McLaren Enters a New Era Under Fresh Ownership

McLaren Automotive is entering one of the biggest transitions in its history. Under new ownership by Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings, the brand has merged with British start-up Forseven Holdings. Originally, Forseven planned to launch its own luxury EV brand. Instead, they have chosen to fold their ambitious ideas and engineering talent into McLaren.

This decision signals a new direction. Forseven’s focus on electric innovation now pairs with McLaren’s legacy of performance and design. The goal is clear: make McLaren’s road cars as profitable and successful as its Formula One race team.

The New Leadership and Vision

Leading this new chapter is Nick Collins, former Jaguar Land Rover executive. With experience shaping vehicles like the latest Range Rover, Collins is set on broadening McLaren’s model range without losing its DNA. The company has already cleared debt, secured new financial footing, and built a board of industry heavyweights that includes legendary ex-Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo and former Rolls-Royce boss Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

Collins summed up the mission: “We’ll do what McLaren has always done, but do more of it and do it even better.”

Expansion Beyond Supercars

For decades, McLaren focused exclusively on lightweight, mid-engined supercars. That is now changing. Competitors like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin have all expanded into the SUV space with major success. McLaren appears ready to follow.

The company has confirmed a new hypercar, the W1 hybrid, is coming in 2026. But even bigger news may follow. McLaren’s first SUV could arrive as soon as 2027.

What We Know About the SUV Plans

The vision for a McLaren SUV has evolved. Under previous CEO Michael Leiters, the concept leaned toward a sleek, coupe-style SUV with hybrid power. Now, with Forseven’s influence, the design could shift to a more luxurious, Range Rover-inspired SUV that may be fully electric.

That would put McLaren in the same conversation as Ferrari’s Purosangue, Lamborghini’s Urus, and Aston Martin’s DBX. Unlike its rivals, McLaren could lean heavily on advanced EV tech through its connection with Nio and Gordon Murray Technologies. The result could be an SUV that balances McLaren’s racing heritage with modern luxury and electrification.

Challenges and Opportunities

There are still big decisions to be made:

• Will McLaren commit to hybrid, electric, or both?

• How much of its signature carbon fiber construction will be used?

• Where will the vehicles be built, contracted out or in a new facility?

McLaren also needs to repair the rocky launch of its Artura hybrid supercar, which suffered early delays and reliability issues. A redesign or relaunch could help reinforce customer confidence while setting the stage for the broader lineup refresh.

A New McLaren Identity

Beyond the cars, McLaren is rethinking its brand identity. Expect more emotive marketing that leans into racing heritage, personalities, and the strong fan base around its papaya-orange Formula One team.

This is more than survival. The new owners and leadership team want McLaren to become a profitable, world-leading automotive company that continues to reinvest in itself. With the merger complete, new cars in the pipeline, and an SUV on the horizon, the stage is set for a radical transformation.

It seems like there will be some big shake ups at the company and hopefully for the better!