McLaren has been in the business of making light and fast supercars since 1963 but it wasn’t until 2021 that the company put one of its HPH designs (High-Performance Hybrid) into full production. Say hello to the new $225,000 superstar called Artura.
Even by McLaren standards, the Artura is quite slim for a supercar. It’s the first model to use the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) which, according to Engadget, “reduces the weight of cabling used in the electrical system by 10 percent compared to other McLarens and delivers a curb weight of just 3,303lbs including the 7.4kWh battery pack.” The British automaker did not specify exactly what sorts of charging systems the Artura will be compatible with but did estimate that the battery pack could be refilled to 80 percent capacity “in just 2.5 hours with a standard EVSE cable.”
McLaren’s new twin-turbo V6 ICE drives the powertrain outputting 577 HP and 431 lb-ft of torque. The engine, dubbed the M630, manages to save 110 pounds of weight and a few inches of length over the company’s conventional V8. “It’s paired with a 94 HP, 166 lb-ft axial flux E-motor which can propel the Artura up to 19 miles on electric power alone or work in harmony with the V6 engine to notch a 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds, hit 0 – 124mph in 8.3 seconds with a governed top speed of 205 mph.” What is interesting is that there’s no Reverse setting and to get the car to back up, the E-Motor simply reverses its rotation on the driveshaft, turning in the opposite direction.
“We want you to look at our cars and understand what their objective is,” Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive, said during Tuesday’s press event. “Let’s say the Senna is a 100-meter sprinter, the Speedtail is the Olympic swimmer and the Artura would be the decathlete — very good at many things.”
Flewitt also discussed some of the principles of Arturia’s design, including the concept of purity. It’s “not just about purity of line and volume but about purity through the integration of components,” he said. “And by being able to create a car that integrates components, we’re able to save weight, we’re able to create a very clean sleek design, and also improve aero, and ultimately improve the craftsmanship and execution.”
While the Artura is clearly a luxury car built for driving enthusiasts, it does offer a slew of comfort and driver-assist features to ensure you don’t only pull it out of the garage for weekends at the track. Its dual-screen infotainment system mirrors Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as offers a revamped navigation map display in the central instrument cluster and McLaren’s traditional Track Telemetry and Variable Drift Control apps (which should absolutely be used at the track). And for the time when you want to tune everything out and just drive, the dual-screen infotainment system can enter Stealth mode, which minimizes and hides all but the most pertinent vehicle data from your view.
The Artura also offers a host of ADAS features as well, including “Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop/Go; Lane-Departure Warning; High-Beam Assist and Road-Sign Recognition,” according to the company’s press release.
More features could be added in the future as Artura allows for Over The Air (OTA) software updates. Expect to see McLaren’s production hybrid supercar later this year when they begin rolling out in Q3.
