Dubai: McLaren Automotive launched its first sports car for the road, the MP4-12C, in the UAE on Sunday.
The two-seat, mid-sized engine car has a one-piece carbon-fibre chassis. The element is a trademark of the UK-based manufacturer.
Officials say it is a fuel and emission efficient car that could hit the UAE roads by next September. Production will begin early next year and the car will cost Dh900,000.
Ian Gorsuch, regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, said 20 local orders have been received already, which is 50 per cent of the allocation for the country.
The company earlier said it would release a range of sports cars for the road, but has yet to reveal details.
Viable company
"Where in the past we produced the F1 road model, that was one car, we produced the SLR in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, also one model, we are creating a sustainable, viable company for the long term.
"That means we can't do that with just one car. So, there will be other models coming through," Gorsuch said.
George Duncan, general manager for prestige cars division at Al Habtoor Motors, the dealer for McLaren in the UAE, said the company is in negotiations to launch new showrooms in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Mark Harrison, head of global corporate communications, said that while interest in Europe is strong due to McLaren's Formula One exposure, Middle East interest is also picking up.
"Formula One is taking off in the Middle East. The SLR saw a strong performance here and with all things added, we will probably have a stronger performance than our competitors in the Middle East," he said.
