McLaren Artura 2021

The name Artura was presented as a blend of “art” and “future”. It marked a departure from the alphanumeric naming system used by many earlier McLaren models. The car also introduced a digital instrument display mounted to the steering column, allowing the screen to move with the steering wheel and keeping key information in the driver’s sightline.

McLaren presented the Artura as a series-production model assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England. Unlike certain limited-run McLaren creations, no total production figure specific to the 2021 Artura was disclosed in the sources consulted. A precise number should therefore not be assigned to this model year without speculation. Production and deliveries were also affected by semiconductor shortages, pandemic-related disruption and the difficulty of bringing the new hybrid platform into volume production. First customer deliveries had been planned for 2021 but were postponed until the middle of 2022, according to McLaren’s annual reporting. The delay is an important part of the early history of the model and explains why a 2021 unveiling does not necessarily indicate a 2021 customer-delivered car.

Early road tests generally emphasized the Artura’s importance to McLaren’s product strategy. Autocar viewed it as a car capable of opening a new chapter for the company, combining an unfamiliar engine, plug-in hybrid technology and an entirely new architecture. Motor Sport Magazine praised the chassis, steering precision and damping control, while also criticizing aspects of the instrumentation and infotainment interface. The overall reception was therefore strong in terms of driving dynamics, but less consistent when it came to user interface and everyday usability. These comments come from launch-period road tests and should not be treated as a long-term reliability assessment. The delayed introduction also meant that some early evaluations involved cars developed before full customer production had begun.