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Now, owners of this 625hp British supercar looking for an even more individual twist, can order the attractive GEMBALLA GT package for the 12C Spider, which makes its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
Highlights of the GEMBALLA GT Spider are its carbon-fibre Aero Kit, interior re-trim in the finest leathers, and the brand new GForged-one lightweight alloy wheels.
A pioneer of personalisation for Porsche cars, GEMBALLA now offers a comprehensive programme for the McLaren family, too. The symbiosis that brings these three great marques together is elegant design, high-performance and the use of lightweight material technologies.
Thus, GEMBALLA’s German designed and manufactured aerodynamic components eschew even the industry-standard use of PU RIM or GRP, making the leap to carbon-fibre for the ultimate in strength and lightness. GEMBALLA’s aero package consists of a new front bumper/spoiler, side skirts and rear valence, which perfectly line up with the OE bodywork using the factory mounting points. Continue reading The GEMBALLA GT Spider based on the McLaren 12C Spider→
The guys from woking have handed the keys over to the Sport Auto reviewers in Germany for a timed lap of the Nordschleife.
The v8 Biturbo engine delivers a whopping 600hp to the rear wheels through a seven speed dual clutch, and all this sitting in a Carbon fiber monocoque weighing in at 1434kg.
The Editor in Chief of SportAuto managed to ascertain a time of 7:28 im pretty sure that there is another 10 seconds to be had in this car but perhaps not this year.
Frankfurt, 22/08/2011. Setting yet another milestone in the year of its 30th Anniversary, GEMBALLA is proud to announce the debut of GEMBALLA racing. The new team will enter two McLaren MP4-12C GT3 cars in the 2012 motorsport season.
Team owner and GEMBALLA investor, Steffen Korbach, has hired Sascha Bert to manage his new motorsport venture. A well-known racing driver and instructor, Bert is a former German kart champion, Formula 3 and FIA GT driver, and has stood on the winners’ podium at the Nürburgring VLN 24-hour race amongst others. As Korbach said in Frankfurt today, “Sascha Bert is an absolute pro, and is ideally qualified to manage our new racing team.”
“We chose the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 because we think this car has the potential to be one of the season’s leaders,” Korbach explained. “We have also put together a team of drivers and mechanics who are proven winners. Racing is in our blood! We want to win!”
The GEMBALLA name has been synonymous with high performance, reliability and extraordinary qualities for 30 years. Now, 17 years after the McLaren F1 GTR won the gruelling 24-hours of Le Mans on its debut outing, GEMBALLA racing will capitalise on McLaren’s competition pedigree to mount its own challenge.
Race bred by a marque that has always been a front-runner in Formula 1, the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 incorporates world-class technology. Based on the recently launched MP4-12C supercar, the GT3 racecar features a 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine, bespoke racing gearbox, carbon safety cell, race front splitter, large fixed rear wing, optimised air vents at the front and a racing diffuser at the rear. The steering wheel with integrated display is an ode to Formula 1.
McLaren GT will build 20 new MP4-12C GT3 cars for privateer teams to race in 2012. At a press conference held at the McLaren Technology Centre, senior McLaren GT executives revealed to the world’s media and a group of prospective 12C GT3 clients the price and development programme details of the first non-Formula 1 race car built by McLaren since the McLaren F1 GTR.
Andrew Kirkaldy, CRS Racing Team Principal and Project Manager for McLaren GT said: “Having been a customer of GT car manufacturers for many years, I’m delighted we are now able to offer a carbon chassis based GT3 car for £310,000 excluding taxes. There will be no hidden costs and we will work as hard as we can to support as many races as we can.
“We will spend the 2011 season developing the car with a team from McLaren Racing, McLaren Applied Technologies and McLaren Automotive and make sure this is the most efficient, reliable and easy to drive GT3 car on the grid when we deliver cars to customers next year.”
Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Group CEO said: “The new MP4-12C sports car is the essence of a race car and we used Formula 1 simulation technology to get us ahead in our development programme. We have a unique mix of experience in the McLaren GT team and I expect the 12C GT3 to be the start of our GT racing plans. We have had great success outside of Formula 1, from the US, to France, to Japan and there is no reason why we can’t repeat that success in sports cars after 2012.”
The first non prototype McLaren MP4-12C GT3 to be built by McLaren GT – a new company that brings together the expertise of the McLaren Group and CRS Racing – has successfully undertaken its debut tests at the MIRA proving ground facility and Silverstone Circuit in England.
McLaren GT has also appointed a new test driver to its team, 26-year-old Portuguese racing driver Álvaro Parente.
The initial shakedown tests undertaken with the 12C GT3, whereby new components are calibrated and bespoke aerodynamic body structures are appraised for the first time, will be followed by comprehensive tests scheduled throughout March and April at a number of FIA* certified circuits across Europe.
