McLaren’s future design philosophy for its supercars revealed

McLaren has shared details of its new design philosophy for next-generation supercars, future SUVs and EVs. 

McLaren’s new design language, dubbed ‘Performance by Design’, is based on five core principles: Epic, Athletic, Functional, Focused and Intelligent.’

The brand’s future products will adopt a bold design influenced by aerodynamics and surfacing of Formula 1, Can-Am and GT racers. Extreme design traits like the central driving position of the McLaren F1, the jet-fighter-style canopy of the Solus GT, and the quad exhaust of the 765LT, will also be carried over.

The cars will have muscular bodywork designed with aero efficiency and weight saving in mind. Every element of the design will be functional. The cabin will be focused around the driver, offering unparalleled visibility and performance-driven ergonomics. 

The sketches shared by McLaren show a low nose section with large air intakes placed on the front bumper and distinctive ‘eye-socket’ headlights with integrated intakes. The iconic shoulder line is inspired by McLaren’s Can-Am racers, while the rear view is defined by an open back end, that not just looks extreme, but also helps with heat dissipation.

Tobias Sühlmann, Chief Design Officer, McLaren Automotive, said, “Racing is in our DNA, and beauty flows from this relentless pursuit of performance. We are deeply inspired by six decades of McLaren history, but we are not rooted in our past. Our Design DNA will build McLaren into a brand that delivers 60-years of motorsport heritage in incredible lightweight supercars and beyond. A new era, with new vehicles, more product differentiation, and with Performance by Design at the heart of it.”

Source: McLaren