Watch the road trip to end all road trips – Steve Sutcliffe drives the epic McLaren MP4-12C from the Autodroma International in Portugal all the way back to the UK, via Le Mans, of course. Expect to see long, winding roads, police and a flock of sheep to boot, in this special extended video feature.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
The first serious attempt to produce a single-seat
Video Rating: 4 / 5
#1 by illusionfyre on December 26, 2011 - 4:45 am
dam. i would give anything to go on a road trip in this car.
#2 by MrMnote on December 26, 2011 - 4:55 am
@sw1000xg Have you driven either of them?
#3 by JOKBO1 on December 26, 2011 - 5:53 am
@autocar how much did u spend in gas?
#4 by sw1000xg on December 26, 2011 - 6:44 am
@kdkalamariotis The word Passion is an excuse to use when you can’t drive or have a car made better than the other!
#5 by kdkalamariotis on December 26, 2011 - 7:38 am
@jdnic1 A performance car should be all about that and driver satisfaction! If I want an everyday car I will get a golf and have the ferrari in my garage!
#6 by kdkalamariotis on December 26, 2011 - 7:40 am
@sw1000xg Britain is making wonderful drivers cars but this is not one of them! …Sorry! In this performace territory its only about passion and if a car doesn’t have that its a failure!
#7 by Einheitskreis on December 26, 2011 - 7:42 am
@Awadfakhoury Sorry, but you are (very) wrong on this.
#8 by sw1000xg on December 26, 2011 - 8:41 am
@Doo0ne Have to say this but look at Sport Auto Horst Von Saurma is only good in Porsches! Everything else he’s a bit rubbish in! Some cars require a different way of driving look at the Fith Gear 458-MP4 test they hated the MP4 because it would not go sideways and that to a journalist is like the end of the world! It was also 0/10th slower than the 458! BS! It’s defo the way a car corners and handles if it does not agree with them the times will always be slower!
#9 by Doo0ne on December 26, 2011 - 9:16 am
Top Gear said the same thing as 5th Gear. Not as fun to drive and doesn’t stir the emotions like the Ferrari. Which u think looks and sounds better is a matter of opinion.
Who watched How to Build a Supercar the other night on BBC2? It showed how they make the MP4-12C. Quite incredible. Catch it on iplayer if u missed it!
#10 by Doo0ne on December 26, 2011 - 9:21 am
@sw1000xg Ben Collins did quicker laps in the 458. Probably depends on the circuit and the tyres though tbh.
#11 by jdnic1 on December 26, 2011 - 9:58 am
Well, mclaren really didn’t make this car to be the fastest, they made this car for more like an every day use. That’s why they choose the v8 engine for it and this beast has 24.2mpg which is verry impressive for a super car.
#12 by RioRollerss on December 26, 2011 - 10:15 am
Nice video, next to your video our trip looks like the minimum road trip. Perhaps we can score a car like that, wow that car is true beauty.
#13 by Awadfakhoury on December 26, 2011 - 10:41 am
the lamborghini aventador is way btter
#14 by Rancherification on December 26, 2011 - 10:43 am
@yowyOw69 I am with you all the way,
#15 by minazmorgul on December 26, 2011 - 11:14 am
6:34 it looks so epic
[And the best thing of all these, it's British:)]
#16 by microsofre on December 26, 2011 - 11:55 am
what a stupid brit guy, he says it’s driving for 40min in portugal and he is in spain in that moment, there is a sign saying “ciudad Rodrigo”. Don’t mess with the Portuguese, plz
#17 by phantomloita on December 26, 2011 - 12:54 pm
I’m 17th fastest in the world a MP4-12C (S700) at Autodroma…..on Forza 4
#18 by balitaSR on December 26, 2011 - 1:52 pm
@sw1000xg I had the exact same feeling regarding the fifth gear review. They ruled out the 12c solely because they could not make stupid sideways action in a mid-engine supercar built for grip. Yeah right.
#19 by jdnic1 on December 26, 2011 - 2:45 pm
i kinda like this car in silver
#20 by sw1000xg on December 26, 2011 - 3:38 pm
@yowyOw69 I see it all the time if the tail end does not come out it’s boring! Sorry but that’s F’ing BS too! Hardly anyone does that apart from atuo journalists! And when the MP4 came out it proved there more than morons! Fifth Gear hated it because it would not kick it’s tail out! Others where the same! I HATE this over steer crap! I never happens on the street or the track unless you spin and DIE! watch?v=gQLM-K9TwWM Did he enjoy his over steer no coz it’s a magazine thing! MORONS!
#21 by sw1000xg on December 26, 2011 - 4:00 pm
@yowyOw69 650bhp Litchfield GTR!
#22 by sw1000xg on December 26, 2011 - 4:20 pm
@yowyOw69 The 458 and Mp4 both have computers nothing more saying one is driving you and the other is not is BS! And no I don’t have a passion for them there a rip off all style all show all noise and what does it achive? NOTHING! My friend owns a 650bhp Litchfield and I get more please from that whooping Ferraris Porsches, Lambos on the track! I have the widest smile on my face when there behind me! the car is faster in a straight and kills them on track… All that other stuff is for knobs!
