McLaren has held out longer than almost every major performance brand when it comes to SUVs.
That restraint may not last much longer, with the British supercar maker understood to be developing its first high-riding, five-seat model for a possible 2028 arrival.
Internally known as P47, the project would move McLaren into a part of the market it has deliberately avoided, while giving the brand a car with genuine daily-use space for the first time.
At a glance
- McLaren is understood to be preparing its first SUV for 2028 under the internal P47 name.
- The model is expected to have four doors, five seats, a sporting roofline and 24-inch wheels.
- Its arrival would put McLaren into direct conversation with high-performance SUVs from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche and Bentley.
A five-seat McLaren changes the brand’s brief
For decades, McLaren’s road cars have been defined by low seating positions, carbon-heavy engineering and a narrow focus on the driver.
A four-door, five-seat SUV would broaden that brief dramatically.
The move would give McLaren a product for buyers who want the badge, performance credentials and design language, but need space for passengers and luggage.
That matters because the modern ultra-luxury buyer often expects one brand to cover both weekend drama and weekday usability.
P47’s proportions sound more dramatic than conventional
Dealer previews are said to have included a clay model of the P47, offering an early indication of how McLaren intends to approach an SUV without simply copying the upright luxury formula.
The design is described as larger than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, but with a more athletic silhouette than a typical premium SUV.
That distinction will be important if McLaren wants the car to feel credible beside its supercars rather than merely practical.
Large 24-inch wheels and heavily sculpted bodywork are also understood to be part of the package, suggesting a car built for visual impact as much as everyday versatility.
The SUV question McLaren can no longer avoid
McLaren has been one of the last major holdouts in a segment its rivals now treat as essential.
Lamborghini has the Urus, Aston Martin has the DBX and Ferrari has the Purosangue, while Porsche and Bentley have spent years proving how profitable fast, luxurious SUVs can be.
For McLaren, the challenge is more delicate.
An SUV could strengthen the business and bring in new customers, but it also needs to preserve the engineering identity that makes a McLaren feel different from a conventional luxury performance car.
If P47 reaches production, expect the conversation to focus less on whether McLaren should build an SUV and more on how far it can stretch the brand without losing its centre of gravity.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | McLaren |
|---|---|
| Internal project name | P47 |
| Body style | Four-door SUV |
| Seating | Five seats |
| Wheels | 24-inch wheels expected |
| Design direction | Sporting silhouette with sculpted bodywork |
| Expected timing | 2028 |
A McLaren SUV would be controversial by nature, but that’s also what makes the P47 interesting.
If the company can translate its performance instincts into a larger, more usable shape, 2028 could mark one of the biggest shifts in McLaren’s road-car history.
