It would be fair to say that the Artura didn’t have the easiest start in life for various well-publicised reasons, though McLaren’s hybrid undoubtedly demonstrated huge potential. For model year 2025, the Artura is getting a significant update, including the introduction of this new Spider model. So if there was a lot to like about McLaren's PHEV beforehand, this ought to be better again.
If it seems like not long since the Artura was first shown to the world, then it hasn’t been - production only began in 2022. But constant evolution tends to be the McLaren way, even if it means models being updated sooner than expected - who could forget the refresh that saw the MP4-12C lose its prefix and gain extra power (along with a host of other improvements) more than a decade ago? This isn’t exactly the same but is undoubtedly similar. The Artura marked a new beginning for McLaren Automotive, much as the MP4-12C did; with new starts comes fresh experience and understanding, which has been incorporated into the package as soon as possible. Makes sense, of course - although it might not be much consolation for the original coupe buyers.
Anyway, the Spider. Looks cool, right? There’s more to it than meets the eye, too, because making a folding hard top, mid-engined, hybrid supercar is not an easy design and engineering job. Cooling is a big part of the task, hence the introduction of new vents on the rear deck, additional ducts and vents and the relocation of the ‘hot-vee chimney’ further towards the rear of the car. Even the buttresses here - polycarbonate to help visibility - are more sculpted than the coupe, as they’re sending cool air into tonneau ducts. As with the rear of the Ferrari 296 GTS, it means a lot is going on at the back of the Artura, though it still remains a very well-resolved supercar to these eyes. A pleasingly compact one, too, which feels as important as anything.
As a relatively small car underpinned by McLaren's MCLA carbon architecture, the Artura Spider is relatively light as well. The Retractable Hard Top adds 62kg to the weight of the coupe, meaning a DIN kerbweight of 1,560kg. McLaren says this makes the new car ‘the lightest among convertible competition’, by up to 83kg. With the twin-turbo V6 now tweaked to 605hp, the system output for both MY25 Arturas is 700hp; for this car that means 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds, 0-124mph in 8.4 seconds, 0-186mph in 21.6 seconds and 205mph. So nobody is going to want for performance, not even those with an Artura already, as the 700hp upgrade will be available FOC from dealers. Though how much difference a 605hp V6 makes from a 585hp V6 remains to be seen. Software progress for the hybrid system has seen range increase a couple of miles, to 21.
The important news, however, is away from the powertrain. The Spider project was overseen by incoming CEO Michael Leiters, with a focus - much like the recent 750S - on fun and driver engagement as much as the numbers. (His appointment came too late for a significant say on the original car.) And it seems like quite a bit has changed, both coupe and Spider benefitting from new bits that McLaren says deliver ‘the highest levels of dynamic performance’.
New powertrain mounts should improve stability, steering feel and agility; modifications to the ethernet architecture of the Artura means damper response time has improved up to 90 per cent; and a new exhaust promises a better sound from the 8,500rpm V6. This is quite a bit more than just a new bodystyle and a new model year revision. The eight-speed dual-clutch now benefits from 25 per cent faster shifts thanks to calibration tweaks, and there’s a new feature called ‘Spinning Wheel Pull-Away’ for when driving a McLaren Spider isn’t attention-grabbing enough. Probably best practice with that in private before showing the world.
The roof itself retracts in 11 seconds at up to 31mph and, as has become McLaren Spider tradition, features a glass window behind the seats to get some engine noise even with the roof off (which can be further enhanced with a sports exhaust). An Electrochromic glass roof in place of the standard carbon item is also available. Interestingly, the windscreen surround is different for this car than in the hardtop Artura, with small gurneys introduced to reduce buffeting when the roof is down. Airflow is important to all supercars, of course, and especially convertibles, but really nothing has been ignored for this Spider.
Though visually this Artura won’t be any different to those that came before, with an unchanged interior as well, there are some new option packs. There’s more carbon available, no-cost silver badging (black is standard fit) and some fresh wheel designs. Once that’s been decided, the colour palette has been extended as well.
CEO Leiters said of the latest cars: “The new Artura is absolutely the complete next-generation supercar, whichever model you choose. We have upgraded the powertrain and the chassis systems to deliver more power, more dynamic performance and even higher levels of connection with the driver – without any compromise in everyday driving. And now alongside the new Artura coupe we have the Artura Spider, a new convertible that has all of these improvements and brings another dimension of open-air McLaren supercar exhilaration to our range.” Both Spider and coupe are available to order now, with deliveries expected in the summer. The drop-top starts at £221,500, with upgraded interior specs - Performance, Vision and TechLux - available for £5,050 on top. This is all before thinking about titanium wheel bolts, Elite paint and the Bowers & Wilkins stereo upgrade, of course. Best get to the configurator, and expect a first drive around June time.
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