McLaren Is Exploring Potential SUV Model, However, it's Still in the Early Stages

McLaren Is Exploring Potential SUV Model, However, it’s Still in the Early Stages

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There is contemplation within McLaren about dipping into the SUV market, as per one of the top executives of the brand.

According to a report by Automotive News, McLaren is keeping a close eye on the market, as mentioned by Jamie Corstorphine, the director of product strategy at McLaren. Following Porsche’s entrance into the SUV domain with the Cayenne in 2002, other luxury carmakers such as Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, and even the historically hesitant Lotus and Ferrari have followed suit. This absence of McLaren in the segment is now more noticeable.

Whether McLaren chooses to create an SUV remains an unsettled matter. “The significant aspect is to offer a [vehicle] that provides more space or capacity for a McLaren customer to involve more people in the experience,” stated Corstorphine to Automotive News. Nevertheless, he added that this doesn’t necessarily mean the company will opt for a typical high-riding crossover.

The former CEO of McLaren, Mike Flewitt, was adamantly opposed to the idea of the company delving into SUV production. However, Flewitt stepped down in late 2021, succeeded by Michael Leiters. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Leiters has been instrumental in the development of both the Porsche Cayenne and the Ferrari Purosangue.

To assist in funding the launch of the Artura model, McLaren has been selling off some items from its historical collection. Introducing an SUV model could attract new revenue streams to support the company. McLaren

If McLaren does decide to pursue an SUV, it is improbable that it will be a run-of-the-mill offering. During an interview with Autocar earlier this year, Leiters hinted that McLaren should develop products that align with the brand’s “DNA” and should avoid creating a conventional SUV.

As of now, McLaren’s ideas for an SUV are still at the investigative phase, as stated by Corstorphine. According to the McLaren executive, the crux is to ascertain if such a vehicle would genuinely represent the brand.

In recent years, McLaren has emerged as a key player in the high-performance car segment. The company’s cars have become iconic and extravagant symbols of opulence and speed, reminiscent of many Lamborghinis that came before. The potential diminishing of this edge by introducing an SUV will be thoroughly weighed by those responsible for shaping the brand’s future strategy. Nevertheless, given the prevailing financial concerns post the pandemic crisis, the appeal of a high-volume SUV model may be too lucrative to overlook.

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