09 September 2009
The first in a range of high performance sports cars from the home of the world's most successful racing car company, the McLaren MP4-12C will go on sale in the Middle East in 2011

McLaren MP4-12C set to re-write the rules of sports car design through Formula 1-inspired engineering, revolutionary chassis architecture, and absolute focus on efficiency

McLaren Automotive has revealed first details of the debut model from its new range of high-performance sports cars. Drawing on McLaren's long-standing Formula 1 experience, the stunning McLaren MP4-12C will challenge the very best sports cars on the market when it arrives in the Middle East in 2011.

Destined to make a major impact in a region renowned for its love of the best that the automotive world has to offer, the 12C and future models from the new McLaren Automotive range will benefit from the expertise and virtuosity of the McLaren Group.

The company has already confirmed that it is seeking retailers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is also looking at the possibility of establishing a service centre in Lebanon. Now car enthusiasts from across the Middle East can discover more about the debut model from McLaren Automotive, the independent car division based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, home to McLaren's  world-famous motor racing team.

At its heart, the McLaren MP4-12C features a revolutionary carbon fibre chassis structure, the Carbon MonoCell: the first time a car in this market segment has been based around such a strong and lightweight racing car engineering solution and the first time any car has ever featured a one-piece carbon fibre structure.

This step change in sports car design means that the 12C introduces new standards not just in handling, ride and outright performance, but also safety, economy and practicality in an already competitive sector.

All the parts of the 12C are unique to this car. Everything from the engine right down to the tailor-made switches and buttons is pure McLaren: nothing has come from another manufacturer's parts bin.

When it comes to power, the 12C is equipped with a  bespoke McLaren 'M838T' 3.8 litre, V8 twin-turbo engine producing around 600bhp, driving through a McLaren seven speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG).

The McLaren MP4-12C is a high-performance two-seat mid-engine model in the 'core' sports car market segment for cars costing between GBP125,000 and GBP175,000. It is pure McLaren, featuring no carryover parts from any other car.

Commenting on the new model, Ian Gorsuch, McLaren Automotive's Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa, said: "The Middle East will be a key market for McLaren Automotive, so we have worked hard to ensure that the 12C will be perfectly suited to the marketplace. This has included conducting hot weather testing in the region to experience the uniquely challenging summer conditions that exist here.

"When it comes to high-performance sports cars, customers in the region are exceptionally well-informed and passionate. In the 12C, which draws on the spirit of Formula 1 and delivers real-world technological advances, we have a model that will set new standards in its segment. The MonoCell enables us to deliver technologies and performance from the higher performance car segment, so this is an exciting development for Middle East car enthusiasts.I am sure that there will be great interest and strong demand when the car is launched here in early 2011."

Twenty years of sports car design, engineering and production combined with inspirational success in Formula 1 have driven Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive Chairman, to announce his plans for the ultimate line-up of technology-led and customer-focused performance cars for the twenty first century.

Through a rich modern history, McLaren's automotive division has already built the world's most critically acclaimed supercar, the McLaren F1 (1993-1998) and the world's best-selling luxury supercar, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003-2009). McLaren Automotive now looks to the future with a new range of revolutionary sports cars.

"It is a long-held dream of mine to launch high performance sports cars that set new standards in the industry," said Ron Dennis. "We began designing and building cars for aficionados of thoroughbred sports cars almost 20 years ago. Incorporating the leading edge technologies that the McLaren Group has built up within its various companies, I believe we are now perfectly placed to open up this new chapter in McLaren's history as well as play a part in the regeneration of high-tech manufacturing in the UK and the global automotive environment," he concluded.

"McLaren is already a car maker with maturity and experience, having produced iconic cars such as the F1," said Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director.

"The next step was to construct a range of pure McLaren high-performance sports cars that are true to the company's philosophy and reflect our position as an absolute technology and performance leader. So, when we embarked on the 12C project, we wanted to re-write the rules of sports car design. Indeed, the 12C offers performance and technology that exceeds that of the world's most expensive and sophisticated supercars, while competing in a much more accessible market segment."

