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Aston Martin Pushes Valhalla to Launch in 2023

Aston Martin’s new CEO Tobias Moers has just given an update on one of Aston’s latest hypercars named Valhalla. Previously, deliveries were said to take place in mid-2021 but that was pushed back to 2022.

Originally, the Valhalla (under the code name “AM-RB 003”) was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show as a concept. It was to be released as a hypercar you could actually get your hands on, unlike the Aston Martin Valkyrie due to the limited production of just 150 cars. The Valhalla was said to have a 500 car production and have deliveries take place in early 2022. 

Valhalla Concept

According to MotorAuthority, Moers has pushed back the delivery date to the last half of 2023. The reason for this additional delay is so the Aston Martin team can “reassess” the hypercar’s design, inclusive of the powertrain. The revised Valhalla will be ready for viewing for potential buyers within the next four months according to a report from Autocar

Aston Martin Valhalla Testing

The original powertrain design of the Valhalla was similar to that of the recently released 2022 McLaren Artura. The Valhalla was to be comprised of a V-6 engine combined with a hybrid powertrain. The V-6 was going to be a brand new engine developed in-house at Aston Martin, but it’s been said Aston Martin may be sourcing a Mercedes-Benz powerplant instead. 

Mercedes-Benz owns 20% of Aston Martin and currently supplies them with V-8 engines from the AMG division. Mercedes is also supplying Aston’s F1 team with engines for the 2021 season. With all of that in mind, it would not be unusual for Aston Martin to source a Mercedes-Benz V-6 for the Valhalla.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392

For a list price of $73,500 (excluding $1,495 destination), you can order the brand new 2021 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 392 launch edition, which not only comes with a host of options as standard but also with a 470 hp, 6.4-Liter V8, making this the fastest and most powerful Wrangler ever.

This full-time 4×4 Wrangler 392 receives a 6.4-Liter V8 engine capable of not only 470 hp, but also 470 lb.-ft. of torque, a functional hood scope, a performance exhaust, and many premium options, this is a factory model with V8-performance and a 0 to 60 mph acceleration of 4.5 seconds.

“Our Jeep enthusiasts asked us for a Wrangler powered by a V-8 engine, and we listened. The result is the quickest and most powerful Jeep Wrangler yet, loaded with standard off-road performance features that make this Jeep Wrangler incredibly capable of covering the most rugged terrain,” said Jim Morrison, Vice President, Jeep Brand North America

With the hood scope, the Wrangler 392 can wade through water up to 32.5 inches deep, helped by a 2-inch factory lift, beefier frame rails, and FOX shocks, while an active dual-mode exhaust lets the V8 breathe and release the right sound to onlookers, even when you master low-speed downhill descents by using the V-8’s engine braking, revised transmission torque converter lockup control and a 48:1 crawl ratio to manage vehicle speed without needing to touch the brake pedal.

For the interior of the Wrangler 392 you get leather seats as standard, and these come with bronze stitching, which is only available on this version of the Jeep, a special steering wheel with additional bolsters is also added, and it comes with paddle shifters … we all like those, don’t we.

But on the Wrangler 392 Launch Edition the list of standard features continues on with: Body-color hardtop, Body-color flares, Infotainment Group, HD electrical switch bank, Steel Bumper Group, Cold Weather Group, LED Lighting Group, Remote proximity entry, and both the Safety Group and the Advanced Safety Group.

In case you really want to go all-out on your Jeep Wrangler 392 Launch Edition, you can check the option boxes for the Dual Door Group, Dual Top Group, Sky One-Touch Power Top and Integrated Off-road Camera, Trailer Tow Package, and make a choice between the 285/70R17C BF Goodrich KO2 All-Terrain Outline White Letter tires or go for the 285/70R17C Falken Wildpeak M/T tires.

The new 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is scheduled to start arriving in dealerships this quarter already.

The new Defender V8

If you are a fan of the Land Rover Defender, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to learn they’ve just launched the most powerful model in history, a supercharged V8 version that delivers 525 hp and can get to 60 mph from standing still in only 4.5 seconds, and it still has exceptional off-road capabilities!

The new Defender 90 V8 will reach a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h) thanks to its 5.0-Liter engine which continues a heritage set as far back as the Seventies when the first V8 was shoehorned into a Land Rover off-road vehicle. Combining this kind of performance with the award-winning off-road capabilities is even further refined with the flagship Defender V8 Carpathian Edition, note that the V8 engine is available in both the 90 and the 110 versions.

By now the Defender First Edition will be surpassed by a new XS Edition with bespoke design and improved specifications both inside and outside, and you get even more exterior ‘packs’ now … names like ‘The Bright Pack’, ‘Extended Bright Pack’, and ‘Extended Black Pack’ allow you to create a special Defender that matches your taste perfectly.

David Hemming, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The introduction of our V8 powertrain adds a new dimension of driving engagement and off-road capability to Defender. Fast and fun to drive, it represents the pinnacle of the Defender family and is as rewarding on the road as it is capable off it. We’ve also broadened the appeal of the entire Defender line-up with new derivatives, option packs and enhanced connectivity, so there really is a Defender for everyone.”

Naturally, the more powerful V8 engine requires a bespoke tuning for both the suspension and the transmission, with new rates for the springs and the dampers used to make sure the Defender’s unstoppable capabilities remain with the new 5.0-liter V8 supercharged petrol engine, which produces 525HP, 625Nm of torque and drives through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

If the impressive sound of the V8 engine isn’t giving away this new model’s power, the distinctive tell-tales on the outside should make it easier … how about not one, not two, but four exhaust pipes at the rear, complete with distinctive tailpipes, or the special 22-inch lightweight wheels finished in a satin dark grey … and there are V8 badges to be found too.

For the outside, customers can go for one of three shades, Carpathian Grey, Yulong White, and Santorini Black, apart from the black one, you can also ask to have the roof finished in Narvik Black for some added contrast.

Inside, Defender V8 features seats trimmed in unique Ebony Windsor Leather with Dinamica® suedecloth and Robustec accents, while the Defender’s exposed Cross Car Beam has a special Satin Black finish. The four-spoke steering wheel is enhanced by an Alcantara rim and tactile satin chrome gearshift paddles, which are unique to V8 models. Leather covers the airbag housing and gear lever, while illuminated treadplates are completed with a V8 script.

If you opt for the new Defender V8 Carpathian Edition, you’ll take the 525 hp model to the next level of performance, durability, and design … this is the ‘top-of-the-line version which as the name would suggest, is only available in Carpathian Grey, and always comes with the Narvik Black roof, bonnet, and taildoor, the latter being a first on the New Defender.

Straight from the factory, this edition also comes with a Satin Protective film applied to the body, creating a semi-matt look, both for protection and for additional aggressiveness, add the blue front calipers and satin black towing eyes, and this Carpathian Edition looks mean.

Prices for the New Defender V8 start at £98,505 for the 90 and £101,150 OTR for the 110 in the UK, pricing for the US market, and when the new V8 will be available hasn’t been mentioned in their press-release yet.

The GTO Engineering Project Moderna

Since revealing the renderings, specification ethos, and registering significant customer interest for its Moderna-codenamed project, GTO Engineering has confirmed a pivotal development stage has been completed for its new car, and confirmed production.

