Thursday, May 7, 2015

McLaren Plans No Model Below The 540C


In case you didn’t know, the Sport Series is McLaren’s attempt at offering a more accessible and more practical supercar for those individuals with less than a quarter million dollars to spend on a new ride. It’s the British automaker’s shot at taking on the Audi R8 and Porsche 911, and it includes the $185,000 570S and $160,000 540C. While not cheap by most people’s standards, it is quite the cut for a brand best known for the hybrid P1 hypercar, a vehicle that comes with a $1.15 million sticker price, and according to Wayne Bruce, McLaren’s global director of communications, the 540C is the lowest price point we’ll see from the marque for a very long time.

That’s the news from TheTruthAboutCars, which spoke with Bruce recently about the possibility of an even cheaper model from McLaren in the future, specifically something under the six-figure mark. Bruce responded by saying the automaker had no interest in creating such a car, and for two specific reasons.

First, there’s the issue of materials. McLaren uses carbon fiber extensively throughout its model range, and while the composite offers superb rigidity and feathery-light weight, it’s extremely expensive to produce, making it difficult to utilize at low prices without sacrificing profitability. 

Secondly, there’s the issue of exclusivity. The new Sport Series will likely put many new McLarens on the road, as Bruce says the marque expects to create roughly 4,000 units a year once production hits its stride, up from the 1,400 units produced in 2013. According to Bruce, that’s McLaren’s limit, with no current plans to expand production capacity. 

Continue reading for the full story.

McLaren Plans No Model Below The 540C originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 6 May 2015 18:00 EST.

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