McLaren to enter electric SUV market by 2030

British sports car and supercar firm McLaren is reportedly developing an SUV as it looks to make itself financially stable.

According to Autocar, the Woking-based manufacturer has an all-electric, battery-powered SUV in the pipeline for a 2030 debut, with any chance of a combustion engine being used ruled out due to the United Kingdom's upcoming ban on the sale of new cars which run on fossil fuels.

Supercar-makers turning to high-volume, high-riding SUVs in pursuit of a buck is nothing new – Porsche's Cayenne all but saved the company, while the Lamborghini Urus recently became the marque's fastest-selling model, with 20,000 units shifted over a four-year period.

3

McLaren's latest V6 Artura supercar boasts plug-in hybrid technology

The potential plan to add an SUV to its product line-up would be in direct contrast to comments made by McLaren's global sales and marketing boss, Jolyon Nash, at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

“We’re very focused on sports cars, supercars, performance cars,” said Nash six years ago.

“I think we’ve got a fairly clear view and a clear understanding of what McLaren represents, what its DNA is all about, and for us that’s sports cars, supercars. We don’t see an SUV fitting into that.”

In a twist of irony, Nash's comments at the time were echoed by Ferrari’s senior vice-president of design, Flavio Manzoni, who said: "You'd have to shoot me first. Ferrari is not a follower; Ferrari does not follow the standard trends. [The SUV] is a marketing trend, because the companies know that it is a kind of volume opportunity, but this is not our spirit.”

Six years down the track and Ferrari is gearing up to launch the Purosangue, its V12-powered, four-door SUV – a project which was overseen by now-McLaren CEO, Michael Leiters.

3

Two-door, mid-engined coupes might not be McLaren's only offering in the future

While the project is still roughly eight years away from being potentially rolled out, it's understood McLaren's SUV will be offer four-wheel drive with a choice of dual- or tri-motor applications.

McLaren's recent financial woes have led to battles for ownership of the Ron Dennis-founded marque, with Audi and BMW reportedly in the mix to take control of the automotive side of the business.