[Stratos]

McLaren MP4-12C

Image Credit: Supercars.net

- Subtle, clean design. Some may find it boring.

- Thanks to their F1 expertise, carbon fiber body fixed on a carbon fiber chassis.

- More powerful than the Ferrari. 3.8L Twin Turbo V8 producing 592 BHP and 600 Nm of torque.

- It is also 64 kgs lighter than the 458 Italia, with a kerb weight of 1434 kgs.

- 0 to 100 kph - 3.3 Seconds, quicker than the 458 Italia.

- Top Speed of 329.80 kph / Braking: 100-0 kph in 30.5 metres.

- Handling assistance comes from Brake Steer (a la Formula 1), electro-hydraulic anti-roll system which eradicates any bodyroll.

- Interior is probably as plain-jane as the exterior. Extremely functional though. Steering wheel is the same size as that in Hamilton's car.

Ferrari 458 Italia

Image Credit: Supercars.net

- Stunning, yet unconventional, design. Crafted using lightweight aluminum.

- Weighs 1498 kgs, yes, heavier than the McLaren.

- 4.5L V8 producing 563 BHP and 539 Nm of torque.

- 0 to 100 kph - 3.4 Seconds. Marginally slower than the Mac.

- Top Speed of 324.81 kph / Braking: 100-0 kph in 32.5 metres.

- E-Diff and F1-Trac systems reduce bodyroll and help keep the 458 right on track whilst cornering.

- Although the MP4-12C might have better acceleration and braking figures, the 458 seems to be a pure drivers car with its sharp, responsive steering and excellent handling.

- Flamboyant interior design. Steering wheel has as many buttons as Fonso's car!!

- And the Ferrari badge, enough said!

[GTO]

It's amazing how either car is representative of the bossman. On the one hand, you have Ron Dennis...a perfectionist, deep technical understanding, pursues innovation in engineering, does NOT dress stylishly and is known to be a quite, focussed worker. On the other, there is the very flamboyant Luca di Montezemolo; dresses well, loves to live kingsize, has an uncontrollable temper, talks a lot and is fond of the finer life. I can imagine Ron Dennis ensuring that the cutlery of a McLaren home is as clean as clean can be. Equally, Luca is famous for his skinny dipping!~ Mind you, each is a great leader. They just have very different styles.

My vote = McLaren. Maybe, I respect Ron Dennis more and agree with that clinically perfect way of life. Whatever reviews I've read of the Mac have left an impression.

Or maybe it's because I think the 458 has a really, really ugly face.

[lifeonwheels]

My vote goes all the way to the 458, not just because it's a Ferrari but since it's the best looking Ferrari for me since the 355. It might not be faster than the McLaren but it isn't significantly slower as well going by the figures.

The McLaren has first of all got a name which is simply not worth of belonging to a supercar and looks, well standalone it does look good but for the money and compared with the competition it's simply too plain.

[mayankk]

Awesome!
the battle has been brought to similar road spec cars now!
look for clarkson's article on the same comparo, and the 458 individually.
according to him its the first ferrari thats's actually "pretty"...

somehow the McLaren seems more organic, if i may say.

[Stratos]

Both cars go neck and neck in almost every aspect other than looks which are subjective. Even though I appreciate unconventional design on different cars, do I want to see it on a Ferrari ? maybe, but only if it retains the original Italian charm, which in my opinion, the 458 does not. It just reminds me of a lizard.

On the other hand, the subtle looks of the McLaren will help it age nicely. A bigger reason than all this is that I am a huge fan of the McLaren F1 road car and always wanted McLaren to keep building its successors. Thus, even if it is not as good of an handler as the Ferrari, even if its exhaust is not as thunderous as the Ferrari, even if its not as red as Rosso Corsa, it is a car which somewhere in it, has the genes of the legendary McLaren F1.

For this very reason, my vote goes to the McLaren MP4-12C.

[n_aditya]

Voted for the McLaren. Looks way better than the Ferrari in my view. Also its an iconic brand and is more exclusive than the prancing horse.

The McL does have a hint of Ferrari's styling though, so i can safely say, the best of both worlds?

[akj53]

Most of us are not actually qualified to vote on this as we have not even seen the cars what to say of having any experience of either one. But still my comments are as follows:-

Looks wise - Ferrari wins
Technology wise - Mclaren wins hands down

Ferrari has more experience as a volume super car builder but Mclaren has better pedigree which they amply proved in their legendary F1

So I will select Ferrari for the club going class and Mclaren for the perfectionist.

Overall I vote for McLaren

[PlatzdaTurbo]

No long justifications from me. I am just too big a Ferrari fan to even look at Mclaren. Yes ,like stratos says the 458 isn't the best looking Ferrari. But the prancing horse has my ultimate respect. Period.

[absoluteyogi]

Ferrari is one of the ultimate vehicles + recognition among people who aren't even car savvy!
The grill and that stallion looks imposing.

McLaren (in this particular photo) looks like a refined version of Celica (I know many would want to me!)

Yet, keeping all prejudices aside, looking at the pure spec and the appeal that these two photos generate .... McLaren is it :-)
Vote = McLaren!

[jayguar]

My vote goes to McLaren MP4-12C than the Ferrari 458 Italia simply based on appearance. Somehow the 458 Italia does not look good to me. I still can't digest the ugly face.

[bhagathgowda]

MP4-12C for me. It’s simple but doesn't she look hot, unlike the Ferrari which looks like it is giving a sarcastic smile to the onlooker.

[rosh_aveo1.4]

I guess I am sticking with McLaren. Just trust them more for coming up with engineering marvel like the F1. I mean, you seen many Ferrari's but you see only one McLaren which was the F1 and that was a legend!

[julupani]

The MP3-12C is a great car, but it has one thing, a very important thing, missing. That one thing is very important for a supercar.

A supercar has to cause a tingling sensation in your spine, it has to cause your hair to stand up.

Unfortunately this time McLaren haven't been able to pull that off, unlike last time with the F1.

This time they have become too technical, something Ferrari were falling prey to, but are now snapping out of.

With the 458 Italia, I see Ferrari road cars returning to the good times again, the times that gave us cars like the F40, F50, 355, the Testarossa.

The F1 was a technical tour de force of its time, but it also captured the imagination with its 241mph top speed, at a time when 200mph was a great thing. The MP4-12C is just too boring, it doesn't have that one thing which immediately comes to mind and gives you that great sensation which only supercars can give you.

Even its name is boring, they were so stuck up with the technicalities that they did not have the time to think up a name, just a model number.

[arun_kun]

Italia for me !! I like the looks ... more so after excellent presentation of Jeremy on top gear.. it was droll mall. And more over, as far as i understand Italia is more practical road car than McLaren.

McLaren i want to keep in garage and flaunt and Italia i would take on the road and flaunt

[DSC.CUSTOMS]

Mclaren MP4-12C for me .
Better performance , exclusive and comparatively better looking . I thought the 458 will 'grow on' me with time ,like some other cars, but sadly it didnt .