Keeping to the promise that its new car will be a celebration of the best of Sixties motoring with a modern and motorsport-derived engineering twist, the quad-cam V12 engine that will be at the heart of GTO Engineering’s all-new vehicle is getting closer to being finalized and built. Likewise, the outer design modeling is about to commence as the team finalizes the drawings of the body shell, which still maintains a mix of modern and period features as seen in the initial sketches. The engine development and design styling are both centered around GTO Engineering’s commitment to creating a sub-1,000 kg sports car with a manual gearbox and a naturally aspirated engine, devised around a visceral experience in and out of the car.

With a track record of building cars from the ground up, either with restorations or its popular Revival series vehicles, GTO Engineering’s development of the Moderna project is led by Founder Mark Lyon who said, “After the exceptional reception from interested owners and fans who would like to own a car such as ours, we’re now making it happen and publicly documenting the development process. For our team, the engine and the aesthetics are two of the most important parts of any car, especially this one, which is why we were keen to start here.

“The quad-cam V12, with the help of our specialist in-house engine builders, is beginning to be finalized. At the same time, our designers have been working with us on the outer body to finalize the surfaces before transferring them to modeling. To ensure we keep to our goals we’re working around a custom ‘muletto’ chassis, which is situated in the GTO Engineering workshops. It’s a daily reminder of how we need to not only keep the design’s proportions right, as well as weight distribution and ergonomics. People have got a little taller since the Sixties, so we’re looking at the packaging with the design too, ensuring that the driver and passenger have enough room in the cabin and ample luggage space in the car.”

GTO Engineering’s team has chosen to maintain a traditional tubular steel chassis while adding modern, lightweight but high-strength aluminum subframes. Its development chassis, nicknamed ‘muletto’ is the formation of the packaging and design layout for the Moderna-codenamed project. It sits in the firm’s UK HQ and is used as a layout buck to ensure the packaging and size of the new vehicle are optimized for weight distribution as well as driver and passenger ergonomics and storage.

This development update follows the initial renderings and intentions for the new vehicle, which was initially announced in November 2020. Since then, the team continues to grow with in-house and external consultants collaborating together, all working on the same goal to create one of the most exciting enthusiast cars of the decade.

The Bentley Mulliner visualiser

I don’t know about you, but I have spent way too many hours online in configurators (or visualizers) for some of the world’s most exclusive car makers, I just love to play around with options on cars I will probably never be able to afford anyway, but it’s so much fun putting dreams together on a computer’s screen, this went so far as me actually designing and programming my very own Lamborghini virtual configurator because I felt the factory one didn’t go far enough.

Now it seems management at Bentley in Crewe, UK, had the same sentiment, they just released their Mulliner visualiser to have customers create their very own, bespoke car by using an application together with their retailer or with a designer from Bentley, without leaving the comfort of their house.

From within the Mulliner virtualiser, the customer can view their new car, both from the outside and on the inside, complete with their selected choice of paint and upholstery, it is even possible to color match the hides on the interior to the outside, and have the correct color code sent directly to Bentley Mulliner for the dye on the leather.

Naturally the choice of stitching options is almost endless, and now the client can even specify how the veneer inside his (or her) new Bentley will be finished, Mulliner offers the fascias and waist-rails painted to the same piano-finish standard as the exterior, in any one of the scores of colors on offer.

I know for a fact the list of paint colors on a Bentley is daunting to say the least, it contains 62 colors, and with the new Mulliner visualiser, things get even more complicated with the addition of 26 more shades, fifteen of those are solid or regular metallic, but Mulliner also offers 4 new satin finishes and no less than seven complex, pearlescent three-layer paints, all applied in a combination of hand spraying and robot technology for the best possible finish … the ‘stock’ pallet of Bentley colors is one of the largest in the industry.

Some of the additional paints from Mulliner:

First created in the 1960s, Oxford Blue is a stunning solid paint and one of the darkest blues in the Bentley palette. This mesmerizing Mulliner paint recalls the power and elegance of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

Viridian

Viridian is the latest metallic paint to be introduced and is a modern take on the traditional British racing green. This mysterious dark emerald is inspired by the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car shown at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2015. The deep green with light green and blue undertones creates depth and a sporting dimension, while flecks of amber and gold embody the character of luxury.

White Sand Porcelain – White Sand was the launch colour for the Continental Flying Spur. A silky, creamy colour, it is created by blending two hues to a warm finish.

Snow Quartz is a modern white three layer pearlescent paint, which creates a simple and fresh silhouette. The finely layered pearl effect creates a beautiful shimmering and lustrous whiteness, providing an infinite amount of opportunities to complement interior color combinations.

The glimmering surface of Extreme Silver has been given a striking new finish to create Extreme Silver Satin. This distinctive Mulliner Paint alters the character of this warm silver almost beyond recognition, replacing the metallic gleam with a subtle satiny sheen that brings the sharp Bentley design lines to the fore.

Storm Grey – Storm Grey has appeared on several Bentley models since its introduction in the 1990s. It blends hints of blue into a strong grey base to create a powerful and eye-catching finish.

And if that doesn’t fit your specific needs, no problem, Bentley’s personal commissioning division can color-match virtually any sample provided, using innovative color recognition software to analyze the composition of the sample provided and reproducing it to perfection.

Radium – A Mischievous sporty and youthful colour, with a superfine metallic effect, invoking the feeling of confidence.

The T.50s Niki Lauda

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50s Niki Lauda

Gordon Murray Automotive has just unveiled the T.50s Niki Lauda, a track-focused car that was developed in parallel with their T.50, the most driver-centric supercar ever built, the T.50s Niki Lauda has been conceived, designed, and engineered to offer the ultimate on-track driving experience.

T T.50s Niki Lauda weighs just 852kg and will be powered by a substantially redesigned version of the T.50’s Cosworth-engineered 3.9-litre V12, producing 725bhp, revving to 12,100rpm, coupled to a newly-designed Xtrac six-speed paddle-shift gearbox. And yes, the 400mm fan at the rear is still present, together with advanced aerodynamics to produce up to 1500kg of downforce for the best track experience yet.

Production has been limited to 25 units of the special T.50s Niki Lauda, each with an MSRP of £3,100,000 before taxes (about $4,400,000), and you’ll have some time left to come up with that kind of money as production only starts in January 2023, after the run of 100 T.50 supercars is completed.

Professor Gordon Murray CBE: “The T.50 is the ultimate road-going supercar, but I always dreamed of taking it one step further… to build a version that will deliver an on-track driving experience like no other car in history.”

With the T.50s Niki Lauda they had no interest in achieving the ultimate lap time or creating an over-engineered spaceship looking vehicle at the expense of the driver, the T.50s Niki Lauda can be driven by someone who isn’t a professional F1 driver, and still be able to get the best out of the car.

Just like an F1 car, and the legendary McLaren F1 road car, the T.50s Niki Lauda comes with a central driving position, and a high-revving V12 engine just inches behind the driver, delivering more than 700 hp. Maximum downforce has been set at 1,500 kg for a car that itself weighs less than 900 kg …this is a track-day beauty you can drive without an entire support team, just show up, and drive!

With 725 hp in a car that puts only 852 kg on the scales, you are looking at a power to weight ratio that’s better than a naturally aspirated LMP1 car, and it drives like an F1 car too … and with a 12,000 rpm engine and next to no silencers, it will scream like an F1 car too.

Starting with a car like the T.50 and making it even more impressive might not be a simple task, but Gordon Murray and his team managed just that when they created the T.50s Niki Lauda, and they still kept it classic. A massive central fin stretching from the top of the roof to the rear lip of the car, not only adds vertical stability at speed, but it also allows to show the Niki Lauda logo, a bigger rear diffuser, and a new rear wing, inspired by the front wing on Murray’s 1983 Brabham BT52 Formula One car, changes the looks even further from the road car.

