The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C will not be subject to a federal gas guzzler tax.
Tony Joseph, Director of McLaren North America said: “Avoiding gas guzzler tax provides us with a unique advantage and selling point over our competitors. The 12C is unequalled in this segment.
“It was a priority to make this vehicle both high-performing, but also relatively modest in terms of overall carbon footprint. Thanks to its lightweight body, based around a carbonfiber MonoCell and developed through innovative engineering, we were able to achieve exactly that.”
The 12C is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 which produces 592 bhp. 0-60 can be reached in 3 seconds, and the 12C can complete a quarter mile sprint in 10.4 seconds. Engineering the car for optimum fuel efficiency versus competitors in its market segment was a priority from the 12C’s inception.
Geoff Grose, Head of Vehicle Development said: “Class-leading fuel economy and low emissions are additional aspects of vehicle performance that we have worked hard to develop. Developing our own engine and transmission, together with pioneering lightweight technologies across the whole vehicle, has helped us achieve good results at the EPA and gives us a platform to develop for the future.”
The 2012 McLaren MP4-12C goes on sale throughout McLaren Automotive’s North American dealer-partners starting in late 2011. The car will have a base price of $229,000 in the US, with $2400 for destination and port processing.
