McLaren unveils first plug-in hybrid: Electrification lifts new Artura’s performance to incredible heights
Supercar maker McLaren has opened its arms to electrification, today unveiling its new Artura plug-in hybrid, which promises to prioritise excitement over efficiency.
There are some big numbers to digest here, so let’s start with the smallest one: 30km. That’s how far the Artura can travel in pure EV mode – far enough, McLaren says, for most urban journeys. The Artura is also set-up to be plugged in, and the brand says it can be refilled to an 80 percent charge level in just 2.5 hours.
It’s all about ensuring the new breed of McLarens – there will be many more hybrids as McLaren shifts to electrification – meets tougher emissions standards such as those in Europe. It also allows the Artura to drive in cities with petrol-powered cars are banned.
But emissions-free motoring really isn’t the point here. Excitement is the order of the day, and the Artura promises to unlock lots of it. Its all-new hybrid powertrain pairs with a punchy twin-turbo V6 engine, and the numbers are impressive.
The 3.0-litre V6 produces 430kW and 585Nm by itself, but in the Artura is also paired with a “compact axial flux E-motor” in the transmission which produces its own 70kW and 225Nm.
The combined outputs are 500kW and 720Nm, which is channelled throuhg an eight-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission; there’s no reverse gear, the Artura instead using the electric motor to back-up.
The result? A 0-100km/h sprint in 3.0 seconds, 0-200km/h in 8.3 seconds, and a slightly terrifying 0-300km/h in 21.5 seconds.
The electric power comes via a 7.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, mounted to the carbon fibre floor, for more stiffness. That last bit is thanks to the Artura’s McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA).
The overall weight has been kept to a remarkable 1498kg, which is impressive given the additional electric components.
When it comes time to slow things the Artura uses the same carbon-ceramic discs from the McLaren 600LT and 720S, two seriously impressive supercars.
The brand says the Artura has been “otimised for high-performance hybrid applications”, and includes a battery compartment and an ethernet cabling arrangement which reduces the required cabling by 25 percent.
“Every drop of McLaren’s experience and expertise has been poured into the Artura. Our all-new, high-performance hybrid delivers all of the performance, driver engagement and dynamic excellence for which McLaren is renowned, with the additional benefit of electric driving capability,” says Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive CEO.
“The introduction of the Artura is a landmark moment – not only for McLaren, or for our customers who will enjoy this car on every emotional level and for the supercar market but also for the wider sector as we demonstrate that lightweight engineering and electrification must go hand-in-hand to deliver agile performance and driver engagement as part of an electrified future.”
In the UK, the Artura is covered by a five-year warranty while, the battery pack gets a six-year warranty. If you want one, act sharpish – international delivers are expected to begin in Q3 this year.
Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has driven the Artura, although no word yet on what he thinks of it (the grin could be a giveaway…).
The McLaren Artura is the latest supercar to turn to electricity to boost performance and meet tougher emissions standards.
Last year Ferrari launched its SF90 Stradale and the the open-top SF90 Spider.
The Chevrolet Corvette that arrives in Australia late in 2021 with a V8 engine is expected to go hybrid and electric before long.
