TNP Performance Audi R8 x McLaren MP4-12C

Everything in China moves so fast. The cars, the traffic, the people, even the elderly—it’s a constant state of urgency. But after many days maintaining that quick pace we decided to take it a bit easier, sit back, and capture the chaos and motion on film, making it the backdrop for the TNP Performance Audi R8 and McLaren MP4-12C on Vossen Forged: Precision Series wheels.

TNP Performance (@tnpchina), one of our dealers in Shanghai, China, brought out some of our favorite cars of the trip, including a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Maserati GranTurismo, but their Audi R8 V10 and McLaren MP4-12C were the real show-stoppers. Lucky for us, we got to spend an afternoon with them, shooting and driving, and battling China’s neverending traffic.

We found ourselves venturing far outside the city, or so it seemed with massive expanse that Shanghai is, eventually finding a semi-desolate construction area and elevated freeway. Under it was a more casual road, though still traveled by Shanghai’s notoriously crazy drivers, where we decided to shoot some rolling shots.

We ventured back to the construction site, where we snapped away at the Audi R8 before the rest of the construction crew returned. Outfitted with Vossen Forged VPS-307T wheels, made right here in Miami and measuring 20×9 and 20×12 (front and rear), the V10 version of Audi’s Quattro supercar demanded something special in the wheel department…

With its black paint and chestnut brown interior, the Amber Tone transparent powder over fully-polished forged wheels were a perfect match, keeping the colors elegant and the overall package quite ferocious.

Meanwhile, the Audi’s 593-horsepower McLaren stablemate, wrapped in a bright metallic blue (as if it were paying tribute to Audi’s Pelican blue of the late 90s!) created a bit louder presence. Parked up in the no-mans-land after a lane split into two, the bright blue of the MP4-12C paired perfectly with the Vossen Red transparent powder coat, over hand-brushed Vossen Forged VPS-306 wheels.

Staggered in width and diameter, measuring 20×9 up front and 21×12 in the rear, the McLaren’s charisma caught the attention of countless passersby, many stopped in the sea of traffic (nearly causing wreck after wreck) just to snap photos.

As always, none of these amazing photographic opportunities would exist without the help of our overseas distributors (in this case, Mondera China / #VossenChina) and local dealers, like TNP Performance (@tnpchina). We are forever grateful to the owners around the world for such wonderful hospitality, and look forward to the next big trip!

Words & Photos: Sam Dobbins (@sdobbins_vossen) ///// Video: Anthony Delapaz (@dela_vossen)

Audi R8 V10 on VPS-307T ///// McLaren MP412C on VPS-306