The Artura Spider takes McLaren’s history and thrusts it into the future. It signals that it is not just playing catch-up with hybrid technology but setting the pace.
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Nine million dollars. That’s the combined cost of the 14 brand new McLaren supercars seamlessly positioned around the gravel driveway of Monaco’s Maybourne Riviera Hotel – a location that, just two weeks earlier, was overrun by Formula 1 royalty attending the most affluent event on the year’s racing calendar.
But in a city where supercars, superyachts, and the superrich are as common as Lime bikes on the streets of Sydney, it’s not the $500,000 price tag of the MY25 Artura Spider that is turning heads as we glide past Monaco’s iconic casinos. Nor is it the fact that this hybrid marvel can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just three seconds.
In fact, it’s the exact opposite. The real head-turner is that this plug-in hybrid, with a simple flick of a button, can swap into full EV mode and silently slip through the streets – a refreshing change of pace for locals who’ve grown weary of the deafening exhaust notes that have become synonymous with this billionaire playground.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, it’s immediately clear why the Artura has been dubbed a supercar for the modern age. The cockpit is a masterclass in minimalism – sleek, intuitive, and devoid of unnecessary frills, making it accessible even to those new to the world of high-performance driving.
No noise, no gimmicks – just pure, unfiltered performance.
As McLaren’s first high-performance hybrid convertible, the car marks a significant leap forward for the iconic British manufacturer, which has clearly overcome some early production hiccups brought on by the pandemic.
We set out from the Maybourne Riviera Hotel, heading towards the Golf Club of Grasse along the Route Napoléon – the path Napoleon Bonaparte travelled in 1815. The winding roads, immortalised in GoldenEye where Pierce Brosnan’s Bond masterfully navigated the tight turns and steep drops, added a cinematic flair to the experience.
With a flick of the switch, the roof disappeared. With Monaco’s gleaming F1 track in the rear-view mirror, the landscape quickly transformed into a series of twists and turns clinging to the side of the mountains. The daunting drive felt effortless.
Thirty minutes into the trip, the roads quickly revealed their true character, narrowing to a ribbon of asphalt that weaved through the rugged terrain of the Cote d’Azur.
“This is McLaren at its finest – pushing boundaries while staying grounded in what makes us great.”
McLaren spokesperson
The scenery changed from sunlit valleys to sheer cliffs, with the road opening up just enough to let the car stretch its legs.
One of the standout features of the Artura Spider is its ability to switch driving modes to suit your mood. In Comfort mode, the car is quiet and refined – the perfect companion for a leisurely drive through the picturesque towns dotting the Cote d’Azur.
But when the road straightened and we slammed into Sport mode, the Artura woke up with a snarl. The V6 engine erupted, throwing a wave of power that dropped you hard into your seat. The car lunged forward, tearing through the asphalt with a raw, unrestrained force. Even at breakneck speeds, the McLaren felt locked to the ground, its aggressive aerodynamics biting into the road, holding its line like it was built for this moment.
“It really does perfectly blend McLaren’s supercar DNA with the flexibility of hybrid driving,” a McLaren spokesperson explained. “This unique capability is made possible through its McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, which provides all the strength and lightness we need for the Spider body style.”
A brand synonymous with high-performance engineering and racing pedigree, this car is no exception. The Artura Spider takes McLaren’s history and thrusts it into the future. It signals that it is not just playing catch-up with hybrid technology but setting the pace.
A driving force Down Under
Charlotte Dickson, McLaren’s Regional Director for Asia Pacific, sees the Artura Spider as filling a unique gap in the Australian market. “We don’t really see any direct competitors to this product,” she says. “The Ferrari 296 GTB is a lot more expensive, and we’ve done a great job in delivering something that’s quite unique.”
Dickson also acknowledges that McLaren’s recent Formula 1 success, particularly with Oscar Piastri, is boosting the brand’s visibility in Australia. “When Formula 1 is doing well, the passion for the brand increases,” she explains. “Seeing Oscar or Lando driving an Artura naturally brings new interest to the brand.”
McLaren’s hybrid technology is also gaining traction. “The Artura Spider is leading the way for hybrid supercars,” Dickson says. “With its combination of the electric motor and V6 engine, it delivers everything you want in a supercar. The reception in Australia has been really positive.”
Related
McLaren Artura Spider Specs
- Price: AU$525,000
- Engine: 3.0L (2,993cc) Twin-Turbocharged V6 (M630)
- Electric Motor: Axial flux E-motor, refrigerant-cooled
- Combined Power Output: 700 PS (691 bhp) / 515 kW @ 7,500 rpm
- Torque: 720 Nm (531 lb-ft) @ 2,250 rpm
- 0-100 km/h: 3.0 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 8.4 seconds
- Top Speed: 330 km/h (205 mph)
- Transmission: 8-Speed + E-Reverse Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG)
- Battery Capacity: 7.4 kWh lithium-ion battery
- Electric-Only Range: Up to 33 km
- Drive Modes: Comfort, Sport, Track, E-mode
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