First, there was the Porsche Cayenne. When it debuted in 2002, fans were furious because it was considered unacceptable for a sportscar maker to dip its toe into the highly lucrative SUV world.

But guess what? The critics later realized that in order to keep making the beloved 911, Porsche needed to make money, and the Cayenne–later the Macan, too–was the solution. Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lotus and even Ferrari followed suit with their own interpretations of “non-an-SUV” and now McLaren is about to do the same.

Known globally for its numerous racing wins, as well as for the record-setting 30-year-old McLaren F1, the Woking-based British automaker is in a bit of a financial pickle. Even though you may have seen several Youtubers flaunting their 540, 720 and more recently Artura supercars online, the company that got its name from New Zealand-bord Bruce McLaren lost more than half a million dollars per car last year, according to Road & Track, who sat down with the company’s CEO Michael Leiters about what’s next.

Even though it’s been in business for over three decades, losing so much money per vehicle is beyond the imagination of even new startups, but Leiters has several solutions to turn things around.

The first is to limit the number of cars that roll off the assembly line. McLarens are exclusive supercars, known for their low weight and sensational handling, but even with 2,137 cars sold worldwide in 2023, the automaker’s CEO said they need to cut back to keep residual values high. An identical approach is used by Ferrari, and it seems to work wonders for the Italian brand.

Another solution to get McLaren out of the financial slump is to get into the SUV space. But, just like Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Lotus, don’t expect to see the SUV acronym anywhere near McLaren’s future supercar on stilts.

The 2013 P1 was McLaren’s first plug-in hybrid

“To unlock our full potential as a company, we believe there is a second stage, to enlarge and expand our lineup beyond the segment where we are today,” Leiters said for Road & Track. “We have called this ‘shared performance,’ because you can share the performance with more people than you can have in a McLaren today.”

In other words, you’ll need to wrap your head around yet another automotive moniker–SPV, or Shared Performance Vehicle. In the case of McLaren, the SUV-that’s-not-an-SUV will likely use a plug-in hybrid powertrain, either with a V-6 or V-8 engine under the hood.

Another possibility is for the British automaker to team up with a bigger car company to shove its hybrid setup into an existing platform. Leiters didn’t say what that automaker may be, but Road & Track theorized that BMW might be a worthy candidate, seeing how it dabbled with McLaren in the past and it has a ready-made high-performance, hybridized platform in the form of the XM.

The 2023 McLaren Artura uses the company’s latest chassis and PHEV tech that includes an axial flux e-motor

That said, McLaren is all about lightness, and the BMW XM is anything but light, weighing a hefty 6,200 pounds. According to Leiters, however, the Woking supercar maker could use its expertise to make whatever platform lighter. “The core attribute of a McLaren is lightweight. We have world-class competence we could bring into a partnership, even talking about structural elements of a platform,” McLaren’s CEO added.

Pricing-wise, the British automaker’s plug-in SPV would be closer to a Ferrari Purosangue and Rolls-Royce Cullinan rather than the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga. That suggests a price tag of around $400,000.

Besides dabbling in the SUV segment, McLaren is also working on its first-ever all-electric supercar that has a target weight of just 3,300 lbs. Referring to the likes of the Rimac Nevera, Pininfarina Battista and Lotus Evija, Leiters said that his definition of a supercar is based on weight, not just performance.

“For me, a supercar that weighs two tons is no supercar,” he said. “It is easy to have a better power output to increase the performance. This is longitudinal performance if you like. Acceleration. But the better question is, what is the lateral performance? You cannot deliver that if the weight is too high.”

Shots fired, we’d say.

McLaren ⁢Working On PHEV SUV That Isn’t An‍ SUV: CEO

McLaren, the British‍ supercar manufacturer known for its high-performance vehicles, has recently announced its plans to ⁣develop⁤ a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that challenges the traditional concept of an SUV. According to the company’s ‌CEO, the new ⁣vehicle will offer the practicality and versatility of an SUV while maintaining the⁢ performance and luxury that McLaren is famous for.

In an interview with automotive journalists, McLaren CEO, ⁤Mike Flewitt, revealed that the ‍company sees a growing demand for SUVs in the luxury market segment. However, instead of following the trend and developing a conventional ​SUV, McLaren is taking a different approach by creating a vehicle that combines the best of both worlds ​– the practicality of an SUV and the performance of a ⁣sports car.

Flewitt explained that​ McLaren’s PHEV⁤ will feature‌ a‌ hybrid powertrain that combines a high-performance‍ gasoline engine with⁤ electric motors. This configuration will not only enhance the⁤ vehicle’s efficiency and reduce its ‌carbon ​footprint​ but ⁤also deliver the exhilarating driving experience that McLaren enthusiasts have come to expect.

Moreover, the​ new ⁤PHEV will showcase McLaren’s dedication to innovation and⁣ sustainability. ⁢Flewitt ​emphasized that the company is committed to reducing its environmental impact and embracing new‌ technologies to create more sustainable vehicles. By introducing‌ a PHEV model, McLaren aims to cater to customers who are looking for eco-friendly alternatives without compromising on performance and luxury.

While details ​about the⁤ new PHEV ⁤are still scarce, industry experts speculate that‍ the vehicle ‌will have ⁤a sleek and aggressive design, reminiscent of McLaren’s iconic supercars.⁣ It is expected to⁢ offer ample cargo space, advanced technology features, and a range of ⁣driving modes to ⁢suit various driving conditions.

In conclusion,⁤ McLaren’s decision to⁤ develop a​ PHEV that defies the traditional SUV stereotype demonstrates the company’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to pushing boundaries. With its⁢ unmatched performance, ​luxury, and sustainability features, the new PHEV is poised‌ to⁢ revolutionize the luxury vehicle market and​ solidify‌ McLaren’s reputation as ​a pioneer in the automotive industry.​ Car enthusiasts and environmental advocates alike eagerly anticipate the official unveiling of McLaren’s ⁤groundbreaking PHEV.