This Plug-In Hybrid Supercar Is Made In Britain

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby wrap up warm for a December drive in the roofless McLaren Artura Spider.

Car Review: McLaren Artura Spider

J-TP – You might want to explain why we are driving a convertible in December? 

JT – Well, I know how much you enjoy a woolly hat and driving gloves. That said, McLaren’s latest convertible is so well-designed that the open cabin is a haven of calm, even at high speed. Add a pop-up wind deflector, plus heated seats and it could be a balmy summer’s day in Monaco.

I’m quite cosy in the passenger seat – although it helps that the carbon roof folds up or down in just 11 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph. Perfect for country where we seem to have a storm named after a random person every week at the moment. I remember we drove the coupe Artura to Ireland 18-months ago and it was thrilling.

This open-roof Artura is even better because McLaren has tweaked and refined all the ‘issues’ out of the original, a car that wasn’t quite what it should have been when launched. The same changes have been applied to the sister coupe too for 2025.

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There’s a power increase to a massive 690bhp, a couple of extra miles of electric-only range from the plug-in battery system, plus some engineering wizardry to the gearbox and chassis. The twin exhaust pipes now sound better too.

That’s all well and good but one of the joys of driving the coupe was switching to electric mode and cruising around Waitrose car park in silent stealth mode! 

That’s still possible in the Spider too but in sportier modes, the Artura needed a little mode ‘aural’ drama. The brakes also feel better now and the gearshift is swifter.

Any McLaren is, without doubt, a memorable drive – 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds and phenomenal grip. However, apart from driving on battery power, I love arriving at a public charger to plug in.

Yes but you upset a man in Cirencester because he thought you were parking a petrol-munching supercar in an EV-only space. He backed down and apologised quite smartish after you explained the Artura had batteries too.

Just like his Nissan Leaf! Well, apart from the additional 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine attached to it…

He also had a proper boot rather than a modest, under-bonnet frunk for his festive shopping. That said, I know which car I’d rather drive home for Christmas.

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Discover more about the McLaren Artura Spider at cars.mclaren.com

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.