Naturally at the front things were modified for the T.50s Niki Lauda too, improved airflow into the side intakes, but also a special splitter, all inspired by aerodynamics, in fact, not a single body panel from the T.50 road car has been used on this track-only version, the intention is to create 25 individual car by offering a plethora of choices for both paint and liveries.

While the T.50 also uses a Cosworth-designed V12 engine, the one for the T.50s Niki Lauda is almost completely different, capable of hitting the rev-limiter at 12,100 rpm, the use of a roof-mounted, RAM induction airbox can increase the maximum power output to 725 hp with a compression ratio of 15:1, maximum torque of 485 Nm is achieved at 9,000 rpm … and with a ‘straight-through’ exhaust you might want to consider earplugs.

At this point, the lightest V12 road-going engine weighs 178 kg, this new Cosworth GMA V12 puts only 162 kg in the car, this is achieved by using titanium valves, and no, there isn’t a variable valve timing system here because that would be too heavy, instead, there are 12 individual throttle bodies on top, fed by a race-inspired airbox. No catalytic converters, thin Inconel tubing, and small silencers … the T.50s Niki Lauda isn’t intended to be silent.

Gordon Murray and Dario Franchitti

A bespoke Xtrac IGS (Instantaneous Gearshift) six-speed paddle-shift gearbox is fitted, designed to fit the exacting packaging and weight demands of the T.50s Niki Lauda. As part of Xtrac’s efforts to minimize weight wherever possible, even the gears are lighter, contributing to a 5kg total weight reduction. Both the gearbox and the clutch are electronically actuated.

Ratios have been chosen to optimize on-track performance and driver enjoyment and engagement, delivering a top speed of approximately 200-210mph. A set of closer ratios optimized for shorter circuits will also be offered, allowing owners to make the most of all six gears via the steering column-mounted paddles. In this configuration, the T.50s Niki Lauda will reach around 170mph flat-out.

Just about the entire T.50s Niki Lauda is made from carbon fiber, from the lightweight carbon fiber monocoque to the bespoke body panels. The chassis is actually carbon fiber wrapped around a honeycomb aluminum center, there is even an F1-style ‘passenger safety cell’, while all the glass has been made thinner compared to the T.50 road car, to make this car as lightweight as possible, without compromising on safety.

The T.50 already comes with Brembo sourced carbon ceramic disk brakes (six-piston 370mm x 34mm front/ four-piston 340mm x 34mm rear), and with their 3.5G deceleration, they were deemed enough for the T.50s Niki Lauda, for the latter they did add modified ducts for better cooling. Covering these impressive brakes are bespoke, 18-inch forged magnesium, center-lock wheels that wear Michelin slicks, 250 mm at the front and 300 mm at the rear (25/64 18” and 30/68 18” respectively) … naturally ‘wet track’ tires are also possible.

Both the chassis and the aero parts on the T.50s Niki Lauda can be adjusted for a perfect balance on whichever track you want to tackle, by adjusting the fins at the front, and the rear wing, you can raise or lower the downforce, lowering the car’s ride height further increases it’s performance.

Professor Gordon Murray CBE: “When we first ran the CFD we were already ahead of our downforce target. At one point we were achieving 1,900kg of downforce, but we backed it off to 1,500kg to make the car more manageable for the owners.”

The T.50s Niki Lauda comes with a central seating position, the ‘pilot’ has a full racing carbon fiber seat with minimal adjustment, secured by a six-point harness. But the T.50s is a two-seater only, there is a fixed passenger seat to the left of the driver, which also comes with a four-point harness, but on the right side of the driver, you’ll find a fire extinguisher system and a vertical switchgear panel inspired by the McLaren F1 GTR. You can even order the T.50s Niki Lauda without a passenger seat to really turn it into a lightweight race car.

The dashboard inside the T.50s Niki Lauda consists of a single digital screen showing essential data on the car itself and the high-revving V12 engine, added with aero info, the gearchange indicator, telemetry, lap time, tire pressures/temperatures, g-forces, and a camera video feed.

Professor Gordon Murray CBE: “Engineering the ultimate track-focused supercar has to start with the driver. It was essential that we retained a central driving position, with every control arranged within easy reach and with no distractions or unnecessary information on display. And in my opinion, you don’t get a better view than that from the central driving position, one which allows you to place the T.50s Niki Lauda with millimeter precision on any circuit. You are left with nothing to take away the pure pleasure of pushing this car as hard as you can on your favorite race circuit.”

By now you probably gathered this new T.50s was named after a Formula One legend, none other than three-time world champion Niki Lauda, but it doesn’t end there, each individual car will be named after one of Gordon Murray’s Grand Prix wins on different circuits. The first car will be designated Kyalami 1974 and further cars will be named after the 24 subsequent wins in chronological order. Each car will also come with a specially commissioned book about the race that it is named after, with Murray’s view and memories of the victory.

Each of the 25 individually specified cars will be bespoke, both in setup and in the choice of colors and liveries, a Trackspeed package will also be included which comprises both engineering support and all the equipment needed to run the car at a track, including a full set of pit tools and refueling equipment. Each customer will receive a track day so that ‘his’ car is configured perfectly to their driving style and capabilities.

Vettel Sells Ferrari Collection for a Fresh Start with Aston Martin

After finishing the worst year of his F1 career, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will no longer be racing for Ferrari. He will also be cutting ties with his amazing Ferrari collection he had gathered throughout the years. He will begin a fresh start for the 2021 season with Aston Martin.

Vettel’s Ferrari collection currently rests in Switzerland at his home and they are now for sale through veteran supercar dealership Tom Hartley Jnr located in the United Kingdom.

Sebastian Vettel

Among the collection cars that have been listed for sale include a Ferrari LaFerrari, Enzo, F50, F12 TDF, and 458 Speciale, and the majority of them are already sold or spoken for. Vettel has also listed a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, AMG SL65 Black Series, and a BMW Z8

Sebastian Vettel's LaFerrari

Though the split between Vettel and Ferrari is said to amicable, it does seem like Vettel is throwing away all memories and making way for his new love. This comes as no surprise as the Ferrari’s in his collection were acquired after his start with the Italian F1 team in 2015. 

Vettel's Ferrari F50
Image from: Tom Hartley Jnr

Vettel has also been seen sporting the Aston Martin DBX SUV in promotional footage. He could be making room for some new British supercars in the near future.

Vettel will be driving alongside Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll. Aston Martin will be unveiling its new F1 car on March 3rd and complete official testing on March 12-14. The first race of the F1 season will be the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28. Ferrari has since replaced Vettel with Carlos Sainz who will be alongside Charles Leclerc for the 2021 F1 season.

The BRABUS Invicto

When you are a high-net-worth individual, life is different compared to other people, you’ll probably live inside a large mansion with security guards and camera surveillance, and when you leave this compound, you’ll be driven around inside an armored vehicle, most likely even with one or more additional cars around you.

The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY

You can opt for one of the Mercedes-Benz Guard versions, the world’s widest ex-factory range of special protection vehicles … or you can turn to Brabus for one of their Invicto models, a series made up of three different versions to cater to the customer’s wishes, discreet, rugged, or luxuries …

All three versions come with the ‘Invicto Shelter Cell’, a self-contained, self-supporting and bolted-down protective cell. In addition, there are further protective elements that are in part produced using a special 3D printing process and, of course, all-around extremely tough bulletproof glass.

