McLaren MP4-12C: which 3.8 DSG to choose
The McLaren MP4-12C ran as 1 generation from 2011-01-01 to 2014-12-31, as a Coupe, with 3 versions — all named 3.8 DSG. The choice is not between generations (there is only one) and not between body types (there is only Coupe).
The McLaren MP4-12C ran as 1 generation from 2011-01-01 to 2014-12-31, as a Coupe, with 3 versions — all named 3.8 DSG. The choice is not between generations (there is only one) and not between body types (there is only Coupe). It is between three mid-engine, turbo, rear-drive cars that share the same displacement, torque, gearbox, and tyre sizes, and that differ in power, mass, 0–100, and top speed.
All three versions use a 3799 cm³ Gasoline engine, 8 cylinders in a V-shaped layout, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo, Central engine position, Direct injection (direct), compression 8.7, bore and stroke 93 × 69.9, 98 fuel, a Robotic 7-speed gearbox, RWD, wheels 235/35 R19 front and 305/30 R20 rear, ground clearance 120 mm, independent spring suspension at both ends, and ventilated discs front and rear. CO₂ is 279 g/km on every version. Fuel consumption (city, highway, combined) is not measured. Tank capacity is not measured. Gross vehicle weight is not measured.
Specs: the three 3.8 DSG versions side by side
| Version | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 DSG 600 hp | 600 (441 @ 7500) | 600 @ 3000 – 7000 | 3799 | Gasoline | 8 / V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1336 kg | 625 (460 @ 7500) | 600 @ 3000 – 7000 | 3799 | Gasoline | 8 / V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
| 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1376 kg | 625 (460 @ 7500) | 600 @ 3000 – 7000 | 3799 | Gasoline | 8 / V-shaped | Turbo | Robotic 7 | RWD |
The name 3.8 DSG is identical in the catalogue for all three. Distinguish them by power first, then by kerb weight: 600 hp versus two 625 hp cars, of which one weighs 1336 kg and the other 1376 kg.
Performance and mpg: what the numbers actually change
| Version | 0–100 | Top speed | City / highway / combined | CO₂ | Eco class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 DSG 600 hp | 3.1 s | 333 km/h | not measured / not measured / not measured | 279 | not measured |
| 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1336 kg | 3.1 s | 333 km/h | not measured / not measured / not measured | 279 | not measured |
| 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1376 kg | 3.3 s | 329 km/h | not measured / not measured / not measured | 279 | not measured |
Moving from 3.8 DSG 600 hp to 3.8 DSG 625 hp at 1336 kg adds 25 hp (19 kW) and does not change 0–100 (3.1 s) or top speed (333 km/h). Torque stays 600 Nm over the same 3000 – 7000 rpm band. The extra power is therefore not visible in the two published speed figures.
Moving from either 1336 kg car to 3.8 DSG 625 hp at 1376 kg costs 0.2 s to 100 km/h (3.3 s instead of 3.1 s) and 4 km/h of top speed (329 instead of 333). That version is the only one with a published eco class: Euro 5. The other two list eco class as not measured.
Because city, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on every version, there is no mpg ranking to make. CO₂ is the same 279 g/km, so emissions do not separate the three cars either.
Dimensions and weight: the 40 kg split
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Clearance | Tank | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 DSG 600 hp | 1336 kg | not measured | 120 mm | not measured | 235/35 R19, 305/30 R20 |
| 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1336 kg | 1336 kg | not measured | 120 mm | not measured | 235/35 R19, 305/30 R20 |
| 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1376 kg | 1376 kg | not measured | 120 mm | not measured | 235/35 R19, 305/30 R20 |
The only measured mass difference is 40 kg: 1376 − 1336 = 40. Clearance, wheels, and the unmeasured tank and gross weight do not help you choose.
Power per litre and weight per horsepower
Displacement is 3799 cm³ on all three, so specific output is:
- 3.8 DSG 600 hp: 600 / 3.799 ≈ 157.9 hp per litre
- either 3.8 DSG 625 hp: 625 / 3.799 ≈ 164.5 hp per litre
That is +6.6 hp per litre for the 625 hp pair.
Weight per horsepower (kerb mass only; gross is not measured):
- 3.8 DSG 600 hp: 1336 / 600 ≈ 2.23 kg/hp
- 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1336 kg: 1336 / 625 ≈ 2.14 kg/hp
- 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1376 kg: 1376 / 625 ≈ 2.20 kg/hp
The light 625 hp car is the most power-dense on mass (2.14 kg/hp). The 600 hp car is the heaviest per horsepower (2.23 kg/hp). The heavier 625 hp car sits in the middle (2.20 kg/hp) — 40 kg more mass undoes most of the 25 hp gain versus the 600 hp car (2.23 → 2.20, a gap of about 0.03 kg/hp).
Power-to-weight in hp per tonne (kerb):
- 3.8 DSG 600 hp: 600 / 1.336 ≈ 449 hp/t
- 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1336 kg: 625 / 1.336 ≈ 468 hp/t
- 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1376 kg: 625 / 1.376 ≈ 454 hp/t
The light 625 hp version leads by ≈19 hp/t over the 600 hp car and by ≈14 hp/t over the heavy 625 hp car. The heavy 625 hp car is only ≈5 hp/t above the 600 hp car, which matches the published 0–100: it is 0.2 s slower than both lighter cars, not faster.
Generations: nothing later to wait for
There is 1 generation (2011-01-01–2014-12-31), Coupe, 3 versions. No second generation exists in this dataset, so you are not choosing “early versus late generation.” You are choosing among three 3.8 DSG Coupes built in the same window, with the same Central Turbo Gasoline 8-cylinder V-shaped engine architecture.
What does not change between versions: 3799 cm³, 600 Nm, 3000 – 7000 rpm torque band, 7500 rpm power peak, 8.7 compression, 93 × 69.9 bore × stroke, Robotic 7, RWD, 120 mm clearance, tyre sizes, suspension type, brake type, 279 g/km CO₂.
What does change: 600 versus 625 hp (441 versus 460 kW), 1336 versus 1376 kg, 3.1 versus 3.3 s, 333 versus 329 km/h, and Euro 5 only on the heavy 625 hp car.
Which version to choose
Choose 3.8 DSG 625 hp at 1336 kg if the goal is the strongest measured power-to-weight. It matches the 600 hp car on 0–100 (3.1 s), top speed (333 km/h), and kerb weight (1336 kg), and adds 25 hp / 19 kW. Specific output rises from ≈157.9 to ≈164.5 hp/l; mass per horsepower falls from ≈2.23 to ≈2.14 kg/hp. Eco class for this version is not measured. Fuel use is not measured.
Choose 3.8 DSG 600 hp if you want the same 3.1 s and 333 km/h without the extra 25 hp. It is the same kerb weight as the light 625 hp car (1336 kg), the same torque (600 Nm), the same gearbox and drive. You give up 25 hp and ≈19 hp/t. You do not give up a measured 0–100 or top-speed figure. Eco class is not measured.
Choose 3.8 DSG 625 hp at 1376 kg only if Euro 5 is the deciding field. It is the sole version with eco class Euro 5. The cost in the measured sheet is 40 kg, 0.2 s to 100 km/h, and 4 km/h of top speed versus the two 1336 kg cars. Despite 625 hp, its ≈454 hp/t sits closer to the 600 hp car (≈449 hp/t) than to the light 625 hp car (≈468 hp/t). That is why its 0–100 is 3.3 s, not 3.1 s.
There is no price in this dataset, so “what the extra money buys” can only be stated in hardware: the step from 3.8 DSG 600 hp to light 3.8 DSG 625 hp buys 25 hp and 0 kg; the step from either light car to heavy 3.8 DSG 625 hp buys Euro 5 and 40 kg, and sells back 0.2 s and 4 km/h.
Do not choose on mpg, tank size, or payload. Combined, city, and highway consumption are not measured. Tank is not measured. Gross weight is not measured. Those blanks are the same on all three 3.8 DSG versions.
Do not choose on body or generation. Every MP4-12C here is 1 generation, Coupe, 2011-01-01–2014-12-31.
Practical ranking from the numbers only
1. 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1336 kg — highest hp/t (≈468), best kg/hp (≈2.14), 0–100 3.1 s, top speed 333 km/h. Eco class not measured. 2. 3.8 DSG 600 hp — same 0–100 and top speed as (1), 25 hp less, ≈449 hp/t. Eco class not measured. 3. 3.8 DSG 625 hp, 1376 kg — Euro 5, 3.3 s, 329 km/h, ≈454 hp/t. Take this one for the eco-class label, not for the stopwatch.
All three remain RWD Robotic 7 Turbo Gasoline 3.8 DSG Coupes. The catalogue name does not change; the 600 versus 625 hp and 1336 versus 1376 kg figures do.