McLaren: Artura, the first plug-in hybrid V6, officially debuts
McLaren
After numerous sightings and previews, McLaren officially unveils the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid known as the Artura. Named "HPH" (High Performance Hybrid) by the British house of Woking, the car integrates a new and improved McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (Mcla) monocoque with an unprecedented electrified power train.On board Artura there is in fact a new 3-liter V6 turbo hybrid engine capable of delivering a maximum power of 680 HP, obtained from the sum of the 585 endothermic HP and the 95 electric HP generated by the electric flow motor axial. The small electrical system is integrated directly into the eight-speed double-clutch automatic transmission with torque vectoring differential. Thanks to the low weight of about 1,400 kg, Artura burns the sprint from 0 to 100 km / h in just 3 seconds flat and reaches 200 km / h in just over 8 seconds. The maximum speed is self-limited to 330 km / h.
The English sportswoman can travel in electric mode using the 7.4 kWh batteries a maximum distance of about 30 km. Charging the battery pack to 80% takes about two and a half hours, and in electric driving the maximum speed is limited to 130 km / h. Speaking of consumption when mentioning a supercar is always bizarre, however the introduction of a hybrid powertrain allows McLaren to further limit the average consumption which now stands at 5.5 l / 100 km and 129 g / km in the cycle, plus than conservative, WLTP.
Artura not only integrates an exclusive and completely new propulsion scheme, but is born from the blank sheet and therefore also the whole section dedicated to interiors and bodywork is absolutely new for the brand. Although the dimensions and dimensions are reminiscent of the lines of the McLaren 570S and 600LT, the manufacturer has redesigned every single aspect making the car more in step with the times. The cockpit is now spacious and integrates the new 8 ″ Mis II infotainment system with Android operating system and complete with numerous functions also related to driving assistants, with space dedicated to the management of the various ADAS devices.
The controls move in front of the driver, leaving the possibility to select the driving modes: E-Mode, Comfort, Sport and Track. The first is only electric, while the second focuses entirely on efficiency. The third and fourth are the brightest and most dynamic, capable of delivering full power to the wheels and unrivaled shifting speed. Finally, numerous adjustments are required to obtain correct behavior both on the road and on the track.
The technical evolution also involves the set-up which now provides for the adoption of Pirelli Pzero Corsa tires in sizes 235/35 19 ". and 295/35 20 ″, respectively at the front and rear. The braking, granitic and precise, is ensured by carbon-ceramic brakes with 390 and 380 mm discs derived from 600LT.
On the official McLaren website and at the showrooms located throughout the country, it is possible to to choose four different configurations (Standard, Performance, TechLux and Vision). There is a five-year warranty on the entire supercar and a six-year warranty on the batteries used by the hybrid system. As per tradition, there are more than 10 standard colors and dedicated customizations will be offered belonging to the precious MSO (McLaren Special Operation) package. McLaren Artura is configurable on the official McLaren website.
Price? Perfectly in line with expectations: starting from 225 thousand euros with a debut for the summer. A decidedly interesting list price that could already suggest and confirm Ferrari's intentions with the future hybrid V6 expected for the next few weeks.
McLaren drops the V8, moves to V6 plug-in hybrid for its next supercar
This is the McLaren Artura, a new $225,000 plug-in hybrid supercar.
It's not McLaren's first hybrid, but it is the company's first plug-in hybrid.
I think this is one of McLaren's better-looking cars.
McLaren
With a dry weight of just 3,075lbs, the Artura is no heavier than rivals from Italy.
McLaren
It wouldn't be a McLaren without dihedral doors. Russ Hanneman will be thrilled.
McLaren
I can't wait to drive this one.
McLaren
The new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture monocoque chassis.
McLaren
This is the M680 V6 engine.
McLaren
This shows the layout of the Artura's hybrid powertrain. The battery pack is found between the monocoque and the engine.
McLaren
An EVSE will charge the Artura's battery to 80 percent in 2.5 hours.
McLaren
The cockpit layout is recognizably McLaren, but some controls have migrated from the center console up to in front of the driver.
McLaren
There's a new 8-inch infotainment system.
McLaren
The powertrain and chassis mode selectors have moved to switches next to the instrument binnacle.
McLaren
On Tuesday evening, McLaren unveiled its newest supercar, the Artura. It's the company's first plug-in hybrid EV, promising all the usual performance superlatives associated with McLaren: 0-124mph (200km/h) in 8.3 seconds, a 10.7-second quarter-mile time, and a top speed of 205mph (330km/h) put it in good company with the rest of the brand's range. But it should also be the most efficient McLaren so far, emitting just 129g/km CO2 according to the EU's WLTP test.
And the Artura really is all-new. Previous McLarens, from the MP4-12C onwards, have all used variations of the same carbon fiber monocoque chassis and derivatives of the same V8 gasoline engine, either in 3.8L or 4L capacities. Instead, the Artura will use a new platform, called the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture. And the powertrain is entirely new as well.
The internal combustion component is a twin-turbocharged 3.0L 120-degree 'hot-vee' V6 with an output of 577hp (430kW) and 431lb-ft (584Nm). McLaren says that, at 353lbs (160kg), this new engine—codenamed M630—weighs 110lbs (50kg) less than the V8, as well as being significantly shorter.
But the V6 is only half of the story; this is a PHEV after all. So there's a 94hp (70kW), 166lb-ft (225Nm) axial flux electric motor, which McLaren says is more power-dense than conventional radial flux motors. In fact, McLaren claims that the Artura's electric motor has 33 percent more power density per kilogram than the electric motor used in the P1 hypercar. The electric motor also functions as the Artura's reverse gear—forward motion from either the engine or electric motor is via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
AdvertisementThe electric motor is connected to a 7.4kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack, made up of five modules and mounted behind the monocoque. The batteries can recharge via excess power from the engine while driving; connected to an AC wall charger, the car (according to McLaren) should take 2.5 hours to reach 80 percent state of charge.
The Artura's electric motor is capable of propelling the car by itself, with an electric-only range of 19 miles (30km), although only at speeds of up to 25mph (40km/h). And similar to those earlier (not-plug-in) hybrid McLarens, the electric motor also provides 'torque infill,' where it is used to supplement the V6's output.
McLaren has managed to keep the Artura's weight down, despite the addition of an electric motor and battery pack. With a dry weight of 3,075lbs (1,395kg), the PHEV Artura compares favorably to non-hybrid supercars like the Ferrari F8 or Lamborghini Hurácan.
The tech upgrade isn't just restricted to the Artura's powertrain. For one thing, there's a suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control. And there's a new infotainment system that now has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, as well as apps from McLaren like track telemetry. The car even features new Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires with what the rubber company is calling 'Cyber Tire' technology, which combines software as well as hardware in the tires that 'generates a stream of high-value data based on tire specific conditions that is relayed to the control systems of the Artura to deliver the best tire performance.'
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in Q3 2021, and in the United States the Artura starts at $225,000.
Listing image by McLaren
