McLaren names six of 10 North American dealerships to sell the MP4-12C

McLaren Automotive has set up a North American operation and named six of the 10 dealers it will use to sell the MP4-12C sports car.

McLaren's North American headquarters will be based in New York City.

The six dealers named to get McLaren franchises are:

-- The Auto Gallery, Beverly Hills, Calif.

-- Lake Forest Sportscars, Chicago

-- Park Place, Dallas

-- Miller Motorcars, Greenwich, Conn.

-- Price Family Dealerships, San Francisco

-- Dew Luxury Motor Cars, Tampa Bay, Fla.

McLaren says it plans to name dealers in Miami, Orange County, Calif., Philadelphia and Toronto within the next several months.

The automaker says it expects North America to account for 30 percent of global sales of the MP4-12C, which gets its first North American showing during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in early August.

U.S. sales of the 592-hp, two-seat sports car are set to begin in summer 2011, with a base price between $225,000 to $250,000.

"I know how demanding North American customers can be," said Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive managing director. "The ownership experience must be just as revolutionary as the car."

By Jake Lingeman