Michael Leiters, the CEO of McLaren Automotive, has dropped some big hints about the company exploring a new vehicle - potentially a hybrid McLaren SUV. In a recent interview, Leiters referred to this future model as a "shared performance vehicle" akin to an SUV. He said McLaren may partner with another company to supply a suitable platform for this hybrid McLaren SUV. Leiters specifically mentioned the possibility that instead of an all-electric powertrain, this new hybrid McLaren SUV could end up using a plug-in hybrid setup. This contradicts earlier rumors of an electric McLaren SUV after the brand joined the Extreme E electric off-road racing series in 2022. New Hybrid McLaren SUV: Details According to Leiters, the ideal scenario for McLaren would be to integrate its own gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain into an existing SUV platform from a partner company. He said: "If we do a [plug-in hybrid SUV], we want to understand if we can use our own powertrain. To integrate our powertrain into an existing platform—that would be the ideal world." While details are still scarce, a few things seem clear about this potential hybrid McLaren SUV: It would use a plug-in hybrid powertrain, not a full electric setupMcLaren may partner with another automaker for the SUV's base platformBut McLaren's own gasoline-electric hybrid system would be integratedThis would mark McLaren's first SUV model offering This hints that the hybrid McLaren SUV could share underpinnings with another SUV on the market, but use McLaren's advanced plug-in hybrid technology for power. New Hybrid McLaren SUV: Past Experience Leiters seems well-positioned to lead McLaren into the SUV and hybrid space. Prior to joining McLaren, he served as Ferrari's chief technology officer, where he helped develop the Purosangue - Ferrari's first SUV. Leiters also previously worked at Porsche, contributing to multiple generations of the Cayenne SUV during his tenure there. On the hybrid front, McLaren already offers plug-in hybrid versions of its current supercars like the Artura. So integrating a gasoline-electric hybrid setup into a potential hybrid McLaren SUV seems quite feasible. The big challenge, according to Leiters, is managing the heavy weight of battery packs required for a larger hybrid SUV without compromising performance. New Hybrid McLaren SUV: Development While a hybrid McLaren SUV seems to be the priority currently, Leiters also revealed that the company is developing a fully electric supercar as a precaution in case market demands shift. However, he admitted that the biggest issue with an electric McLaren supercar is the heavy weight of current battery technology. Leiters is confident of getting an electric supercar's weight down to around 3,300 pounds - the same as the plug-in Artura. But he cautions that the technology needed to deliver a lightweight yet high-performance pure electric supercar likely won't be ready until at least 2030. So a fully electric vehicle from McLaren is still some time away. In the meantime, McLaren will continue expanding its range of gasoline and plug-in hybrid supercars, including developing a new hybrid V8 powertrain rumored for a successor to the iconic P1 hypercar. New Hybrid McLaren SUV: The Market If greenlit for production, a hybrid McLaren SUV would enter an increasingly competitive segment of high-performance luxury hybrid SUVs, including: Porsche Cayenne E-HybridBMW XMLotus ElectreFerrari Purosangue (PHEV version rumored)Lamborghini Urus plug-in hybrid With stricter emissions regulations on the horizon, more exotic automakers are exploring hybrid and electric SUV options to complement their traditional sports car lineups. A hybrid McLaren SUV could prove to be a crucial new addition, combining the brand's expertise in building lightweight performance machines with the flexibility and utility of an SUV body style. Pairing McLaren's race-bred hybrid technology with an SUV platform could create a truly unique offering in this growing niche. New Hybrid McLaren SUV: Summary While still in the exploratory stages, McLaren is actively investigating the possibility of launching a new hybrid McLaren SUV to expand its product portfolio. CEO Michael Leiters has confirmed the company is looking at a "shared performance vehicle" along SUV lines, potentially using a plug-in hybrid powertrain from McLaren integrated into an existing SUV platform supplied by a partner. With Leiters' experience from stints at Porsche and Ferrari working on SUV models, he seems well-equipped to guide the development of McLaren's first-ever hybrid SUV if it gets approved for production. In the meantime, McLaren continues the development of pure electric supercars too as the world shifts towards electrification - but maintaining the brand's lightweight, high-performance pedigree remains the top priority. Source: McLaren.
