The McLaren Artura: a hybrid revolution in the supercar market
The all-new McLaren Artura combines performance, innovation and durability to redefine the supercar industry. The editors of Uncovers magazine had the chance to discover it, during an epic test drive of nearly 300 kms. Here are our impressions of this incredible car.
The McLaren Artura is a high-performance hybrid supercar that combines McLaren’s engineering and design expertise with innovative technological advances. Combining a twin-turbocharged V6 engine with an electric motor for a total output of 680 hp, the Artura offers stunning performance, refined driving and impressive fuel efficiency.
In this article, we explore the McLaren Artura’s outstanding features, which range from the sculpted exterior design to the ergonomic driving position to the suspension and stability control innovations.
McLaren Artura: exterior design and aerodynamics
The McLaren Artura features a sleek, sculpted design with technical, agile lines and minimal panel closures and joints. The Artura’s shape is guided by the McLaren design principle of “everything for a reason,” optimizing aerodynamic performance and cooling.
The center of the front splitter houses the air intake for the HVAC system and the front-mounted radar, which is part of the optional driver assistance system package.
McLaren Artura: ergonomic cockpit and driving modes
Inside, the cockpit is built around the driver, with an instrument cluster mounted on the steering column and adjustable with the steering wheel for optimal ergonomics. The driver can choose from four drive modes, including an E-mode that guarantees up to 31 km of emission-free, 100% electric driving.
Handling and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can be adjusted to suit driver preference, weather and road conditions.
The first few laps are impressive, the size of the “beast” must be perfectly understood in order to consider a serene test. The driving position is excellent, obviously sporty, but the comfort is more than honourable, even for long trips.
Innovations in suspension and stability control
The McLaren Artura has an electronically controlled differential that independently controls the torque on the rear axle. This improves traction when exiting corners. To tell you the truth, only drivers who push the car to its limits will be able to measure the finesse of the settings. In conventional driving, the handling is absolutely impeccable, even in poor weather conditions.
The innovative rear suspension system maximises stability and precision and reduces understeer when accelerating out of corners. Pirelli P ZERO™ Corsa Cyber Tyre® technology improves dynamic precision by transmitting real-time data to the vehicle’s stability control systems. The Artura is shod with monstrous tyre sizes: front 235/35/R19; rear 295/35/R20 (yes, you read that right).
Comfort and technology in the McLaren Artura
The Artura focuses on rider and passenger comfort, the chassis has been redesigned to provide more comfort without compromising the brand’s inherent sportiness. We particularly liked the new rear suspension design, the Artura is incisive, very efficient, but it doesn’t bully either the rider or the passenger.
It would have been interesting to test it on a racetrack, but we can assure you that in road and highway use, the comfort of the supercar literally blew us away. McLaren’s infotainment and connectivity system (MIS II) offers a responsive and intuitive interface, incorporating navigation, smartphone connectivity, voice control and much more. The optional 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system in our car provides a fabulous immersive audio experience for the occupants.
Some purists will cry foul, but you have to accept it: to meet the demands of its customers, the brand had to make concessions on comfort. It’s up to you to do without all the extras if you want to enjoy a car that’s stripped down.
Personally, we loved the configuration of our Artura!
Sustainability and energy efficiency, when a supercar sets an example!
The McLaren Artura is committed to sustainability and energy efficiency, with significantly reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to conventional supercars.
The all-electric E-mode helps to reduce CO2 emissions during city driving. The Artura is also equipped with energy recovery systems, including kinetic energy recovery, to optimise fuel efficiency and improve overall performance.
The McLaren Artura is a revolutionary hybrid supercar that combines performance, design and durability
The McLaren Artura is a revolutionary supercar that pushes the boundaries of engineering, performance and design. It offers an unparalleled driving experience and paves the way for a new generation of hybrid supercars that put sustainability and fuel efficiency first.
This iconic car embodies the future of the automotive industry, with a focus on sustainability and fuel efficiency, without compromising the speed and agility that is the hallmark of McLaren vehicles.
Featuring an all-new twin-turbo V6 engine coupled with an electric motor, the Artura is capable of breathtaking performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds and reaching a top speed of 330 km/h. The combined power of 680 horsepower provides an unrivalled driving experience, while the all-electric E-mode offers an emission-free range of 31 km, ideal for urban commuting.
The Artura’s sleek, sculpted exterior design is guided by McLaren’s ‘all for a reason’ principle, with a body optimised for improved aerodynamic performance and cooling. Inside, the cockpit is entirely driver-centric, offering exceptional comfort and ergonomics.
Sustainability and fuel efficiency are at the heart of the Artura’s design, with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions significantly reduced compared to conventional supercars. Energy recovery systems, such as kinetic energy recovery, optimise fuel efficiency and improve overall performance, without detracting from the driving experience.
McLaren’s hydraulic power steering, combined with proactive damping control, provides exceptional handling and ride feel.
Technical Specifications McLaren Artura
Our opinion about the McLaren Artura
The Uncovers team had the chance to see and test drive the McLaren Artura, and we’re delighted to share our thoughts on this revolutionary hybrid supercar. At first glance, the Artura impresses with its beauty, clean lines and innovative design. But beyond this seductive appearance, it hides an exceptional combination of smoothness and power, offering the perfect balance between tradition and modernity, passion and reason.
One of the most striking aspects of the Artura is its ability to combine the ferocity of a McLaren supercar with the smoothness and silence of an electric vehicle. In electric mode, it silently cruises through city streets, offering a serene and environmentally friendly ride. But once on the track, it unleashes its power and beastly roar, thrilling our passionate hearts. The Artura has a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 488 hp/ton… We’ll let you imagine its efficiency!
