2015 McLaren plotting hardcore 12C to rival Ferrari 458 Speciale – report

McLaren is reportedly working on a more powerful and lighter version of the 12C in order to better compete with Ferrari’s new 458 Speciale.

Scheduled to be out later this year, the hardcore 12C is tipped to be quicker than the 458 Speciale and will come equipped with an improved version of the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine with an estimated output of 650 HP (478 kW). It will utilize the same carbon fiber MonoCell as the regular 12C and will be offered as standard with carbon-ceramic brakes.

We can also expect to see other tweaks that will enhance the performance as well as a different exterior with styling cues that will be taken from the P1. The same report suggests all future road-going McLarens are going to come with P1’s front end, while the interior of the rumored upgraded 12C will also receive some modifications.

Talking about the changes to the exterior, it won’t be just for styling as the modifications will provide the car with a significantly improved aerodynamic performance. There are high chances that this new high-end 12C will be based on the upcoming facelift that is set to come out in the next several months.