Based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the Invicto can resist 7.62×39 caliber bullets, used in the AK-47 for instance, but also being hit with hand grenades, and even 12.5-kilogram PETN explosive charges, this certifies the Invicto per the VPAM BRV 2009 and VPAM ERV 2010 standards, all while remaining discreet, and nearly invisible from the outside.

The BRABUS INVICTO bulletproof glass

Sometimes this kind of car requires making a fast getaway when faced with intrusion, therefore the BRABUS Invicto comes with a special suspension and high-performance braking system to cope with the additional weight of the armoring, but the 20-inch Invicto wheels come with special run-flat tires.

Because of the required performance, BRABUS advises using either a Mercedes G500 or the G63 as a base for their €345,600 Invicto protection package, but it can be ordered with other gasoline engines from the G-Class model range.

The armor meets the VR6 Plus ERV standard, the same standard that protects many limousines of heads of state, to meet the requirements the doors and hatch are now fitted with new protective elements, all the glass is replaced with extra tough bulletproof material, which required an innovative structure for the frames to be developed by BRABUS.

The BRABUS INVICTO Shelter Cell

The Invicto Shelter Cell is unlike other vehicles where the armor is retrofitted, this BRABUS system is a self-contained, self-supporting, and bolted-down unit. This design makes it possible to put it into the body shell of the G-Class part by part and then assemble and fasten it. To this end, the company manufactures precise-fit, hot-rolled steel armor plates and additional protective elements made from materials such as carefully selected fabric and fiber structures as well as from ceramic and metal composite materials.

Among the many special constructive features of the “INVICTO Shelter Cell” is the fact that there is no narrowing of the door openings whatsoever. Getting in and out of the vehicle comfortably is crucial for many owners of a G-Class. In addition, the protective cell has a zero-gap design. This means that the individual components of the armor are installed without any gaps between them, which is of elementary importance for providing maximum security under small arms fire or an explosive attack. This is achieved by means of material overlaps and the so-called labyrinths.

The BRABUS INVICTO PURE

Surprisingly enough, the entire BRABUS Invicto protective armor only adds about 1,000 kg on top of the base Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, but it still required both the front and rear suspension to be completely modified by the BRABUS engineers, even the frame of the G-Wagon needed to be reinforced at key points to support the additional weight, but still be agile enough for maximum security and durability.

A high-performance braking system with vented 402-millimeter discs and six-piston brake calipers at the front as well as 380-millimeter rotors and four-piston brake calipers on the rear axle is another major factor in the outstanding active safety of the INVICTO.

BRABUS fits Invicto 9.5×20 inch wheels specifically developed for the higher wheel load rating, large 275/50 R 20 W113 high load rating tires are fitted, BRABUS even developed a new run-flat system for their Invicto, even with completely destroyed tires, this car can continue for another 50km at a speed of 50 km/h.

The BRABUS INVICTO PURE

The BRABUS INVICTO PURE

This model has been created by BRABUS for those customers that need protection, but don’t want to stand out in traffic, the Invicto Pure looks exactly like a factory original Mercedes-Benz G-class … this is protection in her purest form, both the exterior and the interior of the Invicto Pure are visually unchanged.

The BRABUS INVICTO PURE

The only visible changes are the new Invicto wheels in 20-inch, required to fit the BRABUS run-flat system, but other than that, this version is “undercover” as much as possible.

The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION

The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION

The Invicto Mission edition is not intended to have the high-net-worth individual in the rear seats, this version is made for the security guard companies that accompany that person, possibly even armed forces, or police and emergency services. Based on the Mercedes G500 or G63, the Invicto Mission includes not only the 20-inch off-road tires with the run-flat capability and a winch at the front this edition also comes with a powerful LED headlamp assembly at the front of the roof rack, flashing beacons behind the windshield, remote-controlled rotating searchlights at the rear, and even an armored escape hatch on the roof.

The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION

The original seats have been replaced by four custom bucket seats, designed in such a manner they allow the security detachment to wear protective vests inside the vehicle, five-point seatbelts keep them in place, even during high-speed, spirited driving.

The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION

But the Invicto Mission doesn’t stop there, it comes complete with a fresh air system with NBC filter for the interior, or how about an infrared package complete with night-vision together with an elaborate monitoring and navigation system, even the doors and backrests are fitted with the MOLLE system (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) to secure equipment.

The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION fresh air system
The BRABUS INVICTO MISSION

The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY

The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY

This is the most exclusive version in the Invicto series, based on either Mercedes G 500 or the Mercedes-AMG G 63 with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo eight-cylinder engine and 430kW / 585hp, this model offers 850 Nm of torque to offer impressive active safety, the 20-inch run-flat tires do require a limitation of the top speed to 210 Km/h.

The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY

The Invicto Luxury also stands out, this is not the model for the owner that wants to travel unseen, incognito … BRABUS fits the WIDESTAR body on this model, optionally even with clear carbon fiber components, remember the Invicto Shelter Cell sits on the inside, which gets refined with a BRABUS interior made from the finest leather and Alcantara to suit the owner’s personal color and design preferences.

If the owner wants to have some more power to get out of any dangerous spots, he or she can opt for the BRABUS 800 engine, with an output of 588 kW / 800 hp at 6,600 rpm and a peak torque of 1,000 Nm at a low 3,600 rpm.

The BRABUS INVICTO LUXURY

It is clear BRABUS isn’t focusing on their usual customer that wants to turn a standard, factory Mercedes-AMG into a high-performance supercar with their Invicto model, this car is intended to offer the best protection possible for those that require it … but still want to travel in style.

The INVICTO special protection vehicles as per VR6 Plus ERV standard are built in small-series production at the plant of BRABUS Automotive in Bottrop, and while these three versions should already cater to the most discerning customer, BRABUS is always open for individual requests, as long as it doesn’t jeopardize the initial goal: protection and driving safety.

1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 SUPER SNAKE

I have to admit, I rather like the Shelby Cobra, putting a massive V8 engine into a lightweight body, styled like these are … a Cobra looks sexy. And they are demanding a serious bank account to add to your garage, just read up on our story on Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra Chassis CSX3178, that sold for $5,940,000 at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in January 2021 … but this one might fetch an even higher bid at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in late March .

This car is a unique Cobra, CSX 3015 is one of only 23 original 427 Competition Roadster, and it is the only surviving 1966 Super snake, back in 2015 this specific car sold for $5,100,000 at auction, we’re six years down the road now, so chances are this Guardsman Blue beauty will be even more expensive this time around.

Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson:

“This is the ultimate, it was made to go kick Ferrari’s ass on the street after just doing it on the track.”

Not only does this specific Shelby Cobra come with a 427ci V8 engine, it also has two Paxton superchargers fitted by Caroll Shelby himself, because of the massive power, he also had to fit a 3-speed automatic transmission … this Super Snake was fast … extremely fast … 190 mph is no problem at all behind the wheel of this Super Snake.

Chassis CSX 3015 was actually shipped to the UK in September 1965, together with CSX 3014 and two R-model Shelbys, both CSX chassis were original 427 Competition roadsters, these didn’t have mufflers, nor a windshield, nor any bumpers, these were Competition models, race cars … and these weren’t street legal.

