McLaren officially launched operations in India last year and expanded its model range to include the Artura, its first series production High-Performance Hybrid supercar. Priced at Rs 5.1 crore (ex-showroom), this newcomer joins the 720S and 765LT in McLaren’s Supercars lineup in the country.
The Woking-based carmaker’s decision to add a hybrid supercar to its existing petrol and diesel models is significant because it is the company’s first mass-produced vehicle without the traditional twin-turbo V8 engine. Instead, the Artura is powered by a brand-new, compact electric motor that adds low-end torque to the petrol engine when it needs to move and provides assistance at the rear wheels during acceleration. This results in a zero-to-60 time of just three seconds and a top speed of 330 kph.
In pure EV mode, the Artura can cover 31 km on a single charge of its 7.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. This is significantly more than the EPA estimates and more than what most buyers will use on their daily commutes.
When the electric power runs out, the petrol engine kicks in to propel the car, although it is a bit slower than when you use the power alone. The car’s transmission also operates differently, with gear changes coming faster when you switch to Sport or Track modes. It’s a welcome change from how other plug-in hybrids operate, where the handover between regenerative and friction braking is sometimes clumsy.
McLaren has gone to great lengths to ensure that the Artura is as easy to drive as possible. The dashboard is clean and intuitive, with only the central infotainment screen and steering wheel controls on display. An 8-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen runs McLaren’s System II infotainment software and includes a highly configurable digital instrument cluster that can be tailored to the driver’s preferences.
As in other McLaren cars, every permutation of handling and power settings are easy to access with discrete switches that make it simple to tailor the car to your liking. For example, the Sport and Track driving modes switch off all regenerative braking, allowing for a more aggressive upshift strategy and better power delivery.
Artura’s suspension consists of dual aluminum wishbones up front and a lower-multilink setup at the back. Adaptive dampers are optional and can be tuned to suit the conditions.
McLaren wants to be a leader in the hybrid market and is investing heavily in developing the necessary components. It is even considering building its own EV manufacturing plant to reduce the technology’s cost and make it more widely available.
The new McLaren is a welcome addition to the Indian automotive landscape, especially with its swift acceleration. Its impressive figures and affordable pricing will draw plenty of attention from the country’s discerning buyers. The British carmaker will be looking to entice customers in the luxury and supercar segments to take the Artura for a test drive as soon as possible.