2022 McLaren Artura plug-in hybrid supercar comes with V-6 engine, no reverse gear

Thanks to the launch of the Artura supercar, the stage has now been created for McLaren’s electrified future.

On Tuesday, the $ 225,000 McLaren Artura will make its debut in 2022 with a new built-in hybrid propulsion system, a carbon fiber architecture and an electronic architecture that enables OTA updates.

The Artura is the first McLaren to be truly new since the MP4-12C supercar almost a decade ago. With the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), the carbon fiber bath replaces the carmaker’s MonoCell design that started life in the MP4-12C. Competitors Ferrari and Lamborghini use aluminum construction for their lower-level models. The MCLA was designed for electrified drives from the start, and the platform will be used in the future McLarens.

A dual-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 delivers 577 hp and 431 lb-ft of torque. At £ 353, it weighs £ 110 less than McLaren’s twin-turbo V-8 and is shorter for better packaging, aided by dry oil tank lubrication. The aluminum engine can increase to 8,500 rpm, which is only 500rpm shy of the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3’s naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-6. The gas engine is mated to an electric motor in the 8-speed automatic dual-clutch automatic transmission that adds 94 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque. The total power output of 671 hp and a torque of 531 lb is sent to the rear wheels via an electronically controlled diff that is also mounted inside the transmission.

The Artura uses the electric motor to turn the motor back by turning in the opposite direction. There is no reverse gear in the transmission. Neat trick.

At 3,303 pounds, the Artura is not heavyweight, but McLaren said he had a shot with a 0-60 mph sprint of 3.0 seconds, a 0-124 mph blast of 8.3 seconds and a 0-186 mph run of 21.5 seconds on its side to a top speed limited to 205 km / h.

The 7.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that powers the electric motor gives the Artura more than 30 km of electric range. McLaren said the system can charge up to 2.5% in 2.5 hours on a 240 volt outlet, but the battery can also be recharged via the gas engine while being driven via various drive modes.

McLaren offers four propulsion modes: E-mode (fully electric mode), Comfort, Sport and Track. Independent controlled handling adjusts the dampers and the electronic stability control system.

In an effort to give feedback off the road, McLaren is sticking with a hydraulic power steering system. Each Artura has carbon-ceramic brakes and aluminum brake flaps to save unshaven weight and keep it track-ready.

The Artura can do nothing but mistake a McLaren. It looks like an evolutionary cross between cars from the Sport Series’ entry level and the Super Series with better performance. The Artura has a typical vestibule of the cabin with a short, low front end and a long roofline. As with other McLarens, the Artura has two-part doors and the center exhaust points run straight from the engine. The supercar drives on forged 7-spoke, 19-inch front and 20-inch wheels wrapped in McLaren-specific Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

The Artura has a simple interior that focuses on driving with propulsion and handling controls mounted on the side of the digital instrument cluster, an 8.0-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and heated seats with memory and lumbar settings. An optional Clubsport seat turns into an elliptical arch to change all seat adjustments.

The Artura’s electrical architecture enables OTA updating when connected to wi-fi. Future software updates do not require owners to visit a McLaren dealer.

Fuel consumption ratings have not yet been announced, but the Artura will likely be the most efficient McLaren to date when it arrives at US dealers in the third quarter of this year.