Rumors of a McLaren SUV are stirring once again. In discussions with McLaren CEO Michael Leiters, based in the UK Car the magazine claims the process has already begun. Furthermore, it will be a pure electric vehicle, making it McLaren’s first SUV and its first EV. Allegedly, it is.
While reports say it’s happening, we haven’t heard anything official from McLaren on the matter. Various quotes from Leiters in car unconvincing story, talking about how The McLaren SUV might come alive versus the massive confirmation that it’s already underway. We contact the supercar brand directly in hopes of confirming or denying the report; We will definitely offer updates as new information becomes available.
We present the report because there is definitely evidence to support McLaren’s change of heart about SUVs. Among other things, Leiters – who replaced Mike Flewitt at the top as of July 2022 – has admitted to being a fan of SUVs. In addition, he has important experience in this segment, having worked at Porsche and most recently at Ferrari with the Cayenne and Purosangue.
And lest we forget, McLaren has already revealed an all-electric SUV, even though it won’t be used for everyday trips to the store. In November 2021, the company removed the cover of the Extreme E – a custom racing vehicle that competes in the off-road Extreme E series. There are definitely some caveats to this, with the former being clearly not a production vehicle. In this case, it also doesn’t feature a possible McLaren production model, as all Extreme E vehicles use the same chassis. Even the body is a standard use item, but still, it races in the McLaren wheelhouse.
It’s also no secret that high-value super SUVs have been hugely successful for companies like Lamborghini and Aston Martin. Our own research has shown how profitable this segment can be, and with McLaren still struggling in the finance department, a high-performance SUV may be mandatory at this point.
Look Chatting About Cars podcast for more super SUV content and witty banter about all things automotive, available below.
