Same engine, same styling, same-sounding names…
However exciting and brilliant each car McLaren makes is in isolation, there has become considerable overlap in the line-up and a lack of distinction between models as the firm has grown.
Yes, McLaren Automotive is barely a decade old and growing pains are to be expected. But its ambition has perhaps seen it try to do too much with too little, as the recent McLaren GT has revealed. Trying to turn the constituent parts of a supercar into a true Bentley-rivalling luxurious grand tourer proved beyond even the talented designers and engineers at Woking.
The all-new McLaren Artura is the brand's emphatic response to show that it really can do and be different – and evolve.
It brings with it a new engine, new plug-in hybrid technology that allows it to run on electric power alone, a new chassis built in a new factory, new styling, including a vastly overhauled interior, and a new name that leaves the alphanumerical nomenclature of other McLarens behind. While it’s out with much of the old, that famed McLaren accessibility, usability and wonderful performance remain.
All of this makes the Artura as significant a launch for McLaren as the MP4-12C at the firm’s birth and – most crucial of all – a car that at last gets McLaren back on the front foot.
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As one can assume that this is the starting point, one can also surely expect much more from the new engine, plus more powerful electric motors in sportier versions.
After all the hype, I am a bit disappointed, yes, they've taken a scalpel to it, some innovative engineering,and it's light too, but, that's where it ends, the interior is a good update, the dash instruments , controls are neat, but, I really expected more of the overall exterior shape, I'd sooner have the Porsche GT3.
Yes it looks very promising. Not as sensuous as the 720 with its curvy hips and unadorned flanks but nice design. If the new power train sounds good then I doubt people will mourn the V8 too much.
It looks gorgeous, although I wouldn't say the styling is a huge departure. In some ways it looks almost exactly like its replacement!