McLaren SUV Could Potentially Feature BMW Platform

However, said hi-po vehicle could be twinned with the pig-ugly XM from the folks at BMW. This wouldn't be McLaren's first collab with the Bavarian automaker. If you devoured car mags and television shows in the 1990s, then you certainly remember that Gordon Murray's F1 uses a fabulous V12 developed by the M division.

The F1-making division was known as McLaren Cars, which turned into McLaren Automotive prior to the introduction of the MP4-12C. Save for the Artura's 120-degree V6 and the Solus GT's high-revving V10, all Maccas feature V8 engines derived from the Nissan engine architecture.

Given the aforementioned, a sport utility vehicle with XM underpinnings isn't a bad thing per se. This information comes from our friends at Carscoops, who sat down with the head of global communications at McLaren Automotive during a recent press event. The British automaker is "exploring a wide variety of different options," declared Piers Scott, who reiterated the "shared performance" model introduced by chief executive Michael Leiters.

Shared performance is the short way of saying a partner willing to create synergies. Piers Scott also told the cited publication that BMW could be said partner, which definitely makes sense because the Munich-based company supplies McLaren with lithium-ion packs for the Artura.

As long as it doesn't look anything like the XM, the yet-unnamed sport utility vehicle should be a pretty exciting vehicle from the standpoint of handling. The CLAR platform of the XM is used by all rear-biased models from the Bavarian automaker, beginning with the lowly 3 Series.

McLaren is especially interested in platforms that can handle different levels of electrification, including full electrification. The CLAR definitely fits the bill, although the forthcoming Neue Klasse is the better pick for an electric vehicle. If the Brits manage to combine their V8 with a plug-in hybrid system à la the XM, then a pretty tempting utility vehicle is on the menu.

Scott further emphasized that McLaren is looking into either a two- or four-door body style, as in three or five including the liftgate. In the world of plug-in hybrid SUVs, the Lamborghini Urus SE is the gold standard in 2024. It officially develops 789 ponies and 701 pound-feet (950 Nm).

Although the 715-hp Ferrari Purosangue is 23 horses down on the XM Label, bear in mind that Maranello's favorite son produces the most unique sport utility vehicle of this era due to its free-breathing V12. Also, remember that Ferrari knows how to make its production vehicles handle beautifully, and the Purosangue delivers a driving experience that is true to the brand's heritage.

Can McLaren do that with their upcoming sport utility vehicle? We'll have to wait and see.