The CSX 3015 came back from Europe in late 1966, still in her factory original Competition form, but in 1967 Caroll Shelby turned her into a Super Snake, and turned her into a Cobra 427 SC model (for Semi-Competition), adding mufflers and a windshield, thus making the car legal to drive on the open road. In fact all Cobra 427 SC models were street-legal, but most of them only saw a track during their lifetime.

There was a second Super Snake built, based on a 1967 427 road car, chassis CSX 3303 was initially a public relations car, but Shelby America converted her into a Super Snake too, sold to a dealer in San Fransisco after which she ended up with Tony Maxey … unfortunately both Tony and CSX 3303 got involved in a serious, lethal accident, the car was a total-loss, which makes CSX 3015 the only Super Snake in the world.

Today chassis CSX 3015 is considered a genuine Competition roadster with original body (which is different from other Cobra 427 SC models), and includes the 1967 Super Snake hood, the Girling CR and BR calipers are still date coded to 1965, and the original 377 rear end with oil cooler and pumps are genuine 427 Competition spec.

The 5m17 427ci V8 engine block is date-coded to December 17, 1965, with the original headers and those impressive, chrome side pipes … the estimate for this unique Cobra 427 Super Snake is set between $5,000,000 and $8,000,000 … and I couldn’t have put it any better than Craig Jackson himself, when he stated:

“This car is a very special car, it’s Carroll’s personal car, one he built for himself. You just don’t get any rarer than that.”

Porsche 930 Turbo SE G50 ‘Flachbau’ Cabriolet

Anyone who followed the ‘World Championship of Makes’ (essentially an International championship for long-distance Sports Car racing), will remember their surprise at the shape of the new Porsche 935 when it first appeared at Mugello in March 1976. Subsequently, these ‘Flatnose’ 935s and 936s (in Group 6) were to prove very competitive in the hands of Ickx, Mass and Stommelen and during the next two seasons managed four victories in eight World Championship races and a triumph at Le Mans in each year.

However, Porsche began to worry that all these victories by the works Flatnose cars might alienate the vast number of private clients who were investing their own money in conventionally-shaped competition 911s, and decided to restrict their efforts for 1978 to an entry at Le Mans.

The distinctive look of the “Flachbau” (literally translated as Low Build) obviously retained its appeal in the minds of their road car customers and, from 1981 until early 1989, Porsche 930 Turbo buyers could specify their car in this style to special order. Just 50 ‘C16’ cars were manufactured for the UK-market, initially equipped with an uprated engine of 330bhp (from 300) mated to a 4-speed transmission. However, at the end of 1988, the uprated 5-Speed G50 gearbox was introduced, dramatically easing the peaks in power delivery by reducing the effects of ‘turbo-lag’. The factory SE also benefited from a dual-exit exhaust system, limited-slip differential, heated front seats and a sunroof.

This example is a genuine, factory-produced, C-16, Porsche 930 Turbo SE G50 Cabriolet built in 1989 under the ‘Sonderwunchprogramm’ (Special Wishes Programme). It’s superbly finished in White Pearl with a matching leather interior and has covered just 33,168 miles in the hands of three private owners prior to spending time in two of the highest-profile exclusive collections in the UK since 2014.

It’s supplied with an extensive history file detailing expenditure of over £45,000 lavished on this stunning Porsche during 2017 to ensure that it presents today in the best possible condition for an enthusiast or collector alike. The history file also contains all its previous MOTs and the service book displays sixteen service stamps helping to corroborate the indicated mileage.

With only seven C-16 examples of this specific model produced in 1989, this really is the ‘Holy Grail’ when considering a 930 and we would welcome any inspection of this rather special Porsche.

The Right Hand Drive on this specific Porsche might limit the possible market for it, but I still think Silverstone Auctions will find a buyer for this one, I personally really love this generation of Porsche, and a Slantnose Convertible is just the ultimate one … I even had a 1/18 scale model of this exact spec, white on white … but it was a LHD.

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo on the road

The head of the Taycan model line, Stefan Weckbach, took on very mildly camouflaged Porsche onto the open roads around Waissach for some real-world testing … boasting a long roofline combined with an increased ride height. And while the front looks like the Porsche Taycan, the rest looks more like the Mission E Cross Turismo concept from 2018.

This is the brand new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, a car for those people that love the Taycan, but need some more space and versatility … this Cross Turismo feels at home on the city streets, but also out in the country on sand roads, and while this model comes with increased ground clearance, it’s not a replacement for a Cayenne … the Cross Turismo is intended to be able to cross gravel roads and some mild off-roading, it even comes with bespoke CUV (Cross Utility Vehicle) driving modes.

Compared to the Porsche Taycan you’ll immediately notice the extended roofline, making it look like a sporty estate, but they also added roof rails for practicality, the rear seats are more spacious and the luggage area has been enlarged to create the Cross Turismo, this is the first all-electric cross utility vehicle from Porsche.

Until now the Taycan Cross Turismo was a closely kept secret beyond the walls of Weissach and the Taycan production line in Zuffenhausen, but the appeal of Porsche’s first all-electric sports saloon will only grow now, taking the Taycan (of which 20,000 units were sold during the first year of production) onto a different market segment, customers who want to take this all-electric Cross Turismo off the streets, onto the open fields.

The Morgan Plus 8 GTR

Raw, visceral, loud, and low, the Morgan Plus 8 GTR represents what the Morgan Motor Company can create when its design and engineering teams let their imaginations run wild. Limited to just nine examples, it marks the first in a line of Morgan special projects set to commence this year.

The Plus 8 GTR explores design themes such as the high shoulder line, not seen on a traditional Morgan body for decades. Its five-spoke center-lock wheels are reminiscent of Morgan’s 1990s Plus 8 race cars, framed perfectly by subtly re-sculpted wheel arches. Further design elements include a revised rear end, front wings, and front splitter, and the fitment of a hardtop. The model also benefits from the learning and expertise gained by the company since the Plus 8 officially finished production in 2018.

One particular design inspiration was the Plus 8 race car that competed in the GT series throughout the late nineties, more commonly known as ‘Big Blue’. This car served as the testbed for Morgan’s first bonded-aluminum chassis, which would go on to underpin the Aero 8 and ‘Aero-chassis’ Plus 8 models. It seemed fitting, following the recent launch of Morgan’s latest CX-Generation bonded-aluminum platform, to use this opportunity to pay tribute to the car that pioneered Morgan’s use of aluminum structures.

The project has only been possible because of the recent availability of a number of Plus 8 rolling chassis, which have been re-acquired from a third party following a discontinued project. These were all built by Morgan before 2018 and were never used for their intended purposes. All are to be recommissioned and will benefit from the upgrade of selected mechanical components.

As part of their transformation from rolling chassis to the finished vehicle, each GTR will be handcrafted using Morgan’s traditional coachbuilding techniques. In a break from over a century of Morgan tradition, much of this work will be completed not at its famous Pickersleigh Road factory, but at the nearby Morgan Design and Engineering Centre (M-DEC). The Plus 8 GTR runs alongside core programs and is one of several Morgan special projects to be announced this year. It follows numerous special project Morgan models in recent years, such as the Aero GT, SP1, and Aeromax.

These ‘Aero-chassis’ Plus 8s use the Morgan first-generation bonded-aluminium chassis developed initially for the Morgan Aero 8. Previously, from 1968 to 2004, Plus 8 models used Morgan’s traditional steel chassis and were powered by Rover V8 engines.

All ‘Aero-chassis’ Morgan Plus 8s were powered by the BMW N62 4.8-litre engine, and the GTR will be no exception. In its original specification, this unit produced 362 bhp, however, the exact power output for the GTR is yet to be finalized. A choice of a six-speed manual or ZF six-speed automatic gearbox will be available, with fixed allocations for each transmission option.

