[SSO]

I just posted up a new blog on the SuperSUVs and if McLaren should launch one:

SuperSuvs: Should & Will McLaren Join the Fray? | karenable

An analysis of the SuperSUVs from Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Aston Martin, Ferrari and if McLaren should launch one.

karenable.com

Thoughts on the SuperSUVs?

Who has it really worked for

Should McLaren launch one?

 

[Lotus000]

Would be easier for them if they were bought out and didn’t have to R&D a new chassis. It would be a much needed income stream. R&D has proven to be…difficult for them with recent cars (cough: Artura).

im all for it though

 

[eMcL]

The origin: why Porsche announced an SUV in 1998

In the mid-1990s, Porsche had to make a far-reaching decision in order to ensure its long-term economic success.

newsroom.porsche.com

 

[sblvro]

they can create an entry level SUV to pad their coffers not a superSUV like ferrari or lambo. I would go with the porsche pathway with the cayenne and make it $150,000 base to top out to $250,000 fully loaded. once their strong enough, launch another SUV, a super SUV.

 

[invisiblewave]

My thoughts are probably worthless on this subject, since SUVs interest me not in the slightest, and one of the major attractions for me to McLaren is that they don't make one. Having said that, I've always thought the Cayenne succeeded precisely because it was/is a 911 in SUV form, it looked similar when it first appeared, it was clearly performance-focused rather than being particularly off-road-capable, and it even followed the variant naming (S, Turbo, Turbo S, etc). If McLaren make one that's capable of running Paris-Dakar or Baja, what exactly is the target market? Surely that puts them in the cannibal camp, selling to McLaren owners who don't track their current cars? In one aspect, I think they have it a bit easier than Porsche, since there's no current McLaren with 4 seats, but if it were me making the decision, and my feet were being held to the fire to force me to make an SUV, I'd be following the Purosangue formula and making something that looked more like a GT or crossover, so it looks like a McLaren but with 4 seats, and going after the current crop of customers who currently have a 2 seat McLaren plus a DBX or Urus. The other big questions are where will the engine sit, and will it be hybrid or full electric?

 

[noone1]

Not sure how well it would work for them. Porsche, Lamborghini, Rolls etc make lots of money because a lot of the R&D can be seen as amortized over all the less models that share the platform.

It will cost McLaren a hell of a lot more to create an SUV than it cost Lamborghini to make an Urus.

 

[SSO]

Not sure how well it would work for them. Porsche, Lamborghini, Rolls etc make lots of money because a lot of the R&D can be seen as amortized over all the less models that share the platform.

It will cost McLaren a hell of a lot more to create an SUV than it cost Lamborghini to make an Urus.

If Glickenhaus can do it, McLaren should be able to figure it out.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I just posted up a new blog on the SuperSUVs and if McLaren should launch one:

SuperSuvs: Should & Will McLaren Join the Fray? | karenable

An analysis of the SuperSUVs from Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Aston Martin, Ferrari and if McLaren should launch one.

karenable.com

Thoughts on the SuperSUVs?

Who has it really worked for

Should McLaren launch one?

I, again, very much enjoyed your analysis @SSO

The SCG boot is the only 'real' SUV that is a performance SUV. If McLaren goes after this segment, I would be really torn. I've been looking at both the SCG Boot and the SCG 008.

This segment in someways was pioneered by Ford. The Raptor was an amazing deal, for about 80k, loaded. Great performance. But great comfort for even family stuff. Yet, off the lot you could literally go jump sand dunes and not void the warranty. Amazing car. SCG takes this up 10 notches, but for more of a price.

However, IMO, ford blew this in someway similar to how corvette blew it with the Z06. They raised the price of the raptor to be 130k, and once we are there I do not think of it as meh$ but as, ok, now im spending coin, so I should see what else is out there, and and while 3x the cost, the SCG really looks more competitive to me.

This is an area that McLaren can 'apple' the industry. This Baja SUV segment is not yet 'legitimized' as an SUV segment for soccer moms. But it easily could. And it would be a legit sports segment on its own. And it is! McLaren can come in, make a tidier luxury performance Baja killer. Go race Baja with it too. And sell this thing for 350k. And it will sell great. It will be unique. You can openly mock people with their BS Audi SUVs for what they are. Glorified kid/school transport (ie a really small yellow school bus) as you'd have a true killer SUV.

