It looks like another supercar brand is joining the SUV party. In a recent interview with the UK-based Car Magazine, McLaren Automotive CEO Nick Collins confirmed that the company is expanding its lineup beyond its current crop of supercars, with new models expected from 2030 onwards.
Although Collins did not explicitly state that his company will be building an SUV, he did confirm that McLaren will be exploring “adjacent segments”, headlined by a new model with “more than two seats.”
McLaren’s move follows a well-explored path in the industry – it’s no secret that SUVs are the money-makers for many luxury and performance brands. Porsche arguably started the trend with its Cayenne and was soon followed by others like the Bentley Bentayga, the Lamborghini Urus, and the Aston Martin DBX. Even Ferrari has joined the party, though it adamantly calls its Purosangue a “Ferrari Utility Vehicle.”
While some may see the move as an obvious cash grab, most brands claim that these high-volume SUVs help fund the development of their more traditional, slow-moving, and sought-after sports car models, resulting in a win-win situation.
McLaren has long hinted at the possibility of entering new product segments, though it previously asserted – through its then-CEO Michael Leiters – that it would not build a “classic SUV”.
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But now, with McLaren under the ownership of CYVN Holdings — an arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund — and merged with British EV startup Forseven, it seems thhe Woking-based supercar maker could have a change of heart.
It remains to be seen what this future McLaren with “more than two seats” will look like. The McLaren boss did not reveal further details, other than confirming that design drafts have already been sketched, and will be debuted as part of its 2030 roadmap.
Collins did emphasise that McLaren will be working closely with Chinese carmaker Nio, particularly in terms of manufacturing, to utilise components sourced from Nio in future McLaren models.
“You’ll see Nio components in McLarens much sooner than you think—at a component level, even in the current range,” Collins said. “We’ve been working with them to make a better McLaren faster. Not a faster car, but a car built in less time.”
It looks like we’ll have to wait and see what this more practical McLaren will look like, or even what would power it. McLaren does have two compelling options already in its current arsenal: the 680 hp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 plug-in hybrid from the Artura, or its workhorse 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8. A version of that V8 would certainly make for a very exciting SUV down the road.
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