McLaren has abandoned its long-standing opposition to SUVs and plans to launch a high-performance model aimed directly at the Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX. The supercar maker is joining rivals in the lucrative SUV market.
The plan calls for a £500 million investment (about 583 million euros) to expand McLaren’s UK manufacturing. The company expects to create at least 1,000 new jobs by 2032 and build an assembly plant separate from its Woking headquarters. The new facility will handle future McLaren models, with the SUV as its basic focus.
"McLaren plans to independently design and manufacture its own engines and transmissions for the first time, ending its reliance on Ricardo."
Reuters
For years, McLaren’s leadership argued that an SUV would damage its supercar image. As competitors’ SUV sales grew, but, the company changed course. CEO Michael Leiters, who previously worked on the Porsche Cayenne and Ferrari Purosangue, has steered the brand in this direction.
Chief operating officer Michael Straughan says McLaren is considering a four-door, high-clearance vehicle built on a carbon monocoque chassis, a technology usually reserved for its supercars. The SUV will have a hybrid powertrain. McLaren has ruled out a fully electric version for now, distinguishing it from models such as the Lotus Eletre.
Straughan also confirmed that McLaren will design and produce its own engines, ending its long partnership with Ricardo. The company’s work with electric vehicle startup Forseven in 2025 prompted speculation about a battery-powered SUV. Straughan said the Forseven project is separate, with different production goals and suppliers.
"Information from The National, McLaren's investment is expected to generate up to 3,000 indirect jobs in the supply chain, also to the 1,000 direct positions planned by 2032. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to support the production of next-generation vehicles in the UK."
The National
Dealers have already seen early prototypes resembling a more aggressive Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, fitted with 24-inch wheels. The SUV is set to debut before 2030. Its platform could later underpin other front-engine, all-wheel-lead models.
The financial rationale is clear. In 2025, McLaren built about 2,000 cars across all models. Ferrari expects to make up to 3,000 Purosangues a year, while Lamborghini sells about twice as many Urus SUVs. SUVs now lead profits for luxury carmakers, as shown in recent analysis of the segment’s top performers.
McLaren’s move responds to market realities. Its investment in UK manufacturing and hybrid technology reflects the company’s ambition to compete in the luxury SUV market. For traditionalists, a McLaren SUV may seem like a break from the past. For the business, it is a necessary step as the company enters a segment that has become basic to luxury carmakers.
