McLaren Artura: Plug-in Hybrid Power Rises to 700 hp
In 2021 we announced the Artura as McLaren’s first semi-affordable plug-in hybrid supercar. Four years later, the verdict is in: more power, an open-top sibling, and a price tag that’s redefining the class.
When we reported on the McLaren Artura in 2021, it was still a paper promise: 680 PS, a brand-new V6 replacing the familiar V8, the brand’s first plug-in hybrid. Today, the car has been on the road for years, received a clear power upgrade, and gained an open-top sibling. Time to match the promise with reality.
- Launched in 2021 with 680 PS, the Artura now delivers 700 PS and 720 Nm of system torque after the update.
- The heart of the beast is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 plus electric motor on the new carbon platform MCLA-no V8 in sight.
- Dry weight around 1,395 kg, kerb weight just under 1,500 kg, making it the featherweight of the hybrid supercar field.
- Since 2024, the Artura Spider has been available, the open-top convertible with identical power and a top speed of 330 km/h.
- In Germany, the coupé starts at around €248,500, the Spider at about €273,000.
The name was already programme in 2021: Artura blends Art and Futura, art and future. McLaren wanted to signal its entry into the electrified era. Plug-in hybrids in super sports cars were nothing new-the Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari SF90 Stradale had already staked out the territory. The difference: those cars lived in a completely different price bracket. The Artura aimed to bring the tech into a more accessible class, and that’s exactly what it delivered.
Why the Artura is more than just an electrified McLaren
The most critical factor from the very beginning was weight. Electrification means a battery, a battery means mass, and mass is the enemy of every supercar. McLaren therefore didn’t electrify an existing platform; instead, it built an entirely new foundation: the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, or MCLA. Add to that an exceptionally compact drivetrain and leaner wiring harnesses. The result speaks for itself. The Artura tips the scales at around 1,395 kg dry, and with all fluids and a full tank-minus the driver-it comes in just shy of 1,500 kg.
For context: the Ferrari SF90 is significantly heavier, yet it also produces far more power and relies on a V8. The Artura takes the opposite route. Instead of an eight-cylinder, a newly developed, lighter 3.0-litre biturbo V6 sits under the bonnet. The petrol engine alone delivers 585 PS; mated to the electric motor, the car was rated at the headline-grabbing 680 PS when it launched in 2021. Power is routed exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
There isn’t a reverse gear at all. The electric motor simply spins in the opposite direction to take care of that task.
This small detail crystallises the car’s philosophy: the electric motor isn’t an afterthought; it’s woven into the very mechanics. Reversing, pulling away, the kick-in boost during acceleration-much of the daily dance is handled electrically. The Artura can cover up to roughly 33 km on electric power alone, ample for urban commuting without ever firing up the combustion engine.
What became of the promised 680-PS output
Fast-forward to today and the story gets even more interesting. The Artura hasn’t stood still. With the model-year update, McLaren raised system output from 680 PS to 700 PS, while peak torque now stands at 720 Nm. A revised gearbox calibration-including a new pre-fill function-makes shifts feel noticeably quicker. McLaren claims shifts are about 25 % faster, a refinement that, while subtle on paper, translates into a markedly more alert car than at launch.
The second major evolution is the open-air variant. Since 2024, the Artura Spider has been available, sharing the coupé’s 700 PS, topping out at 330 km/h and rocketing to 100 km/h in roughly three seconds. McLaren markets the Spider as the brand’s most efficient convertible ever, with a WLTP figure of around 4.8 L/100 km. For a 700-PS supercar, that’s an impressive number-even if real-world figures rarely match official norms.
What the Artura costs today
In 2021, the big sales pitch was the idea of an affordable plug-in hybrid. “Affordable” is, of course, relative. In Germany, the coupé now starts at around €248,500, while the open Spider is listed at about €273,000. That’s a lot of money, yet compared with an SF90 or a spiritual successor to the 918, the Artura genuinely occupies a lower rung. It’s exactly the gap McLaren set out to fill – and so far, the plan has worked.
Look a little deeper, however, and the bigger picture is more nuanced. Back in 2021, McLaren stated it aimed to electrify its entire model range by 2025. Reality has proven more complicated than the neat timeline suggested. Still, the Artura remains the car that kicked off this new chapter for the brand. If you’re hunting for a road-going McLaren hybrid today, this is where you land.
Hungry for more horsepower stories? We put the new McLaren GT-a more travel-friendly take-through its paces, and took the Eccentrica V12 for a first drive to experience the other end of the supercar spectrum.
Quick Answers
▸How many horsepower does the McLaren Artura have today?
Following the model-year update, the Artura delivers 700 PS of system power and 720 Nm of torque. At launch in 2021 it was 680 PS, with the combustion engine alone contributing 585 PS.
▸What does the Artura cost in Germany?
The coupé starts at around €248,500, while the open-top Artura Spider is listed at about €273,000. That positions the car among rivals such as the Ferrari SF90.
▸Is the Artura a pure electric car?
No, it’s a plug-in hybrid. A 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 works in tandem with an electric motor. Up to roughly 33 kilometres are possible on electric power alone, after which the combustion engine takes over.
▸What’s new about the Artura Spider?
The Spider is the open-top variant McLaren added in 2024. It shares the 700 PS with the coupé, reaches up to 330 km/h and is regarded as the brand’s most efficient convertible to date.
