McLaren MP4-12C Initial Sales Strong [Video]

For the new McLaren MP4-12C the plan is to make only 1,000 of them and keep them rare and precious. But there are already over 1,600 prospective buyers who have signed official letters of purchase intent.

It was announced last September that McLaren would go on to make its own successor to the old McLaren SLR after ending its partnership on that model with Mercedes-Benz. Now, it is closer to debuting its own rival to the Mercedes SLS and McLaren claims sales projections are good.

The MP4-12C will switch production next year (2011) to a new manufacturing facility located right next to McLaren's new F1 base in Woking, Surrey in the UK. Both facilities were designed by Foster and Partners and cost £40 million (€45 million) to build. The first MP4-12C models, though, will be built on the old SLR production line inside the current McLaren Technology Center.

Deliveries will begin in the spring of 2011 and the car will be sold through 35 selected dealerships in 19 countries. The MP4-12C will cost somewhere between £125,000 (€140,000) and £175,000 (€195,000).

McLaren is also promising a superlative customer service experience, with an on-board diagnostic function in the new MP4-12C able to alert dealers remotely to prepare for a repair job whenever a part fails on the car.