McLaren to Build an SUV with the Chinese and the Arabs — Yes, Really

McLaren — yes, the same brand known for building shrieking, low-slung supercars that look allergic to speed bumps — is now preparing to do something utterly un-McLaren. They're teaming up with a little-known Chinese-flavored startup called Forseven to launch... an SUV. Let that sink in: McLaren and SUV in the same sentence.

This unlikely partnership comes courtesy of CYVN Holdings, an Abu Dhabi investment fund that recently acquired McLaren and tossed Forseven into the mix. Forseven, by the way, just so happens to have access to Nio’s cutting-edge EV platforms. And yes, in case you’re wondering — it’s official. This is happening.

McLaren claims it will remain loyal to internal combustion, unless of course the model is too luxurious — in which case an electric drivetrain might quietly sneak in. Naturally, this opens the door for a fully electric, ultra-fast SUV, potentially based on the same architecture as the Nio ET9 — 900 volts, 707 horsepower, active suspension, and a tech spec that sounds more like a spaceship than a family car.