McLaren Artura is a twin‑turbo V6 hybrid supercar

For a kick-off, it’s the first real step in the wholesale electrification of the marque’s range, as its first series-production hybrid, of more to come, with full-electrification in McLaren’s not-too-distant future. The Artura will be what McLaren calls a ‘High-Performance-Hybrid’ and we’ve no reason to doubt that.

Then, perhaps more tangibly for those familiar with McLaren Automotive products released to date, the Artura will also debut the marque’s new twin-turbocharged V6 engine. When not calling upon the full system output of that V6 and the hybrid powertrain, the Artura will also be capable of zero-emission driving for an as-yet-undisclosed distance.

Worried about the extra weight of the hybrid tech? Fear not. It’s claimed the extra paunch has been offset with “the application of weight-saving technologies throughout the chassis, body and powertrain.” Speaking of the chassis, the Artura debuts the all-new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, or MCLA for short. It’s been developed to snugly accommodate electrification from day-one. This platform is also significant in that it’s been developed and will be manufactured fully in-house, at McLaren’s new Composites Technology Centre.

“Every element of the Artura is all-new,” said Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive. “From the platform architecture and every part of the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, to the exterior body, interior and cutting-edge driver interface. It draws on decades of McLaren experience in pioneering super-lightweight race and road car technologies to bring all of our expertise in electrification to the supercar class.”

It’s worth noting that while the Artura isn’t considered a direct replacement for the 570S and 600LT, it enters as the so-called ‘Sports Series’ exits. We wouldn’t be surprised if this is the beginning of the end for McLaren’s numbered naming structure. How do you like Artura as a name for the latest addition to the McLaren family? We’re quite fond of it already. Expect to see it revealed in full in the first half of 2021.