Ron Dennis has been a pioneering force within motorsport since he began his career 42 years ago. In 1966 he joined the Cooper Racing Car Company and progressed to join the Brabham Racing team where in 1968 he was appointed to the position of Chief Mechanic to Sir Jack Brabham. Three years later Ron launched his own company, Rondel Racing, which won races in the Formula 2 Championship. During the 1970s he ran a number of highly successful teams, mainly concentrating on Formula 2 but also competing with distinction in the Procar Championship. In 1980 Ron's most recent company, Project Four, merged with Team McLaren Ltd to form McLaren Racing. This was to be the catalyst for the great success and diversification that McLaren has enjoyed to date. Since 1980, McLaren has won seven Constructors' World Championships and ten Drivers' World Championships. In 1989 Ron co-founded McLaren Cars, which designed and manufactured the revolutionary F1 road car of 1994; now renamed McLaren Automotive, the company produces the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car on behalf of Daimler. Ron's entrepreneurial skills have seen the McLaren Group grow and diversify. It currently encompasses McLaren Automotive, McLaren Electronic Systems, McLaren Applied Technologies, McLaren Marketing and Absolute Taste, all in addition to the flagship, McLaren Racing and its Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team. During the year 2000 Ron was honoured with a CBE for services to motorsport. In 2001 he was presented with a BRDC Gold Medal in recognition for his contribution to motorsport. He was also awarded an Hon DTech from De Montfort University in 1996, an Hon DSc from City University (London) in 1997 and, in 2000, an Hon DSc from the University of Surrey. In January 2009 Ron announced that he would pass the role of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal to Martin Whitmarsh.

Antony Sheriff graduated from Swarthmore College in the U.S. with a B.S. in Engineering and a B.A. in Economics. After working one year for Chrysler in product planning, Antony completed a M.S. in Management from M.I.T in 1988 while working for the International Motor Vehicle Programme at M.I.T.. Upon graduation, Antony joined McKinsey and Company as a strategic management consultant, working with a number of automotive and non-automotive clients in the U.S. and Europe. In 1995, Antony joined Fiat Auto in Italy and in 1997 was promoted to Executive Director of Product Development for all Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia cars and commercial vehicles. In 2002, Antony was promoted to Vice President Marketing for Fiat. Antony joined McLaren Automotive in 2003 as Managing Director. Antony's responsibilities encompass the design, development and manufacture and distribution of current and future road cars.

Ian Gorsuch lived in Brazil, Australia, Korea, and Hong Kong while working with the Vestey group, having previously served as an Army officer. In 1992 he joined the Remy Cointreau Group and was responsible for running a sales team as well as the UK stewardship of the famous Champagne house of Krug. Ian joined Bentley in 1998, working initially at the factory in Crewe and then becoming Regional Director, Middle East, Africa & India, based in Dubai. Also in Dubai he was a Vice-president with IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) in 2008. Gorsuch joined McLaren as Head of Middle East and Africa in April 2009.

The McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) was designed by Foster+Partners and officially opened on May 12, 2004 by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Production of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren had begun in August 2003. MTC now houses McLaren Automotive and five businesses that form the McLaren Group, all under one roof: McLaren Racing, McLaren Electronics, McLaren Marketing, McLaren Applied Technologies and Absolut Taste.

The shareholding of the McLaren Group is: Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) 40%; Bahraini Mumtalakat Holding Company 30%; Tag Group (Mansour Ojjeh) 15%; Ron Dennis 15%.

The McLaren F1: McLaren built 107 F1s between 1993 and 1998; 79 road cars, including five LM models (three in McLaren Papaya Orange) and two F1 GTs, and 28 cars homologated for racing. The first cars were delivered in 1994, retailing at a price of £634,500. A McLaren F1 sold at auction in 2009 for a then record price for a road car of £2.53m.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: McLaren Automotive has built over 2100 SLRs and is currently building a limited edition run of 75 Stirling Moss derivatives which have all been ordered by existing SLR owners. This makes the SLR by far and away the most successful super sports car by sales.

McLaren's Formula 1 racing team has won 163 Grands Prix, 12 Formula 1 Drivers' Championships, eight Formula 1 Constructors' Championships, and been on the podium on average once in every three Grands Prix. McLaren's racing teams have also won five Can-Am titles, three Indy 500 victories and the Le Mans 24 hour race (on debut). Taking into account all racing successes, this makes McLaren the most successful racing car team in history.

-Ends-

Further information
Mark Harrison
(McLaren Automotive)
Head of PR McLaren Automotive
Phone: +44 (0) 1483 262712
Mobile: +44 (0) 7775 405516
Email: mark.harrison@mclaren.com

Randa Kamal
(Performance PR Middle East)
Account Manager
Mobile : +971 (0) 50 1889744
Phone : +971 (0) 4 4347365
E-mail : randak@performancepr.com

© Press Release 2009