McLaren has just officially revealed the MP4-12C supercar to the world and has also revealed the final specifications.

So whats the story? Well the two-seat MP4-12C makes use of a 3.8-litre twin turbo petrol V8 engine. Maximum power output is an impressive 441 kW (592 bhp) developed at 7,000 rpm. The engine will rev all the way up to a 8,500 rpm redline. Torque figures are equally impressive at 599 Nm (442 lb-ft) from 3,000 rpm. McLaren claim that 479 Nm (353 lb-ft) of total torque is available from just 2,000 rpm. Performance figures are sketchy at this stage but the 0 – 100 km sprint should be dispatched  in the very low 3s or less and a top speed of well over 300 km/h is expected.

Power is shifted to the rear axle through a 7-speed double clutch gearbox connected to F1-style aluminium paddles located behind the steering wheel. The gearbox offers a choice of Normal, Sport and Track driving modes.

With the cars compact dimensions (4507mm long, 1908mm wide, 1199mm high and with a wheelbase of 2670mm) and a carbon composite monocoque, weight has been kept to less than 1,300kg. This has helped with C02 emissions and McLaren Automotive reports a figure of under 300g/km, significantly lower than its key supercar rivals. Extra points for green credentials.

Inside the Mp4-12C there is some handy equipment including a 7-inch multi-function touch screen and Wi-Fi connectivity.

An inside look at the work that has gone into developing the new McLaren MP4-12C so far with McLaren chief test driver Chris Goodwin and others involved in engineering the new supercar.

McLaren is now in the final phase of development for its upcoming supercar the McLaren MP4-12C . The company with the Kiwi connection are set to announce official performance details on their new prototypes next month, leading to the car’s global launch next year.

McLaren has released a video showing the car in testing and refers to each vehicle as an “experimental prototype,” or XP for short. Shown in the vid are cars named the XP8 and XP10, camouflaged behind matte black vinyls. These vehicles began road testing five weeks ago, according to the video.

In the four-minute long video, the cars can be seen moving freely around roads near Montblanc, Spain, and on the race track.

The MP4-12C is to use an updated version of the McLaren M838T twin-turbo engine, and a gearbox with optimised ratios.¨¨ McLaren claims that not a minute goes by that the XPs prototypes are not tested. The company has a team of about 25 engineers working on the car in shifts 24/7.

It must be a tough job thrashing a Supercar prototype around rural roads in Spain, so all credit to the brave engineers involved.

Check out the video below it’s a good watch.

After ambitiously launching its own separate automotive division to chase down arch-rival Ferrari, McLaren has finally released its long-anticipated new supercar. Called the MP4-12C, it’s a totally in-house development, and features the latest automotive technology taken straight from F1.

The MP4-12C is built around a very light but rigid carbon fibre tub. The body panels are all made of carbon fibre and composites, which does make the new McLaren more expensive to build than its competitors and results in a hefty £160,000 ($379k NZ) price tag — more expensive than the new Ferrari 458 Italia or the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, but lighter than both also.

Motivation comes from a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 engine producing around 600 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque. For some green credentials McLaren is claiming the engine offers the highest horsepower to CO2 ratio of any internal combustion engine on the market. The engine is entirely McLaren developed without any Mercedes assistance and features a flat-plane crank, dry sump and can rev up to 8,500 rpm, with 80% of the torque apparently available from as low as 2,000 rpm. Predicted performance figures are a 0-100 sprint time in the low threes and a 320+ kph top end.

McLaren have rejected carbon ceramic brakes in favour of conventional discs that it says actually weigh less. They’re aided by a Brake Steer system that brakes the inside rear wheel to combat understeer. But the real trick technology system is the cars seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, where ‘Pre-Cog’ lets the driver load up the next gear by half-squeezing the paddle and then engaging it with lightening speed.

With the new MP4-12C, McLaren is backing the popularity of the vehicle and is planning on building 1000 units in 2011, a quarter of which will go to the domestic UK market and a quarter to the United States. A roadster version may also be planned to join the coupe.