Just nine Morgan Plus 8 GTRs will be built, with production beginning in summer 2021. The transformed special project will be available in certain worldwide markets, subject to local rules on the importation of European vehicles. As part of the special projects program, customers will be invited to commission their bespoke Plus 8 GTR alongside Morgan’s design team.

Jonathan Wells, Morgan Head of Design, said:

“Reviving a V8-powered Morgan at the current time may not seem like the obvious choice for a manufacturer firmly focused on new platforms and powertrains. However, when the opportunity presented itself to recommission a number of rolling chassis and create an exciting special project such as Plus 8 GTR, we embraced it fully. This project has allowed Morgan’s design and engineering teams to revisit some of their favorite elements of past Morgan models, as well as experiment with some features that we hope will appear on future Morgan cars.”

The ABT SQ7, 500hp and 7 seats

As a family man you’ll need a big car for the school run and those groceries over the weekend … a Lamborghini Urus might not fit into the budget and an Audi RSQ8 isn’t what you’re looking for … in that case another option from the Audi stable might be just what you need, the $85,000 Audi SQ7.

Considered a mid-size SUV in the United States, over in Europe this is a large car, nonetheless with 500 hp from a V8 engine, this 2.3-tonne beast still takes only 4.1 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill … something a base model Porsche 911 barely manages too.

But a nicely optioned factory spec Audi SQ7 might just be too easy for some customers, in that case ABT can help you out, they are still developing a custom ECU tune to pull more power from the V8 engine, but for now you can already make your Audi SQ7 look more aggressive with a stylish wide-body kit from this German tuner.

Abt is the world’s largest automotive aftermarket and performance parts specialist for Audi and VW, and they offer a new, aggressively designed front bumper add-on, wider wheel arch extensions, side sills, a rear diffuser fin and a set of massive tailpipe covers to fit over the standard ones.

If you’re not into wide body kits, you can also order the ‘narrow’ version that doesn’t include the fender flares. Additional options are possible in the form of a rear wing or fender inserts in either ABS or carbon fiber.

The Audi SQ7 can already come with large 21-inch wheels from the factory, but we wouldn’t be talking about ABT if they didn’t offer bigger, 22-inch replacement units for their customer, a choice between the ABT Sport GR, the ABT HR Aero, or the impressive flow-forming ABT High PerformanceHR-F.

Additional touches of carbon fiber can be added to the interior while some illuminated ABT logo can be fitted for that ‘personal’ touch to your very own ABT SQ7 SUV, I’m sure this will make dropping of the kids at school a lot more interesting …

The first Bentley Bacalar W12 engine for a customer is ready

So what’s the most expensive, modern-day Bentley money can buy? That would have to be the $2,000,000 Bentley Bacalar, a two-seater, convertible luxury sports car that comes with the famous W12 engine and uses 5,000-year-old wood on the interior … but wait, sorry, you can’t buy it anymore, all 12 units were sold out by the time this car was unveiled in March 2020.

After a nine-month development period, the ‘Car Zero’ was taking through extensive road testing at speeds up to 200 mph (read our previous article on this), but that was still a production prototype … today the first W12 engine for a customer Bentley Bacalar has passed rigorous testing and will be fitted to the bespoke car soon, a return to coachbuilding for Bentley.

While the Bentley Bacalar takes the chassis from the Continental GT, not a single part of the bodywork will be used from that base, over 750 bespoke Bacalar parts will be created by Bentley, and while the engine is the famous W12 6.0-liter TSI unit we already know since 2003, it has been further enhanced for the Bacalar to offer the smoothest ride possible, but still provide a massive 650 hp and 900 Nm of torque.

Since 2003, the power output for this one-of-a-kind W12 engine has increased by 27%, torque went up by 38% while emissions were reduced by 38%, a major feat by the Bentley engineers, each of these W12 engines takes a team of 45 specialists a total of 6.5 hours to hand-build … only to be taken to a test-facility to be put through her paces for an hour to make sure the engine performs to Bentley specifications.

In fact, there are three separate tests each W12 engine has to endure before receiving her ‘pass’ … first up is a test for leaks when the engine reached the ‘short engine’ state when oil, fuel, and water can be added and a pressure of 0.2 to 5.0 bar can be forced onto the respective parts and they wait for any leaks.

The most advanced test is the second one, the ‘Cold Test’, where the newly assembled W12 is put onto a testbed and gets an electric motor fitted onto the crankshaft, the wire loom is connected and the engine is ‘turned’ for a period of 15 minutes while all the sensors gather data to make sure there aren’t any issues with internal parts.

‘Hot Testing’ is the final stage for this W12 Bentley engine, now the exhaust manifolds, turbochargers, and all ancillaries are mounted. The engine runs at 3,800 rpm for at least 21.5 minutes, a maximum load of 300 Nm is set … this allows the engine test technician to listen for any refinements while the engine is simulated in real-world usage. For every 100 W12 engine, one of them is taken for an 8-hour test, pulling to 6,000 rpm, and it must reach the required 900 Nm.

So after all the testing on Car Zero, the first W12 engine made for the Bentley Bacalar that will be delivered to a customer is ready to be installed now, it won’t be too long before we will finally see this car leaving the factory doors at Crewe … about a year after the model was introduced.

The return of Gemballa?

If names like 911 Extremo, Avalanche, Mirage GT, or MIG-U1 ring a bell, you probably know Uwe Gemballa’s creations from the past, back in the Eighties two famous families already partnered up to create some of the world’s most impressive Porsche engines, Uwe Gemballa and Alois Ruf … today these families join forces again.

Uwe’s son, Marc Philipp Gemballa (not associated with Gemballa GmbH) set up his own company to create an off-road capable sportscar based on the Porsche 992 Turbo S, and he’s going to partner up with RUF Automobile GmbH for the creation of an upgraded engine … the Porsche sourced six-cylinder boxer unit will be tuned to deliver over 750 hp and 970 Nm of torque.

This new Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH car is called the ‘Sandbox Project, powered by RUF’, and while the car hasn’t been officially launched on the market, ten units are already sold simply based on 3D-renders. This will be the first project from this young entrepreneur takes the famous Porsche 959 ‘Paris-Dakar’ racecar and reimagines it as a new off-road supercar.

“We enjoy working with my father’s trusted business partners. Many of them rank among today’s leading suppliers in the automotive industry, and in addition to their decades of experience, they know the standards we strive for and perfectly understand what matters. My father trusted the technical expertise as well as the high-quality standards and the well-proven working methods of Alois Ruf. Consequently, the choice to partner with RUF Automobile for the engine development was a natural decision for us. I am pleased that we can continue this very special friendship and partnership”, says Marc Philipp Gemballa

An official World Premiere is scheduled for Spring 2021, but only 40 units will be built of the Sandbox, powered by RUF, and the initial ten units are even more special ‘Launch Edition’ models, these are all sold out already, only the remaining 30 units are still available … no MSRP has been listed, however.

Marc, now 27, starts a new era with his company Marc Philipp Gemballa GmbH, exactly ten years after his father, Uwe Gemballa passed away, being raised with supercars around him, he worked at companies like Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche … but now he intends to create the next evolution of supercars, not just a focus on extreme high hp figures, or being the fastest on the ‘Green Hell’ track … his Sandbox vision is a supercar that can be taken off-road … just like the legendary Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar cars.

