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McLaren Confirms First-Ever SUV After £500M Abu Dhabi Investment
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
McLaren confirms its first SUV, a hybrid launching before 2030, backed by £500M from Abu Dhabi's L'IMAD.
What happened: the reversal is official
McLaren this week announced a £500 million investment (approximately C$934 million) from L'IMAD, a sovereign investor of the Government of Abu Dhabi, to expand its U.K. manufacturing, engineering and operations. CEO Michael Leiters, who previously worked on the Porsche Cayenne and Ferrari Purosangue, has pushed the brand toward this new direction as rivals' SUV profits kept growing.
Why it's surprising
McLaren built only about 2,000 cars across all models in 2025, yet is entering a segment where Ferrari plans up to 3,000 Purosangues a year and Lamborghini sells roughly twice as many Urus SUVs. According to russpain.com, dealers have already seen early prototypes described as a more aggressive Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT riding on 24-inch wheels. Chief operating officer Michael Straughan says the company is considering a four-door, high-clearance vehicle built on a carbon monocoque chassis — technology usually reserved for its supercars — and has ruled out a fully electric version for now, setting it apart from the Lotus Eletre.
The evidence: in-house engines and new plant
The SUV will debut before 2030 and be built at a new assembly plant separate from the Woking headquarters. According to Reuters (via russpain.com), the investment is expected to create at least 1,000 direct jobs by 2032, while The National reports up to 3,000 additional indirect supply-chain jobs.
Stakes and what comes next
The financial logic is blunt: SUV money will fund development of new sports cars, the same playbook Porsche used with the Cayenne alongside the 911. The Car Guide reports two new in-house engines and two transmissions are coming, and that an anonymous McLaren dealer told Automotive News the Artura plug-in hybrid coupe will be discontinued in 2028 after a slow start and quality issues. A successor is rumoured with a more powerful electrified V6 of roughly 800 hp, up from 690 hp, and Car and Driver suggests a design inspired by the iconic McLaren F1. McLaren has also opened a design and innovation centre and a testing facility to integrate the expanded operation.