McLaren’s latest supercar, the Artura, has been officially launched in Singapore; pricing starts from S$1,198,888 million before COE

Photos: McLaren, Clifford Chow, Ben Chia

SINGAPORE

McLaren has announced the arrival of its latest supercar, the Artura, at a launch event held at the Suntec City Convention Centre on the eve of the Singapore Grand Prix. The Artura is the first in what McLaren calls its High-Performance Hybrid series, and will cost from S$1,198,888 here, before COE but with options.

While previous McLaren models like the P1 and the Speedtail also featured hybrid powertrains, they were ultra high performance hypercar models that had limited production runs, whereas the Artura is McLaren’s first ‘accessible’ hybrid that will be put into series production.

Powering the Artura is a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with an electric motor, with the engine producing 585hp and 585Nm of torque, and the electric motor delivering 95hp and 225Nm of torque. Combined, the total output is 680hp and 720Nm of torque, and the Artura is able to go from 0-100km/h in 3 seconds flat, on to a top speed of 330km/h.

With the hybrid setup, McLaren says that the Artura is the most efficient car that it has produced, with a claimed CO2 emissions output of 104g/km, and a fuel efficiency figure of 4.6L/100km. The car can travel on electric power alone for a distance of up to 31km, at a maximum speed of 130km/h.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that interestingly does not have a mechanical reverse gear. Instead, reverse is run off the electric motor, and the transmission is also connected to McLaren’s first electronic locking differential, or e-diff, which allows the driver to adjust the precise amount to torque being sent to the rear wheels can finely calibrate and adjust the precise amount of torque being sent the wheels for the ideal amount of traction required.

The Artura features four selectable driving modes: E-Mode, Comfort, Sport and Track, all of which deliver different experiences. E-Mode is the default on startup, offering pure electric motoring with zero emissions, while Comfort mode strikes a balance between engine and electric motor with a focus on comfort and efficiency. 

Ferrari previewed its own new supercar in the run-up to the Singapore Grand Prix as well

Sport mode will see the V6 engine delivering maximum performance, with the motor assisting with low end torque on acceleration, while Track mode sharpens up performance even further with quicker gearshifts and tighter suspension control for hard cornering. 

The Artura also gets a newly-developed multi-link rear suspension system, along with McLaren’s Proactive Damping Control that uses sensors to ‘read’ the road and adjust the damping accordingly on the fly for maximum balance. It also features the Variable Drift Control (VDC), which allows the driver to adjust the level of traction control assistance, and therefore the limit of oversteer, using a slider control on the central infotainment screen.

The Artura sits on the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), which consists of a carbon fibre monocoque, and a chassis that features aluminium in the crash beams and rear subframe. The MCLA has been designed to incorporate the hybrid powertrain while balancing the need to account for the additional weight penalty imposed by the batteries that power the hybrid setup. Aluminium also features extensively in the construction of the body, and the end result is a car that has a kerb weight of just 1,498kg.

The Artura is the first McLaren to feature Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which includes features such as adaptive cruise control with stop and go, road sign recognition, lane departure warning and high beam assist. The vertical 8-inch central infotainment screen uses McLaren’s Android-based MIS II operating system that also allows for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the electrical architecture is also designed to be able to receive over the air software updates if required.

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