One Hyde Park, in Knightsbridge, has been announced as the location of the new McLaren London showroom. Jardine Motors Group plans to open it in early 2011, prior to the spring launch of the McLaren MP4-12C.

McLaren London is expected to become the marque’s leading European retailer – and potentially the busiest in the global network.

The One Hyde Park development consists of 86 apartments and three very upmarket retail spaces, with the McLaren showroom on the ground floor of ‘pavilion B’, the largest of the three retail units, looking out onto Knightsbridge and strategically placed between Harvey Nichols and Harrods at the top of Sloane Street. While McLaren will be the only motoring brand at One Hyde Park, it’s likely that the other two units will house leading luxury brands. As a further attraction, the McLaren showroom will displaying one of the team’s Formula 1 racing cars.

Other UK outlets will be opened in Birmingham and Manchester.

More than 2700 potential customers have already expressed a ‘serious intention to buy’ the MP4-12C when it goes on sale next year. Although the exact pricing has not yet been confirmed, it will be somewhere between £125,000 and £175,000.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: McLaren Automotive