McLaren expanding with Middle Eastern office in preparation for 2011 launch

McLaren's plans to introduce new models in the next couple of years has been met with much anticipation from fans of the brand, which is unsurprising considering the company engineered and built one of the fastest and most acclaimed production cars of all time - the McLaren F1.

With three new models expected to arrive soon, including an entry-level sports car expected to cost around the $100,000 mark, a new V8 model aimed at the likes of the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo, and a flagship supercar that is to be the successor to the legendary F1, the need to create a global business model is increasing – especially now considering the poor state of traditional supercar markets such as the U.S.

To help the company's global operations, it is setting up a regional office for the Middle East and Africa, which should see the company courting oil-rich sheiks and global business leaders in this region with its range of new cars. This region will be headed by Ian Gorshcuch, who will be setting up retail distribution deals to give customers a positive buying experience for future McLaren models. No location has been picked yet for the regional HQ, but McLaren has disclosed it is looking to open retail outlets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

A service center could also be setup in Lebanon to serve regional buyers that transport their cars there for holiday. An eventual expansion to the up-and-coming Asian markets, especially China, could be in the works for the future as well.

Gorshcuch’s appointment comes in preparation for the world launch in 2011 of the first in the company's new range of sports cars, the V8-powered P11, which you can see in spy shots by clicking here.