McLaren enters new era with Artura, here by mid-year

MCLAREN has shown off its new Artura mid-engined supercar, a vehicle signalling the beginning of a new era for the Woking brand as it gears up to release a whole new portfolio of “series-production high-performance hybrid (HPH) supercars”.

Due to arrive in Australia by the middle of this year, McLaren has been building up the hype surrounding the Artura for months now, drip-feeding teaser images and select details surrounding its powertrain and chassis.

Now though with its official reveal, we can confirm the new Sports Series successor produces 500kW of power at 7500rpm and 720Nm of torque between 2,250-7000rpm courtesy of a new electrified twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6.

Hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission, drive is sent exclusively to the rear wheels with 0-100km/h dispatched in 3.0 seconds flat.

Once it has brought up triple digits, McLaren says the Artura will take just another 5.3 seconds to hit 200km/h (8.3s) before hitting 300km/h in 10.7s on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 330km/h.

The stopping capabilities are also suitably brutal with carbon ceramic discs in all four corners, measuring 390mm up front and 380mm at the rear, grabbed by six and four-piston callipers respectively.

The results speak for themselves with the Artura pulling up from 200km/h to a standstill in 126m while going from 100-0km/h is done in just 31m.

Suspension duties are catered for a double wishbone set-up up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear with three-way adjustable adaptive dampers in all four corners.

Underpinned by an all-new HPH optimised McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), the Artura boasts a kerb weight of 1498kg, 130kg of which can be attributed to its hybrid powertrain.

If left to its own devices, the force-fed V6 would produce 430kW/585Nm with the single electric motor contributing an extra 70kW/225Nm.

Powered by a 7.4kWh lithium-ion battery, the electric motor is housed within the transmission bell housing and takes sole responsibility for the Artura’s ability to reverse – there is no mechanical reverse gear.

Not only that, it can also propel the supercar at up to 130km/h on electric power alone with the battery providing around 30km of all-electric range.

No official fuel economy figure has been quoted as yet however CO2 emissions are pegged at 129g/km on the WLTP cycle.

Visually, there is no mistaking the Artura for anything other than a McLaren with its styling resembling more of a facelifted 570S rather than an all-new model.

Inside the cabin, the interior has been oriented strictly towards the driver for maximum engagement, including a steering column-mounted digital instrument cluster skirted by the majority of the key switchgear – the steering wheel has no buttons on it at all save for the horn.

With all controls centred around the instrument binnacle, the vertically mounted, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen dominates the centre fascia of the dash.

The system supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and comes with Bluetooth compatibility, satellite navigation and voice recognition while software updates are installed over-the-air (OTA).

Other standard equipment highlights include Alcantara-wrapped Clubsport seats, Pirelli P Zero performance tyres, dual-zone climate control, carbon-fibre trim, five-speaker audio system and DAB+ digital radio.

According to McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt, “every drop” of the brand’s experience and expertise was poured into the Artura.

“Our all-new, High-Performance Hybrid delivers all of the performance, driver engagement and dynamic excellence for which McLaren is renowned, with the additional benefit of EV driving capability,” he said.

“The introduction of the Artura is a landmark moment – for McLaren, for our customers who will appreciate and enjoy this car on every emotional and rational level, and for the supercar world.”

McLaren sold five cars through the first month of 2021, up 25 per cent (one unit) on the four it sold over the corresponding month last year.