| 2011 McLaren MP4-12C vs 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | August 31, 2010 | AUTORIVALS.NET |
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| 2011 McLaren MP4-12C | vs | 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG | |||||||
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| Despite the supercar status of the
MP4-12C, the design is actually quite restrained. It's not as
flamboyant as a Lamborghini nor is it as stylish as a Ferrari
but the look is timeless, which is exactly what McLaren was
going for. The first thing you'll notice is the large air
intakes taking up much of the front fascia with three 'gills' on
each side. McLaren fans might also notice that the MP4-12C
features the McLaren logo on its hood, the first car ever to do
so. In comparison to the SLS's Mercedes badge, it's extremely
tiny and modest like the rest of the front end design. A nice
styling touch are the bi-xenon headlights which include LED
running lights at the corners styled like the McLaren logo.
McLaren's obsession with reducing weight even includes the use
of only one wiper blade like on the McLaren F1. The extraordinary front silhouette of the 300SL has been recreated with the SLS. The SLS hasn't been designed for the video game generation. It's a car for people that remember the good old days, a car with a sense of tradition and heritage. The gigantic upper grille and equally large Mercedes logo draws its inspiration from the 300SL. The SLS is more than just a replica of the 300SL though. The headlights have been shaped rectangularly rather than circularly like the 300SL and there's air intakes and gills everywhere you look. It's more intricately sculpted and detailed than the MP4-12C. There's good news for admirers of the SLS's design because other Mercedes models will soon get the same kind of styling. |
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| McLaren was the first to introduce
carbon fiber to the automotive world but this time, it's
featured more in the structure rather than the body panels. The
MP4-12C's Carbon MonoCell is so light that
even Jay Leno can pick it up (not to say that he's weak or anything).
Unlike the structure however, carbon fiber wasn't used for the
body panels in order to save money. Despite that, the MP4-12C
should have one of the lowest curb weights among supercars.
Attached to the front and rear of the Carbon MonoCell are
aluminum alloy structures that are designed for absorbing
impacts in the event of an accident and can be replaced leaving
the Carbon MonoCell intact. Similar to the McLaren F1 and SLR
McLaren, the MP4-12C has butterfly doors that swing diagonally
outward to allow for easier entry and exit. Only one hinge was
used and the doors have no handles to save precious weight. The SLS uses an aluminum space frame body rather than carbon fiber for its structure. Aluminum has also been used for the body to keep weight down. Mercedes has placed the SLS's engine in the front but towards the middle giving the SLS a rear-biased weight distribution of 47/53 percent. Of course, when you talk about the SLS you have to mention the gullwing doors as they are the SLS's focal point. When the 300SL debuted with gullwing doors, it was because the tubular space frame body required them. Now the SLS features gullwing doors to pay homage to the 300SL. They open 70 degrees to help getting in and out and use less space than conventional doors. But none of that is really important, is it. What is important is how they look which is fantastic. |
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| The difference in proportions of
the MP4-12C and SLS AMG are staggering. The McLaren has one of
the smallest dimensions compared to its rivals (with the
exception of the Lamborghini Gallardo) and is a full five inches
shorter than the SLS. It's a proper sports car with the right
dimensions that focuses on driving dynamics. Aside from the
overall size, the McLaren features a much shorter and lower hood
that allows for optimum viewing of the road. You'll be able to
see six degrees downward so you can hit every apex with ease.
There's a subtle curve in the MP4-12C'S beltline that adds
character along with the two massive air scoops styled like the
McLaren logo. The scoops feed air into the radiators which are
longitudinally-mounted in the rear rather than the front to
reduce the amount of plumbing and width of the car thus reducing
weight. Everything on the McLaren serves a purpose and is
delicately proportioned being not too big, not too small to get
the job done. The proportions of the SLS make it look longer than it really is. The SLS's hood alone looks longer than a Mini Cooper (it isn't) measuring over six feet long. The greenhouse is placed far back on the body giving it the classic long hood, short deck design. The air outlets placed on the sides are another 300SL tribute but are styled more modernly. Another set of air outlets are located up top on the hood to further emphasize the SLS is its own car, not just a mere replica. Interestingly enough, the SLS features a 6.3 badge located in the side gills even though it uses a 6.2-liter engine. It's not the first time Mercedes has made this mistake and probably not the last. |
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| The SLS has a speed-deployable rear
wing but the McLaren's wing can also act as an airbrake. Unlike
most cars, the McLaren's exhaust pipes exit straight from the
engine to reduce weight which explains their high-level
placement. This may pose a problem for children (or midgets) as
they're admiring the rear engine visible through the glass as
exhaust fumes would flow straight in to their face. Then again,
it could be considered as a safety system. Hidden in the rear
fascia are inconspicuous LED taillights that are only visible
when on. Otherwise they'll be hidden behind the horizontal black
bars. Things get simpler as you move toward the rear of the SLS. There's less definition in the body panels and more graceful styling. The compact cabin creates a large B-pillar that angles toward the sloping rear. With a low height, the rear looks exceedingly wide. The deployable wing adds stability at high speed but otherwise tucks away to preserve the SLS's design. The LED taillights are integrated with precision just as well as the exhaust pipes. |
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| McLaren didn't put the driver in
the center like in the F1 but they've come as close as you can
to creating the same experience. Controls are wrapped around you
rather than just in the center console. Climate control is on
your left, navigation is on your right, and there's huge
tachometer staring right in front of you. McLaren has gone back
to simpler times with a racing-derived steering wheel that has
no buttons. When you compare it to the techno-wizardry that some
cars come with (especially Ferraris these days), it just seems
elegant. In fact, if you look at the whole interior, it all just
seems more simplistic than most cars. There's less buttons to
fumble with and less instrumentation to distract you. It leaves
you with a purer driving experience. Interior space has been
maximized by reducing the center stack to a minimum. The 7-inch
navigation screen is placed vertically rather than horizontally
which seems to make more sense when you think about it. Below
the navigation screen lies the Active Dynamics Panel which
allows you to change a variety of settings. There's 'Active' for
activating all dynamic controls and 'Winter' for maximizing
electronic aids. The three settings that'll be most interesting
for drivers though are 'Powertrain', 'Handling', and 'Launch'
for sharpening throttle response, shift times, suspension
firmness, and activating the launch control. There's so much attention to detail in both interiors. Look at the HVAC vents. Those alone look like they're worth more than a Rolex. Everywhere you look, there's finely stitched leather and extensive use of premium metals such as aluminum and optional carbon fiber. Mercedes says the SLS's interior was inspired more from aircraft construction rather than the 300SL. The air vents are galvanized and styled as a jet's engine. The interior as a whole is designed to resemble an aircraft cockpit. A 7-inch navigation screen sits in between the two vents in the center console and displays Mercedes's COMAND multimedia system. Located below is the AMG drive system allowing the driver to select between various settings. The system is simpler than the McLaren with only three settings: 'ESP ON', 'ESP SPORT', and 'ESP OFF'. |
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PROS +Modern day supercar design that emphasize compact dimensions and lower weight +Driver-focused cockpit +Incredible performance numbers CONS -Could be even lighter with carbon fiber body panels |
PROS +Traditional supercar design +Historic gullwing doors +A bargain among supercars CONS -Hindered driver visibility |
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| Video Source: Motor Trend via YouTube | Video Source: Eurotuner via YouTube |
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