McLaren unveiled the McLaren 12C Spider in 2012, a few months after unveiling the 12C coupe, and in some markets, McLaren launched both cars together. Since McLaren modeled the 12C coupe's chassis intending to turn it into a convertible later, they didn't need any reinforcements on the chassis to increase body rigidity and chassis strength when making the McLaren 12C Spider. Everything from the 12C coupe was carried over to the McLaren 12C spider, and like most McLaren convertibles that followed, the 12C Spider is a convertible with no compromise. The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 still made a remarkable 616 horsepower to the rear wheels. This is more than the coupe's initial 592 horsepower during early production, as the McLaren 12C Spider got the updated engine ECU and transmission programming. Amidst McLaren’s and other car manufacturers' evolution, making supercars that defy the rules of speed, the McLaren 12C Spider is still worth buying today. Prices average between $100,000 and $140,000, making it the perfect beginner supercar. However, its low price doesn't reflect the 12C Spider's nature, as, despite its age, it still delivers exceptional performance. Well, that's dependent on whether you get a well-kept unit, but there's a good chance you will if you buy a McLaren 12C Spider on Exotic Car Trader.
Donning similar engineering and construction, McLaren launched the McLaren 12C Spider at the 2012 Pebble Beach weekend in California. And even though it's one and the same as the 12C coupe, McLaren retained that the McLaren 12C Spider was the second car in their growing performance supercars and sports cars range offering more than the astonishing performance of the 12C Coupe. The only difference the McLaren 12C Spider has over the coupe is that it doesn't have a clear glass engine cover. Instead, it has a body-colored hard tonneau cover to accommodate the roof compartment, which can be used as a storage compartment when the roof is up. As a result, the Mclaren 12C Spider looks better from the rear, especially when the top is down. You get a clear view of the car with the seats below the stunning twin buttresses, not on the 12C Coupe. The roof on the McLaren 12C Spider adds the thrill of open-air driving without compromising on performance, driver dynamics, and handling. McLaren even introduced cabin comforts that make being inside the McLaren 12C Spider almost similar to being in the 12C coupe. But doesn't a roof add to the car's weight in a convertible? Sure, however, in the McLaren 12C Spider, the top and its mechanism only add 88 pounds over the coupe's weight. Through the McLaren 12C's production, McLaren only made 3,400 units, with 1,360 being 12C Spiders, all made at the car manufacturer's headquarters and manufacturing plant in Woking, England.
One widely accepted supercar engineering principle is that the engine should be mid-positioned for a car to have the best performance, and the McLaren12C Spider does just that. The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 sits behind the cabin ahead of the rear axle, sending its 616 horsepower to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with improved clutch control, resulting in smoother and quicker shifts. Designed to be as light as possible, McLaren made the engine with dry sump lubrication and a flat plane crankshaft, enabling lower positioning of the engine onto the chassis. As for the chassis, the McLaren 12C Spider utilizes the lightweight carbon fiber MonoCell F1-inspired chassis that ensures class-leading rigidity handling and safety. Its lightweight nature, weighing 3,249 pounds, powerful engine, and quick shifting transmission enable the McLaren 12C Spider to achieve a 0-60 time of 3.1 seconds, similar to the 12C coupe's time. With the top down, it can do 202 mph flat out, which isn't lowered by much when the roof is down since the McLaren 12C spider can do 196 mph with an open top. When new, the McLaren 12C Spider could average 24 mpg, the same as the 12C coupe.