News on the development programme, full driver line-up and planned competition for the 12C GT3 will be confirmed after these tests are completed. Enjoy the content of the Official Photos and Video from McLaren Automotive.
0 – 200kph (124mph) in 9.1s (8.9s on optional Corsa tyres)
CO2 emissions of 279g/km (equating to 24.2 EU mpg combined)
0 – 100kph (62mph) in 3.3s (3.1s with optional Corsa tyres)
Top speed: 330kph (205mph)
100 – 0 kph (62 – 0mph) in 30.5 m (100 ft)
¼ mile: 10.9s @ 135 mph
Power:weight (lightweight options): 461PS / 455bhp per tonne
Power: 600PS (592bhp) at 7,000 rpm
Torque: 600Nm (443lb ft) between 3,000 – 7,000 rpm
They also released some interesting facts about the test data they carried out testing on the Nordschleife and the limitiations from winter closure.
As well as road miles, the 12C has undergone novel laboratory development, including with a ‘virtual reproduction’ of the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The Nordschleife in Germany (as any fule kno) is regarded as the world’s ultimate test circuit due to its combination of challenging surfaces and 12.93m length.
“We have a permanent test base at the Applus IDIADA proving ground in Northern Spain, ” says Technical Director Dick Glover. “Our team of engineers took data from the Nordschleife circuit including lateral g performance, vertical road inputs, engine throttle position and gearing, and created a programme which can then be run at IDIADA, which we call the Idischleife Concept.
“This programme allows us to undertake challenging and aggressive testing to the level experienced at the Nordschleife but at a location where we can run testing literally twenty-four hours, seven days a week and quickly move the 12C closer to its development targets,”
The first McLaren MP4-12C (‘Chassis 01′) production car takes shape in McLaren Technology Centre 2011 milestone announced with a new high quality ‘best of’ short film capturing highlights of the 2010 12C launch programme.
After we witnesses the High’s and lows of the Nurburgring testing we know this vehicle has been tested to destruction, the VP8 prototype left the eifel wounded but with experience carried over in to production.
McLaren Automotive plans to build up to 1,000 12Cs in 2011. Most will be manufactured in a bespoke new £40m McLaren Production Centre, which is due for completion in May on a site adjacent to MTC. However, ‘Chassis 01′ is being built in the existing MTC production facility, where outstanding quality and highly efficient production methods have been fine-tuned since the Foster + Partners-designed building opened in 2004.
The innovative 12C was first presented to the public at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed in southern England in July 2010, prior to a North American debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. 12Cs were then presented at exclusive events to prospective customers and media around the world as McLaren Automotive toured many of the cities that
The innovative new McLaren MP4-12C was given its public world debut at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed, held from 01-04 July. Current Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button and 2008 Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton delighted the crowds by driving a McLaren Orange Validation Prototype (VP) 12C up the famous Goodwood Hill on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
With McLaren Automotive Managing Director, Antony Sheriff at the wheel, the MP4-12C was the first car to be driven up Goodwood Hill on Friday 02 July, effectively opening the show. The 12C was subsequently granted pole position in every Supercar Run over the course of the weekend, a fitting gesture to two Formula 1 World Champions that are accustomed to leading from the front!
In addition to another 12C VP car, finished in Volcano Orange and fitted with stunning Lightweight Forged alloy wheels, many of the 176,000 visitors to Goodwood Festival of Speed over the course of the event were drawn to a 12C rolling chassis displayed on the McLaren stand. Presenting a car in this way underlines the skill and pride the team place in the 12C’s engineering integrity. By viewing firsthand the car’s hydraulic suspension arrangement, its carbon Monocell chassis, compact 3.8-litre twin-turbo engine and unique transmission unit, visitors with an appreciation for innovation and technology had a rare glimpse of what lies under the skin of the 12C.
McLaren Automotive Managing Director Antony Sheriff said: “The visitors to our stand were the perfect blend of car enthusiasts and potential customers; I’m delighted that we chose Goodwood Festival of Speed to unveil the 12C to the public. Two British Formula 1 World Champions were behind the wheel of the car as we led the field up the hill. A major landmark, delivered to McLaren’s high standards.
“Visitors to the McLaren stand either displayed an in-depth understanding of the bespoke technologies developed for the 12C, or spent time discussing our plans. It was a great opportunity for tens of thousands of car fans to see the car in the metal…and carbon.
“This is just the start for McLaren Automotive. In five year’s time, I expect us to be presenting a full range of innovative and performance-focused sports cars. Sports car enthusiasts all over the world will be able to enjoy McLaren cars up close and personal at events like Goodwood Festival of Speed.”
We have been following the development of this model see the early production test cars below from early 2009 at the Nurburgring:-
