The Artura is the company’s first high-performance hybrid series supercar and opens a new era for electrification across the McLaren range. With the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) at its core, the Artura is testament to McLaren’s commitment to super-lightweight engineering to deliver outstanding levels of thrilling performance and engagement while powered by an all-new hybrid powertrain that features a brand new V6 engine.
The engineering artistry beneath the Artura’s skin is complemented by its exterior design. The low-nose and high-tail stance is pure supercar with the drama underlined by McLaren’s signature dihedral doors - which open closer to the body and house mirrors that fold in more tightly. It is a stance further enhanced by the Artura’s short wheelbase and low stance.
The overall effect gives the Artura a ‘shrink-wrapped’ appearance, evolving a McLaren design approach seen in recent models to a new level. The lithe, technical sculpture has only minimal body shut lines and panel joints.
The shape of the Artura, sculpted to optimise performance and manage airflow for aerodynamic performance and cooling, is driven by the McLaren design principle of ‘everything for a reason’ that is in evidence throughout the car.
Inside, occupants will find the Artura
is no less of a revolution, with the cockpit centred more than ever
around the driver. Ergonomics have been carefully thought through.
Consequently, the steering wheel is kept clear of unnecessary switches
and the driver is able to adjust driving modes without taking their
hands away from the wheel, keeping them fully connected to the driving
experience.
An all-new McLaren infotainment and connectivity
system utilises two high-definition screens. The Artura also features a
Bluetooth low-energy vehicle key which detects when the driver is
heading towards the vehicle and powers up to welcome occupants. This
includes ambient, ‘hidden-until-lit’ lighting in the doors, which act
like beacons to occupants about to drive at night.
Once inside
the Artura, a driver can choose from four Powertrain modes, including an
E-mode for up to 30 km of emissions-free, electric-only driving.
Comfort
mode maximises range and efficiency, with the combustion engine shut
off under 40 km/h using an extended stop and start mode that is phased
in for greater speed and power requirements.
In Sport and Track
modes, however, the electric power is deployed in an increasingly
aggressive manner for low-end response and acceleration. The handling
mode choices adjust damper firmness and the degree of Electronic
Stability Control intervention to suit driver preference and weather and
road conditions.
The Artura is underpinned by McLaren’s philosophy of super-lightweight engineering, with electrification now bringing the additional benefits of even faster throttle response, lower emissions and being able to run in pure EV mode for emissions-free journeys of up to 30 km.
Being entirely new, Artura presented McLaren’s designers and engineers with opportunities to innovate, chief among these being how to preserve McLaren’s super-lightweight engineering prowess when adding hybrid powertrain elements including an E-motor and battery pack.
The Artura is designed with full plug-in hybrid (PHEV) capability and can be charged to an 80 percent charge level in just 2.5 hours. The batteries can also harvest recharging power from the combustion engine during driving and tailored to the driving mode selected.
The
Artura is the first supercar to have the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight
Architecture (MCLA) at its core. Designed and manufactured at the
McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in the Sheffield region,
which was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2018, the MCLA
sets a new standard for McLaren’s advanced chassis design.
Optimised
for high-performance hybrid applications, MCLA includes a bespoke
battery compartment and introduces a ground-breaking domain-based
ethernet electrical architecture which reduces cabling by 25 percent
while speeding up data transmission.
Advance orders for the
all-new McLaren Artura are now being taken at McLaren retailers with
first deliveries to customers expected in Q3 of this year.
