McLaren shifts into high gear: An Arab injection and a new future

McLaren shifts into high gear: An Arab injection and a new future

08 April 2025

It’s official: McLaren, that British stronghold of roaring engines and aerodynamic masterpieces, has a new owner. And not just any owner, no, we’re talking about CYVN Holdings from Abu Dhabi, a group with petrodollar-stuffed pockets and grand plans. They didn’t just buy McLaren; they’ve immediately fused it with the mysterious Forseven, a British outfit that was quietly working on something massive. What exactly? Buckle up – it’s a McLaren revolution set to flip the world of luxury and sports cars upside down. This isn’t a subtle facelift; it’s a full-blown rebirth.

Let’s take a step back. McLaren has been building cars for years that make your heart race faster than an espresso on an empty stomach. But let’s be honest: in terms of image and fame, the brand always lingered a bit in the shadow of those Italians with their prancing horse. Ferrari has that undeniable flair, that sexy swagger. McLaren? It was more of a quiet force, a technical marvel you only really knew about if you were a true car nut. But those days are over. The new bosses don’t just want McLaren to match Ferrari; they want to overtake it – and with a plan more ambitious than a space flight on a tricycle.

So, what are they actually doing? No timid updates to existing models, no endless variations on the same supercar theme. No, we’re talking about an entirely new lineup. Picture cars that aren’t just faster than a cheetah on rollerblades but also carve out new paths – literally. SUVs? Maybe. Four-seaters? Who knows. Electric beasts with a hybrid twist? Quite likely. The rumor mill is spinning at full tilt, but one thing’s clear: McLaren wants to conquer the luxury market with more than just two-seat rockets. And all this under the leadership of Nick Collins, a man who brings experience from Ford and Jaguar Land Rover and has been steering Forseven since early 2024. This isn’t a rookie; this is a guy with a mission.

Now, about that merger with Forseven. What’s that all about? Well, it’s a sort of ghost company that quietly amassed an army of automotive geniuses – veterans from Jaguar, Ford, you name it. They were already working on luxury projects, but now the Forseven name is being tossed in the bin and replaced with a McLaren badge. Smart move, because why build a new brand when you’ve already got a name that sounds like pure horsepower porn? Production, by the way, stays largely in Britain, with Woking as the beating heart and Bicester as the new epicenter. No Chinese factories, no outsourcing – this remains British, with a dash of Arab cash to top it off.

But let’s not get too dreamy. McLaren hasn’t always had it easy. Despite their brilliant cars, the brand was sometimes financially shakier than a tricycle on cobblestones. This takeover and merger feel like a lifeline, but one with a V8 engine and a turbo bolted on. CYVN Holdings believes in it, and they’re not just throwing money at it – they’re bringing vision. They already own a minority stake in McLaren Racing, so this isn’t a one-off fling – it’s a long-term play to make McLaren a global player. With Collins at the helm, promising this isn’t a quick cash grab, it’s starting to look promising.

Of course, there are still question marks. How will they pull off these ambitious plans? Will that SUV actually happen, or is it just hot air? And how do you keep that pure McLaren DNA intact when you start building cars you can fit a car seat into? But if they play their cards right – and that’s a big “if” – McLaren could become the brand that makes Ferrari sweat and Porsche frown. The next six months will be critical, with an intensive integration and a solid “turnaround plan” for McLaren Automotive. If it works, we’ll get something special. If not, well, at least we’ll have a cracking story.

So, car lovers, keep your eyes peeled. McLaren is back, with more bite, more plans, and a hefty wad of Middle Eastern money. This won’t be a quiet comeback; it’ll be a roaring one. And if you’re on the hunt for your own dream ride – McLaren or otherwise – check out our marketplace. At Volty, you’ll find an overview of cars to search and buy, right at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/. Who knows, your future steed might already be waiting there.