Inside the McLaren 12C Spider, you get the same cozy interior as the McLaren 12 coupe. Leather seats were offered as standard, meaning you'll likely get one today with the same seats it was made with. Depending on the original buyer's options, you can get a full leather interior or leather/Alcantara interior with the Alcantara layered on the dashboard and complemented with bits of aluminum and carbon. The cabin layout is designed around the driver with ergonomic control placement. There are no controls on the steering wheel, but they are placed on the center console for easier reach and to reduce distractions from being placed on the wheel or at the top of the dashboard. Also, the driver's seat is electrically adjustable, allowing for quick and personalized seating position adjustment. McLaren recalibrated the audio system and air conditioning's climate control in the McLaren 12C Spider for open-air driving, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. The Meridian Audio system is fine-tuned to deliver an immersive audio experience even when the roof is down and has automatic volume and tone control. These adjust each speaker to take into account an increase in external sound when the top is down. The air conditioning climate control automatically adjusts to maintain a constant temperature in the cabin when the roof is down. Additionally, you can raise the rear cabin glass if the wind becomes too much.
For a car made over a decade ago, the McLaren 12C Spider still looks good with its sleek lines and graceful curves that will earn the car several stares even when surrounded by newer supercars at your local cars and coffee. The best feature of the McLaren 12C Spider's exterior is the twin buttresses behind the seats, giving the car a McLaren Elva appearance. In addition to looking good, the twin buttresses are meant to ensure seat occupant safety in a crash, and each has a steel structure to absorb impact energy. A body-colored hard tonneau cover on the McLaren 12C Spider replaces the transparent engine cover on the coupe, giving the 12C Spider a unique and better look. When the roof is up, the compartment underneath the tonneau cover serves as extra storage, making the McLaren 12C Spider more practical than the coupe and even most supercars today. McLaren didn't start implementing their form follows function ethos in their newer supercars. Like in the 12C coupe and other McLaren sports cars, supercars, and hypercars, every line and curve on the McLaren 12C Spider is designed to ensure maximum aerodynamics and manage airflow. This ensures the front brake and the radiators behind the cabin get enough cooling and the car remains as aerodynamic as possible for optimum performance. The McLaren 12C Spider had one of the fastest-operating roofs during production. It can be raised or lowered in less than 17 seconds and operated at speeds up to 19 mph.
The McLaren 12C Spider has pretty good tech features that enhance its performance, thrilling every mile you drive. For starters, McLaren did away with anti roll bars and replaced them with their Proactive Chassis Control System, which enhances handling thanks to its innovative adaptive dampers that work through electronic sensors monitoring the body's movement and the wheels. The suspension has three similar modes but separate from the powertrain modes: Normal, Sport, and Track. Normal mode provides suspension settings best for road driving, while sport and track make the suspension stiff and more responsive for hardcore driving conditions. Further enhancing the McLaren's 12C Spider's handling is the F1-derived Brake Steer system. How does this work? When braking in corners, the system applies more braking force to the inside rear wheel, boosting cornering speed and improving agility and driver confidence. According to McLaren, the Brake Steer system uses hardware from the car's electronic stability control system. Lastly, as with the 12C coupe, the McLaren 12C Spider also has an airbrake wing designed to improve braking when braking from speeds above 59mph. It also enhances aerodynamics and reduces drag by smoothening air flow over the car.
Priced at around $100,000, the McLaren 12C Spider is among the best supercars, especially if you're on a budget and looking for something to kickstart the highly addictive supercar-buying hobby. But despite the age, supercars like the McLaren 12C Spider represent a part of yourself and will give you a higher sense of belonging within the car community that most car enthusiasts yearn for. You can buy a McLaren MP4-12C Spider through Exotic Car Trader today, and if you can't find a spec that suits you, we guarantee daily listing updates, so ensure you watch out for our McLaren MP4-12C Spider listings. Also, if you have a taste for McLarens, check out our McLaren listings.
The McLaren 12C Spider remains a popular choice among automotive enthusiasts with its performance, which is still impressive over a decade after its entry into the supercar scene. Sure, its price is inviting to anyone with the money, but true drivers will enjoy the thrill it offers since it doesn't drive like a car that would go for around $100,000. If you're worried about driving an outdated supercar, the McLaren 12C Spider will not be joining that bandwagon, so if you have plans of getting one, take this as a sign to do it today!
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