Artura
Unveiled on February 17, 2021, the McLaren Artura is a mid-engined two-seat supercar that marked a major technical step for McLaren Automotive. It combines a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged petrol V6 with an electric motor and rechargeable battery, delivering a claimed combined output of 680 PS under metric rating. The Artura is also built around McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, a carbon-fiber structure designed to control mass while accommodating the hybrid system. Its position within the McLaren range is distinctive: it applies the company’s familiar focus on low weight, hydraulic steering, and driver involvement to a series-production car rather than to a limited-run model such as the P1 or Speedtail. The Artura was subsequently offered in both coupe and Spider form, with technical and equipment updates introduced during its production life.
Variants by year
2021
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
Unveiled on February 17, 2021, the McLaren Artura is a mid-engined two-seat supercar that marked a major technical step for McLaren Automotive. It combines a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged petrol V6 with an electric motor and rechargeable battery, delivering a claimed combined output of 680 PS under metric rating. The Artura is also built around McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, a carbon-fiber structure designed to control mass while accommodating the hybrid system. Its position within the McLaren range is distinctive: it applies the company’s familiar focus on low weight, hydraulic steering, and driver involvement to a series-production car rather than to a limited-run model such as the P1 or Speedtail. The Artura was subsequently offered in both coupe and Spider form, with technical and equipment updates introduced during its production life.
History
The Artura’s development formed part of McLaren’s gradual move toward electrification. The company had already used hybrid power in the McLaren P1 and Speedtail, but both belonged to limited-production programmes. The Artura was conceived as a series-production model intended to occupy a lasting position within the range. It was officially unveiled in February 2021 under McLaren’s High-Performance Hybrid programme, introducing both a new carbon architecture and a new powertrain. McLaren moved away from the twin-turbocharged V8 used by most of its contemporary road cars and adopted a compact 2,993cc twin-turbocharged V6 paired with an electric machine integrated into the transmission. An eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox handles power delivery, while the battery allows limited electric driving in suitable conditions. Initial deliveries were delayed while development work continued, after which production was progressively stabilised. In February 2024, McLaren revealed the Artura Spider, the company’s first series-production high-performance hybrid convertible. The open-top body style expanded the Artura range but does not, by itself, represent a separate generation.
Generations
Available sources identify the Artura as a single model family introduced in 2021. There is no clearly documented split into several conventional generations involving a complete replacement of the platform and body design. The original coupe uses McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, also known as MCLA, and introduced the company’s series-production plug-in hybrid V6. Later developments are better understood as model updates, equipment changes, and additional body styles rather than as entirely new generations. The Artura Spider, revealed in 2024, adds a retractable hardtop and open-air driving while retaining the family’s core technical and visual identity. It is therefore useful to distinguish three categories: the initial Artura coupe, later coupe updates, and the Artura Spider. In the supplied library context, both Base and Spider entries are associated with 2021. That association should be treated cautiously because McLaren officially presented the Artura Spider in 2024. It does not, on its own, establish that a production Spider was available from the 2021 launch year.
Key differences
The most important distinction is body style. The Artura Base is the fixed-roof two-seat coupe, while the Spider uses a retractable hardtop to provide open-air driving. That change affects the structure and weight, even though both versions retain the mid-mounted powertrain, dual-clutch transmission, and hybrid system that define the Artura family. Model years and markets may also alter quoted output, standard equipment, tyres, infotainment systems, and trim details. It is therefore unsafe to infer a complete specification from the name Base or Spider alone. The Artura Spider should especially not be treated as a simple roof option: McLaren introduced it as a distinct body style within the range, with dedicated packaging and calibration work.
Photo recognition
The Artura is first identified by its compact supercar proportions: a forward-set cabin, mid-mounted engine, and McLaren’s characteristic dihedral doors. The coupe has a fixed roof, a narrow passenger cell, and strongly sculpted flanks that channel air toward the intakes behind the doors. At the front, slim headlights sit within a relatively low nose without a conventional large grille. The rear features a short tail, prominent air outlets, and, on cars matching the early specifications, centrally positioned twin exhaust outlets. The Spider adds a retractable hardtop and is easiest to distinguish when the roof is open, although the body remains closely related to the coupe. Identification should be confirmed using the Artura badge, rear-light design, side air intakes, and cabin layout. MSO personalisation, wheel designs, and paint colours can vary substantially, so appearance alone is not always enough to determine a precise version or model year.
Important versions
The Base version is the reference point for the Artura range: it is the plug-in hybrid coupe introduced in 2021 with a twin-turbocharged V6, electric motor, and MCLA carbon architecture. It represents the model’s original road-car specification and provides the baseline for later updates. The Artura Spider is the convertible variant announced by McLaren in February 2024. It preserves the closed car’s core philosophy while adding a retractable hardtop and open-air driving. The supplied library context associates both Base and Spider entries with the year 2021. That information should be presented as an internal classification convention rather than evidence that the Spider was already on sale in that launch year. The Artura GT4 and Artura Trophy competition cars should not be confused with the road-going versions, as they are purpose-built race derivatives with different specifications and uses.
References
- McLaren unveils all-new, next-generation High-Performance Hybrid supercar - the McLaren ArturaMcLaren Automotive via PR Newswire
- 2023 McLaren Artura Review, Pricing, and SpecsCar and Driver
- Tested: 2023 McLaren Artura Is the Second ComingCar and Driver
- Tech Insider: McLaren ArturaAutomotive Powertrain Technology International
- https://cars.mclaren.com/uk_en/terms-and-conditions/my-artura-competitioncars.mclaren.com
- https://cars.mclaren.com/au_en/artura-inspired-by-lando-norriscars.mclaren.com
- https://cars.mclaren.com/au_en/artura/behind-the-wheel-with-lando-oscarcars.mclaren.com
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the McLaren Artura produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 2021.
- How many McLaren Artura examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 21 published scans from 13 members, with the latest photo added in September 2026.