Electric supercars are coming in 2030s: McLaren

Fully electric supercars are definitely on the way, but not until the end of the decade, according to  McLaren. But on the plus side, until then those of us with spare millions in the bank can enjoy a “golden age of hybrid powertrains”.

Geoff Grose, head of vehicle development for McLaren and the man behind its latest super hybrid, the amazing Artura, believes “there’s a lot of life in the internal-combustion engine yet”, but he also acknowledges that the transition to fully electric supercars is coming, and that when it finally happens, it will be fabulous.

“We don’t need to worry about full electrification when it comes, because it will deliver amazing performance, and the cars will be light enough, because that’s the big challenge for electrification is the weight of the batteries, and the effect that has on performance,” Grose explained.

“You can get astonishing performance in an EV up to 40mph, but then it can feel quite different. That’s why we’re combining the two technologies in the Artura, we’re trying to make the two things work well in this car.”

By using the instant torque shove of an electric motor – albeit a smallish one, with a battery good enough for around 30km of EV-only running – and combining it with the high-end, rev-happy, screaming performance of McLaren’s new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, the Artura achieves what Grose calls “torque infill”. Basically, it’s never short of the stuff, and the result, when in full track mode, is a car that produces prodigious second-gear acceleration out of bends, as well as ferocious top speed.

The combined figures of this hyper hybrid are 500kW and 720Nm, 220Nm of which comes from its e-motor. The McLaren Artura can hit 100km/h in less than three seconds or 200km/h in 8.3.

Piers Scott, global communications director at McLaren, says that if you look at this car as well as the hybrid Ferrari 296 GTB and the just announced Lamborghini Aventador replacement – which will use a V12 and three electric motors to pump out a whopping 1000 horsepower (745kW) – mega hybrids are clearly having a moment, albeit one that might not last for long.

“This is a golden age of hybrid powertrain technology and one we’re perfect placed to embrace,” Scott enthused.

“We do see hybrid as being the dominant powertrain out to the end of the decade, because we don’t believe EV technology is mature enough to deliver a full EV super car that would be true to the DNA of our brand, which is about exhilaration, engagement and light weight.

“We don’t believe the tech is there yet, but we believe it will be there, at some point the tech will get there, whether it’s solid state batteries or some alternative powertrain technology that can not only go around a track as fast as a combustion-engined car, but actually deliver the enjoyment, the light weight, perhaps even the sound, and the other characteristics that our customers demand.

“But we still that’s not going to happen until early next decade.”