McLaren unveils High-Performance Hybrid supercar Artura
The all-new McLaren Artura is revealed today, marking the beginning of both a new chapter for the pioneering luxury supercar company and a new era in supercar technology and performance.
McLaren’s first series-production High-Performance Hybrid supercar focuses more than half a century of the company’s racing and road-car experience and expertise into a next-generation supercar that blends ground-breaking technology with McLaren’s dedication to pure driver engagement.
Underpinned by the McLaren philosophy of super-lightweight engineering, the all-new Artura is the distillation of every attribute inherent in a McLaren – distinctive design, unrivalled performance, dynamic excellence and engineering innovation – 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 19 miles*.
All-new from the ground up, the Artura presented McLaren engineers and designers with new opportunities to innovate, chief among these being how to preserve McLaren’s super-lightweight engineering philosophy when adding hybrid powertrain elements including an E-motor and battery pack.
A demanding program of weight reduction, encompassing every area of the Artura from the chassis platform – this is the debut of the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) – through to the uniquely compact HPH powertrain system and the weight of cabling used in the electrical systems (where a 10% reduction was achieved), resulted in the Artura having a lightest dry weight of 3,075lbs*. The total weight of the hybrid components is just 287lbs (which includes an 194lb battery pack and 34lb E-motor), resulting in a DIN curb weight of 3,303lbs* which is on par with comparable supercars that do not have hybrid powertrains – giving the Artura a super-lightweight advantage.
“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 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.”
Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive
At the heart of the Artura’s powertrain is McLaren’s all-new, 2,993cc twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine. With a power output of 577bhp – nearly 200bhp per liter – and 431lb ft of torque, the dry-sump aluminum engine is compact and lightweight; at just 353lbs it weighs 110lbs less than a McLaren V8 and is significantly shorter, enhancing packaging efficiency.
Designed to run with a Gasoline Particulate Filter to optimize emissions performance, the M630 engine is also extremely refined. The 120° v-angle of the engine, which allows the turbochargers to be positioned within the ‘hot vee’, delivers further advantages in packaging as well as contributing to a lower center of gravity. The 120° layout increases engine performance by reducing the pressure losses through the exhaust system and allows for a stiffer crankshaft that enables a rev limit of 8,500rpm, maximizing performance and driver engagement.
Working in harmony with the new V6 is the Artura’s compact axial flux E-motor, located within the transmission bell housing. Smaller and more power-dense than a conventional radial flux E-motor, it is capable of generating 94bhp and 166lb ft and boasts a power density per kilo 33% greater than the system used in the McLaren P1™. The instantaneous nature of the motor’s torque delivery – known as ‘torque infill’ – is key to the car’s razor-sharp throttle response. Exhilarating ‘off-the-line’ performance sees the Artura achieve 0-60mph in just 3.0 seconds*, with 0-124mph taking 8.3 seconds* and 0-186mph 21.5 seconds*. Top speed is limited to 205mph.
The dual propulsion systems are integrated via an engine disconnect clutch, driving an all-new, twin-clutch transmission, which has been developed specifically for the Artura. Despite having one more ratio than the existing McLaren transmission – to optimize power and torque delivery – the lightweight, short-ratio gear cluster is 1.6 inches shorter in length. It also requires no reverse gear – the E-motor takes care of reversing by literally rotating in the opposite direction.
The E-motor is powered by a battery pack comprising of five lithium-ion modules, offering a usable energy capacity of 7.4kWh and a pure EV range of 19 miles*. The battery is refrigerant cooled using cooling rails, and the assembly – including a power distribution unit which transfers battery power from the rear of the vehicle to the ancillaries in the front – is mounted on a structural carbon fibre floor. This assembly is then bolted onto the rear base of the monocoque, optimizing stiffness, weight distribution and crash protection.
The Artura is designed with full Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) capability and can be charged to an 80% charge level in just 2.5 hours with a standard EVSE cable. The batteries can also harvest power from the combustion engine during driving, tailored to the driving mode selected.
