If these photos are true, the rear glass remains intact as does the side glass. That's not a spider. That's a targa. Interesting they would do it this way. http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/scoop/folding-hard-top-mclaren-mp4-12c-spider Image Unavailable, Please Login
Apparently they wanted to keep the engine with it's unattractive plastic covers on display. Roof is apparently a new Webasto design that does yet another amazing origami trick and disappears vertically behind the seats. With it's carbon tub it is ideally suited to lose it's roof.
Those are not pics of the spider, these are. The roof is made by German firm Webasto who also make the 458 spider's roof. The Mclaren roof manages to retain the rear quarter light glass and rear engine bay window. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Is it just me, or do others see a similarity between the McLaren's badge/insignia and the Star Trek one? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wow great spy photos! Someone at McLaren must be upset those leaked out. That's clearly taken inside Mac's headquarters. I agree that is not a targa if the rear window drops, which it appears to do.
And people said the 458 Spider was impossible to create with the sexy clear engine cover, well SNAP Mclaren!
Yep -- is easier when you're going second! It does seem nice though. I'm not sure about the side glass. I need to see better pics. But give them credit.
But... you still can't see the engine in the 12C like the Italia. There's enough plastic covers under the hood to be a tupperware party. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Glass over the engine bay wouldn't be enough for me to get a 12C over the 458 Spider. But that's my opinion.
I hear that, the engine is not as sexy as the 458, the car is not as sexy as a 458, but with a drop top it may help, and for the most part it is the better "car on the road" It would be nice to have something different, and my gut tells me I can get a 12c Targa at sticker much faster than a 458 Spider. I have only had used Ferraris so fighting my way up the pecking order is darn near impossible without paying $30-50 over sticker for a Spider. I'll leave that to the big boys, I am still wading in the kiddy pool.
You have a good point. But, honestly, I'm actually glad Ferrari is not doing the glass rear deck. It's about time they do something different. It's been copied a lot. When Corvettes copy you, you know it's been played out. And, the rear deck is very much "246 Dino Gt"-ish, which is fine by me. You know me... if they took off the prancing horse and stuck on a Dino badge, I'd like the car BETTER. That being said, it looks like Mac did a good job here. It's clever.
If anyone saw the Top Gear on the 458 vs McL, it was pretty surprising. Clarkson, a Brit, hated the McL. He called it "almost undrivable at speed." He hated the counter-intuitive electronic aids. He actually punted the car off into a field.
That was Tiff "I Love Ferrari " Needel trying to power slide a car without asking how to turn the traction control off. Clarkson loved the car said it was more capable than anything in price bracket but not as emotional as a 458
+1. This car is arguably quite decent in terms of both performance and aesthetics, but for some uncanny reasoning I feel as though Mclaren went horrible on it's marketing for this and does not do it any justice. It's a bit of a turn off knowing that in the same price range I could purchase a car that has demonstrated its capabilities to motoring aficionados, journos and prospective buyers (458). If the GT3 version were offered at the same price then count me in! Michael.
