The McLaren SUV is actually happening and it will be a hybrid beast in 2028

This is not a hoax: the McLaren SUV is no longer a punchline, and the long-rumored P47 might just become the most controversial car the brand has ever built.

For years, McLaren executives flatly rejected the idea of an SUV, insisting it didn’t fit the company’s DNA.

But times change, leadership changes, and buyers with deep pockets want supercar performance with five seats.

Now, all signs point to McLaren finally joining the SUV race, and doing it its own way.

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McLaren teases a 5-seat hybrid SUV

The shift began in 2022, when McLaren installed a new CEO and quietly softened its stance on SUVs.

Since then, rumors have steadily escalated, culminating in reports that McLaren recently showed dealers a clay model of a five-seat hybrid SUV.

Attendees reportedly likened it to a Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid.

However, they emphasized that it looked far more sculpted and aggressive.

Internally, the company is said to be calling the project P47, a name that feels more like a placeholder than a production badge.

Historically, the carmaker has mixed evocative names like Senna and Artura, with alphanumeric designations like 750S, so the final name is still up in the air.

McLaren previously trademarked names such as Aeron and Aonic, both of which could easily find new life on an SUV badge.

What will we find under the hood?

Under the hood is where things get especially interesting.

The latest reports suggest the McLaren SUV will use a hybrid V-8 setup derived from the brand’s new MHP-8 engine family, first seen in the W1 hypercar.

That twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, paired with an electric motor, produces an eye-watering 1,258 horsepower in the W1.

Of course, the SUV version would likely be detuned, with more electric range and a focus on usability.

Even so, McLaren has the firepower to eclipse rivals like the Lamborghini Urus SE and Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid.

Visually, the P47 is expected to look unmistakably McLaren, with a low-slung profile, dramatic aero sculpting, and massive 24-inch wheels.

It’s rumored to be larger than a Cayenne Turbo GT, with proportions that prioritize performance over practicality.

As for pricing, expect it to sit near the top of the segment.

Estimates place the starting price around $300,000, with higher-output versions pushing well beyond that.

The debut is still unconfirmed, but a 2028 launch lines up neatly with previous reports.

In any case, this is certainly one of the most exciting automotive news in 2025.

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