McLaren has high hopes for its all-new MP4-12C supercar, but the Ferrari-rival is already off to a rocky start in the United States market. McLaren’s U.S. dealer body is reportedly getting cold feet about selling a single vehicle line, delaying the car’s American debut.
According to Edmunds, McLaren is having a difficult time establishing a U.S. dealer network. As logic would have it, it becomes increasingly difficult to sell cars without an appropriate dealer network – let alone a six-figure supercar – forcing McLaren to delay the launch of the MP4-12C.
The MP4-12C was scheduled to debut at December’s Los Angeles Auto Show, but McLaren has officially pulled its name from the SoCal show. It remains unclear when the MP4-12C will finally hit the show circuit, but McLaren’s latest creation won’t hit the U.S. market until mid-2010 at the earliest.
McLaren’s first MP4-12C sales will likely be carried out through a very limited dealer network – as was the case with the company’s F1 supercar – but the British automaker will eventually need a much broader network. McLaren sold far fewer than 100 F1s in America, but has a much higher volume goal for the MP4-12C.
10/30, 3:48 PM
posted by:
aesir
No love for McLaren … again. Oh well, I thought this car was kind of dull anyway. The F1 will probably forever be a one-hit wonder.
10/30, 3:51 PM
posted by:
71fiveanddime
Your Comment
10/30, 3:54 PM
posted by:
71fiveanddime
that was an accident.
i doubt mclaren will ever achieve the sales numbers and market status they dream of. its unfortunate: this car could be much better if it werent for the conservative styling. these guys need to be thinking like the designers at lambo that made the original countach. aesthitically, at least.
10/30, 3:59 PM
posted by:
BIG-KC
Oh well. It wasn’t a very good looking car to start out with. The F1 was amazing but this is just a disappointment. I guess that’s what you get when Gordon Murray doesn’t design your cars. So if I wanted a Gordon Murray, F1 successor I will get a Caparo T1.
10/30, 4:00 PM
posted by:
zfenderguy
A supercar launch delayed? You don’t say. That’s par for the course IMO. They probably do it for no reason other than to build up hype. All they need for dealers is 1 in each of the following: New York, LA, Chicago, Palm Beach and maybe Vegas.
10/30, 4:47 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
Wait until someone drives it and then writes about it. Then the dealer network will come together– although maybe not to the scale that McLaren ultimately wishes. zfenderguy is right: this may actually be a real problem for the company but it very well could be a bid for more hype and publicity prior to “launch”.
10/30, 6:15 PM
posted by:
Yaroukh
The basic shape/headlights are pretty ‘generic’ and have seen couple of times before. (Evora, Tesla Roadster, etc.) But those all had some weak part, weird proportions or some messed-up curves. This one is just flawless.
10/30, 7:31 PM
posted by:
scratchy
“i would take a ZR1 and weekend with a pornstar over this crap ” – my reaction if i were an American.
10/30, 8:45 PM
posted by:
Dony_wa
If there´s something that Rond Dennis knows how to do i s to sell a brand, i would rather think that this is a marketing movement to create expectative. that doesn´t change the fact that the car, at least the showed model, has a very “average” design, no surprise.
10/31, 4:53 AM
posted by:
EMINEM
It looks like a cheesy Grand Theft Auto generic design a McLaren.
10/31, 4:54 AM
posted by:
EMINEM
Or the Saleen s5s
10/31, 12:15 PM
posted by:
A4
OMG ARE YOU REALLY EMINEM???? CAN I HAVE AN AUTOGRAPH?
10/31, 1:35 PM
posted by:
Yaroukh
A4: I have already copy’n'pasted one.
11/01, 6:54 PM
posted by:
Pazzo Canguri
“McLaren has high hopes for its all-new MP4-12C supercar, but the Ferrari-rival ” FERRARI RIVAL???? HAHAHAHAHHAAHHA
HAHAHAHH
Are u for real…this lotus copied pos….please…..Ferrari dont need turbos to get thiers going to 9000rpm…thank youuuuu….
and yes i know, the f40 did…but not since….
start again mclaren…..
11/02, 8:36 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
Say it is not as good as expected but never say it’s not good.
BTW, EMINEM, that’s the perfect design description for this.