GT and Artura facelifts
Discussion
My wife has decided we can go and look at McLarens. we're looking at a replacement for her Z4M but it needs to be as "useable", and preferably more comfortable.
The budget was top end 570GT/lower end GT, but with Emily Thornberry touting for Deputy Leader, Torsten Bell gaining influence, and a budget in a couple of months it seems sensible to get some cash out of pensions and spent, so an Artura is now a possibility.
I see some Arturas described as "facelift", some with "power upgrade", but am struggling to find what changes were made when. Are earlier cars less developed, is it easy to tell which are the updated ones? Were earlier ones updated?
Were there any significant changes during the GT's life cycle?
I like the idea of the Hybrid, but I believe the GT has more ground clrearance, something quite important on our dirt lane although a few tonnes of MOT every so often wouldn't add a lot to the running costs. I also gather the frunks are similar so the extra rear space in the GT would be a bonus and probably the clincher.
My discovery that Fedexing luggage to Europe was cheaper than adding it to a Ryanair flight after booking doesn't cut the mustard if we're driving down.
Thanks
The budget was top end 570GT/lower end GT, but with Emily Thornberry touting for Deputy Leader, Torsten Bell gaining influence, and a budget in a couple of months it seems sensible to get some cash out of pensions and spent, so an Artura is now a possibility.
I see some Arturas described as "facelift", some with "power upgrade", but am struggling to find what changes were made when. Are earlier cars less developed, is it easy to tell which are the updated ones? Were earlier ones updated?
Were there any significant changes during the GT's life cycle?
I like the idea of the Hybrid, but I believe the GT has more ground clrearance, something quite important on our dirt lane although a few tonnes of MOT every so often wouldn't add a lot to the running costs. I also gather the frunks are similar so the extra rear space in the GT would be a bonus and probably the clincher.
My discovery that Fedexing luggage to Europe was cheaper than adding it to a Ryanair flight after booking doesn't cut the mustard if we're driving down.
Thanks
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mclaren/artur...
Autocar said:
In addition to a new Spider drop-top bodystyle, then, the Artura now gets powertrain, suspension and interior updates for the 2025 model year.
The extra power is available for the original cars, but not the suspension or other improvements. The changes arrived with the Spider, so it's only Coupes which exist in two 'specs', launch vs MY25-on.The GT was renamed the GTS last year, but my impression is the changes are vanishingly slight, AFAIK they're not significantly different across their production run.
I think I'd personally be aiming for a MY25 Artura Coupe as it's a newer car, unless you really need the extra luggage than the behind the seats + frunk of the Artura, or want the V8 engine specifically.
The power and firmware upgrades to older cars are free ... and I saw that the '25 model year cars built in '24 may have the suspension mods, though this could have been ambiguous description of a recent test car in the latter part of 2024 by the mag concerned.
It would appear that the 2025 cars are recognisable from the starter button being orange rather than red.
If my March 2024 build Artura is the "old" suspension, it is blooming good !!! It's also worth mentioning that ground clearance appears not to be a big problem and lift was part of a no cost option pack ??
It would appear that the 2025 cars are recognisable from the starter button being orange rather than red.
If my March 2024 build Artura is the "old" suspension, it is blooming good !!! It's also worth mentioning that ground clearance appears not to be a big problem and lift was part of a no cost option pack ??
I had a GT before my '24 Artura, for what it's worth here's some thoughts...
The GT's a stunning car, sounds great, easy to live with, lots of space although I rarely used it. The low down torque feels great, motorway cruising's a breeze, it's an odd blend of supercar and GT and feels very special on the road. When the GTS came out one of the McDealers tried to convince me it was a vast improvement over the GT, I'm not convinced but I like the new rear vent covers! There's a few serious GTS deals about the moment, maybe ex demo cars, huge discounts, definitely worth a look. For me the Artura's got more theatre, the looks are stunning, it just feels tighter, focused, more racey all round. I love the EV mode too, creeping out early morning without waking the street's a nice addition. I'd totally forgotten about the suspension upgrades, the '24 car handles amazingly well, but then all McLarens do that...
I'd get down to a dealer with both and compare.
The GT's a stunning car, sounds great, easy to live with, lots of space although I rarely used it. The low down torque feels great, motorway cruising's a breeze, it's an odd blend of supercar and GT and feels very special on the road. When the GTS came out one of the McDealers tried to convince me it was a vast improvement over the GT, I'm not convinced but I like the new rear vent covers! There's a few serious GTS deals about the moment, maybe ex demo cars, huge discounts, definitely worth a look. For me the Artura's got more theatre, the looks are stunning, it just feels tighter, focused, more racey all round. I love the EV mode too, creeping out early morning without waking the street's a nice addition. I'd totally forgotten about the suspension upgrades, the '24 car handles amazingly well, but then all McLarens do that...
I'd get down to a dealer with both and compare.
Good summary above, and as an ex GT owner too.
