At the next trade show in Basel TAG Heuer will present its new Carrera MP4-12C (ref. CAR2080) flyback chronograph that was created together with the famous McLaren sports car maker. Unveiled earlier last year, the new McLaren MP4-12C supercar will soon go into production and into a showroom near you.
Trying to get even more attention to the eagerly anticipated supercar, which is expected to become one of the fastest production vehicles in the world, both brands once again joined their forces and presented this new baby.
Although the watch somehow reminds me of the beautiful and energetic Jaeger LeCoultre AMVOX 3 Tourbillon GMT that was issued as a sort of collab with Aston Martin, I am still completely in love with this one.
The first thing that grabs attention, is that the carbon-fiber, partially open-worked dial uses the same typeface for its Arabic numerals, like the one employed in the McLaren’s oversized tachometer scale.
The orange accents on the dial, bezel, and the leather strap mimic the contrast stitching inside the vehicle’s comfortable cabin.
I am not pleased with the McLaren’s logo on the crown, however, since they have gone over the top here. But overall, the Carrera MP4-12C looks wonderful.
According to the official release, the CAR2080 is going to be powered by the Dubois-Depraz caliber 4900 automatic movement.
Based on the well-known ETA 2894 chronograph ebauche, the new movement comes with an add-on module that features an annual calendar and big date functions. We have already seen this movement beating inside the beautiful Ulysse Nardin Marine Annual Chronograph.
The only visible difference of this version of the movement from the base one is that the current month is displayed not with usual “JAN,” “FEB” and this sort of abbreviations, but with simple Arabic numerals.
The movement is packed inside a medium-sized 43 mm case, which is crafted of sand-blasted grade 2 titanium.
As one might have expected from such an expensive timepiece (TAG Heuer plans to sell it at an outrageous price of some €10,000, which is a bit too much for a device powered by a modified mass-produced movement) it features a pair of sapphire crystals both for its front and the display back.
The Carrera MP4-12C will be officially revealed in March 2011 at the Baselworld 2011 show. It will be issued as a limited edition model with a total run of 1000 pieces.
See also: TAG Heuer Carrera Mikrograph Limited Edition
Photos: TAG Heuer, McLaren
TAG Heuer Carrera MP4-12C (ref. CAR2080) flyback chronograph specification
Price: $14,000 / €10,000 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Dubois Depraz Caliber 4900, based on ETA 2894 ebauche, 28,800 vph, 47 jewels, 30.00 mm in diameter, 7.30 mm in height, Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes, annual calendar, big date, flyback chronograph
Power reserve: 44 hours
Case: Titanium
Shape: Round
Size: 43.00 mm
Dial: Carbon
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Titanium
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black leather with black perforated layer for better wearing comfort; orange stitching and lining; solid titanium Grade 2 folding clasp with safety push buttons
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire
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Bought my first mechanical watch in 1986 and it took me ten more years to realize that I have a problem: at some point in time watches became my passion. Well, it could be worse.