McLaren, a steadfast holdout within the stampede amongst Lamborghini, Bentley, Aston Martin, Ferrari and different ultraluxury and unique manufacturers to market high-performance utility automobiles, could also be reversing course.
That is the conclusion of a report from British journal Autocar. The publication, with out attributing the data to any sources, says the British automaker plans to launch an SUV within the second half of the last decade.
The corporate has typically signaled it has no plans to supply an SUV. Issues could be altering since Michael Leiters, a key utility vehicle advocate for other brands, was named CEO in April, Autocar stated.
Leiters, a German engineer who turns into McLaren CEO on Friday, July 1, was instrumental within the creation of Porsche’s first crossover, the Cayenne, and Ferrari’s first utility, the forthcoming Purosangue. He has given no indication publicly he plans to do the identical at McLaren.
The closest factor to an SUV that McLaren has fielded is McLaren Racing’s MX Extreme E, which competes in a new all-electric, off-road racing circuit utilizing spec automobiles to advertise sustainability.
The McLaren SUV portfolio will begin with one mannequin that’s “comparatively low, compact” and with “dual-or-tri-motor, four-wheel-drive,” Autocar stated. It’ll even be absolutely electrical.
Premium and unique SUVs and crossovers have change into more and more widespread. In 2021, international gross sales of Aston Martin’s DBX almost doubled, and Porsche’s Macan and Cayenne now make up over half of the famed sports activities automotive model’s U.S. gross sales. Lamborghini’s Urus outsold the Huracan supercar globally by nearly double final yr.
McLaren denied any plans to launch the SUV described within the report, and spokesman Roger Ormisher stated there are “no quick plans” for such a automobile.