An all new engine
It has a curious name (which combines the words “Art” and “Future”) and a completely new mechanic Mclaren Artura which three years after launch also arrives in a variant Spiders with a hard roof that retracts in just 11 seconds (even in motion, up to 50 km/h) and various technical innovations for both body styles. The first hybrid supercar series from McLaren (which in previous years had experimented with electrification on some limited editions such as the P1 and Speedtail hypercars) said goodbye to the V8 in favor of a V6 3.0 with 605 HP and 585 Nm of torque, characterized by a very wide angle between the banks (120°) and an architecture defined in jargon as “Hot V” or with the turbines positioned at the center of the “V” to shorten the intake and exhaust ducts as much as possible and consequently reduce turbo-lag.
Not that the response delay of the turbines scares her much McLaren Arturagiven that between the combustion engine and the gearbox (robotic double clutch 8-speed) there is an electric unit with 95 HP and 225 Nm of torque that comes into action from the first moment you press the gas pedal for a combined power of 700 HP and 720 Nm of torque. Enough to set off the McLaren Artura Spider from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds flat and – even more impressive – making it reach 200 km/h, again from a standstill, in just 8.4 seconds. The maximum speed – which McLaren engineers point out is self-limited – stands at 330 km/h.
On tap (if you want)
To the numbers that describe the performance of the new one McLaren Artura Spider alongside others that are much more “strange” for a supercar: starting, for example, from 33 km, or the autonomy in 100% electric mode. This is thanks to the 7.4 kWh battery pack placed just behind the seats so as not to compromise the weight balance and which recharges from a normal domestic socket in around two and a half hours. The McLaren Artura is one plug-in hybridbut in order not to run down the “battery” and always have all the cavalry available, you don’t necessarily have to plug it in: the petrol V6 takes care of it, especially when driving with spirit – to keep the battery charged.
Hybrid yes, but light
With such a sophisticated powertrain and a (heavy) battery to carry around, naturally the kilos on the scales grow, but thanks to countless technical solutions and the rigid carbon monocoque, McLaren has managed to contain the weight of the car (1,457 kg dry) also with this Spider variant that he puts on the plate 62 kg more for the soft top and its opening and closing mechanism, but which thanks to its composite material “framework” does not require chassis reinforcements to guarantee the same levels of rigidity as the coupé.
Few simple controls
Well, that, in a nutshell, is the theory, but how do all these numbers translate into the driving experience? What surprises you as soon as you get going is not so much the absolute performance – which naturally glues you to the seat – but how this complex engine works in complete harmony, highlighting the other dynamic qualities of the McLaren Artura Spider. There aren’t many useless driving modes, but two selectors on the sides of the dashboard from which you select the suspension calibration and the behavior of the engines on four levels: EV, i.e. driving with electric power only, Comfort (heating and electric engine work together or alternate to maximize efficiency), Sport and Race, i.e. the two modes dedicated to sports driving where maximum performance is provided.
What a change!
There push And powerful already at low revs thanks to the instant torque of the electric motor and as soon as the V6 comes into action you reach the red line set at 8,500 rpm in the blink of an eye. Gear changes are very quick (25% improved compared to the Artura Coupés already on the road) and when using the paddles behind the carbon fiber steering wheel you can hear a very satisfying “click”. The McLaren technicians have worked hard on the engine soundalso improved compared to the first ones McLaren Artura arrived on the road, thanks to a complete overhaul of the exhaust ducts which improved the sound, especially at high revs. The result is pleasant to the ear, even better if with the top down or with the glass of the small rear window lowered, although it is not on par with the sound of the 3.8 liter V8s of the previous McLaren 540C and 570S.
An “old school” choice that pays off
Impressiveagility through the curves, thanks to the rigid carbon monocoque, but also to a “surgical” and very communicative steering. In fact, McLaren has remained one of the very few manufacturers to remain faithful to hydraulic power steering: the vast majority of cars (including sports ones) use electric controls, which are simpler and more compact, but also more “filtered”. From the steering wheel of McLaren Artura SpiderOn the other hand, you can accurately perceive the level of grip available and what is happening under the wheels, despite not having to deal with nervous steering. The result is that you feel more connected to the car and perceive its limits better.
Brake hard but…
Defects? Difficult to find when driving, also thanks to well-calibrated shock absorbers that copy the irregularities of the asphalt well, always guaranteeing plenty of contact with the road and – in comfort – also a fair amount of comfort. Powerful braking: the 390 mm carbon-ceramic discs at the front (with 6-piston calipers) and 380 mm at the rear (with 4-piston calipers) stop the McLaren Artura Spider from 100 km/h in just 31 meters and from 200 km/h in just 124 metres. The feel of the brake pedal, however, is particular and in some ways reminiscent of that of some racing cars. You have to press the pedal hard to let the discs “bite”. to the pads, while in the first part of the pedal stroke very little happens; we would have preferred a more progressive control. The tank, then, (with a capacity of 65 litres) could have been a little more capacious: when you start driving briskly around the bends, the petrol indicator drops very quickly.
Weekends away are not a problem
454 cm long, 198 cm wide and just 119 cm high, the McLaren Artura Spider It’s a relatively compact supercar, but offers a good amount of practicality for such an extreme car; starting from the front load compartment (deep) of 160 litres, enough to accommodate a couple of cabin trolleys without worries. From the spectacular doors to butterfly opening you enter a passenger compartment that is essential in design but well finished with extensive Alcantara upholstery and numerous storage compartments (even if there is no drawer in the dashboard): clever ones for storing the telephone which hold it and do not let it “fly away” when you raise the rhythm. The steering wheel does not have no buttons on the spokes: everything is controlled from the satellites located on the column and from the central infotainment display. The latter has an 8″ diagonal, intuitive menus, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it is not the most defined and the large black frames around the screen make it appear a little dated.
Sinuous and aerodynamic
The design of the McLaren Artura Spider it reinterprets several key elements of the English manufacturer’s supercars such as the front, characterized by a single stylistic element that houses the headlights and air intakes, the exhaust terminals in the upper part of the rear and generally sinuous lines dictated by aerodynamic efficiency. In this variant Spider shapes they change little compared to the coupe, but new pillars are introduced with a transparent surface that improves three-quarter visibility. The hard roofthen, it can be made of glass and electrochromic (9,330 euros): just press a button to make it darken and filter up to 96% of the sun’s rays.
And you want to be comfortable…
There is a wide range of safety and accessories – standard or paid – which includes all the main ones electronic driving aids such as blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking (even in reverse). All these are offered in a 5,640 euro package while to have the full LED headlights with automatic high beams, the 360 degree camera, the aforementioned wireless charger for the smartphone and the 12 speaker audio system you have to spend 8,100 euros. Other almost “essential” options for a car like this are the system lifting the front axle (2,840 euros) and the sports exhaust system (4,520 euros).
