McLaren has confirmed plans to build its first SUV in the UK, marking a major expansion for the British supercar maker. The unnamed performance SUV is still in the early stages of development and is planned to launch before 2030.
The SUV forms part of a GBP 500 million investment in McLaren’s manufacturing and engineering operations. The investment will also fund a second vehicle assembly facility in the UK, expand existing sites and bring engine development and production in-house for the first time.
The programme is expected to create at least 1,000 jobs within and around McLaren, with a further 3,000 jobs anticipated across its supply chain.
McLaren SUV to Move Beyond Mid-Engined Supercars
The SUV represents a major departure from McLaren’s established road-car formula. Since the launch of the 12C in 2011, the company’s core road cars have followed a mid-engined format.
The new SUV will introduce a front-engined layout, with McLaren also considering either four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. COO Michael Straughan said the new architecture could potentially create opportunities for other models in the future, although McLaren currently has no firm plans for additional derivatives. The SUV will use one of McLaren’s new hybrid powertrains, but the company has yet to reveal its technical specifications, name or exact launch date.
Carbonfibre Body Structure Being Considered
McLaren is still deciding on the SUV’s body structure. The company is considering several options, including carbonfibre, drawing on its experience with lightweight composite construction. According to Straughan, using carbonfibre for the SUV’s structure would be a new approach for this type of vehicle, with other SUVs in the segment using aluminium structures. The final construction method has not yet been confirmed.
McLaren to Build its Own engines
One of the biggest changes coming with the expansion is McLaren’s move towards in-house engine and gearbox production. The company’s current V6 and V8 engines are supplied by Ricardo and have powered McLaren’s core road cars since the 12C was introduced in 2011. The existing engines are exclusive to McLaren.
Future engines will support the company’s hybrid engine strategy, with McLaren saying they will be developed and tuned with driver engagement as a key consideration. Straughan indicated that the future programmes will initially evolve from the company’s existing V8 products, while also leaving scope for different engine configurations in the future.
McLaren’s relationship with Ricardo will continue for other engineering activities, but future engines will be manufactured by McLaren rather than supplied to Woking by Ricardo.
No Immediate McLaren EV
Despite gaining experience in electric vehicle development through its integration with Forseven, McLaren does not currently plan to launch a fully electric road car. The company says it will wait until customer demand for an EV in this segment becomes stronger.
McLaren says an electric model is eventually inevitable, but it wants to introduce one when the market and customer demand are more established.
Second UK Assembly Plant Planned
McLaren will establish a second vehicle assembly facility in the UK to support its next-generation products. Its exact location has not yet been confirmed.
The new facility will operate alongside the McLaren Production Centre in Woking. McLaren says a separate assembly line is required because its existing facility cannot build the new front-engined products alongside its current rear-engined cars.
The company also plans to expand its Woking facility, which produced around 2,000 cars in 2025, as well as its carbonfibre manufacturing and research centre in South Yorkshire.
These operations will be supported by McLaren’s recently established design and innovation centre in Bicester and its testing and vehicle development facility in the Midlands.