The McLaren named for a small copier/fax machine (Don’t write letters), the MP4-12C, has been officially axed.
Yes, the car that brought the McLaren brand back into road-going automotive fame has been discontinued in favor of the 650S, which we drove last week in Spain.
“Following the temporary suspension of 12C and 12C Spider production, McLaren Automotive confirms that a six month order bank of the McLaren 650S has already been built and, as a result, the McLaren Production Centre will now focus completely on producing the McLaren 650S moving forward,” a McLaren spokesman told Top Gear.
The -12C was McLaren’s first production car since the F1 of the 1990s. Just because it is ceasing its third and bottom-end model doesn’t mean a slowdown for the British supercar brand.
McLaren will soon be unveiling the new P13 entry-level supercar, to rival the Lamborghini Huracan and Audi R8 … perhaps even the new Mercedes SLR.
We’re sad to see the -12C go. But we’re even more excited about its new brand brethren.