'We invite comparison testing,' says McLaren

Supercar comparison: McLaren versus… It’s a headline you could read here soon at motoring.com.au – at least if the British supercar brand has its way.

With some very rare exceptions, manufacturers in the rarefied world of supercars do their best to stifle comparison testing. But McLaren wants to change that, and has thrown down the gauntlet in the process.

“We’re very confident about our car,” George Biggs, managing director of McLaren Asia Pacific told motoring.com.au – specifically of the 720S.

“In every segment that we compete, we believe it’s the absolute segment leader. We’re just very comfortable for people to have that driving experience, and compare that to other people [brands/cars].

“We think we stand up very competitively in that space… It’s [comparison testing] certainly something that we’re extremely comfortable with,” Biggs confirmed.

The 720S is McLaren’s latest Super series car and sits at the top of the ‘regular’ McLaren line-up.

Built on McLaren’s second generation P14 platform, it replaces the MP4-12C and 650/675 models and features significant upgrades in terms of fit, finish and function.

“We’re now on our second generation product, so we’re in a good space. Where people have adopted 12C and 650 and LT, and can now see what is available from our brand [in terms of product] – and available, more importantly, from a customer experience,” Biggs explained.

“Also customers… are looking for the most extreme high-performance innovation and technologically advanced product, and we offer that.”

McLaren has more than quadrupled its volume in Australia since 2014 and is set for more growth in 2018. Biggs says the growth is customer-driven.

“What’s important is getting the demand from the customers first, and then supplying the cars. That’s just simply how our business works,” he explained.

“With the 720S, we’re six, seven months out in terms of delivery. We’ve had a really strong period of demand, so that [sales volume] number is a product of that, and a product of the cars that we’ve launched.

“We’re also seeing [interest] back into Sports series via the [570S] Spider model,” Biggs explained.

Although short of European ratios, the Sport range (of 540C, 570S, GT and above mentioned S Spider) is still a strong performer for McLaren Down Under.

“In Europe, you’re looking about two to one ratio, in terms of Sports Series to Super Series [720S]. Here, you’re probably looking at about a 1.5 to one. The demand, at the very top end in this market, is extremely strong. And I think just with the nature of the buyer here, they are looking for products like 720S,” Biggs explained.

According to the local McLaren boss, it is the Sports Series has taken the brand to “that next level of maturity”.

“McLaren is a small niche car manufacturer, but [with Sport] we’ve been able to offer something which is a bit more consistent on a day-to-day usability,” Biggs stated.

McLaren caused a stir with the unveiling of its Senna road-going track special late last year. At Geneva, it showed an even more extreme Senna GTR.

Biggs confirmed there are a number of local buyers already signed up for the Senna but said the marque “had to disappoint a number of customers around the world, including in this market”.

Sold out on its debut at McLaren’s Winter Ball last December, just 500 of the new Ultimate Series car will be built. Unlike, the upcoming BP23 three-seater, the Senna will be road-legal for Australia. There’s interest “in the region” for the extreme Senna GTR too, he says.

McLaren versus? With which make(s) and model(s) should motoring.com.au compare a McLaren 720S against? Here’s your chance to help us organise the comparison test of 2018. Let us know in the comment sections below…