Architect of Ferrari SUV takes reins at McLaren

CEO Mike Flewitt stepped down from the top job last year, after promising McLaren would never build an SUV under his leadership.

A McLaren SUV looks to be one step closer, with the appointment of Michael Leiters as CEO overnight.

Mr Leiters is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Ferrari, and in the position oversaw development of the company’s high-riding ‘Purosangue’ SUV.

However, from 1 July 2022 the 50-year-old German will jump ship and take the reins at McLaren’s headquarters in Woking.

Leiters moves into the top job following the unexplained resignation of Mike Flewitt in October last year, who was not immediately replaced.

Flewitt long said McLaren would never build an SUV under his leadership, however the company has been tight-lipped on plans since his departure.

“I could not be more excited to be joining McLaren Automotive as CEO at this important moment in its journey,” Mr Leiters said in a media statement.

“McLaren is already recognised as one of the world’s most admired luxury supercar companies.

“I look forward to growing that reputation for our loyal customers, employees, fans, and partners as we write the next chapter in McLaren’s illustrious history.”

Speaking to Autocar in 2019, Leiters said: “I’m convinced [of the Ferrari Purosangue] and the technical concept.”

“The challenge is to open a new segment for Ferrari … The trade-off decision is totally different for us here. We will have totally new engineering challenges.”

Earlier this week Drive speculated on what a McLaren SUV could look like, with the computer illustrations shown above.

The British supercar maker has been struggling financially for some time, and last year rumours emerged of a possible buyout by the Volkswagen Group.

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