British supercar maker McLaren has earned a reputation in the biz as a producer of some the world’s finest and fastest streel-legal autos. Its latest model, the MP4-12C, is powered by a 593-horsepower twin-turbo V8 and whizzes to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds. With numbers like that, it’s fair to assume that the MP4-12C is a car that can uphold McLaren’s sporting image.
Supercars are seldom singled out for their efficiency, but if you want to use the unusual “CO2 emissions per horsepower” rating, then the McLaren MP4-12C is near the top of the heap. Unfortunately, this rating is absent from all of the proposed EPA and DOT window stickers, but nonetheless McLaren asserts that its race-bred supercar emits less per horsepower than a typical hybrid city car. While the MP4-12C is certainly no gas miser, McLaren’s declaration shows that technology can enhance the efficiency of even the most powerful of automobiles. Hopefully, the magic that makes the mighty McLaren so efficient will trickle down to less exotic autos.
