McLaren Artura Spider packs power bump to 700PS and a pop-top

Let’s address the convertible stuff, then we’ll get to the nitty gritty. The roof looks very 720/750 Spider, doesn’t it? From the haunch heights to the electrochromic buttresses, it’s a dead ringer for its sibling. Mind you, those buttresses do serve an extra aero purpose, funneling cooling air into the new vents on the rear deck.

A folding metal item, it does its business in 11 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph. McLaren  makes a big deal about how the Spider is also the lightest car in its class, in spite of the heavy battery that comes with hybridity and the addition of 62kg thanks to the roof mechanism.

Powered by a turbocharged V6, the Artura was never the most tuneful machine, at least on the outside. I happen to think it sounded great on the inside, especially singing up toward its 8,500rpm redline. But McLaren has for the Spider redeveloped the exhaust with new valving and a tuned resonator, resulting in a ‘cleaner’ sound. 

The sound is also augmented by a symposer bringing ‘authentic sound waves’ from the exhaust to the cabin. McLaren reckons the sound ‘envelops’ the driver, who can access the elements not just by lowering the roof totally, but by dropping the rear window.

Right, what about the oily bits? The changes are… numerous. For a start, there’s that headline figure, which is up to 700PS. Good job it ditched the power-based naming strategy, and all that. The jump is achieved through some intensive engine tinkering, from 585PS (430kW) to 605PS (445kW). Elsewhere, some software adjustments means that the all-electric range has been bumped to 21 miles.

There’s been some tuning to facilitate faster gearshifts, thanks to some added hybrid infill between cogs. Shift speeds are improved by 25 per cent, which is a less significant bump than it sounds for a ‘box that wasn’t exactly lethargic in the first place. Still, better is better.

Moving on from the powertrain the Artura has undergone a fair few tweaks to an end of improving fun and feel. It was a great car before, albeit one with a few rough edges and a tendency to hide within its comfort zone. The dampers are now more responsive, the braking enhanced with new cooling there are revised engine mounts and more. This really is a quarter-cycle de-bug akin to when the 12C lost the MP4 bit, gained a load of power and ditched the controversial touch-sensitive door handles.

The Artura Spider can be yours from £221,500, which is a bit of an undercut of the equivalent MC20 Cielo, which starts from £235,225. So in short, faster, more fun, semi-reasonably priced and with the option of a pop-top version. Sounds like the Artura’s come into its own.