#23 by yowyOw69 on December 26, 2011 - 4:58 pm
@sw1000xg You have clearly zero supercars passion. Driving these cars is about feelings, fun and getting the best of it. The difference between the 458 and the MP4 is that the Ferrari let’s you drive it (one of the best ever in the handling) while the McLaren drives you and doesn’t allow you to take it the way you want.
The MP4 is fantastic piece of engineering. The 458 is one the best supercars ever.
Supercars are about beauty, sound and DRIVING emotions. And there the MP4 is disappointing.
#24 by stk931 on December 26, 2011 - 5:17 pm
i wouldnt trust top gear, fifth gear or anyone to give me an opinion about a car. i mean take what they say with a grain of salt. no matter how many great cars youve driven, everyone has different preferences on what they think a car should be. the best way is to drive it yourself…. even if your not a millionaire, you can still rent them
#25 by MrAdrian8630 on December 26, 2011 - 5:54 pm
liar…
#26 by MuRsYid96 on December 26, 2011 - 6:10 pm
@speedjunkie13 + Veyron
#27 by krooner on December 26, 2011 - 6:30 pm
@tljkoap
or a Judd RV675. 3.4l V8
#28 by imilkdude on December 26, 2011 - 7:22 pm
hello speed bump, we meet again.
#29 by ikra on December 26, 2011 - 7:52 pm
hopefully this starts a trend. How many times do you go past a car in roads today with only the driver in it? I really want an affordable single seater car, but for some reason no one is making it. Just needs a sheet of glass over the cockpit so you can drive it in the rain as well.
#30 by tljkoap on December 26, 2011 - 8:12 pm
A hartley h1 v8 engine in this car would be fucking nuts.
#31 by VVoodenVVeapons on December 26, 2011 - 8:32 pm
@speedjunkie13 it’s a LITTLE bit different
#32 by Warrantti on December 26, 2011 - 8:52 pm
There are just too few single seat sports car out there. Why nobody else make these single seat convertible sport cars? When we think sport cars it always have 2 seats but really why? It just makes the car lot heavier, expensive and worse at corners than 1 single-seat car.
I have dream long time F-1 like car for road. This is pure the drivers car. Single seat , RWD, NA engine, engine in the middle, manual gear box, and wind in your hair. How could it possible get better than that?
#33 by Warrantti on December 26, 2011 - 9:19 pm
There are just too few single seat sports car out there. Why nobody else make these single seat convertible sport cars? When we think sport cars it always have 2 seats but really why? It just makes the car lot heavier, expensive and worse at corners than 1 single-seat car.
I have dream long time F-1 like car for road. This is pure the drivers car. Single seat , RWD, NA engine, engine in the middle, manual gear box, and wind in your hair. You it could get possible better than that?
#34 by speedjunkie13 on December 26, 2011 - 10:01 pm
Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Koenigsegg and Pagani dislike this.
#35 by OtherVincentLee on December 26, 2011 - 10:56 pm
@slick88zx you will have 900whp with a 2JZ but a shit ton of turbo lag as well.
#36 by liquidvmusic on December 26, 2011 - 10:57 pm
@slick88zx You would have a huge problem of trying to package a big lump like that in such a precise machine, plus that’s just an insane amount of power for a car like that, it’s not designed to be a formula 1 experience.
#37 by liquidvmusic on December 26, 2011 - 10:59 pm
I absolutely love watching reviews from Steve, his enthusiasm is just so damn inspiring and genuine, makes me want to go out for a drive everytime. Fantastic review
#38 by dbiz89 on December 26, 2011 - 11:57 pm
Mozart design suspension?!
#39 by aepassion on December 27, 2011 - 12:48 am
is it road legal?
#40 by TheJohancha86 on December 27, 2011 - 1:06 am
Forget Lambo, Porsche, Ferrari, Koenigsegg, Pagani, R8 etc.
This is the car I would dump my life’s savings to own and to cherish…
happily ever after in sacred union.
#41 by slick88zx on December 27, 2011 - 1:27 am
Chuck that Cosworth engine and slap in a 900 whp 2JZ, THEN you’ll have a Formula One experience.
#42 by Jeccidah on December 27, 2011 - 2:05 am
@nsriv225 i think this may actualy b the coolest car lol ooo + sorry love i cnt pik u up, the car is a single seater lol
#43 by MrTimmyCahill on December 27, 2011 - 2:33 am
Looks so appealing to drive in one of these.
#44 by ggdeibiza on December 27, 2011 - 2:51 am
What I really wanna know is how it compares to an Ariel Arom or Caparo T1…
#45 by saf768 on December 27, 2011 - 2:57 am
@ggdeibiza well better
#46 by tashtan1 on December 27, 2011 - 3:23 am
Thats really cheap, even if it was named in most expensive currency in the world its still cheap!
#47 by kiwee7 on December 27, 2011 - 4:21 am
tell us what make is your helmet mate.
#48 by trinisuprazee on December 27, 2011 - 5:02 am
LOVE THESE single seaters!!!!
#49 by EngineeringExplained on December 27, 2011 - 5:31 am
I’m confused about his clutch comment: “If you want to use the clutch when you downshift you can.”
Is this transmission not like Formula 1 where the clutch is just used in first gear to start moving?
#50 by SolidGoldKalashnikov on December 27, 2011 - 5:52 am
is that a car?