McLaren has announced a £500 million investment from a sovereign investment fund run by the Abu Dhabi government, which will expand the company’s manufacturing presence in the United Kingdom. This investment will be used to develop new models, including the company’s first SUV, as well as two new engines and transmissions that will be designed and built in-house.
The investment, equivalent to around $672 million, will also be used to build a new vehicle assembly facility in the UK and to add to the company’s existing operations at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England, and its carbon-fiber manufacturing and research plant at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre in South Yorkshire.
McLaren plans to create at least 1000 new jobs across the different sites by 2032, with its manufacturing workforce set to double. The company has also recently opened two new UK sites, a design building in Bicester and a testing and development facility in the Midlands, showing its commitment to the United Kingdom.
The new SUV will be the first McLaren with four doors and five seats, and is expected to have an all-wheel-drive V-8 hybrid powertrain. It will have a similar silhouette to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT Coupe, with a large rear spoiler and diffuser.
A report from Automotive News suggests that the entry-level Artura supercar will be discontinued in 2028, due to slower sales than expected. The Artura was the brand’s first plug-in hybrid, but was affected by pandemic-related semiconductor shortages and early quality issues.
The Artura will be replaced by a new mid-engined model, codenamed P34, which is expected to arrive by the end of 2027. The new model will have a twin-turbo V-6 hybrid setup, with a power output of around 800 horsepower, and a more upscale cabin and dramatic design that references the iconic McLaren F1.
McLaren’s announcement and the report from Automotive News indicate that the company is undergoing significant changes, with a focus on expanding its manufacturing presence in the UK and developing new models, including its first SUV. They are committed to investing in the United Kingdom, and the new investment will help them achieve their goals.
