Australian orders roll in for new McLaren supercar

Trivett Classic opens the order books ahead of 2011 deliveries

The McLaren supercar looks set to be a success before it even turns a wheel. New Australian distributor, Sydney-based Trivett Classic, has already taken up to a dozen orders within days of the announcement that the car is headed Down Under -- and before anyone knows how much it will cost.

Much of the McLaren supercar's vital statistics are still a closely guarded secret. Called the MP4-12C in initial releases, there's widespread speculation that the supercar, which will be built alongside McLaren's F1 facility in Woking, will be powered by a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8.

So far the only clue to its performance is the promise it can reach 200km/h in 10 seconds and it will have "Ferrari-beating pace". McLaren has also stated it will be more fuel efficient than the current crop of supercars.

"It's likely we will sell out of our first year's allocation and possibly go into our second year's allocation," Trivett Classic executive chairman, Greg Duncan, told the Carsales Network. "Although we've not yet been told exactly what our first year allocation will be."

The first McLaren to arrive in Australia will be a show car due next February to be revealed to VIP customers and media. The first test-drive car is due to arrive in July, with the first customer deliveries due in October.

"We've been really impressed with the professionalism of McLaren and we already have a dozen or so serious expressions of interest," he said.

"The price is yet to be confirmed but it's not an issue," he said. "Customers in this league trust the McLaren brand and know it's going to be a very special car."

Overseas reports have the McLaren priced near or below the Ferrari 458 Italia, which in Australia costs in excess of $500,000.

Trivett Classic will initially base all McLaren sales out of its East Sydney showroom, but may expand to Melbourne and Brisbane in much the same way it has with its Rolls-Royce dealerships.

In 1992 McLaren built the world's fastest supercar, the McLaren F1. Powered by a 6.1-litre V12 made by BMW, it had a top speed of 386km/h. Just 106 were sold.

In 2004, McLaren-developed the Mercedes-McLaren SLR supercar in a joint venture with the German car maker. Powered by a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 it had a top speed of 334km/h. Between 2005 and 2007, the company sold 1151 SLRs, well short of the 1500 target.

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