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McLaren Merges With Unknown Startup To Launch New Models, Maybe An SUV

  • Forseven has been operating in secret and working on several models.
  • The merger will allow McLaren to launch new ICE and EV models.
  • Technologies could also be borrowed from the Chinese EV brand Nio.

In an industry where ownership changes faster than tire compounds at Monaco, McLaren has had its fair share of musical chairs. The McLaren Group, passed around like an unloved pet in recent years, found itself 100% owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund as of early last year. Then, in October, the fund handed off its stake to Abu Dhabi-based investment group CYVN Holdings. Now under new ownership, McLaren Automotive is merging with a company we bet you’ve never heard of.

That company is a British start-up called Forseven, which already has significant financial backing from CYVN Holdings. It has already hired more than 700 automotive industry experts and was planning to release several luxury models into the market. Now that it’s tied up with McLaren, these planned models will hit the market using the McLaren badge.

More: McLaren’s First SUV Could Be A PHEV Riding On A Shared Platform

The newly formed McLaren Group Holdings will consist of McLaren Automotive, Forseven, CYVN’s non-controlling stake in McLaren Racing, and the new McLaren Licensing business. CYVN is also a major stakeholder in Chinese EV brand Nio, and says McLaren will gain access to “visionary technologies and electrification.” Forseven’s own push into the automotive space has been helped by Gordon Murray Technologies, which CYVN also owns.

Thanks to the merger, McLaren’s range will grow into new product categories. No confirmation has been given about what these categories will be, but it’s reasonable to assume McLaren will grow beyond just selling supercars and hypercars, and may finally follow its rivals in building an SUV.

 McLaren Merges With Unknown Startup To Launch New Models, Maybe An SUV
McLaren SUV rendering from Sergiy Dvornytskyy

Future Model Plans

The brand has repeatedly denied working on an SUV in recent years, but last year, reports surfaced suggesting it could partner with BMW on an SUV. While that won’t be happening because of this deal, a different SUV project could be in the works.

Read: McLaren’s New MCL38 Editions Bring F1 Glory To The Road

Leading the newly formed McLaren Group Holdings will be Forseven CEO Nick Collins. The company is working on a six-month turnaround for McLaren Automotive and will reveal details about its future models later this year. Collins confirmed to Autocar that Forseven and McLaren will work on both ICE and EV models. It’s also possible that features like Nio’s autonomous driving features, and perhaps even its battery-swapping technologies, could be used while leveraging McLaren’s expertise in carbon fiber monocoques.

 McLaren Merges With Unknown Startup To Launch New Models, Maybe An SUV
Nio

“This is a financial investment that we will build out and, in my mind, become one of the best, if not the best car company in the world,” Collins described. “That might take a very long time, but the people that back this have a long-term horizon for a sustainably profitable business that is admired around the world.”

McLaren shifted a touch over 2,000 cars last year, well behind the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, which delivered over 13,000 and over 10,000 cars, respectively. But, with McLaren venturing into new vehicle segments, its output will inevitably swell.

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As Sales Tank, Tesla Turns To Oil-Rich Saudi Arabia

  • Tesla is preparing to launch in Saudi Arabia, which heavily supports Lucid Motors.
  • An event is scheduled for April 10 and a number of products will be showcased.
  • The company isn’t a stranger to the Middle East as it has locations in Jordan and Qatar.

Tesla is facing a number of headwinds as the company has to deal with an onslaught of Chinese competitors as well as customers who are fed up with Elon Musk. The combination has resulted in attacks in the United States as well as plummeting sales in Europe.

Amid that background, Tesla is eyeing new markets to improve its fortunes. The latest is Saudi Arabia as the company has sent out RSVPs for their opening in Riyadh.

More: Tesla Cybertruck Joins Dubai Police, Looks Terrible In White

The event takes place on April 10 and guests are invited to explore the company’s lineup and “step into a world powered by solar energy, sustained by batteries, and driven by electric vehicles.” The Cybercab and Optimus robot will apparently be in attendance, and Tesla noted employees will be on hand to answer questions about ownership, home charging, and more.  

While Tesla is a newcomer to Saudi Arabia, the company already has a presence in the Middle East. In particular, there are stores and superchargers in Israel, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

 As Sales Tank, Tesla Turns To Oil-Rich Saudi Arabia

Tesla’s entrance into the market is interesting to note as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has poured billions into Lucid. Part of this helped to fund a plant in the country, which has begun semi knocked-down assembly of the Air. However, it’s slated to become a fully fledged production facility “after the middle of the decade.”

That isn’t the only thing making the situation awkward as Reuters noted Musk was originally banking on Saudi money to take Tesla private. This led to his infamous “funding secured” tweet, which turned out to be nonsense.

The publication also noted EVs only account for 1% of sales in the oil-rich country. This suggests Tesla’s sales problems are far from over.

 As Sales Tank, Tesla Turns To Oil-Rich Saudi Arabia

Infiniti Plans Three New Models By 2028

  • The facelifted Infiniti QX60 will debut in 2025, alongside a Sport package for the QX80.
  • The new QX65 crossover coupe will follow in 2026 as the QX60’s sportier sibling.
  • Infiniti will launch an electric SUV in 2028, while its electric sedan has likely been delayed.

Infiniti, following in the footsteps of its parent company Nissan, has dropped several teasers of upcoming models, giving us a glimpse into its future plans. Among the highlights are a new SUV Coupe, a facelifted QX60, and (naturally) an electric SUV.

QX60 Facelift and New QX65

We’ll start with the the second-generation QX60, which made its debut in 2021 and shares its foundation with the Nissan Pathfinder. Based on official teasers and spy shots, we can expect a mid-cycle refresh later this year. The redesign will include a new front end with an illuminated badge and a few other styling tweaks. So, if you were hoping for a major overhaul, it’s not exactly here. But, hey, a fresh look is still a fresh look.

More: All The New Nissan Models Arriving By 2027, From Sentra To Frontier

Next up is the Infiniti QX65 crossover coupe, set to debut in 2026. It’ll come with split LED headlights and a sharply sloped roofline inspired by the original Infiniti FX. Positioned as a sleeker, two-row alternative to the QX60, the QX65 will likely be powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS).

On the larger end of the spectrum, the QX80 will get a Sport package in 2025. This facelifted version will likely give the flagship SUV a bit more edge, though it’s unclear just how “sporty” it will actually get. Either way, it’ll be offered in Latin America and the Middle East.

 Infiniti Plans Three New Models By 2028
The Infiniti QX65 (left), the future EV (middle), and the facelifted QX60 (right).

Electric SUV

Infiniti has also teased a fully electric SUV, which seems to be the production version of the Vision QX Inspiration concept from 2019. Set to arrive in 2028, the new model will incorporate Infiniti’s latest “Artistry in Motion” design language, along with a range of tech features that sound impressive in the press release.

What About The Long Promised Electric Sedan?

Interestingly, the electric sedan, based on the Vision Qe concept, was notably absent from the press release. Initially, this model was supposed to debut before the SUV, but now it looks like the timeline might have shifted past 2028. It could be that Infiniti has quietly pushed back its electric car rollout in response to the US market’s shifting tax credits under President Trump. Originally, the plan was for Infiniti to manufacture its electric vehicles in Canton, Mississippi.

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Nissan

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