McLaren Artura thrills on the road

This exotic supercar has a lot in common with the latest Grand Prix machines, returning an unforgettable driving experience.

McLaren’s Artura is half “art” and half “ooh-ra”, merging gorgeous looks with shattering performance.

A taste of F1 for the road

Formula 1 cars combine a carbon fibre chassis with a turbocharged V6 engine boosted by hybrid assistance. Only one car matches that list of ingredients – the McLaren Artura.

It’s a thoroughly modern machine that blends showstopping looks with a sophisticated plug-in hybrid engine that makes older supercars feel like historical relics.

There are weight-saving touches everywhere, including carbon ceramic brakes, a transmission with no reverse gear (the hybrid electric motor spins backward), computer data connections in place of copper cables, and an F1-derived electronically controlled differential with clever traction control.

McLaren’s Artura coupe cuts a svelte figure.

The numbers are big

The Artura starts from $449,500 plus on-road costs and myriad options, so customers should budget about $600,000 to take home one that looks like this Volcano Yellow test car.

It replaces the V8 engine of the old McLaren 570S with a twin-turbocharged V6 that makes 430kW and 585Nm before you factor in an additional 70kW and 225Nm of electric boost.

The result is nothing short of intoxicating.

It rips to 100km/h in a traction-limited three seconds flat, before hitting its stride to reach 200km/h in another 5.3 seconds. That’s properly quick.

Better yet, that clever hybrid motor just about eliminates turbo lag by providing instant torque whenever you touch the throttle, giving the turbines time to spin up and feed that jewel-like V6 behind your shoulder blades.

And it just got quicker

McLaren just added a convertible “Spider” version of the Artura to the range, giving customers al fresco access to its performance. The drop-top brought a bunch of handy upgrades – slicker shifts for the eight-speed paddle shift auto transmission, a fruitier exhaust system and more power for the motor. McLaren says it found an extra 15kW or so toward the top of the rev range, which will be introduced for 2025 model year vehicles. Better still, existing customers (and used buyers) get the extra power as a free software update. It’s rare to find that sort of generosity in the prestige car game.

McLaren’s Artura Spider delivers running changes.

It has a broad set of abilities

We took the Artura on a day trip to the Bathurst 12-Hour race, starting before dawn in Sydney. The McLaren’s plug-in hybrid system allowed us to silently sneak out of the city and run for about two dozen kilometres on battery power alone before firing up the combustion engine for a highway stretch. McLaren claims extraordinary 4.6L/100km efficiency for the Artura, though like all plug-in hybrids, real-world fuel use is nothing like the sticker. You’ll use much less than that on short trips, and much more on longer journeys, or drives that involve heavy throttle applications.

McLaren has resisted the trend for button covered steering wheels.

Time on twisty roads in NSW’s Central West offered a chance to soak up the sensations of its traditional hydraulic power steering system – most new cars have electric steering with less feel – along with the perfect response from its powerful brakes.

Jet fighter visibility over that low nose helps you place the car with confidence, giving you no doubt as to exactly where its Pirellis are, and how much grip is offered.

A couple of laps at Mount Panorama reinforced the Artura’s delightful combination of precision and punch. It’s a gem.

Upward-swinging doors never fail to draw attention.

There’s just one problem

We reckon Ferrari’s 296 GTB is better in just about every single way. It’s much faster, sounds better, has a more impressive hybrid system and closer ties to motorsport – Ferrari has racked up wins at Le Mans, the Nurburgring and Daytona in sports car competition with this engine, in addition to myriad Grand Prix victories.

McLaren argue the Ferrari is about $150,000 more expensive, putting it in a different class occupied by the Artura’s big brother, the McLaren 750S.

While that’s a huge sum to you and I, it might be the price of a holiday or wristwatch to the baller brigade.

We reckon wealthy customers will cross-shop the hybrids, and that the Ferrari is worth it.