“From the very beginning of the project, designing and engineering the Artura has been all about challenging ourselves to innovate, pushing and pushing to achieve everything we knew a next-generation, High-Performance Hybrid McLaren supercar had to be. As a result, the Artura is all-new; the carbon fibre monocoque, electrical architecture and the body and interior are new. So too is the V6 engine, the transmission – which also integrates a new type of electric motor for the industry – as well as the rear suspension concept and our first-ever electronic differential.”
Geoff Grose, Chief Engineer, McLaren Artura
The McLaren Artura is the first model 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, MCLA sets a new standard for McLaren’s advanced flexible chassis design. Optimized for high-performance hybrid applications, it includes a bespoke battery compartment and introduces a ground-breaking domain-based ethernet electrical architecture, along with an electrical heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (eHVAC) system.
The ethernet architecture reduces cabling by up to 25% as well as speeding up data transmission. This also facilitates access to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-Departure Warning, Auto High-Beam Assist and Road-Sign Recognition as well as Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates.
The engineering artistry beneath the Artura’s skin is complemented by its exterior design. The low-nose, cab-forward, high-tail stance is pure supercar, the drama underlined by the signature McLaren dihedral doors – which open closer to the body and house mirrors that fold in more tightly – and further enhanced by the short wheelbase and low stance.
The overall effect gives the Artura an almost ‘shrink-wrapped’ appearance, evolving a McLaren design approach seen in recent models to a new level. The lithe, technical sculpture has only minimal body shutlines and panel joints, assisted by features such as an entire rear clamshell engineered and superformed as one panel. The shape of the Artura, sculpted to optimize 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. The center of the front splitter is an example of this, being the intake for the eHVAC system and also housing the front-mounted radar that forms part of the optional ADAS package.
Inside, the Artura is no less of a revolution, with the cockpit centered more than ever around the driver. 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. Consequently, the steering wheel is kept clear of unnecessary switches, however, the driver is still able to adjust driving modes without taking their hands away from the wheel.
The driver can choose from four Powertrain modes, including an E-mode for 19 miles of emissions-free, electric-only driving. Designed for mixed driving conditions, Comfort mode maximizes range and efficiency, with the combustion engine shut off under 25mph with the use of an extended stop and start mode but phased in for greater speed and power requirements. In Sport and Track modes, electric power is deployed in an increasingly aggressive manner for low-end response and acceleration (‘torque infill’). Separate handling mode choices adjust damper firmness and the degree of Electronic Stability Control intervention to suit driver preference and weather and road conditions.
At the outset McLaren designed the Artura to be not only a technological game-changer, but also to stay true to the core McLaren attributes of being incredibly engaging to drive and displaying the highest levels of dynamic ability. Designed to excel on both road and track, the Artura also boasts the dynamic refinement to make serene progress through urban streets in EV mode.
McLaren engineers focused on stability under braking; rear-end controllability; increased grip and optimized aerodynamic downforce – as well as enhanced driver engagement across the board. Key to hitting these goals is McLaren’s first-ever deployment of an electronically controlled differential (E-diff), to independently control torque moving across the rear axle. Lighter, more controllable and smaller than a mechanical locking diff (it fits within the transmission), the E-diff locks and unlocks individual rear wheels to improve traction out of corners.
The innovative rear suspension system, which pairs a top upper wishbone with two lower links and a tie rod in front of the wheel center, maximizes vehicle stability and precision, and reduces understeer out of a corner while accelerating. The wider tires allow additional stability and better traction performance while the combination of a short wheelbase, E-diff and the physical downforce provided by the integrated rear spoiler and diffuser ensure both incredible agility at low speed and a high level of stability at high speed. The E-diff in particular increases performance and driver confidence when cornering, enhancing traction and reducing levels of understeer.
Dynamic precision is additionally enhanced by Pirelli Cyber Tyre® technology. Comprising hardware and software integrated with the Artura’s electronic systems and featuring an electronic ‘chip’ inside each tire, Pirelli Cyber Tyre® generates real-time data and relays it to the car’s stability control systems to optimize tire performance.
