2025 McLaren Artura Spider unveiled alongside power-boosted coupe

UK supercar specialist McLaren has unveiled a convertible version of its Artura plug-in hybrid V6 supercar – alongside significant upgrades for the Artura coupe 18 months after the delayed first deliveries.

The Artura Spider and upgraded Model Year 2025 (MY25) Coupe bring more power, revised suspension and transmission tuning, and the addition of advanced safety technology that is standard on much cheaper cars.

Australian deliveries for both vehicles are due to begin between July and September 2024, priced from $477,310 plus on-road costs for the Coupe (up $12,653) and $525,010 plus on-road costs for the Spider.

The Spider's retractable hardtop roof can open or close in 11 seconds, and adds 62kg to the car's kerb weight, now 1562kg – which McLaren boasts still makes the Artura Spider lighter than coupe versions of some rivals.

McLaren says the Artura was designed from the start to accommodate a Spider variant, so the convertible variant does not require any extra chassis stiffening over the coupe.

It is distinguished design-wise by new 'buttresses' behind the side windows, plus repositioned cooling vents to accommodate the roof mechanism, and an optional electrochromic glass panel in place of carbon-fibre that can block 99 per cent of sunlight at the touch of a button.

More significant for the McLaren Artura line-up is a series of performance and handling upgrades – including a 15kW power boost for the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine to 445kW/720Nm.

It combines with an unchanged 70kW/225Nm electric motor and 7.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack for a system output of 515kW (up 15kW).

The power boost will be offered for no additional cost to owners of the current Model Year 2024 Artura – a surprising move for a manufacturer of $500,000 supercars that charges $810 to emboss the McLaren logo on the centre armrest.

The 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.0 seconds is unchanged despite the power boost – though it is shared between the Coupe and Spider – as is its 330km/h top speeds, while the Spider's 8.4-second 0-200km/h time is one-tenth slower than the Coupe.

The electric-only driving range has increased by 3km to 33km, while there is a new sports exhaust system with a tuned resonator and upward conical shape to the tailpipes claimed to "refine the engine note at the middle and higher points of the rev range."

The launch control system gains a 'Spinning Wheel Pull-Away' feature said to allow for "dramatic wheelspin when accelerating from standstill with a large throttle load."

MY25 Artura supercars gain new engine mounts that reduce movement, revised dampers, upgraded suspension control software, and Pirelli CyberTyre tech that places sensors inside each tyre, and can feed data claimed to help owners adjust tyre pressures for optimal performance.

New brake cooling ducts combine with upgraded aluminium calipers and revised anti-lock braking calibration for claimed improvements in stopping distances, though on paper the 100km/h to zero distance remains 31 metres.

A pre-fill feature in the gearbox is claimed to reduce shift speeds by 25 per cent, by "pressurising the hydraulic fluid in the gearbox to the threshold required to enact a shift (the ‘kiss point’), so that ... shift time is minimised," according to McLaren's media release.

The British manufacturer also says a system that warms the catalytic converter before "engaging drive to the [petrol] engine" reduces emissions and makes it faster to switch between drive modes shortly after the car is started.

Inside, there is now a wireless smartphone charging pad as an option, though the infotainment system appears to be unchanged.

New for 2025 Arturas are key advanced safety features that have been available on small hatchbacks and work utes for years – but are now available on the V6 McLaren, as many are about to become mandatory in Europe.

These include lane departure warning – but not a lane-keep assist that can steer the car back into its lane if it drifts out – plus speed-sign recognition as standard.

Optional is adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams.

There is no mention of whether autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – which missing from the current car, but will become mandatory in Australia next year – has been fitted.

However given AEB typically shares many of its sensors with adaptive cruise control – which is now available – the potentially life-saving technology may have finally joined the equipment list.

Other new features or options for MY25 examples include a Bluetooth low-energy vehicle key, new carbon-fibre exterior trim, black 'Stealth' badges as standard (with silver now a no-cost option), a faster nose lift system, and new wheel designs.

McLaren has extended the Artura's warranty to five years or unlimited kilometres, up from three years.

The 2025 McLaren Artura range is due to commence deliveries in Australia later this year.