The new McLaren Artura hybrid car has no reverse gear

Did you know? The new McLaren Artura has no reverse gear. Instead, the electric motor is used when reversing. This way, McLaren can save weight and have eight forward gears.

The petrol engine is a V6 twin-turbo unit with 3 litres displacement delivering a healthy 585 horsepower. The electric motor adds another 95 horsepower and a massive 225 Nm to the propulsion system. Total system output is 680 horsepower and 720 Nm. The electric motor weighs only 15 kilos. A nice side effect of the electric motor is that it can compensate for turbo lag. It is non-existent in the Artura.

McLaren claims that the car weighs less than 1 500 kilos, which is quite remarkable for a hybrid supercar. The batteries weigh 130 kilos, while the V6 engine is 40 kilos lighter than the V8 unit. This gives us a 90-kilo net increase in weight of the powertrain. The car is rear-wheel drive only.

The performance figures are impressive. 0-100 km/h in three seconds. 0-200 km/h in 8.3 seconds. Top speed 330 km/h.

The Artura is the first car to use the completely new platform MCLA based on a carbon fibre monocoque with aluminium frames in the rear and front.

First cars will be delivered during the second half of 2021. Prices start at about 225 000 euros. McLaren has positioned the Artura between the entry-level GT and the mental 720S/765LT.

V6 twin-turbo with an electric motor? It's the future. We can't wait to try the new McLaren.

Peter Ternström

peter@granturismo.org