One feature that is unashamedly not new on the Artura is McLaren’s trademark hydraulically-assisted steering. Proven on generations of McLaren supercars, it remains the ultimate system for providing feedback. In the Artura, the system has been fully redesigned to reduce weight and is combined with an updated and bespoke version of McLaren’s Proactive Damping Control system that further supports exceptional ride and handling characteristics.
Braking performance is also exceptional, thanks to the Artura being fitted with carbon ceramic brakes and lightweight aluminum calipers from the same family as the systems that feature in McLaren’s latest LT models. Together with the new rear axle kinematics, they deliver superior high-speed braking power and stability.
Driver and passenger comfort overall have been an imperative throughout the development of the Artura, with NVH refinement high on the agenda – as befits a supercar that will spend time running in near-silent Electric mode. Innovations that benefit refinement include the stiffness of the MCLA, fluid-filled mounts for the powertrain and the new rear suspension design and settings. Pirelli’s patented Noise Cancelling System (PNCS), which uses a sound absorbing device on the inside wall of the Pirelli P-ZERO™ tire to reduce vibration and noise, also features.
Customers in the US further benefit from the fitment of the luxurious power adjustable and heated Comfort Seats with a memory function and lumbar adjustment as standard. As an available option, the McLaren Artura also debuts an all-new Clubsport seat, which uniquely combines the range of motion expected of a moveable backrest with the light weight and support of a bucket seat. Innovative yet uncomplicated, the whole seat pivots as one through an elliptical arc when adjusted, combining under-thigh support, seat height and backrest in one movement.
The seats locate in an ergonomically optimized cockpit, its carbon fibre shell combining with slim facia and doors to allow a 97.5th percentile (6ft 4in) driver to stretch out with generous knee- and leg-room, even with the backrest significantly reclined. Shoulder room is equally capacious, allowing a driver to get appropriately comfortable to enjoy the Artura’s performance and dynamic abilities.
An all-new McLaren infotainment and connectivity system (MIS II) utilizes two high-definition screens. The interface is built on all-new software and bespoke hardware to deliver a smartphone level of responsiveness and is also capable of smartphone mirroring to support Apple CarPlay® and Android AutoTM. MIS II includes updated versions of familiar McLaren apps including McLaren Track Telemetry and Variable Drift Control, and also features a redesigned navigation map in the instrument cluster which focuses on key information to minimize driver distraction. A stealth mode on the main binnacle hides non-essential content, reducing distractions and promoting full concentration on the road ahead.
MIS II also optionally enables a number of ADAS driver assistance features, including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop/Go; Lane-Departure Warning; High-Beam Assist and Road-Sign Recognition. These and the infotainment features can all be enhanced using OTA update technology. The Artura also features a Bluetooth low-energy vehicle key which detects when the driver is heading towards the vehicle and powers up systems to welcome occupants. This includes ambient, ‘hidden-until-lit’ lighting in the doors, also acting as puddle lamps.
Befitting a car that is all-new and the distillation of more than half a century of McLaren’s expertise and experience in race- and road-car engineering, the Artura introduces a number of technologies for which McLaren has patents pending. These include filings for multiple elements of the MCLA; a patent relating to the use of the E-motor in lieu of a mechanical reverse gear to enable rearwards travel and also allows gearbox length to be reduced; and a patent that covers the innovative yet refreshingly easy to use lightweight adjustment mechanism of the all-new optional Clubsport seat.
Available to order now from McLaren retailers, with first deliveries to customers commencing in Q3 of this year, the Artura is priced in the US market from $225,000 for the standard specification which includes the power-adjustable Comfort Seats, smartphone mirroring function and a Practicality Pack featuring vehicle nose lift, power folding and heated door mirrors, soft close doors and Homelink all as standard fitment.
There are three further core specifications: Performance, which has a sporting, functional aesthetic; TechLux, where the focus is on the technical luxury that the name suggests; and Vision, which displays a more avant-garde and adventurous look and feel.
