McLaren range going hybrid over coming decade, CEO says

The head of McLaren believes that, within ten years, at least half of the company’s model range will feature hybrid drivetrains.

“I have said in 10 years I expect half of our cars to be hybrids, but I actually think it will be faster,” Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren, told Auto Express at an event announcing the company’s financial results. “And I think it could be more than half.”

Flewitt admitted that if price and weight issues are sorted, he would have hybrid drivetrains in all of the company’s models as “[McLaren’s] strategy is to use technology to produce the best driving cars”.

At present the only McLaren models to feature hybrid drivetrains are its Ultimate Series models: the road-going P1 and the track-only P1 GTR. Both cars are equipped with a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 mated to an electric motor, battery pack and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Above: The hybrid McLaren P1.

Vehicles in the company’s other two model lines, the recently unveiled Sports Series (540C and 570S) and the Super Series (625C, 650S and 675LT), are powered solely by versions of the company’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8.

The CEO didn’t elaborate on which of the company’s future models will sport an electric motor. It’s expected that McLaren will add at least one new model or derivative every year to its lineup, with GT and Spyder versions of the Sports Series next on the hit list.

There will also, reportedly, be an addition that to Ultimate Series range, which will be tasked with bridging the not-inconsiderable gap between the 650S and P1.