McLaren drops the V8, moves to V6 plug-in hybrid for its next supercar
This is the McLaren Artura, a new $225,000 plug-in hybrid supercar. [credit: McLaren ]
On Tuesday evening, McLaren unveiled its newest supercar, the Artura. It's the company's first plug-in hybrid EV, promising all the usual performance superlatives associated with McLaren: 0-124mph (200km/h) in 8.3 seconds, a 10.7-second quarter-mile time, and a top speed of 205mph (330km/h) put it in good company with the rest of the brand's range. But it should also be the most efficient McLaren so far, emitting just 129g/km CO2 according to the EU's WLTP test.
And the Artura really is all-new. Previous McLarens, from the MP4-12C onwards, have all used variations of the same carbon fiber monocoque chassis and derivatives of the same V8 gasoline engine, either in 3.8L or 4L capacities. Instead, the Artura will use a new platform, called the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture. And the powertrain is entirely new as well.
The internal combustion component is a twin-turbocharged 3.0L 120-degree "hot-vee" V6 with an output of 577hp (430kW) and 431lb-ft (584Nm). McLaren says that, at 353lbs (160kg), this new engine-codenamed M630-weighs 110lbs (50kg) less than the V8, as well as being significantly shorter.
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