Video: McLaren MP4-12C being tested in Spain

McLaren MP4-12C undergoing testing – Click the image above to view the video after the jump

As McLaren Automotive moves toward production launch of its new MP4-12C next year, the workload for the engineers is intensifying to make sure everything functions as it should. Since England isn’t always the most pleasant place to do high speed testing this time of year, the latest batch of prototypes have been shipped south to Spain for more work.

The so-called XP Beta cars have dispensed with the black and white camo and are now clad simply in flat black vinyl. If the production twin-turbo V8 sounds anything like it does in the video the new McLaren will have one of the best notes on the road. The beta cars feature updated engines, gear ratios, cooling and electrical systems.

These test vehicles are integration prototypes intended to make sure all systems function properly together. Some of the test units are running high-speed durability test 24 hours a day with a team of two dozen engineers watching over them. One of the goals is to make sure that the MP4-12C remains stable at its maximum speed, something not all supercars manage to achieve. We can’t wait to try it out for ourselve, but before that happens check out the video after the jump.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C first shots