McLaren Automotive officially launches itself and MP4-12C supercar [w/video]

McLaren MP4-12C – Click above for high-res image gallery

At a press conference held at its technology center in the UK this morning, McLaren Automotive officially launched itself into existence as a real, honest-to-goodness automaker. McLaren Automotive chairman Ron Dennis introduced the new MP4-12C by reminding the audience that since McLaren entered Formula One competition in 1966, the team has won 25 percent of all the races that have taken place. McLaren created the first carbon fiber chassis F1 car in 1981 and the first series production road car with a carbon chassis. The now-departed Mercedes–McLaren SLR was the highest-selling carbon fiber chassis road car ever (so far).

The MP4-12C is the next chapter in the story. Dennis emphasized that the MP4-12C and future McLaren products will be engineered, manufactured and most importantly exported from the UK. Dennis repeatedly used the word passion when discussing what McLaren wanted to achieve.
Anthony Sheriff, Managing Director of McLaren Automotive discussed the car in more detail. When the program started five years ago, McLaren decided that it needed to be better than its competitors in Italy and Germany. If a customer wanted a car as good as a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche, they could just buy one of those cars.

Continue reading after the jump and stay tuned for live images of the MP4-12C from McLaren’s press conference.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C