The McLaren Artura is here, and with it comes a lot of firsts for McLaren. It’s the first plug-in hybrid McLaren, even though it counts as McLaren’s third hybrid model behind the P1 and the Speedtail. It’s also the first McLaren to use the freshly developed 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine, put in place of the bigger and heavier 3.8-liter V-8 unit that McLaren has used for its Sports Series models in recent years.
The Artura is also the first McLaren hybrid supercar that’s built on the automaker’s new MCLA platform. It’s the same architecture the British automaker developed to accommodate electrified powertrains. The Artura’s arrival sets the stage for McLaren’s electrified future that now looks a lot more compelling.
The McLaren Artura is the first all-new McLaren to come out since the MP4-12C. It’s a significant model for McLaren, not just because of all the new hardware it’s sporting, but because it points to a future that the automaker is now embracing.
The boomerang LEDs remain, and at 179 inches long, the Artura is only 0.2 inches longer than the 720S. Dihedral doors are used in the model, and it sits on a set of forged seven-spoke, 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch at the back wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires that were developed specifically for the automaker.
The interior follows a similar pared-back look. The layout is more driver-focused with the powertrain and handling controls mounted on the side of the digital instrument cluster. There’s also an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s compatible with either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Artura's electrical architecture is set up to enable OTA update when connected to Wi-Fi., allowing owners to update the car's software without having to visit a McLaren dealer.
The Artura weighs 3,303 pounds. The 7.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack accounts for 194 pounds of that weight while the axial flux electric motor adds another 34 pounds.
In total, the Artura’s hybrid equipment weighs 287 pounds, including all the associated hardware — wiring, controllers, etc. — that ties the whole setup together. It’s a heavy load, but the weight gain is offset by the weight of the new V-6. It's 110 pounds lighter than McLaren’s tried-and-tested 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8.
McLaren also utilizes a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to send power to the two rear wheels. The setup helps the Artura sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds, 0 to 124 mph in 8.3 seconds, and 0 to 186 mph in just 21.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 205 mph. There is no reverse gear in the transmission. Instead, the Artura taps into the electric motor to reverse the car by spinning it in the opposite direction.
The McLaren Artura is priced at $225,000 and is scheduled to arrive in U.S. dealers in the third quarter of 2021.