If you’re hunting for a premium SUV, McLaren’s upcoming model will soon be on the radar. The car will abandon the brand’s signature mid‑engine layout for a front‑engined chassis that can be fitted with either rear‑ or all‑wheel drive, giving it a more conventional handling feel that buyers may find more approachable.
The power figures are still being shaped, but the hybrid architecture suggests a V‑8 or V‑6 combustion engine paired with an electric motor, targeting a combined output that sits around the 400‑horsepower mark—right in line with the Porsche Cayenne S.
Under the hood, the SUV will feature a carbon‑fibre body structure—a first for a vehicle of this size—cutting weight and boosting efficiency. The new UK assembly plant will also let McLaren manufacture its own engines for the first time, a move that could shave off import duties and streamline the supply chain.
The £500 million investment is a clear sign that McLaren is serious about scaling. The company expects to create 1,000 jobs at the plant and an additional 3,000 across suppliers, which could keep production costs in check and make the SUV more accessible to a niche but growing buyer base.
Mark your calendar: the SUV is set to hit the market before 2030, with early indications pointing to a launch window in the mid‑decade. Enthusiasts should keep an eye on the first power‑train reveal and the final price tag, which will likely sit above the current Mercedes‑EQC range but below the ultra‑luxury segment.
In short, McLaren’s move into SUVs is a bold statement that the brand is willing to shift its engineering DNA. For buyers, it means a front‑engine hybrid that blends McLaren’s performance DNA with the practicality of an SUV, all wrapped in the brand’s unmistakable design language.