I'd however suggest the Artura is a better GT as it is quieter in the cabin having far less glass to let noise in. It is a little firmer in comfort though but ground clearance is rarely an issue - I guess I'd lift it as often as I'd lift the GT, although in reality it does sit a touch lower. They are both excellent cars with the Arturas being a bit nimbler, smaller, pointier and faster. Try them both - I also love the hybrid tech personally as the car has a superb no lag immediacy and trundles perfectly on the motor in stop start traffic/queues. Mac friends say they see it absolutely take off from roundabouts and slip roads due to teh low down torque. I think it has motors on the turbos again helping to kill any lag - the engine is an engineering masterpiece IMHO but the GT sounds better, stock.
I couldn't make head or tail of the differences between 2025 coupes and 2024 ones - esp with the free power upgrade. I think its been kept obtuse. Its an excellent handling, pointy, tenacious car but the rear can feel a bit underdamped on rebound at times - say if there's a sharp ridge in the road coming off a roundabout under power - it can wallow a bit. I'll live with that as its rare.
Be aware McLaren want to charge you £940 for 1 rear Pirelli Cyber Tyres - fit better Michelins at £300 and you lose TPMS. Its an absolute stinker
. You generally cant get the Pirellis anywhere than the dealer 
I'd however suggest the Artura is a better GT as it is quieter in the cabin having far less glass to let noise in. It is a little firmer in comfort though but ground clearance is rarely an issue - I guess I'd lift it as often as I'd lift the GT, although in reality it does sit a touch lower. They are both excellent cars with the Arturas being a bit nimbler, smaller, pointier and faster. Try them both - I also love the hybrid tech personally as the car has a superb no lag immediacy and trundles perfectly on the motor in stop start traffic/queues. Mac friends say they see it absolutely take off from roundabouts and slip roads due to teh low down torque. I think it has motors on the turbos again helping to kill any lag - the engine is an engineering masterpiece IMHO but the GT sounds better, stock.
I couldn't make head or tail of the differences between 2025 coupes and 2024 ones - esp with the free power upgrade. I think its been kept obtuse. Its an excellent handling, pointy, tenacious car but the rear can feel a bit underdamped on rebound at times - say if there's a sharp ridge in the road coming off a roundabout under power - it can wallow a bit. I'll live with that as its rare.
Be aware McLaren want to charge you £940 for 1 rear Pirelli Cyber Tyres - fit better Michelins at £300 and you lose TPMS. Its an absolute stinker
. You generally cant get the Pirellis anywhere than the dealer I did find rears at £550 from Protyre but it's still a silly irritation for a tyre that does little more than any other TPMS tyre.
That and that working TPMS is a requirement for an MOT pass ... which could be a problem !
P.S. I agree on the rear being slightly underdamped in comfort mode over hump backed bridges etc ... but wonderful under most other circumstances
That and that working TPMS is a requirement for an MOT pass ... which could be a problem !
P.S. I agree on the rear being slightly underdamped in comfort mode over hump backed bridges etc ... but wonderful under most other circumstances
Many thanks for all the comments. My confusion over the facelift was ads like this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509035...
which suggests the GT was changed but people here and the internet suggests the GTS was the facelift. which was not out in 2021.
The 2025 model Artura would be out of budget, at least for another year or so, we'd be looking at the 22/3 ones circa £130k.
I'm aware of the tyre issue for the Artura from posts on here, to be honest it is probably that which would make the decision for us as it just wrankles. In reality probably and extra £500 per year but stil.....
We're collecting my brother in law from Solihul station in a few weeks (oh, now there's a coincidence ) so will get on to McBrum nearer the time and se what they have to look at.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509035...
which suggests the GT was changed but people here and the internet suggests the GTS was the facelift. which was not out in 2021.
The 2025 model Artura would be out of budget, at least for another year or so, we'd be looking at the 22/3 ones circa £130k.
I'm aware of the tyre issue for the Artura from posts on here, to be honest it is probably that which would make the decision for us as it just wrankles. In reality probably and extra £500 per year but stil.....
We're collecting my brother in law from Solihul station in a few weeks (oh, now there's a coincidence
) so will get on to McBrum nearer the time and se what they have to look at.jay2000 said:
Did you get one in the end? I went to see the one in Solihull and "facelift" meant all the packs and ceramic brakes are standard with the car from end 2021. Its still on sale today so it is not moving that quickly.
Thanks for that - we got to Solihull, but after my 'navigator' settng the satnav wrong we were late and the b-i-l we were meeting had got an ealier train so we didn't get a proper look at the cars.We've been away a couple of times since (and the wife is away again at the moment!) so when things settle later in the month we're going to take a trip to McManchester.
Need to get rid of the Z4M as well, although being a coupe they do sell reasonably easily at the right price and the new carport comes this week so got somewhere dry to keep things if we find the right car.
Gassing Station | McLaren | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff