McLaren’s drop-top to cost £195.5K

McLaren Automotive has revealed more photos and details of the 12C Spider, including the price.

The effectively open-topped version of the MP4-12C will go on sale at a price of £195,500, which is £27,000 more than the hardtop.

In many respects the car is identical to the MP4-12C that went on sale 12 months ago, and it uses the same 615bhp, twin-turbo V8 engine.

The carbonfibre ‘monocell’ chassis, which is moulded in one piece, was originally designed as a convertible, and so needs no additional strengthening for it to be used for the 12C Spider.

McLaren says that as a result the car performs almost identically to the hardtop, the convertible roof system adding only 40 kilos in weight.

The Retractable Hard Top is electrically-operated and takes less than 17 seconds to raise or lower. It can be operated on the move, at speeds up to19mph.

A rear windscreen can also be electronically lowered and raised. With the roof lowered it acts as wind deflector and with the roof raised the rear window can be lowered, to give those inside the full benefit of the V8’s engine note.

A passive Roll Over Protection System is included with impact-absorbing steel fitted to each upright.

Among other updates announced for the car, is an optional vehicle lift system to provide extra ground clearance, for example over more vicious speed bumps.

The system raises the front by up to 40mm at the front and 25mm at the rear, and can remain in position at speeds up to 37mph.

Orders are now being taken for the 12C Spider, with the first cars expected on the roads in November.

Words by: Andrew Charman