Bucking the Trend, British Supercar Manufacturer McLaren Will Not Build an SUV Their CEO says doing so will dilute the brand.

By Patrick Carone

Courtesy of McLaren Automotive
McLaren 570S Spider

Lamborghini has one. So does Porsche, Aston Martin and Maserati. Even Ferrari has confirmed they'll be unveiling an SUV by 2020 the latest.

It's an easy-to-understand business decision, as sport utility vehicles continue to surge in popularity over small and midsize sedans in the US. As Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC Automotive, told CNBC, "We have SUVs eventually crossing the 50 percent threshold by themselves in the near future."

Lamborghini Urus
Image credit: Lamborghini

There is one holdout, however. Mike Flewitt, CEO of British supercar manufacturer McLaren, recently told Top Gear that they will not be joining the pack and building an SUV.

There's more than enough SUVs in the world, and we don't need another one. That's sort of the flippant side.

Effectively when we look at products — and we're always looking at product concepts — is that there are three measures. One is around the brand, one is around the technology and the other is around the financials.

So, the brand: an SUV is only going to dilute the McLaren brand. Our brand and heritage is motorsport and great drivers' cars. SUVs are great, they have their place, but they're not great drivers' cars. They utterly dilute the driving experience so it makes no sense.

Considering McLaren started as a championship racing team that decided to break into the supercar game in 1992 with their now-iconic F1, that makes sense. But there's more to it.

Related: 8 Best Dream Cars of 2018 for Entrepreneurs

McLaren P1
Image credit: McLaren Automotive

As an independent company, McLaren doesn't share the resources enjoyed by brands like Lamborghini, Porsche and Bentley, all of which are all part of Volkswagen Auto Group. These companies can swap technology and spread development costs of new models amongst each other. "Nothing wrong with them," Flewitt told Top Gear, "but we don't have a technology set that suits an SUV, so we'd be starting from scratch."

Related: Why It Pays to Break the Rules at Work

He also doesn't believe that McLaren faithful would even be interested in an SUV. "The customers love what we do," Flewitt claims.

That may be true, who wouldn't want to see what an SUV with scissor doors looks like?

Image credit: McLaren Automotive
Patrick Carone

Entrepreneur Staff

Special Projects Director

Patrick Carone covers all aspects of entrepreneurship, specializing in the automotive, entertainment, hospitality, spirits and cannabis industries.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Business News

College Professors Are Turning to ChatGPT to Generate Course Materials. One Student Noticed — and Asked for a Refund.

AI use in higher education is becoming more popular for students and professors.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Finds a Buyer in One Day for Her $12 Million 'Palace in the Sky' Penthouse

Corcoran bought the duplex co-op for $10 million in 2015 and spent $2 million renovating it.

Business News

You Can Now Order Food and Book a Massage on Airbnb. Here's How.

Airbnb redesigned its app and added a host of new services.

Growing a Business

Is It Time to Pivot Your Business? 3 Clear Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

Pivots can be uncomfortable, even scary. But they're often necessary for survival. The key is knowing when and how to do it right.