McLaren reveals new London dealership

So where’s the posh new London dealership for the new McLaren MP4-12C? Just a stone’s throw from the old Park Lane McLaren site, it's emerged.

One Hyde Park is the new home for the company in the UK’s capital city, and McLaren predicts that the flagship London store will be the busiest of the planned global outlets for the MP4-12C supercar, thanks mainly to the prime Knightsbridge location.

The new London showroom also plays on McLaren’s strong ties to F1, and it will have the team’s GP cars on constant display alongside the road cars.

'One Hyde Park has already established itself as a landmark location in London,’ said Christian Marti, McLaren Automotive’s European regional director. 'We are both proud and excited to be part of its future success. The McLaren London showroom at One Hyde Park will represent everything we strive for at McLaren: great attention to detail, form and function in its visual impact and atmosphere, and a focus on the customers’ requirements.’

Run by the Jardine Motors Group, the London dealer will open in early 2011 ahead of a spring 2011 launch of the 12C. Another 24 outlets are planned across the globe, with showrooms in Birmingham and Manchester, and with other retailers located throughout Europe, the Middle and Far East, as well as the US and Canada.

Prices of the MP4-12C have yet to be confirmed – CAR predicts around £170,000 – but over 2700 potential customers have expressed a ‘serious intention to buy’ to McLaren.

By John O'Brien