McLaren revealed details today on the first road car the company will produce on its own. The UK-based company is famous for working with Mercedes-Benz to develop the Mercedes McLaren SLR and for its success in F1 racing. McLaren was one of the pioneers of carbon fiber technology, developing the first F1 car with a carbon fiber chassis and the first series production street car with a carbon chassis, according to Autoblog.

The McLaren MP4-12C features a 600-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 with 442 lb-ft of torque. The engine is built by McLaren rather than sourced from another company, as most engines in cars built by fledgling supercar companies are. But most fledgling supercar companies haven’t won 25 percent of all F1 races that have taken place since 1966, when McLaren joined the sport. The McLaren MP4-12C weighs only 2,870 pounds, which is a pretty amazing weight when you consider that a 2010 Toyota Corolla weighs more.

McLaren is once again making strides in carbon fiber technology with the MP4-12C. The MP4-12C is built using new manufacturing techniques that allow the carbon fiber chassis to be built in just four hours. Normally, carbon fiber requires a 12-hour process to make. The car’s one piece carbon fiber chassis features aluminum supports attached to the front and rear that are designed to take the damage of a crash and keep the cabin unscathed. This makes the car safe in serious crashes and prevents expensive repairs in minor incidents.

During the press conference announcing the McLaren MP4-12C, a company spokesman said that the car was designed from the beginning to be better than the supercars made by Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche. If all things were equal between McLaren’s car and those sold by the better established competition, customers would most likely choose the car with a solid reputation.

Picture via Autoblog.