McLaren Automotive has confirmed that a South African operation will handle the sales of its first supercar, the upcoming MP4-12C. According to a press release from McLaren, the supercar goes on sale in 2011. The first confirmed dealers are 8 in North America (US and Canada), 12 in Europe (UK, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland), two in the Middle-East, and one in South Africa.
Presumably the Mzansi outfit will be based in Sandton where most of the country’s money resides. Up to 200 units will be shipped to SA, and with a price tag expected to exceed R2 million a piece, the 447kW powerhouse might just turn out to be the “value” choice in its segment.
“This is a landmark day for McLaren Automotive as we confirm the locations of the first of our partners that will represent us around the world,” said Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director. “It has been incredibly encouraging to experience the demand to sell McLarens from the world's best car retailers - in every country in which we planned to launch and at the heart of all performance car markets.”
“We have proposed sensible, but high quality, expectations from our preferred retail partners and have been amazed at some of the proposals presented by potential retailers: nearly half are building brand new flagship showrooms.”
The MP4-12C is the first of at least three new McLarens slated for public introduction over the next five years. It sits in the middle, with a smaller model aimed at the likes of Audi RS 5/ BMW M3/ Porsche 911, while a bigger daddy will take on such cars as the next Ferrari Enzo II, Pagani Zonda and the Lamborghini Murcielago. Such a car might even go after the Bugatti Veyron, probably not on power (it should be about 550kW) but certainly on performance.
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