THE “True electric supercars under the McLaren brand will not appear until the 2030s”. McLaren CEO Michael Leiters said this in an interview with Automotive News journalists.

This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about the brand’s conservative approach to electric cars, and according to Michael Leiters, the main problem is development of technology that makes batteries lighter, guaranteeing sufficient autonomy.

Weight is (always) the enemy of performance

On the sidelines of this week’s Geneva Motor Show in… Dubai, Michael Leiters emphasized the fundamental importance of weight for his upcoming models: “Heavy cars impair maneuverability and create a sense of disconnection between car and driver, which goes against the very essence of McLaren’s brand identity. I don’t expect this technology to be ready for real supercars until the end of the decade.”did he state

During a previous interview in August of last year, Michael Leiters already made similar comments, emphasizing the importance of limiting the weight associated with batteries. In addition, the executive insisted that anything built by the brand’s engineers must outperform equivalent heat-engined models in terms of power, performance and handling. It “ambitious strategy”he clarified “could lead to the launch of an electric hypercar, possibly by the end of the decade”.

McLaren SUV in development?

Michael Leiters also hinted at McLaren’s possible entry into the highly competitive SUV market, acknowledging the changing automotive landscape. But before considering an SUV, McLaren wants “return to profitability”as the manager of Goodwood stated at the beginning of the year.

Last April, during a meeting with McLaren dealers around the world, the manufacturer discussed its future products. During this meeting, McLaren announced a new line of “four-seater and four-door” cars for 2028. Confirmation, no pun intended, that McLaren is changing its tune and intends to offer an SUV within the next few years. Perhaps this will also be a way for the manufacturer to achieve the expected profitability.

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