The alliance of passion and reason: when the thermal sports car meets the electric future
The Artura pushes the boundaries of hybrid powertrain technology. The new McLaren Carbon Fibre Lightweight (MCLA) architecture provides a lightweight, rigid and incredibly precise chassis. The heart of the Artura, its excellent twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid engine, delivers outstanding performance and unrivalled driving dynamics.
The Artura’s hybridization is unique in that it perfectly combines two strengths – a V6 petrol engine with a light and powerful electric motor – to deliver incredible performance and instant torque. Some purists may see this as a lack of nobility, but in terms of power-to-weight ratio, it is a sensible and judicious choice, in line with the manufacturer’s philosophy: LIGHTNESS IS PRICELESS.
The new McLaren hybrid supercar does not use regenerative charging, which means it does not recover energy while driving to recharge the battery. Hybridisation is designed to be invisible in dynamic driving and to deliver its benefits in urban traffic. The transition between the power of the petrol engine and the electric motor is smooth and optimised to make the most of both available energy sources. During our test drives, we noticed that it fully deserves its nickname of Performance Hybrid. In order to keep the battery charged, dynamic driving is required. It is not necessary to drive fast to recharge the battery, but it is advisable to play with the gears and to work on the torque in order to maximise the charge.
The Artura is equipped with hydraulic steering, not electric steering, which is becoming more and more unusual these days. The Artura has a hydraulic steering system, not an electric one, which is becoming more and more unusual these days, and it offers a more direct and natural driving experience. The driver is at one with the road and the feeling is unfiltered. Its dry weight of just 1,395 kg makes it the lightest plug-in hybrid supercar on the market. Its low weight, combined with an extremely low centre of gravity, allows for exceptional acceleration and handling.
The hybrid supercar is also equipped with an innovative 8-speed gearbox that does not require a reverse gear: it uses the electric motor to move the car in reverse, saving weight and reducing complexity.
The Artura offers an exhilarating combination of unrivalled performance and driving dynamics, whether in petrol or quiet electric mode.
- McLaren Carbon Fibre Architecture (MCLA): lightweight, rigid and strong
- V6 twin-turbo petrol hybrid engine: powerful and light
- Innovative 8-speed gearbox: no reverse, uses electric motor for reverse
- Dry weight of 1395 kg: lightest hybrid in its class
- Low-mounted high-voltage (HV) battery for a low, balanced and perfectly optimised centre of gravity
- 120° twin-turbo V6 engine: exceptional power-to-weight ratio
- No regenerative charging: saving weight and complexity
- Electro-hydraulic power steering: improved driving experience
- Carbon ceramic brakes: high braking power and remarkable endurance
- Pirelli P-ZERO™ tyres with Pirelli Cyber Tyre® technology: constant tyre supervision
- Electronic differential (E-Differential) and proactive damping control: maximum control for greater safety
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): useful technical support, but fortunately, it’s not needed
- Driving modes: E-Mode, Comfort, Sport and Track, to adapt to different conditions
What also struck us was how the Artura represents a perfect bridge between the old and new worlds. On the one hand, it carries on the McLaren supercar tradition, with its breathtaking performance and sharp design. On the other, it looks to the future, incorporating cutting-edge technology and adopting an eco-friendly approach. This combination makes the Artura a true masterpiece, appealing to purists and newcomers alike.
In summary, the Uncovers team is delighted with the McLaren Artura. Its bold design, breathtaking performance and commitment to sustainability make it an exceptional supercar. With the Artura, McLaren has taken the bold step of combining passion and reason, tradition and modernity, to create a car that will undoubtedly make automotive history.
300 km of wonderment on board the McLaren Artura: an unforgettable experience
Driving the Artura, McLaren’s electric supercar, we had a fabulous experience over 300 kilometres of pure pleasure. The car is a perfect combination of performance, luxury and environmental friendliness. Thanks to its modern and elegant design, it is an eye-catcher wherever it goes.
Our journey took us to the magnificent Château de Berne, an iconic and prestigious location in the south of France. The owners of the estate gave us a warm welcome and were very helpful throughout our stay. The idyllic setting enhanced the Artura’s lines and allowed us to take stunning photos to illustrate our article.
The Château de Berne is an ideal place to showcase the beauty and power of the McLaren Artura. The vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees that surround the estate provide an enchanting natural backdrop that is perfectly suited to this sublime supercar.
We were impressed by the Artura, its performance and handling. The transition from electric to petrol mode is imperceptible, and the power delivered by the engine is simply breathtaking. Driving this supercar is a unique experience, combining the passion of speed with ecological responsibility.
The technology in the Artura is a testament to McLaren’s innovation and expertise in sports cars. The digital instrument panel and intuitive controls make driving a pleasant and immersive experience. The quality of the central digital audio + GPS unit is impressive: the handling is ultra fast, the ergonomics of the 8-inch HD touch screen infotainment system is perfect. The advanced driving assistance settings are very intuitive. In addition, the quality of the cabin and interior finishes is impeccable, in keeping with the British brand.
We would like to thank the Château de Berne for their hospitality and generosity. This exceptional estate helped make our experience in the Artura even more memorable. We invite you to discover the photos of our escapade in this electric supercar in our article, and let yourself be seduced by the magic of the photos.
Useful information about McLaren Artura
For readers interested in the McLaren Artura and wanting more information, we have put together some useful sources and links. First of all, the official McLaren website offers a detailed presentation of the Artura, as well as a lot of technical information and stunning visuals. You can access it via this link: https://cars.mclaren.com/en/artura
To learn more about the Artura, we also recommend that you follow McLaren on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to keep up to date with the latest Artura news and events.
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visuels : ©Uncovers @McLaren
