McLaren Artura Spider: The New Hybrid Breed of British Supercar

McLaren’s creation is obvious. From the low-profile, windproof to the deep, drive-through to the massive cooling vents, they’re always one of those things that look like they’re moving while sitting impatiently. Not that they are known for staying. In the late 1990s, when the Woking, UK-based automaker was in its heyday, it built what was then the fastest production car in the world, the McLaren F1, which clocked in at north of 230 mph. Since then, the likes of the P1, 720S and Senna have cemented McLaren’s reputation for building some of the proudest and most aggressive supercars on the market.

The $274,000 McLaren Artura Spider convertible takes the automaker’s identity in a new direction. Not only is it a hybrid, but it eschews the powerhouse nature of its racing ancestors in favor of a 3.0-liter V6 and e-motor powertrain. While that may not make the car “eco-friendly” compared to pure EVs or consumer hybrids, it’s a change in McLaren’s philosophy: a quick but not record-breaking setup; light and not overly muscular.

McLaren fans needn’t worry that this convertible version of the Artura is somehow underpowered or guilty of disappointing performance. It just reaches normal speeds with different technology. Rather than using a 4-liter, twin-turbocharged, fully fossil-fueled V8, the Spider features a mid-mounted hybrid V6 that puts out 690 horsepower. By comparison, the previously mentioned McLaren 720S (available until 2023) used a standard V8 and produced 710 hp. In the Artura Spider, the automaker added an electric motor and removed a few cylinders, and only 20 horses escaped the barn. Some of those AWOL ungulates slipped because of the extra weight a convertible requires.

The equipment required to retract the roof adds weight, as does the addition of a lower body weight balance, because removing the roof can promote collapse. To deal with that necessary poundage and extra heft to compensate for the addition of batteries, McLaren turned to its in-house Carbon Fiber Lightweight Architecture to produce a supercar with a factory weight of just 3,212 lbs.

With the carbon fiber and weight ratio, McLaren reports that the Artura Spider boasts a 0-62 mph time of 3.0 seconds (converted from the EU metric test). Compare that to the 720S, which did 0-62 in 2.9. Spider uses a different transmission equation in the model to ensure that power is transmitted correctly. The redesigned automatic transmission with sport paddle shifters ensures quick gear changes with no noticeable turbo lag.

One point of contention is why McLaren would move away from the V8 with the Artura Spider. The car was big enough to contain a big engine, yet the designers and engineers embraced the 21st century hybrid concept, an obvious inspiration for the green drive to save fuel. The 720S is nice and fun but traditionally as dry as any supercar at 18 mpg. Although the gas engine of the Artura Spider will not exceed its older cousin by much, with only 19 mpg, but switched to mixed mode, it also gets 45 mpg-e (equivalent to miles per liter). In other words, savvy drivers can enter the world of supercar performance without sitting at the premium pump all day.

Like its engine, the Artura Spider’s exterior styling is notable for what it isn’t—namely, the roof. Sports car fans know that a convertible is on the scene whenever that arachnid name comes up on a make and model. This strong retractable Spider feature can retract to a position behind the driver’s head in about 11 seconds, even when traveling at up to 31 mph.

Although describing the feelings of opening a car with a McLaren breeding top to bottom would require epic poems of length beyond the control of car reviews, the Artura Spider with great pride brings a high driving experience and the privilege of rare emotions. However, you should not expect the wind to blow too much in your hair, as the Spider engineers have given the aerodynamics test room a good job and created a profile that sweeps the wind along the length of the car with little turbulence. Adding to the Artura’s low, aggressive stance, the wide doors trap enough of that passing air to provide both cooling and adequate downforce. New brake cooling ducts near the grille allow the Brembo-developed braking system to hold tight at high speeds.

As with every modern McLaren, the driving experience is largely defined by its speed and precision. Building on the automaker’s successful racing lineup and pure rear-wheel drive, there’s plenty of unrelenting power that pushes the car along at fine speeds where it’s needed. The electro-hydraulic power-assisted steering system puts the nose where you want it, when you want it, with the urgency honed on world F1 tracks. Finally, the only visual thing missing from the Artura Spider compared to its more recent ancestors is the sound. Remove a few cylinders in favor of a hybrid engine, and you miss out on some of that throaty, hunting growl you might yearn to hear in a big car. However, the adrenaline and satisfaction provided by this amazing arachnid more than make up for any such ear discomfort.

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