McLaren Confirms First Performance SUV as Part of £500 Million UK Investment
McLaren is officially entering the performance SUV market.
McLaren has confirmed plans for its first performance SUV as part of a major expansion of its vehicle range and UK manufacturing operations.
The new model will take McLaren beyond the two-seat supercars that have built the company’s reputation. It will use a hybrid powertrain and compete directly with high-performance luxury SUVs such as the Lamborghini Urus and Aston Martin DBX.
McLaren Automotive Chief Operating Officer Michael Straughan named both the Urus and DBX as clear competitors. However, he said the Ferrari Purosangue follows a different concept and may not be a direct rival.
The SUV does not yet have a public name. McLaren has also not released its design, technical specifications, performance figures or price.
Earlier reports have linked the vehicle to an internal P47 project name and a possible 2028 launch. Those reports have also described a four-door, five-seat model with a hybrid V8 and all-wheel drive.
McLaren has not officially confirmed those details or a specific launch date. The company currently says the SUV will go on sale before the end of the decade.
What McLaren has confirmed is that the vehicle will use a hybrid powertrain. A fully electric version is not planned at launch.
Chief Executive Nick Collins said McLaren will introduce an EV when its customers ask for one. According to Collins, the company does not currently see enough demand to justify that move.
Building an SUV presents a major engineering challenge for a company known for lightweight, carbon-fiber supercars.
McLaren says power-to-weight ratio will remain important. The company is studying whether carbon fiber is practical for a vehicle of this size, but could use aluminum if a carbon structure does not meet its requirements.
The SUV will also be developed without a platform-sharing partner. McLaren says the vehicle must be recognizably its own product, despite entering a category dominated by larger manufacturers.
Confirmed and reported details currently include:
- A performance-focused hybrid powertrain
- Competition with the Lamborghini Urus and Aston Martin DBX
- More passenger space than any previous McLaren road car
- No fully electric version at launch
- A design and platform developed specifically for McLaren
- A launch planned before the end of 2030, with 2028 reported but not officially confirmed
The SUV forms part of a wider expansion supported by approximately £500 million of investment in McLaren’s UK manufacturing and engineering operations.
The program is backed by L’IMAD, McLaren’s Abu Dhabi-based majority shareholder. L’IMAD has committed £1.5 billion to McLaren over five years.
The £500 million expansion will support a new UK vehicle assembly facility and upgrades to McLaren’s existing sites. The McLaren Production Center in Woking and the company’s carbon-fiber manufacturing and research operation in South Yorkshire will both expand.
McLaren also plans to design and manufacture future engines and transmissions in-house for the first time. The work will begin with two new engines and transmissions supporting the company’s hybrid strategy.
The expansion is expected to:
- Create at least 1,000 direct and indirect UK jobs by 2032
- Potentially support up to 3,000 additional jobs in the wider supply chain
- Double McLaren’s manufacturing workforce
- Increase production capacity for a broader model range
- Keep the design, engineering and production of future McLaren vehicles in the UK
The company has also opened a design and innovation center in Bicester and an engineering, testing and vehicle-development site at MIRA in the Midlands.
McLaren needs a wider range of vehicles to increase sales and improve its financial performance. The company sold about 2,000 cars in 2025, fewer than 3,300 in 2024, after reducing production and dealer inventory.
It has since moved toward a build-to-order system intended to limit discounting and protect vehicle values.
A performance SUV could give McLaren access to customers who want the brand’s performance and design but need more passenger space and everyday usability. Similar models have become important sources of sales and profit for Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley and other luxury manufacturers.
The move is a significant change for McLaren, but the company insists it is not abandoning its core products. Its future range will continue to include high-performance sports cars and supercars alongside the SUV.
