According to Collins, McLaren must offer cars beyond the two-seat layout
In April, Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings acquired McLaren, bringing in new CEO Nick Collins, a veteran of Ford and Jaguar Land Rover. Speaking during Monterey Car Week, Collins outlined how he plans to steer the brand’s future.
One of his first moves was cutting annual production from 3,000 cars in 2024 to 2,000 in 2025, a strategy to stabilize values by keeping supply in check. “We want to get stable and then grow,” Collins said. The acquisition also merged McLaren with Forseven, a British startup with 700 employees and ownership of Gordon Murray Technologies, bringing expertise in design, lightweight engineering, and electrification.
Collins is prioritizing design, admitting McLaren’s lineup lacks differentiation and revealing plans for a new design studio. He also hinted that the brand must expand beyond two-seat supercars, noting that many customers also own high-end SUVs like the Lamborghini Urus and Range Rover.
Looking ahead, Collins sees a multi-propulsion strategy, with combustion engines and hybrids playing a long-term role. A McLaren EV could come later, possibly in markets like China. He confirmed the new 916-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 in the W1 will remain central to the lineup, with potential for wider applications.
Weight reduction will continue to be a focus, but not at all costs. Collins cited a tradeoff where six pounds were added to solve an NVH issue, calling it the smarter choice.
When asked about timing, Collins teased that changes will arrive “sooner than you think,” promising more design, technology, quality, and refinement across future McLarens.
