McLaren MP4-12C Destroyed by Fire After Crash in Munich
A McLaren MP4-12C on dealership plates was wrecked by fire after crashing into a tree near Munich, with both occupants escaping before emergency services arrived.
A McLaren MP4-12C was destroyed by fire on the ring road junction between the A92 and A99 outside Munich after crashing into a tree on Wednesday, 27 June 2012. The car, which was on dealership plates and reportedly out on a test drive, left the road before catching fire. Both occupants sustained injuries but managed to escape before the car was engulfed.
Emergency services arrived to find the McLaren already burning, with both driver and passenger clear of the wreck. Foam was used to extinguish the flames, but the fire had already gutted the car. There is no suggestion from reports that the injuries sustained were life threatening. The identities of those involved have not been released.
Test drive ends in total loss
The MP4-12C involved was not privately owned but carried dealership plates, indicating it was likely being demonstrated to a potential buyer. The cause of the crash has not been detailed, but reports indicate the driver lost control before the car struck a tree. The impact and subsequent fire left the car beyond repair.
The McLaren MP4-12C, launched in 2011, is powered by a mid-mounted 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. It was McLaren’s first production road car since the F1 and quickly gained a reputation for its performance and advanced engineering. Incidents involving high-performance cars on test drives are not uncommon, with the combination of unfamiliarity and power proving hazardous in some cases.
Aftermath and similar incidents
The destruction of the MP4-12C follows other high-profile incidents involving the model, including a high-speed autobahn crash in which another car survived a 240 km/h impact. For more on that story, seeMcLaren MP4-12C Survives Autobahn Crash at 240 km/h. The Munich crash highlights the risks associated with test drives of supercars, especially when unfamiliar drivers are involved. The MP4-12C’s advanced carbon fibre construction and fire-resistant materials were not enough to save the car once the blaze took hold.
