McLaren SUV concept explored by IED students for 2020 vision
Turin’s IED design institute produced 33 concept proposals for a McLaren-branded SUV, with three designs selected for quarter-scale modelling as part of a 2020 design study.
McLaren’s reputation rests on supercars and Formula One, but in 2010, a group of students at Turin’s Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) tackled a brief that would have seemed outlandish to the Woking-based marque: a McLaren SUV for 2020. The project, conducted in collaboration with McLaren, produced 33 design concepts for a hybrid, mid-engined, four-wheel-drive, two-seat SUV.
The IED project was not an official product plan, but a design exercise. McLaren’s brief to the students was to imagine what a McLaren-branded SUV might look like in 2020, combining the brand’s motorsport heritage with the growing popularity of high-performance SUVs. The students’ work reflected trends that were already reshaping the luxury segment, with brands like Porsche and Lamborghini developing SUVs of their own.
The design brief and process
Over the course of the project, 33 concepts were produced. These ranged from aggressive, low-slung crossovers to more upright, utility-focused shapes, but all shared McLaren’s focus on aerodynamics and performance. The concepts typically featured a mid-engined layout, which is unusual for SUVs, and several included hybrid powertrains and four-wheel drive. The two-seat configuration was also a marked departure from the family-friendly approach of most luxury SUVs.
- 33 initial design proposals created by IED students
- 11 shortlisted by McLaren and project leaders
- 3 concepts selected as winners and built as quarter-scale models
From the 33 proposals, 11 were shortlisted, and three were ultimately selected as the most compelling visions. These three designs were turned into quarter-scale models, a common practice in design schools to assess proportions and presence before any full-scale work. Images and video of these models were released as part of the project’s conclusion, but no further development was planned by McLaren.
Why McLaren never built an SUV
While the IED project generated interest, McLaren has never committed to an SUV for production. The company’s public statements have consistently emphasised its focus on lightweight, mid-engined sports cars and supercars. In contrast to rivals like Lamborghini, which launched the Urus, McLaren has resisted the commercial temptation to enter the SUV market, citing concerns about brand identity and engineering philosophy.
The IED project remains a footnote in McLaren’s history, highlighting the reach of the SUV trend and the willingness of design students to reinterpret even the most focused sports car brands. For those interested in the broader shift towards SUVs in the industry, the Seat Altea’s discontinuation in favour of SUVs is covered in more detail in our article on Seat’s SUV strategy: /seat-wil-drop-altea-minivan-in-a-switch-to-suvs.
