2024 McLaren Artura Spider review: Here comes the sun
Open-top McLaren Artura makes being wealthy that bit more bearable
You won’t realise from this photo, but a new exhaust has given the Artura a more defined howl
McLaren
Actually, the fact it’s the Spider version is not of any great concern. For those who are interested, the roof costs almost exactly £20,000, can raise or lower in just 11 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph and adds 62kg to the mass of the car.
It’s all the other modifications that come with the 2025 model year that are more worthy of mention. It has, for instance, another 20bhp though with 670bhp already you’d not think it needed it. Its gearshifts are even quicker, it has new dampers with 90% faster reaction times, stiffer engine mounts and a new launch control mode for those more interested in burning rubber than a quick getaway. They have even added another couple of miles to its EV range.
Most instantly notable however is the new exhaust which brings a cultured howl whether the roof is up or down, but there’s no question that the rest of the car feels sharper and more alert with the only possible downside being a slight degrading of ride quality. Then again the car was supplied on Pirelli Corsa tyres, which could explain the difference.
After a more than hesitant start, McLaren’s newest recruit and the platform upon which its near and mid-term future depends has now matured into a quite outstanding product. And any extant Artura owners feeling sore about missing out on upgrades should pop by their dealer, who’ll flash their ECU, FoC, and let them drive home 20bhp the stronger. AF
McLaren Artura Spider
- Price £221,500
- Engine 3 litres, six cylinders, petrol, twin turbocharged, hybrid
- Power 690bhp at 7500rpm
- Torque 531lb ft at 2250rpm
- Weight 1560kg
- Transmission Eight-speed double clutch, rear-wheel drive
- 0-60mph 3.0sec
- Top speed 205mph
- Economy 58.9mpg (WLTP)
- CO2 108g/km (WLTP)
- Verdict More power, more bellow.