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First drive: 2023 McLaren Artura. Image by McLaren.

First drive: 2023 McLaren Artura
Can McLaren’s new hybrid supercar really compete with the wonderful Ferrari 296 GTB?

   



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2023 McLaren Artura

4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5

McLaren has already dipped its toe in the balmy plug-in hybrid waters, but the P1 and 765LT were limited-edition specials. Now, it's the turn of a (more) mainstream model: the new Artura, which is pitched straight into battle with the Ferrari 296 GTB. Can the new, and supposedly more user-friendly McLaren really contend with the fabulous Ferrari?

Test Car Specifications

Model: 2023 McLaren Artura
Price: From £189,200
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol and electric motor
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Battery: 7.4kWh
Power: 680hp
Torque: 720Nm
Emissions: 104g/km
Economy: 61.5mpg
Range: 19 miles
0-62mph: 3.0 seconds
Top speed: 205mph
Boot space: 150 litres

Styling

The Artura is designed to look cleaner and more aerodynamic than most sports cars, and there's certainly some minimalism to the design. Yes, there are big radiator intakes and some louvres in the wings, but otherwise it's quite an unblemished design. You won't even see many panel gaps, because McLaren has tried to use as few panels as possible. The result is unquestionably sleek, but it isn't as beautiful as the gorgeous Ferrari 296 GTB.

Interior

McLaren likes to keep its interior designs minimalist, with no accoutrements to the steering wheel and few distractions for the driver. The Artura largely follows the same ideals, with a dashboard comprising one small touchscreen and a digital instrument display and not a lot else. However, with such a complex hybrid system, McLaren has had to fit loads of little paddles and stalks behind the steering wheel, in addition to the shift paddles and the indicators. There's quite a lot going on back there, and it takes a bit of getting used to, but it's still more user-friendly than the Ferrari 296 GTB's interior.

Just to make life more complicated, there are two large toggle switches on the instrument binnacle for the driving modes, and they too take a little acclimatisation, but aside from that the cabin is quite intuitive. The touchscreen feels a bit like a tablet computer, albeit with slightly less functionality, and the displays are largely sharp and crisp. It's still at its best when you pair up your phone, though.

Quality is, as you'd expect for a car at this price point, pretty impressive, with everything feeling beautifully engineered. It's as though the dash was built from one solid lump, and the sturdiness of the fixtures and fittings is first rate. Special mention should also go to the one-piece Clubsport seats, which are available as an option. Though they sound as though they should be hideously uncomfortable, McLaren has dreamed up an adjustment system that makes them incredibly comfortable and supportive.

Practicality

Few customers will choose a supercar for its carrying capacity, and the Artura is no different. With the engine in the middle, it's an out-and-out two-seater and luggage space is at a premium, with only a 150-litre tub between the front wheels. That's fine for carrying soft holdalls, but it won't deal brilliantly with suitcases, and a Ferrari 296 GTB's luggage bay is significantly more spacious. The Ferrari gets a bit of space behind the seats, too, although the Artura should be commended for its spacious and comfortable cabin, which is easily roomy enough for two tall adults to sit in comfort.

Performance

McLaren says the Artura is the brand’s first hybrid production car, and although the Surrey-based firm has played with hybrid power before (most notably in the P1), the technology has been reserved for limited-edition supercars. This is the first full production McLaren to get a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The powertrain in question combines a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a not-insignificant 680hp, but drivers can waft about on electric power alone thanks to the 7.4kWh battery that offers a range of 19 miles before the petrol engine has to take over. Theoretically, though, you could use an Artura as an electric car, assuming you never cover more than about 15 miles in one go.

But the transition between petrol and electric power is a bit clunky in the car’s hybrid setting, and it’s best to leave the powertrain in sport mode unless you desperately want to drive around quietly for some reason. In sportier settings, the Artura combines the might of the two propulsion systems, allowing a 0-62mph time of three seconds flat and a top speed of 205mph. Of course, it won’t be as economical in that setting – the official efficiency of 61.5mpg will be a distant dream – but who really cares when it goes that quickly and sounds like bottled thunder?

Ride & Handling

Supercars are all about speed and handling, but the Artura has another string to its bow thanks to remarkably supple suspension. In its most comfortable setting, it soaks up the bumps admirably, and though it gets considerably less pliant in more aggressive settings, it gives drivers the option of using the Artura as a surprisingly capable long-distance tourer. On a motorway, it almost glides down the road.

As well as being comfortable, though, the Artura is still incredibly stable and agile, albeit a little less flea-like than the Ferrari 296 GTB. The steering feel is fantastic, and that, combined with the epically powerful brakes and the inherent stability of the chassis, means you can just throw it into corners. It's a brilliant car to drive in any mode, but the sportier settings certainly give it a tad more body control and set the car up perfectly for winding B-roads.

We should also pay tribute to the noise in the Artura's cabin, or should that be the lack of noise? The big sports car certainly howls when the engine is running, but at speed it's remarkably refined, regardless of whether you're driving on electric or petrol power. Supercars normally disregard soundproofing, but the Artura gets it spot on.

Value

At just under £190,000 before options, the Artura is not an affordable car, but alongside the noticeably more expensive Ferrari 296 GTB, it looks like pretty good value. And though we would never call a supercar – hybrid or otherwise – cheap to run, the McLaren is supposedly more efficient than its Italian rival. The thing is, we expect most customers not to care too much about economy or price. If they want it, they’ll buy it.

Verdict

The Artura is brilliant. In fact, it's so brilliant that it beats the Ferrari in a number of important areas, including quality and comfort. But supercars are all about beauty and passion, which the 296 GTB has in spades. Combine that with its uncanny feeling of liveliness in the corners, and the Ferrari remains the plug-in supercar of choice. It's a close-run thing, though, and in the world of hybrid supercars, praise doesn't come much higher than that.



James Fossdyke - 12 May 2023



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2023 McLaren Artura. Image by McLaren.2023 McLaren Artura. Image by McLaren.2023 McLaren Artura. Image by McLaren.    







 

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