McLaren Automotive, the high-performance sports car company borne of the world's most successful global motor racing team, enjoyed a high profile and highly successful Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance near Monterey, California last weekend. Three divisions of the road car business were present at what is claimed to be 'the world's premier celebration of the automobile.' McLaren's latest road car, the 12C Spider, a concept car from the company's racing division, McLaren GT, and a unique customer car from the business' bespoke projects arm, McLaren Special Operations, were revealed. McLaren Automotive has now also announced that it is planning a series of events and presentations in the Middle East that will showcase the skills and operational expertise of McLaren GT and McLaren Special Operations, along with the debut of the 12C Spider in the region ahead of first customer deliveries in the Middle East this December. The McLaren 12C Spider, the convertible version of the company's debut car, the 12C Coupe, made its global public debut at the prestigious Gooding & Company Auction preview during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance weekend. It was revealed in a stunning new Volcano Yellow 'Elite' color, available as an option on the Spider and Coupe in 2013. McLaren Special Operations, the McLaren business responsible for the delivery of bespoke modifications and personalization to McLaren road car owners, presented the McLaren X-1 - their first completely unique car designed and built in consultation with its owner. Finally, McLaren GT, the racing division of McLaren Automotive, displayed a track-only concept car, the 12C Can-Am Edition, which presented how McLaren GT could deliver the most powerful and lightest McLaren 12C derivative to-date. Mark Harrison, Regional Director for McLaren in the Middle East and Africa, said: "Last weekend's debuts at Pebble Beach not only showed just what McLaren is capable of designing and delivering in the luxury sports car market, but also that, as a business, we appreciate that we have to challenge on all fronts against our competitors: whether that is on the track, in the showrooms, or in attending to clients' desires for personalization. For a new and relatively small car company, the challenges to deliver to the expectations of the McLaren brand and its successful racing and road car history are immense, but we will not rest until our road car business delivers the same results as our racing team has over the years." He continued: "I intend to showcase all of these exciting new developments across the region in 2012 as an example of our desire and ability to satisfy every customer's conceivable request. The 12C Spider will tour our dealerships in the autumn, as will a unique car from McLaren Special Operations - not the incredible McLaren X-1 unfortunately as that goes into our very proud client's private car collection. Meanwhile, plans are being laid to debut a 12C GT3 car in the region before the end of the year. These are exciting times for McLaren Automotive, and not bad going for our first full year of operation in the Middle East." – SG
