The 2025 McLaren Artura Spider achieves more with less

Among the many pleasant surprises that came with the 2025 McLaren Artura’s launch is the introduction of its Spider open-top sibling. Interestingly, the design and meticulous lightweight packaging of the original Artura was said to have presented quite the engineering challenges for the Spider.

While most of the core components and upgrades are similar, the Spider’s design is much more oriented toward improved airflow management and technological sophistication. Hence, the reformed electrical architecture and strong ‘circuit-like’ driver engagement.

Andy Beale, chief engineer of the Artura Spider, explains, “The clean sheet approach to the coupe resulted in a compact powertrain, in particular the 120-degree V6 internal combustion engine with its ‘hot-vee’ positioned where the Spider’s hard top would naturally sit when retracted.”

It’s a supercar that offers a certain minimalist purity in its look. The low, elongated ‘cab-forward’ stance complements its overall aggressive styling, as observed in the ‘shrink-wrapped’ and sculpted bodywork, pairing beautifully with the hammerhead nose. Glazed in motorsport-style polycarbonate, its buttresses are noticeably more pronounced, too.

As the lightest convertible in its class, the Artura Spider boasts an impressive power-eight-ratio of 473 hp per tonne. The supercar only weighs about 62kg more than the coupe (yes, even lighter than the Ferrari 296 GTS).

All this is made possible by the modified chassis, adaptive dampers and exhaust notes, as well as the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), with its aluminium subframes. The MCLA integrates the carbon fibre monocoque into the lightweight electrified system, making use of ethernet cabling instead of traditional wiring for better efficiency and communication among subsystems.

The McLaren Artura Spider is powered by twin-turbocharged V6 engines, roughly 50kg lighter than the McLaren V8 engine. In terms of pure power and acceleration, it can go from 0 to 300km/h in just 21.6 seconds, with the ability to reach a maximum speed of 330km/h. At the heart of the Spider’s 3.0-litre V6 is an enhanced powertrain that features new MY25 cars, helping it generate 597 bhp and 585Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the e-system can deliver transient torque of up to 225Nm.

This supercar’s aerodynamic ducting is especially commendable. It has been revised to increase airflow and cooling capabilities for both the engines and brakes. A series of heat shields support the ‘hot vee’ for cooling, stopping the engine from heat diffusing through the rear. The heated air is then funelled out through the powertrain chimney, which, in the Spider’s case, is further down back to allow space for the high-temperature radiator storage and mechanism.

With the announcement of the 2025 Artura and Artura Spider, the marque also promises owners of 2023 and 2024 Arturas a software upgrade that would give their supercars up to 690 hp free of charge. All they have to do is visit their local shop.

Visit McLaren for more information.

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