McLaren’s next flagship — a Formula-1-inspired two-seat model — will debut a lightweight hybrid system.
At its global retailer meeting on Tuesday, the British supercar brand revealed details of the Ultimate Series model, which should arrive around 2026.
An in-house developed V-8 engine and the hybrid system will power the two-seater, according to two dealer sources who attended the meeting in Woking, England.
The hybrid system is about 70 percent lighter than the current generation, a source told Automotive News.
The powertrain “produces much more horsepower and delivers the power more directly to the transmission,” the person said.
A McLaren spokesperson declined to comment on the discussions at the dealer meeting.
Executives also hinted at plans to expand into the four-door vehicle market during the event, which was held in a temporary structure at McLaren’s bucolic headquarters.
Without revealing details, McLaren told retailers it will “bring in another class of automobile in 2028,” according to the dealers. They quoted McLaren’s director of product strategy, Jamie Corstorphine, saying “Stay tuned. It may have four doors and four seats.”
Last year, Corstorphine told Automotive News the automaker was exploring the idea of a utility-type vehicle.
“How high-riding it is, whether it’s a crossover … that’s to be decided,” he said at the time.
McLaren will develop the vehicle and its platform in-house.
“They’re not going to partner with any other manufacturer to build that car,” a dealer said.
McLaren is fashionably late to the mid-six-figure luxury utility vehicle club. Competitors Bentley, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce have successfully launched SUVs, while Ferrari’s first utility vehicle deliveries begin this year.
Michael Leiters, who became CEO of McLaren Automotive last year, played a key role in developing the Porsche Cayenne and Ferrari Purosangue.
Elsewhere in the portfolio, the McLaren Artura plug-in hybrid — launched last year — will run through 2030. The model lineup will expand next year with Spider and other variants.
Later this year, McLaren will introduce the 750S, the brand’s new workhorse. It will be replaced by a new hybrid in 2026, the automaker told retailers this week.
McLaren plans to transition to a 100 percent electrified portfolio by 2026. But the automaker isn’t ready to commit to battery-only power.
“McLaren doesn’t feel EV technology is there,” one of the sources said. “It’s an answer, but it’s not the answer.”
The Ultimate Series two-seater will feature a newly developed carbon fiber monocoque with integrated seat backs, similar to a Formula 1 car. That setup improves rigidity and safety while cutting weight.
It also will feature a new dihedral door design, 3D-printed suspension parts and F1-style aero design concepts.
The company is eager to bring its street cars and F1 racing heritage closer together. To underscore that point, McLaren’s F-1 team drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, attended this week’s dealer event.
According to the retailers who attended, CEO Leiters told the audience that improving product quality and resale value is a priority for the brand.
Buggy software and supply chain delays plagued the Artura launch last year, and faulty nuts on high-pressure fuel pipes triggered an early recall.
“It’s about quality, quality, quality” a source said of the company’s message. “Making sure the cars are perfect before they leave the factory.”
McLaren projects global sales of 4,000 this year and a modest 10 percent increase next year. That will help lift profitability, resale value and lease residuals.
Dealer profit globally should increase about 30 percent this year, according to the retailers who spoke with Automotive News, driven primarily by the Artura and 750S, and a greater emphasis on the certified pre-owned business.