VIDEO: New McLaren MP4-12C Beats the Snot Out of Ferrari 458 Italia and Porsche 911 Turbo in Drag Race

Even before McLaren released the final specifications on the brand-new MP4-12C, we knew that the British firm"s supercar was fast, but if we are to believe this video that mysteriously popped up on Youtube, then the MP4-12C has a serious speed edge over some of its most famed rivals - at least in a straight line race. The video shows the McLaren MP4-12C clearly beating both the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche 911 Turbo MkII [997] in a drag race believed to have taken place at the Portimao Circuit in Portugal. You can watch the short clip along with a couple more fresh videos released by McLaren right after the jump.

Via: GTspirit & McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C Final figures [Official]

• 0 - 200kph in 9.1s (8.9s on optional Corsa tyres)
• CO₂ emissions of 279g/km (equating to 24.2 EU mpg combined)
• 0 - 100kph in 3.3s (3.1s with optional Corsa tyres)
• top speed: 330kph (205mph)
• 100 - 0 kph in 30.5 m (100 ft)
• ? mile: 10.9s @ 135 mph
• dry weight (with lightweight options): 1301kgs / 2868 lbs
• carbon MonoCell chassis weight: 75kgs / 165 lbs
• power: weight (lightweight options): 461PS / 455bhp per tonne.
• power: 600PS (592bhp) at 7,000 rpm
• torque: 600Nm between 3,000 ? 7,000 rpm

SPECIFICATIONS

Video: New Ferrari 458 Challenge at the Valencia Circuit

At this year’s Bologna Motor Show in Italy, Ferrari unveiled the fabulous 458 Challenge, a competition model boasting the standard model"s 4.5-liter V8 capable of 570 hp. To promote the new racer, Ferrari also organized a series of tests at the Valencia circuit in Spain, inviting its own test drivers and Challenge Cup competitors to share their thoughts about the car. According to Raffaele De Simone, the 458 Challenge is faster than its predecessor, the F430 Challenge, but also easier to drive, while Maurizio Mediani was impressed with the double-clutch gearbox. Scroll down for the video.

By Csaba Daradics

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First Details of Underground Racing’s Twin Turbocharged Ferrari 458 Italia

While Underground Racing admits that Ferrari has done a great job with the 458 Italia, the North Carolina-based tuner wants to spice up the Italian supercar as "something’s missing" from the stock setup. And what may that "something" be, we hear you ask? Why a turbo kit, or even better, how about two? Underground Racing will develop a Stage 1 system that will be fitted to the stock engine, while the Stage 2 conversion will be a more comprehensive update, including a custom built powerplant and force induction. More photos and videos alongside with performance numbers are said to follow soon.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Teamspeed via WFC

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World Premiere for Ferrari"s New 458 Challenge at Bologna Motor Show

The 35th edition of the Bologna Motor Show in Italy, which runs for the public from December 4 to 12, saw Ferrari lifting the covers off the 458 Challenge, a track-only version of the automakers fiery -no pun intended- supercar. The 458 Challenge boasts a host of upgrades over its road-legal sibling to make it race worthy when it hits the grid in Ferrari"s one-make race series from 2011.

While the Challenge keeps the 458 Italia"s direct injection 4.5-liter V8 with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm intact, Ferrari"s engineers have made modifications to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to further improve torque at lower revs. The 458 Challenge is equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari"s track-only cars. Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the firm"s F1-Trac traction control system.

The race-spec model also gets a specific suspension set-up with steel uniball joints, stiffer springs, single-rate alloy dampers and a ride height lowered by 50mm all round. Stopping power is provided by the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes integrated with the latest ABS system which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s experimental laboratory car, while it rides on centre-nut 19-inch forged rims wrapped in larger dimension Pirelli slicks.

Ferrari says significant work has gone into cutting down the car’s weight with the company"s engineers concentrating on reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight materials, such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.

The combined result of all these measures is the improvement of the car’s lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1’16.5". According to the Italian company, the amount of lateral grip the new car generates is 1.6G.

Along with the 458 Challenge, Ferrari is also displaying a variety of other racing models from the past and present at its Bologna Motor Show stand, including a 430 GTC owned by the AF Corse team Ferrari and an F1 model.

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VIDEO: Ferrari 458 Italia is Auto Express’ 2011 Performance Car of the Year

British car magazine Auto Express, has crowned the Ferrari 458 Italia their 2011 Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY). The magazine chose the Italian supercar from a list of 20 contenders, including other big names like the Audi V10 Spyder, Porsche GT3 RS, BMW M3 Competition and Mercedes SLS AMG. The Honda CR-Z, Renault Twingo Cup 133 and Skoda Fabia RS were the more down-to-earth cars of the group. Watch the video summary after the break to see what makes the F458 this year"s performance car in AE"s opinion.

You can also see each car"s lap time here.

By Csaba Daradics

Via: Autoexpress

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Ferrari 458 Italia Roasted Brazilian Style [with Video]

A new set of photos showing a... red-hot Ferrari 458 Italia going up in flames is making the internet rounds today. Even though some websites are reporting that the incident happened in Sao Paulo, Brazil, two months after Ferrari issued the infamous recall on the 458 Italia (see here), we don"t have sufficient information to be sure about the date, let alone if this particular example had gone through the mandatory repairs. So until we find out more details, follow the jump to take yet another glance of what a 458 Italia on fire looks like.

Via: Wreckedexotics & Youtube

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