McLaren roadcar to take on Ferrari
April 16th, 2009 by Richard Aucock
MCLAREN will, in 2011, launch a rival to the Ferrari F430 that will set new standards for performance supercars.
Ron Dennis, who will head the newly-formed, independent McLaren Automotive division, today told us he’s been guaranteed it will be the greenest and most economical supercar on sale, as well as the safest and most practical.
What’s more, the revolution he plans for McLaren Automotive will even stretch to how the cars are sold.
Car dealer recruitment is under way now, as the company gears up for a 2011 launch. Initially, it plans to sell 1000 units of the P11 launch car a year – but, by 2015, will be selling 4000 cars a year.
This will be of a range of models, including a rumoured rival to the Porsche 911.
Dennis today said that, although the cars will compete in the same marketplace as Ferrari and Lamborghini, McLaren supercars will be more exclusive, sold in lower volumes – and priced more expensively.
This will reflect the cutting edge materials they’re to be constructed from, plus production to Formula 1 standards.
Indeed, although a brand-new factory is to be built in the UK, creating ‘at least 500 jobs, but more likely 800’, the processes will be closely aligned to those at the Woking super-facility that produced Lewis Hamilton’s title-winning racer.
‘This is a good news story,’ said Dennis. ‘We’re creating an all-new British sports car company.’ He said that the company may become so profitable, it could even eventually support the F1 team, rather than the other way around.
This is an approach Ferrari began with – but Dennis does not want to become a British Ferrari with McLaren Automotive.
‘Being a McLaren, we need to be fundamentally different to what’s out there. A fundamental of what we do is efficiency.’ This will encompass every stage and process, including sales.
Car Dealer Magazine today SAW the car for the first time – a model Dennis said ‘could be driven down the road tomorrow’. The company has been secretly developing prototypes, and has built 24 running models – meaning it is well on course for a 2011 debut.
Details will emerge in the next few months: for an idea of how it looks, think 21st Century McLaren F1.
One thing’s for sure, though. By stepping back from Formula 1, Ron Dennis is to channel all his energies into developing McLaren Automotive into a world-beating supercar manufacturer. And has already thrown down the gauntlet to car dealers ready for the challenge.
Could today be the start of something big?
By Richard Aucock
Bentley Continental Supersports
Tags: F1, mclaren automotive, p11, ron dennis, supercar
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