McLaren Automotive expands retail network with the opening of McLaren Jeddah in Al Ghassan Motors exceptional new showroom complex
- McLaren Jeddah officially opened for business by McLaren Automotive Regional Director, Mark Harrison and Al Ghassan Motors President and CEO, Sheikh Ghassan A. H. Al Sulaiman.
- McLaren’s 1998 championship-winning Formula 1 car, MP4/13 on display in the new showroom alongside MP4-12C.
- Spectacular short film marks expansion of McLaren Middle East dealer network showing the 12C on road and track in the region
(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 30th May) – McLaren Automotive, manufacturer of the award winning MP4-12C high-performance sports car, continued its expansion into the Middle East with the opening of McLaren Jeddah. The event was hosted by Al Ghassan Motors President and CEO, Sheikh Ghassan A H Al Sulaiman, and McLaren Automotive’s Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa, Mark Harrison.
The McLaren showroom, part of Al Ghassan Motors new retail complex in the sophisticated residential and shopping district of Tahliah Street, is a fitting venue for the British brand, which has now launched four of its six Middle East showrooms.
McLaren’s growing presence in the Middle East was also marked by the release of a stunning short film shot entitled “McLaren 12C finds ‘The Perfect Line’ at Yas Marina Circuit” The video is now available to view and embed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF6fHZncjYc.
Commenting on the launch, Harrison said: “McLaren has firmly established its presence in Saudi Arabia today with the opening of McLaren Jeddah; the new showroom provides our customers and fans with an impressive facility where they may see our debut model the 12C, and soak up some of the McLaren brand values. In particular, our attention to detail and focus on performance and exceptional customer service.”
Visitors will be able to see the first ‘pure’ McLaren production road car, the MP4-12C. The debut model will be joined within a year by the second of McLaren’s planned model line-up, with a full range of McLaren sports cars in place within three or four years.
The 12C draws upon the company’s longstanding Formula 1 experience and features a number of unique and innovative features that help make it the world’s fastest and most efficient high performance sports car in its segment: the world’s only one-piece, moulded carbon chassis; a lightweight, highly efficient 592bhp V8 twin turbo engine; and an innovative ‘Proactive Chassis Control’ suspension system that allows drivers to switch between ultimate track performance and optimum road comfort.
Alongside the 12C in McLaren Jeddah’s new showroom is the iconic McLaren Formula 1 car, MP4/13. Dominating the 1998 season, the car went on to win nine Grands Prix and produced a first World Drivers’ Championship for Formula 1 legend Mika Hakkinen along with the World Constructors Championship and 12 pole positions for the team.
Sheikh Ghassan A H Al Sulaiman commented: “We are proud to welcome McLaren Automotive as a partner in the Al Ghassan stable of automotive brands. As an innovative and forward thinking brand with a rich racing heritage, McLaren also values customer service, and, I believe, will offer an exciting new choice in this market for our discerning customers in Saudi Arabia.”
Al Ghassan Motors is one of an initial 35 retailers appointed worldwide by McLaren Automotive to sell its range of high-performance, premium sports cars, starting with the ground-breaking MP4-12C. As a specialist in luxury automotive cars, Al Ghassan Motors brings a wealth of experience and an extensive knowledge of the Saudi Arabia market to McLaren.
The Middle East is a key market for McLaren Automotive. In addition to the three showrooms already open in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (Al Habtoor Motors), and Kuwait (Ali Alghanim & Sons), the company’s full regional network will include retailers in Doha (Al Wajba Establishment) and Manama (Al Ghassan Motors). There is also a service centre in Beirut (Saad & Trad Sal).
