The debut model 12C was rated ahead of almost 50 car models, including some of the worlds top supercars, by a jury panel comprising some of the regions top automotive experts across 17 categories.
Last year was the first in which a McLaren model had taken part in the awards, and the luxury high performance sports car manufacturer was named Best Supercar, before being crowned with the overall title of Car of the Year in Sharjah.
The Gulf caught up with Mark Harrison, McLarens regional director for the Middle East and Africa, and discussed the brands successful resurgence.
To what extent do these awards cement the McLaren brands repositioning in the supercar sector?
To win Best Supercar in the Middle East is an amazing achievement, coming in our first full year as a luxury sports car manufacturer. But to win the overall Car of the Year title is unbelievable.
We knew we were in with a shout for Best Supercar, of course - we believe we have made the worlds best sports car but I have never seen a luxury performance car win a Car of the Year award. That award is testament to the hard work of everyone in our head office in Woking, UK, in making the 12C the class-leading high performance sports car that it is.
And it is also really encouraging for our shareholders which includes [sovereign wealth fund] Mumtalakat in Bahrain, who continue to support the development of a range of exciting and innovative sports cars.
Hopefully we can repeat the win in the future with some exciting product introductions.
How did the Middle East market perform in 2012?
Ive been similarly stunned by the response weve had in the Middle East market, especially when you consider we only launched our debut sports car, the 12C Coupe, in November 2011. In one year we have established the McLaren name among supercar buyers.
Our business objectives for the year were met and the retail network in the Middle East is looking at 2013 with great anticipation, thanks largely to the arrival of the already award-winning 12C Spider and the McLaren P1.
One indication of the impact McLaren has made in the Middle East is that our UAE retailer partner had the largest sales figures for any McLaren retailer worldwide during October and is likely to finish as one of McLarens top five global retailers for 2012.
This year will also see the completion of the retail network in the Middle East with the opening of what, I believe, will be an iconic McLaren showroom in Manama in the spring.
Whats more, we are seeing huge demand for the 12C Spider now. This convertible is the first open-top car that feels exactly like its Coupe version in terms of handling and performance. This is down to its unique carbon fibre chassis.
In fact, this demand causes me one or two nice problems! For example, we have a beautiful Graphite Grey 12C Spider that we use to demonstrate the car to media and prospective customers. I ordered this car from the factory in summer 2012 and it recently arrived in Bahrain but, before we had even had it registered, our retail partner called me asking if he could sell it, as a customer wanted to buy it there and then. That would have left me without a demonstration car for months, so I was unable to help, but we persuaded him to order a similar car.
What are interest levels in the new P1 model?
I was fortunate enough to be there when the P1 was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September and the reaction was unbelievable. I dont think I have ever experienced such a loud and genuinely excited crowd of assembled media and VIPs for a car debut at an auto show.
Considering it was also late in the day after a busy day of press conferences, its fair to say that the P1 was a resounding success.
The McLaren P1 has one simple goal: to be the best drivers car in the world on the road and track. In the 90s, we raised the bar for supercar performance with the McLaren F1 and we aim to redefine it once again with this next-generation ultimate supercar.
It takes much of its technological and spiritual inspiration from the companys racing division, benefiting from 50 years of racing and road car heritage. We have a clear strength over many of our competitors, as the majority of the testing done on the car is the same kind of testing done on our Formula 1 cars.
Like the F1 car, the P1 will also be a refined, comfortable and (whisper it) a practical supercar! Youll be able to drive it to the circuit comfortably but, once youre there, it will offer the most intense, purpose-built road car track experience.
Well be announcing further details about the P1 before sales begin in early 2013 which just happens to be the year of McLarens 50th anniversary with deliveries expected to begin in late 2013. There has already been significant interest from customers in the Middle East.
How important is the aftersales relationship to McLaren?
We are celebrating our first full year of business as a car company in the Middle East in our 50th anniversary year, with a Car of the Year Award.
None of that would be possible without the first 150 or so customers who were willing to start this journey with us. We consider them part of the McLaren family now and we will listen and learn from their experiences as McLaren owners.
Its exciting to think about where we may be in 10 years time as a result of the faith shown by those first customers and our shareholders, particularly Mumtalakat.
