It looks like any other McLaren, which can be good or bad, depending on how you feel about its cars. When the British marque unveiled the P1 at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, it made the motoring world’s collective jaw drop. A plug-in hybrid using Formula One technology? Reams of newsprint delved into the ins and outs of the exceptional P1 and its performance.
A decade later, McLaren is dipping its toes into the hybrid pool again with the Artura. However, instead of producing only 375 units like the P1, McLaren wants thousands more people to drive the Artura.
It looks suspiciously like the P1 at first glance. The boomerang-shaped headlights and dihedral doors are present in both cars. Not that it’s a bad thing. The Artura is a gorgeous beast—long, low, and muscular, like a tiger with sinuous curves and strong haunches on the prowl. It also plods quietly yet swiftly while on all-electric power.
The electric engine is good for around 30km before any additional distance gained from the regenerative engine. The Artura doesn’t use regenerative braking. Doing so would detract from the quintessential McLaren driving experience, and what a joy it is. Just by flicking the power-train mode control—cleverly located on the dashboard just past the 2pm position on the steering wheel—to Sport, the car is instantly primed to cover the distance. The V6 engine roars to life, straining at the leash and urging your foot to press down on the weighty accelerator pedal.
Everything in the Artura conveys a solid, tactile feel. Brakes communicate terrifically with your left foot and respond accordingly to the pressure you’re giving it. The car follows your steering wheel inputs accurately, giving you the peace of mind to tackle corners aggressively—not that you should do so on the city streets. The bucket seat moulds to your shape and lets you feel every bump and rumble on the street, even in Comfort mode. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but drivers who love feeling the road will gobble up every kilometre.
Visibility is surprisingly expansive. Side mirrors give you a clear view of your left and right lanes while you can easily look behind you without being impeded by a monstrous engine block. Parking is also a breeze, thanks to the 360-degree cameras that ensure you don’t accidentally scrape your back and sides. In Singapore’s claustrophobic parking lots, the feature is a godsend.
The only drawback is the touchscreen. While I’m glad McLaren has introduced Apple CarPlay in the Artura, I’m not a fan of the modern car’s propensity to put everything on an 8-inch vertical gizmo. Return my intuitive tactile buttons please, especially for audio and climate controls. But if this is the automotive future, then I suppose driving Woking’s latest is one of the better ways to do it.
