McLaren Confirms Its First SUV Is Happening and Could Arrive by 2028
McLaren really is ready to try something new.
The British sports car maker confirmed that it is working on an SUV that could arrive as soon as 2028, according to The Guardian. The high-riding model will be unlike anything in the marque’s six-plus-decade history but will offer the same sort of high performance that customers expect from the brand.
The confirmation of the SUV’s existence—which follows years of rumors—came during the announcement of a 500 million pound (roughly $669 million) investment the company is making in its U.K. development and manufacturing operations. The funds will support at least one new factory, likely in Sheffield, where the brand’s carbon-fiber plant is located, and create an additional 1,000 jobs. The investment is McLaren’s new Abu Dhabi owner’s way of showing it remains committed to the country where the company was started.
McLaren McL 6GT Concept
James Lipman/McLaren
McLaren CEO Nick Collins says the brand hopes an SUV will allow it to better capitalize on the popularity of its championship-winning Formula 1 team in its bids to increase profit margin. There is a belief that an SUV will appeal to deep-pocketed buyers in the market for a vehicle that better weds performance and practicality than a supercar.
“It’s quite difficult if you have to decide which one of your kids you want to leave behind at home,” Collins said.
McLaren Artura Spider
Patrick Gosling / Beadyeye
Little is known about the SUV, which Motor1.com reports is code-named P47, at this other than that it will likely arrive around 2028. A report from last year suggests that the vehicle will have four doors and five seats, both a first for the brand. It is also expected to feature a hybrid V-8, offer all-wheel drive, and ride on a set of 24-inch wheels. Those rims, needless to say, would be the biggest in the marque’s history.
If the SUV does make it to production, it would be part of an expanding lineup that could include the company’s latest halo car, the W1, along with a rumored 810-hp hybrid coupé and the production version of the McLaren 6GT, which would be the company’s first vehicle with a manual gearbox since the iconic F1. One car not expected to be part of the brand’s roster after 2028 is the Artura, the company’s current entry-level, according to Automotive News. The vehicle has been plagued by issues since its launch in 2022 and is reportedly on the chopping block.
