McLaren made a surprise announcement at the Geneva motor show, revealing plans to launch a new, bespoke grand tourer and releasing the first image of the model.
CEO Mike Flewitt said at the time the new car “combines competition levels of performance with continent-crossing capability”. Earlier this year, Autocar spoke to Flewitt and uncovered the plans for the GT, alongside a possible 2+2 model that could arrive further into the future.
Surprise McLaren Grand Tourer to be launched later this year
Flewitt said of the upcoming GT that he isn’t about to design a rival to the Bentley Continental GT. He said: “It would still be a carbonfibre, mid-engined car and, without doubt, the most sporting GT on the market. The 570GT was a clear derivative of the 570S, and I loved it, but to be honest the differences were quite small.
“So we will do another car in that place but more differentiated, with a more dedicated focus on the characteristics you want in a GT and a more distinct bodystyle.”
When asked whether a GT would create its own model line alongside the existing Super Series and Sport Series lines, Flewitt replied: “That would be an opportunity for us. I would like to pitch it uniquely. I’ve thought about it a lot, so watch this space.”
Flewitt’s thoughts on the 2+2 are less clearly defined and he confirmed it’s not part of the existing Track 25 plan to deliver 18 new models by 2025. But he said: “I wouldn’t rule out one day doing at least a 2+2. It’s doable, so we'll look at it".
The biggest headache is likely to be packaging rear seats and the engine all within the wheelbase. “The car can’t have an enormous wheelbase. It has to stay agile,” said Flewitt.
However, he is open about future plans to downsize McLaren’s internal combustion engines as electrification plays an ever more important role. A move to solid-state batteries (“2023 if I’m being optimistic, 2025 being realistic”) is described by Flewitt as “a game changer” that will likely make the packaging of such a car dramatically easier.
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Saloon.....?
Would be a market changer if they did a proper four door instead of this 2+2 idea, it’s about time this old fashioned idea was put to rest, 2+2’s are next to useless, their occasional, whereas, a proper four seater is better, more room, Car can carry four up longer distances with more comfort for rear passengers...
@Peter Cavellini
No , not really....
Yes, they’re delaying the 2+2, and yes, the Cars are rear mid-engined, but, whose to say they couldn’t do a front engined Car?,
pipe dreams
i can't help hoping they'd make the gmd t25 (or a variation on that theme), but clearly it'll never happen. you don't have to be the fastest to show the world how clever you are
Good outlook for a great
Good outlook for a great British company.
Expand as much as you want, MacLaren, that 2+2 sounds good, just don't make an SUV ;-)
Exactly.
Exactly.