McLaren reveals six-year investment plan

Within six years half of all McLaren models produced will feature hybrid technology, the British supercar manufacturer has revealed.

That goal is unthinkable only a few years ago, let alone when the single-seater McLaren F1 ruled the road (and kids’ bedroom walls) during the 1990s. It is all part of McLaren’s business plan called Track22, which as the name suggests is a roadmap for the brand towards 2022.

McLaren says it will invest £1 billion into research and development for the launch of 15 new or derivative models ahead of that date, in addition to launching a new engine architecture.

“We are on track to a very exciting and successful future [that] scopes our future investments and development strategy up until 2022,” McLaren Automotive chief executive officer Mike Flewitt commented in a statement following the Geneva motor show.

“This will see us launch 15 all-new cars or derivatives within our existing Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series families. We will also develop an all-new engine architecture that will debut towards the end of the Business Plan period.”

The plan for more hybrids comes off the back of the successful McLaren P1 program, and the brand adds that engineers at its Woking, UK, headquarters are also working on a fully electric powertrain.

“Hybridisation has obvious CO2 and fuel consumption advantages but for us, it is all about delivering the performance and enjoyment of a McLaren,” Flewitt added.

“Our engineers have even started work on a one-off prototype to evaluate the possible benefits of a fully-electric powertrain in an Ultimate Series car; such is the pace of development.”

Within the Sports Series, the 570GT launched at the Geneva motor show this month following 570S and 570C coupes inside that family, while a Spider derivative will join the ranks from 2017.

Following the 675LT and 675LT Spider inside the Super Series ranks, McLaren announced the ‘LT’ badge will transition into a “track-focused sub-brand with further models in the future.”

McLaren says future development will be focused “purely” on two-seater sports and supercars as part of the six-year plan – killing off rumours of a 2+2 variant and, as with rival Ferrari, ruling out a play in SUV territory anytime soon.