Designing and engineering McLaren's new road car

Racing car company McLaren has unveiled its new sportscar, the MP4-12C. The car is the first in a planned range of models that will compete with the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche.

Frank Stephenson, design director, McLaren

Design director Frank Stephenson, who used to work for rivals Ferrari and Maserati where he penned cars such as the F430 and the MC12, says over time owners think the interior is as important as the exterior.

The car will be built at McLaren's Sir Norman Foster-designed technology centre in Woking, Surrey, though the plan is to build a new factory next door. Eventually some 4,000 cars will be produced each year by 800 staff.

That will be a major step up from the production of just 75 of the 750,000 euros ($1m; �654,000) McLaren SLR Stirling Moss, made jointly with Mercedes. Production will end this year to make way for the 12C, which will cost about �150,000 ($250,000).

Antony Sheriff, managing director, McLaren Automotive

"We haven't built that many cars," says Antony Sheriff, managing director of McLaren Automotive. "But the cars we've built have been extraordinary. The 12C is very different from every car ever made."

The 12C is built around a one-piece carbon fibre "bath tub" that weighs just 80kg, with two aluminium "arms" holding the steering wheels. Two aluminium "legs" hold the back wheels, cradling the gearbox and the engine.

McLaren is best known as a racing team, though "there is nothing on the car that comes from F1", Mr Sheriff insists. "All the parts, including the [3.8 litre 600 horse power] engine, are unique to this car."

Though there is no parts sharing with F1, there is an "almost casual transfer of know-how" within the building that affects the mindset in the Automotive division, says Mr Sheriff. "Our technical director comes from racing."

McLaren racing trophies are on display outside the staff canteen to reinforce the corporate culture. "It reminds everyone, every day, that we're here to win," says Mr Sheriff.

McLaren Automotive has access to the Formula One team's wind tunnel. "Our models for the road car are far more detailed than they would have been in a volume carmaker," says Mr Sheriff.

McLaren test F1 car, 60% of original size

Wind tunnel models are made "completely to scale" at 60% of the size of the full-scale models, says Mr Sheriff, adding he would have "loved to have this in my living room".

The factory will be as squeaky clean as the technology centre, which resembles a dentist's clinic rather than a manufacturing plant. "There is no dust anywhere," says Mr Sheriff, and no bright colours. "It is not tutti frutti." By Jorn Madslien, BBC News.