Mclaren Racing Limited is famous for two things: being just about the only surviving British racing car company and bringing the fight to Ferrari on the F1 Grand Prix circuit. They are a very successful chassis builder for most of the top racing series and leverage this expertise to produce a line of supercars.
McLaren will launch their first-ever SUV in April 2021. After delaying the inevitable for as long as possible, McLaren is joining Ferrari and Lamborghini by releasing a high-powered, high-performance off-road capable SUV version of their supercars.
Since Chevrolet first sold their Suburban Carryall in 1936, SUVs have been a strong seller for automobile manufacturers. In recent decades, though, America has been locked in a love affair with this super-practical but sporty class of vehicles.
What is an SUV?
The acronym SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle which hints at the origin of this class of vehicle.
While off-road vehicles and pickups can go anywhere and carry heavy loads they are often quite unpleasant to drive. The SUV blends the driving experience of a car with utilitarian running gear to give the best of both worlds.
An SUV has a rugged exterior that invites adventure and plenty of storage space for all your gear. Bigger wheels, more clearance, and the resulting high driving position make the driver feel like they can escape the rat race and enjoy life.
SUVs come in a range of sizes to suit any lifestyle and budget. Crossovers such as the Ford Escape meet the needs of individuals and young couples while at the other end of the spectrum full-size SUVs such as the ever-popular Chevrolet Suburban cater to big families and work teams.
Why is the SUV such a popular type of vehicle?
SUVs are the most popular class of vehicle sold in the United States with 47.4% of all vehicles sold in 2019 being SUVs. It is expected that by 2025, 78% of all vehicles sold with be SUVs and light trucks.
Most types of vehicles have a specific purpose in mind and do that one thing very well. Station wagons are great if you need the length, people carriers are awesome if you need to move people, off-road vehicles are amazing if you need to get up crazy slopes, and sports sedans give a great driving experience.
The SUV combines all of these different kinds of cars into one. Buyers no longer need to make a choice, they can literally have it all in one vehicle.
Why is McLaren making an SUV?
McLaren supercars are amongst the most expensive in the world. While it’s true you can get into a McLaren 570S for just under $200,000 most of the range costs about $300,000 and at the top of the range the Elva and the Speedtail cost an eye-watering $1,700,000 and $2,000,000 respectively.
You would think with prices like this there would be plenty of margin for McLaren to take profits. Unfortunately for the McLaren accounting team, it takes a staggering amount of time and money to develop the cars and then make them by hand at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England.
Many supercar manufacturers, therefore, find it hard to be profitable and McLaren is no exception. Adding an SUV to their stable has allowed Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche to remain profitable.
McLaren became drew attention in the automotive world in 2019 for saying “there is nothing cool about SUVs.” But now it seems that McLaren has had a change of heart and will begin making SUVs after all.
Should you buy the McLaren GTX SUV?
From the front, the McLaren GTX looks a lot like many other McLaren supercars, but this is about as far as the similarities go. From the side, the car looks much more like other high-performance SUVs already on the market such as the Lamborghini Urus and the Ferrari Purosangue.
McLaren is not letting anyone down with power. The GTX comes equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 565 lb-ft of torque through a seven-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels to achieve 0-62 mph in a neck-snapping 3.1 seconds.
Since the GTX is based on the established GT, it is expected it will have the same race-inspired luxury interior which, in combination with an all-new four-wheel-drive system and adaptive air suspension, will carry its owner and passengers in considerable more comfort.
If your pockets are deep to the tune of $200,000 and you want an SUV with a racing pedigree every bit as good as Ferrari’s, then the McLaren GTX would be an excellent choice for you.