- McLaren will introduce its first four-door, five-seat SUV in 2028.
- The SUV uses a mild-hybrid V8 with AWD, though power output and battery details remain undisclosed.
- A dealer preview confirmed 24-inch wheels and aerodynamics described as sculpted and muscular.
McLaren is finally joining the high-riding crowd, though not before giving its loyalists a few years to breathe into a paper bag.
According to a report out of the UK, the brand’s first SUV is locked in for a 2028 debut, marking a major shift for a company that has spent decades polishing its racing pedigree rather than raising its ride height.
A tall order for Woking
The model, known internally as P47, was shown to dealers this week in clay form. That early peek makes it official: McLaren’s first machine with four doors and five seats is on the way.
Those who attended the preview told Automotive News the SUV carries a silhouette not far off a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT: large 24-inch wheels, broad shoulders and what was described as “sculpted and muscular” aero capped by a rear spoiler.
Under the skin, McLaren is opting for a hybrid V8 with all-wheel drive, though not of the plug-in variety. The electric system is designed simply to support the combustion engine rather than offer meaningful EV-only running. McLaren has not disclosed power outputs or battery details yet, however.
Why an SUV, and why now?
Short answer: survival. Supercar manufacturers have increasingly treated SUVs as financial life rafts; Ferrari’s Purosangue proved the sky doesn’t fall when a brand goes tall.
With new Abu Dhabi-based ownership stepping in earlier this year and industry veteran Nick Collins taking over as CEO, timing appears ripe for McLaren to broaden its appeal without abandoning its core.
The company had previously been rumoured to be developing a fully electric SUV - an idea that reportedly caused heart palpitations among purists - but a mild-hybrid approach feels more in line with the brand’s performance-first ethos.
More than just a family haulier
McLaren’s pipeline remains busy. Alongside the SUV, the marque is preparing the W1 hypercar for launch next year, followed by a new coupe in 2027, plus replacements for both the 750S and the GTS. If the P47 helps fund that rollout, even the diehards might eventually forgive the raised roofline.
McLaren’s kitchen, it seems, is well and truly cooking.