McLaren Automotive, the road car operation of the UK McLaren F1 group, reports that it made a profit for the first time last year, boosted by the success of its £866,000 P1 ‘super-car’. The Woking, Surrey, business, which only started producing cars in 2011, had earlier predicted that it would merely ‘break even’ in 2013.

Chief executive Mike Flewitt said: “We actually made a small profit, so we are slightly ahead. It is a very significant development.” The detailed profit figures have not yet been made available.

McLaren Automotive launched its latest car — the 650S — at the recent Geneva Motor Show, with prices starting from £195,250. It will be available from April; it can achieve 0-62mph in 3sec and 0-124mph in 8.4sec. Mr Flewitt said: “We have taken everything we have learnt from the McLaren P1 and put it into this car.” Unlike the P1 ‘super-car’, of which only 375 were made, the 650S will have no production limit placed upon it. The P1 is sold out, and the final model expected to roll off the production line in May 2015.

The company, which employs around 1,000 people, makes about 1,500 cars a year and expects to increase output to nearly 4,000 over the next three to four years. About 80% of the cars made in the UK are exported, and McLaren has 50 dealerships around the world, including one in China.