After two years of development, he created a contemporary supercar with an almost timeless design, offering comfort and daily driving possibility for a road car that can be taken off-road too, to build his vision Marc gets the support of his father’s worldwide network of clients, dealers, suppliers, and partners. Alan Derosier as a designer, KW Automotive for the suspension, RUF Automobile for the engine work, Michelin to supply the tires, world-renowned Akrapovič for the exhaust, VELA Performance as an engineering partner, and KLK Motorsport as aerodynamic specialists.

Maserati launches MY 2021 vehicles

Maserati North America introduced the brand’s model year 2021 vehicles at Willow Springs, California showcasing their dynamic performance capabilities on the race track and road. This new range of vehicles features a variety of design and technology upgrades, such as updated styling to create a more unified look for the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte, along with a new generation MIA (Maserati Intelligent Assistant) multimedia system.

Each of the three models has specific changes, all of which reflect the same philosophy, making these MY21 vehicles instantly recognizable. Distinctive design features include a new front grille and rear light clusters that provide a boomerang shape inspired by the 3200 GT. In each of the MY21 vehicles, these clusters feature a three-color lens as a result of using a state-of-the-art 3K injection molding technology. The boomerang shape has black around the edge, red in the middle, and clear in the bottom section.

The MIA multimedia system is powered by an Android Automotive operating system, offering a new and innovative user experience with full personalization capabilities. Integrated into this system for all MY21 models and beyond is the new Maserati Connect program that keeps the driver informed of the car’s health, alerts them when the vehicle needs to be serviced, and assists in emergencies and instances of car theft. Drivers can stay in contact with their car via the Maserati Connect app or virtual personal assistant, such as Google Assist and Amazon Alexa. MY21 vehicles also feature Active Driving Assist, which has been added to the ADAS already available in the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte.

Active Driving Assist is an evolution of Highway Assist. It’s a “hands-on” function intended for use on any kind of well-maintained road and, while previous versions were only usable on highways, today it is available on any well-maintained road at speeds up to 90 mph with the Adaptive Cruise Control system activated. It reduces driver fatigue and enhances active safety by allowing the car to keep itself centered in its lane and to adapt its pre-selected speed in full autonomy, employing a radar unit and a forward-looking camera, working with the EPS to control the direction of the car.

Levante
The Levante, known as “the Maserati of SUVs,” features an innovative front grille with tuning fork design in the MY21 model, which is available in chrome for the GranLusso trim and Piano Black for the GranSport. The existing distinctions between trims remain unchanged. Inside, the Levante has received significant updates both in design and technology with the central display and instrument cluster. The Levante’s 8.4-inch display screen has an improved resolution and graphics with a visual effect that makes it look like a single curved screen with the air vents cut into it, enabling vertical reading of the whole display. The name Maserati is also screen-printed on the back of the screen at the bottom of the display, for a three-dimensional effect.

There has also been a sophisticated change to the instrument cluster, which includes a large rev counter and speedometer (still analog but with updated graphics) on either side of a 7-inch TFT display. Much of the plastic from the previous versions have been eliminated and replaced with real anti-glare flat glass covers over the instruments. All these changes give the instrument cluster a more high-tech look and generate a richer impression and are applied to the Ghibli and Quattroporte models, as well.

The model year 2021 Levante collection includes the Levante, Levante S, Levante GTS and Levante Trofeo.

Ghibli
In addition to the rear light clusters, the MY21 Ghibli also features an updated grille with a Maserati tuning fork that is available in chrome for the GranLusso trim and a sportier Piano Black for the GranSport.

The central screen in the Ghibli has now been enlarged to 10.1-inches with a ratio of 16:10 with a high-resolution display and multi-touch functionality. The glass in the top of the display is now curved for a more elegant look, making it the first time this feature has been used in automotive design.

The model year 2021 Ghibli collection includes the Ghibli, Ghibli S, Ghibli S Q4, and Ghibli Trofeo.

Quattroporte

The Quattroporte, Maserati’s flagship, also features the upgraded grille with the same GranLusso and GranSport offerings as the Levante and Ghibli, along with the enhanced boomerang-shaped lighting cluster at the rear. Additionally, like the Ghibli, this model has a new central screen, enlarged to 10.1-inches with a curved glass top. The model year 2021 Quattroporte collection includes the Quattroporte, Quattroporte S Q4, and Quattroporte Trofeo.

Trofeo Collection

In addition to the new V6 models for 2021, the Trofeo collection has been expanded to include the Ghibli and Quattroporte. Now, all three models feature a V8 engine that produces 580hp, making the Ghibli Trofeo and Quattroporte Trofeo the fastest Maserati sedans ever built, with a top speed of 326 km/h or 203 mph. The Levante Trofeo’s maximum speed is 302 km/h or 187 mph. These vehicles also feature the Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system, providing enhanced driving dynamics, greater active safety, and superior performance. Both sedans have the Corsa button for a sportier driving style and Launch Control that unleashes the full amount of power from the V8 to deliver an authentic Maserati experience. In line with the other MY21 models, the Trofeo collection features the new boomerang rear light cluster and MIA system with the Maserati Connect program.

Zegna PELLETESSUTA™ Woven Leather Interior Available
The soft, luxurious, lightweight Zegna PELLETESSUTA™ material is not only durable but brings comfort and beauty to Maserati interiors. The result of years of research and using thin strips of Nappa leather in place of fabric yarns which are woven together and interlaced replicating the traditional method of weaving cloth to obtain a real ‘fabric’ from leather. This method is an example of combining new avant-garde technologies with century-old traditions to create innovation. Through a longstanding partnership between Zegna and Maserati, two historical Italian companies, Maserati is the only automotive company to bring this elevated exclusive interior to the market. This Zegna PELLETESSUTA™ interior is available as an option across all three nameplates on Gransport/GranLusso trims and GTS and Trofeo.

MC20 Prototype
A static prototype of the 2022 MC20 joined the MY21 range in Willow Springs following its highly anticipated global debut in September 2020. This new super sports car signifies a new era for Maserati, combining luxury, performance, and sportiness, and features the new Nettuno engine. This V6 produces 621hp with 730 Nm (538 lb-ft) of torque, delivering 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 2.9 seconds (0-60 miles in under 2.9 seconds) and a top speed over 325 km/h (202 mph). MC20 vehicles will begin arriving in North America this fall.

In depth on the new McLaren Arturo

The McLaren Artura: in detail
Every drop of McLaren’s technical expertise and experience has been channeled into making the all-new Artura extraordinary to drive and wonderfully enjoyable to own. Ever since the 12C revolutionized the supercar segment a decade ago, McLaren Automotive has continued to push the boundaries of supercar innovation. The McLaren P1™ brought McLaren hybridization to the hypercar sector as long ago as 2012. The Speedtail introduced astonishing new levels of hybrid performance, its 403km/h (250mph) maximum speed making it the fastest-ever McLaren.

The brief for the Artura was even more challenging: to create a series-production High-Performance Hybrid supercar that excels on every level, with performance, engagement, and efficiency sharing equal top-billing. The engineering and design team approached the challenge holistically – no single part of the process was undertaken in isolation – with ambitious targets set in every area: weight; performance; driver engagement; efficiency; agility; refinement; quality and usability.

Every target was met – and in most cases, surpassed – heralding the arrival of the Artura as a next-generation McLaren High-Performance Hybrid that introduces a new supercar era.

