Introduced in New York, the 570S brings the same construction methods and many of the same tech features as the midrange 650S, which fetches $265,000, but with a slightly less powerful engine and a much lower price of just under $185,000. The 540C, meanwhile, is geared for customers in China and carries an even lower sticker around $160,000.
Speaking to The Truth About Cars, McLaren communications director Wayne Bruce suggested the Sport Series’ carbon-fiber construction is still to costly for use in cars with lower price tags.
The company already appears to be competitive with the top of Porsche’s range, and it is not difficult for outsiders to see an opportunity for the brand to expand into the mass market, but Bruce cautioned that such a move would require significant investments that are currently out of reach for the small independent automaker. Echoing the sentiment of other high-end automakers, McLaren also believes it needs to eventually limit production numbers to maintain exclusivity.
McLaren sales director Jolyon Nash recently rejected the possibility of joining ranks with one of the large multi-national automakers — as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and nearly every other low-volume brands have done. He argued that McLaren’s small size gives the company more flexibility and a faster reaction time than rivals, most of which have access to larger investment funds but must receive approval from parent companies before moving forward with big projects.
The company is aiming to sell around 4,000 units annually by 2017, up from approximately 1,600 units last year.
Image by Ronan Glon.
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