McLaren is finally about to say out loud what it has been hinting at for months: a broader McLaren comeback plan that includes new combustion-powered sports cars and, yes, an SUV. CEO Nick Collins says the company will start revealing the strategy later this summer, lining up the announcement with the start of W1 hypercar deliveries and the first public look at the brand’s next product cycle.
That matters because McLaren has spent too long looking like a brand with a future only in theory. Since the 2024 sale and Collins’ arrival last year, the company has been in reset mode, but with very few hard details for customers or rivals to chew on. Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini have spent years building out their lineups around that exact kind of clarity; McLaren is late to the party, but at least it is now heading for the door.
McLaren comeback plan: what is coming
Collins said the brand will ”start to unpack” its plans in the coming months, and the first vehicle in the rebooted lineup is expected to appear as a concept before the end of the year. After that, production versions should follow. The company has already committed to new combustion sports cars, which points to a likely successor for the aging 750S, and it has also talked about moving into ”new product categories.”
- New combustion-powered sports cars
- An SUV, long rumored and now looking increasingly real
- A concept first, then production later
McLaren SUV rumor is doing a lot of heavy lifting
The most obvious headline-grabber is the SUV, reportedly codenamed ”P47.” One November report described it as a five-seat hybrid with proportions similar to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, which is exactly the kind of specification that makes traditionalists wince and accountants smile. McLaren is not alone here: Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche have all turned performance SUVs into profit engines, and that pressure has made the segment feel less like heresy and more like survival.
The EV question is a little less urgent. Collins said McLaren will build one ”when our customers want one,” which is a diplomatic way of saying the market still isn’t ready for an electric McLaren that has to carry the badge’s usual drama. For now, the company sounds more interested in stabilizing around the engine type that built its reputation before trying to chase every powertrain trend at once.
McLaren’s reset leaves fewer excuses
Fresh ownership and investment give McLaren a better shot than it had a year ago, but the brand still needs to prove that a product roadmap can turn into momentum. A sharper sports-car lineup plus a more accessible SUV would do more for its business than another vague promise about future potential. The next few months should show whether this is a real relaunch or just the automotive version of clearing your throat before making a speech.