FIRST DRIVE Spider is more than just an open-top version of hybrid supercar
Jordan Katsianis Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk
THE Artura was meant to be a new era for McLaren: new engine, new hybrid assistance and a heightened focus on quality, reliability and desirability. Yet as with any new generation, the coupé hit its fair share of roadblocks, something this Spider might have worked its way around.
That’s because the Spider introduces not just a new open-top layout, but also a fundamental update with improvements across the board. On both the coupé and Spider, peak power has gone up by 20bhp to 690bhp, thanks to the combined efforts of the V6 engine and its hybrid module.
The engine itself is McLaren’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre unit, optimised to integrate a hybrid powertrain. Peak torque is unchanged at 720Nm (585Nm of that coming directly from the engine), and the various parts have been re-tuned to deliver a more linear rush towards the red line. There’s also a new exhaust system, to let more noise into the cabin, and the gearbox has 25 per cent faster shifts.
Performance is identical on both the Spider and coupé, hitting 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds and topping out at 205mph. These figures, by design, sit a little south of more costly rivals from Ferrari and Lamborghini.
There have been further tweaks to the chassis, with new engine mounts, updated suspension, new dampers and improved brake cooling. Of course, the change from coupé to Spider has seen a small 62kg weight increase, but as with all McLaren’s open-top models, the carbon-fibre chassis means that no extra body strengthening is required. Instead, the extra weight is purely down to the extra motors in the roof, which can be raised and lowered in 11 seconds.
And where the Artura coupé could be seen as a little visually underwhelming by supercar standards, the extra drama of the Spider’s clever roof mechanism and those glazed buttresses definitely helps bring some added presence to the design.
Inside, the Artura feels very much like a McLaren – in the best possible way. The seating position is almost perfect, while the pedals are not quite so aggressively set to the right as in previous McLaren models.
This ergonomic excellence extends to the general driver interface, too, thanks to McLaren positioning the toggles that you use to adjust the chassis and powertrain modes on the binnacle.
Being a hybrid, the McLaren’s default start-up mode is full-electric drive, which will tak
