MCLAREN UNVEILS ARTURA

The brand's first-ever series-production High-Performance Hybrid supercar represents the distillation of more than a half-century of expertise and experience in race- and road-car engineering.

Written by Andre James/Photos courtesy of McLaren

McLaren's unveiling of Artura marks the beginning of both a new chapter for the luxury supercar company and a new era in supercar technology and performance that blends thrilling driving dynamics with EV capability.

In announcing the launch of Artura, Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive commented, "Every drop of McLaren's experience and expertise has been poured into the Artura. Our allnew, 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. 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."

All-new from the ground up, the Artura is the first model to be built on an all-new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, uniquely optimized for High-Performance Hybrid (HPH) powertrains and built in-house at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre. The compact and lightweight 2,993cc twinturbocharged V6 petrol engine works in harmony with an axial flux E-motor located within the transmission bell housing. The E-motor is powered by a battery pack comprising five lithiumion modules, offering a usable energy capacity of 7.4kWh and a company-reported pure EV range of 19 miles in E-mode.

Designed to excel on both road and track, the instantaneous nature of the motor's torque delivery – known as 'torque infill' – is key to the car's razor-sharp throttle response. McLaren reports that the Artura can achieve 0-60mph in just 3.0 seconds, with 0-124mph taking 8.3 seconds and 0-186mph in 21.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 205mph.

McLaren's has deployed an electronically controlled differential (E-diff) for the first time in Artura. Lighter, more controllable, and smaller than a mechanical locking diff, the E-diff locks and unlocks individual rear wheels. This action increases performance and driver confidence when cornering, enhances traction, and reduces levels of understeer. Wider tires provide additional stability and better traction performance. Pirelli P-Zero tires boast Cyber Tyre® technology that includes an electronic 'chip' inside each tire that generates real-time data and relays it to the car's stability control systems to optimize tire performance. A patented Pirelli Noise Cancelling System utilizes a sound-absorbing device on the tire's inside wall to reduce vibration and noise.

The engineering artistry beneath Artura's skin is complemented by a lithe and minimalistic exterior design. Guided by an 'everything for a reason' ethos, the low-nose, cab-forward, and high-tail stance is pure supercar. This sculpted drama is underlined by the signature McLaren dihedral doors – which open closer to the body and house mirrors that fold in more tightly.

Inside the driver-focused cockpit, the driving mode selection – which retains separate Powertrain and Handling controls – has been moved to the instrument binnacle, which is, in turn, mounted to the steering column and adjusts with the steering wheel to further enhance driving ergonomics. The steering wheel is kept clear of unnecessary switches; however, the driver can still choose from four Powertrain modes without taking their hands away from the wheel.

An all-new McLaren infotainment and connectivity system (MIS II) utilizes two high-definition screens. It features updated versions of familiar McLaren apps, including McLaren Track Telemetry and Variable Drift Control. A stealth mode on the main binnacle hides non-essential content, reducing distractions and promoting full concentration on the road ahead. A Bluetooth lowenergy vehicle key detects when the driver is heading towards the vehicle and powers up systems to welcome occupants, including ambient, 'hidden-until-lit' lighting in the doors.

Priced from $225,000 for the standard specification, the Artura is available to order now from McLaren retailers, with first customer deliveries expected in the third quarter of 2021. sl