This segment is ripe for disruption. If not McLaren, then I think SCG takes the crown.

 

[noone1]

If Glickenhaus can do it, McLaren should be able to figure it out.

There's no way Glickenhaus could produce thousands of those per year profitably, let alone even find enough buyers for them them. The cost to develop a mass market SUV that can be sold in volumes needed is massively more than Glickenhaus'.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

There's no way Glickenhaus could produce thousands of those per year profitably, let alone even find enough buyers for them them. The cost to develop a mass market SUV that can be sold in volumes needed is massively more than Glickenhaus'.

He's not producing massive numbers. It's more of a Koenigsegg kind of custom coach shop. At least for now. Small light operation, doesnt need to produce massive numbers. But he is producing them im small numbers, which at the moment, is infinitely more than anyone else for that type of SUV.

 

[noone1]

He's not producing massive numbers. It's more of a Koenigsegg kind of custom coach shop. At least for now. Small light operation, doesnt need to produce massive numbers. But he is producing them im small numbers, which at the moment, is infinitely more than anyone else for that type of SUV.

Right, but that's apples to oranges. I assumed this discussion was about volume exotic SUV production, like Lamborghini. It doesn't really make sense to discuss Glickenhaus in the context of Lamborghini or McLaren. Completely difference scale.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Right, but that's apples to oranges. I assumed this discussion was about volume exotic SUV production, like Lamborghini. It doesn't really make sense to discuss Glickenhaus in the context of Lamborghini or McLaren. Completely difference scale.

‘true but some would argue the same about McLaren relatively small scale. A really successful product can and does fund expansion of scale. But you have a fair point.

But I think it’s also a fair point that the design SCG has come out with is really unique and successful. They beat out ford in the Baja boot, and it’s a pretty comfy ride at the same time. To me, it’s the only interesting “suv” ive yet seen…ford raptor being the other, albeit it’s a truck. So what they have is not nothing. It’s something really interesting and different in the space, imo.

As always, ymmv.

 

[sailfly]

New Porsche K1 is rapid seven-seat luxury EV for 2027 | Autocar

Positioned above the Cayenne, 2027-bound high-tech luxury model is a 'sporting interpretation of an SUV’

www.autocar.co.uk

 

[SmokinV10]

I agree with ZombiePhysicist 100% here. I’ve always thought that the modern SUV is nothing more than a station wagon with a 2” suspension lift. Gone are the days when there is any true offroad capability. Most of these are running 30 or 40 aspect tire sizes on 21+” wheels with 4-5” of shoe skin travel.

Ford followed Jeep with the Bronco and its selling. None of the luxury Mfgs have figured out that there are just as many people wanting offroad capability that will never/rarely be used as there are sports car owners who will never try to go sub 7 min on the Nurburgring.

My “SUV” is a Jeep rubicon on 42” tires, triple bypass king suspension, 1ton aclues and is waiting for a Demon engine swap. I built this because the modern SUV is nothing more than a useless station wagon. Why can’t Aa SUV do Moab, 90 mph through the desert and be at home in the Valet at a nice restaurant? If McLaren can make something thatI’m truly performs offroad, the same way they exceed the limitations of the average driver with their sports cars- It will sell.

 

[pakron]

I really think they should. They would do a great job with it and it would provide a huge influx of sales. I mean, why wouldn't they want to?

 

[sailfly]

Well the Chief Engineer for Rivian (who originally worked for Mclaren) just rejoined. The Rivians are supposed to be the best handling SUVs/trucks around and have pretty good off-road capability so….

Also wonder if the hydraulic suspension is now obsolete with the introduction the Multimatic suspension debuted in the Purosangue.

The Hyper-Advanced Technology That Finally Makes Active Suspension a Reality

The Canadian company Multimatic's True Active Spool Valve Dampers use a 48-volt motor to put force into the damper. It's a gamechanger.

www.roadandtrack.com