A tour of the McLaren facility where the MP4-12C is built [Video]

McLaren's Technology Center in Woking, Surrey has to be seen to be believed.

If you thought that The Simpsons episode on 'Mapple,' which gently mocked the cleanliness of Apple's Zen-inspired stores and design ethos was on the mark (not to mention amusing), you haven't seen pristine until you've seen McLaren's Technology Center in Woking, Surrey.

As the video from the team at Driven shows, the structure, its surrounds, the historic race cars on display, and the manufacturing facility are all simply breathtaking. Various members of the McLaren executive give viewers a unique insight into Ron Dennis' vision for the facility. It is designed to be as much as a showcase as it is a place where McLaren's exclusive vehicles are manufactured.

More after video


The design aesthetic of the facility, its surrounds and the creation of the work space was designed to be a daily reminder to the employees about McLaren's success and its pursuit of perfection. As each of the executive team testify, the environs lift the standards of the work of each employee in the organisation to the highest possible levels.

The painstaking detail and level of attention given to the creation of the MP4-12C is nothing short of jaw-dropping. For example, every employee on the production line is required to swipe their ID tag into each part of the production line that they are responsible for, ensuring that each person takes their work completely seriously. The factory was deliberately designed without obvious signs of industrialisation (i.e. no robotics etc), but is completely state-of-the-art in every respect regardless.

Viewers are also treated to an explanation of the way the aerodynamic components of the MP4-12C were designed. For McLaren, form does not necessarily follow function -- form equals function. Design features of the car, which might at first glance seem in place for their appearance, are there equally because they contribute in some way to the supercar's performance. For example, the split side ducts look wild, but are necessary to create the type of induction necessary to generate enough airflow past the radiators on either side of the MP4-12C.

Before watching the video, you would have completely sympathised with anyone picking a Ferrari F458 Italia over the McLaren MP4-12C - after all, the sheer romance of the Italian company would sway almost anyone. However, the McLaren Technology Center does an amazing job of reminding everyone who sees it just how equally impressive McLaren's legacy and pedigree is. If you are in the position to be able to choose between the Ferrari or the McLaren you, we think you would be hard-pressed not to lean back towards the McLaren.