McLaren hints at DBX, Urus, Purosangue rival

McLAREN AUTOMOTIVE has told British publication Autocar that it is open to the idea of developing a high-performance SUV that would rival the likes of the Aston Martin DBX707, Ferrari Purosangue and Lamborghini Urus, provided it has “the right DNA”.

Speaking to Autocar this week, McLaren’s newly appointed CEO Michael Leiters said the brand is actively exploring what form such a model would take, and that the brand is eager to extend its line-up beyond mid-engined supercars.

The former Ferrari chief technology officer and Porsche product line director has already helped to steer two such models to market – the Purosangue and the Cayenne – and said he is keen for McLaren to benefit from the kind of profits such models can achieve.

“I developed an SUV at Ferrari, and I developed an SUV at Porsche, so I love SUVs. But we don’t do it for me,” he said.

“I think it is a really important market. It still is, and it continues to grow. It’s very attractive as a market segment.”

Mr Leiters said that unlike the Cayenne, the McLaren SUV will offer performance levels reflective of the brand, with only a high-powered variant offered.

“What we have to understand as McLaren is, ‘how can we find a product that is in line with our DNA’. We shouldn’t do a classic SUV,” he said.

McLaren has seen several rival performance brands reap handsome profits and record sales on the back of SUV models. It has hinted previously that such a model could arrive within the next five years, saying it will likely be a battery-electric model with powertrain options including multiple motors and all-wheel drive.

To be competitive within the segment, the McLaren SUV would need to match or better the performance offered by its nearest rivals.

Aston Martin’s sold-out $428,400 DBX707 delivers 520kW of power and 900Nm of torque courtesy of its Mercedes-AMG sourced 4.0-litre twin turbocharged V8 while the Lamborghini Urus Performante – also powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8—develops 490kW and 850Nm. Locally, the Performante will be priced from $465,876 plus on-road costs.

Ferrari has to officially announce the performance stats of its high-riding hyper-SUV, but industry watchers say the Purosangue is likely to offer several driveline options including a 3.0-litre hybridised and turbocharged V6 with 610kW/740Nm, or possible V8 and V12 units sourced from elsewhere in the prancing horse stable.

Whatever the case, it’s likely McLaren’s forthcoming SUV will arrive too late for an internal combustion option. The brand has said previously that it aims to begin electrifying its range by the end of the decade and will discontinue the development of petrol engines by 2030.

The company will focus on hybrid supercars over the coming decade before transitioning to fully electric models by 2035.