Super-luxury brands scramble to change their iconic products

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The push for supercars to go battery-only makes little sense for purely environmental reasons, said Philippe Houchois, automotive analyst at investment bank Jefferies. British marque McLaren plans to move to a 100 percent electrified portfolio by 2026, with its first full-electric model expected by the end of the decade. In the near term, McLaren is sticking with fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid technology to cut fleet emissions without compromising weight. But in a move likely to arch the eyebrows of brand purists, McLaren might be flirting with the idea of an electric SUV. Consumer demand and profit margins for larger, utility-style vehicles are an irresistible siren song.

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