“The way we design cars at McLaren is different. We use a holistic approach comprising both technical design and studio design, areas that in the automotive industry are often separated and sometimes even compete; McLaren sees these pillars as integrally linked and working towards common goals.”
Dan Parry-Williams, Director of Engineering Design, McLaren Automotive

Super-lightweight engineering

McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA)

  • The Artura is the first McLaren to use MCLA, which is designed and produced at McLaren Composites Technology Centre in Sheffield, UK
  • Optimized for High-Performance Hybrid models, MCLA comprises three elements: carbon fiber monocoque, electrical architecture, and chassis and suspension structures
  • Carbon fiber monocoque is safer, stronger, and like-for-like lighter than previous McLaren monocoques

“The new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) is quite literally at the core of the super-lightweight engineering philosophy that is inherent throughout the Artura. We developed this all-new, High-Performance Hybrid supercar with all of our learnings from decades of working with advanced composite and other lightweight materials, using world-first processes and techniques to deliver weight savings that offset heavier hybrid powertrains, ensuring greater energy efficiency and maintaining the outstanding agility and dynamic performance our customers expect.”
Jamie Corstorphine, Director of Product Strategy, McLaren Automotive

To achieve the very specific aims of the Artura program McLaren started right at the core of its new supercar, with a completely new carbon fiber architecture. This had to not only be true to the company’s philosophy of super-lightweight engineering for dynamic and performance reasons but also crucially to offset the extra weight of a hybrid powertrain, as well as being tailored to accommodate the battery pack.

The new architecture – called McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) – features three elements: an all-new carbon-fiber monocoque occupant structure, a new chassis with aluminum crash beams and rear subframe, and a first-to-market domain-based ethernet electrical architecture.

Four years in the making, MCLA is the first architecture to be manufactured at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC), a new, state-of-the-art facility in the Sheffield region. Flexible in the application (but physically incredibly stiff and strong) this scalable platform architecture heralds the beginning of a new era of McLaren supercars.

Carbon fibre monocoque
At the center of the new platform is the carbon fiber monocoque. McLaren pioneered composite technology in Formula 1™ racing nearly 40 years ago and first transferred it to the road in the carbon fiber chassis and body of the McLaren F1. When the 12C was unveiled in 2009 it introduced a unique one-piece molded carbon fiber chassis that was 25% stiffer than an equivalent all-metal structure and 25% lighter than a comparable aluminum chassis. McLaren’s revolutionary technologies also allowed carbon fiber monocoques to be productionized in volumes never before achievable.

The McLaren Artura marks another revolutionary leap. No McLaren monocoque, whether designed for the road or race track, has ever had to do more: the carbon fiber structure now additionally provides a safety cell for the battery pack and integrates further crash and load-bearing functionality. Yet it remains incredibly lightweight, weighing just 82kg including the battery compartment, aero surfaces, B-pillars, and door-hinge fixings, contributing to the low overall weight of the Artura, despite its 130kg of hybrid components.

At first glance, the MCLA monocoque may appear similar to other McLaren carbon fiber structures, but the geometry of every surface is new, and it is constructed from four new carbon materials, a new resin system, and a new structural core material. These new properties accommodate both the platform requirements and new, bespoke mechanized production processes now on stream at MCTC.

The in-house approach ensures McLaren can constantly innovate monocoques to accommodate new technologies or new models, without compromising the qualities that ensure its chassis are the lightest, stiffest and strongest in their class.

The MCLA monocoque is taller around the A- and B-pillars than previous McLaren monocoques, as it integrates additional strength and load-bearing functionality into the carbon structure, replacing bonded metal parts. The windscreen surround is also carbon fiber. To achieve the requisite battery and fuel-tank safety cell, the sides of the monocoque extend back beyond what would traditionally be seen as the rear bulkhead. This provides side impact protection for the battery pack and also the fuel tank.

There is an exacting tolerance to the monocoque dimensions of +0.75mm across the structure with the tightest tolerances between machined features down to +/-0.25mm. This is fundamental to factors such as the accuracy of the suspension geometry control. Additionally, the high torsional rigidity of the monocoque ensures less compromise for the flexibility of the suspension itself, further enhancing the unique balance between a supple ride and precise handling.

The structure also plays a role in aerothermal optimization. Chamfered corners at the trailing edge of the front wheel arches guide airflow out of the arches and along the underside of the doors. The extended outer skin of the doors traps the air in this channel and it is driven rearwards into intakes that feed the lower portion of the high-temperature radiators (HTRs).

Chassis structure
Situated at either end of the carbon fiber monocoque are aluminum subframes that provide the Artura’s deformable crash structures. Designed to absorb impacts, the structures can be repaired or replaced easily and very cost-effectively. Cars with a full aluminum or steel chassis use their entire structure to absorb and crumple on impact, causing more damage to the whole structure, often including the passenger cell.

On the Artura, the front upper wishbone is mounted to the carbon monocoque, while the lower wishbone is attached to the aluminum crash subframe. The rear subframe is bolted to the monocoque, with the carbon fiber floor beneath the battery bridging the lower cross members transversely across the vehicle, ensuring the required torsional stiffness and optimizing the rear frame weight. The length of the lower portion of the frame is shortened to accommodate a bespoke rear diffuser, and the geometry of the new multi-link wishbone rear suspension concept is particularly aggressive.

Electrical architecture
Just as the carbon fiber monocoque incorporates greater functionality than any previous McLaren structure, so too does the electrical system. The Artura debuts an array of firsts for McLaren, including advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates, and Pirelli Cyber Tyre® tire-monitoring technology. These are all made possible by the new electrical architecture, which also supports an all-new McLaren Infotainment System (MIS II).

Additionally, the complex powertrain necessitated an electrical architecture that can control McLaren’s first gasoline direct injection (GDI) fuel system at 350 bar; completely new transmission software; the E-differential and e-reverse functionality; battery management and implementing the different types of driving experience via the integration of the electric drive and engine drive.

To achieve all of this, McLaren is one of the first-to-market with a zonal domain-based ethernet architecture as the core backbone of the vehicle. The technology is the stepping point towards the industry trend of vehicle architecture redesign.

The domain-based ethernet system utilizes four controllers, each positioned in a key area within the vehicle to optimize data rates and cable lengths. Placed in the same zones as the loads they control, the controllers are connected, via ethernet, through a central gateway. Linked functions at the front, rear, or across the vehicle don’t need independent wiring and control systems, but instead, transfer data via this central ‘backbone’.

By moving to a single standard, all communications can coexist on the same ethernet network. Spreading outwards from each domain, data transfer still occurs via LIN (Local Interconnect Network) and CAN (Controller Area Network) for subsystem communication but processing power has increased. The use of domain-based technology has reduced the length of cabling in the vehicle by 25%, reducing weight by more than 10%.

This has been achieved while at the same time significantly upgrading the electrical capability of the vehicle – and adding new technologies such as the advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) features that debut in the Artura. The processing tools are integrated, with centralized software that can be constantly scaled and upgraded as new functionality becomes available, creating a platform that can adapt to future legislation and technology.

The advantage of this will most immediately be obvious to the owner because it allows for Over-The-Air (OTA) updates. When connected via wi-fi, either at home or via a hotspot, the vehicle is able to download new software when it becomes available. Updates related to vehicle safety will require a visit to a McLaren retailer, but OTA updates mean the customer can spend more time in their vehicle and instantly enjoy the benefits of newly downloaded functionality.

Working across all of these systems are new cybersecurity protocols, with enhanced algorithms. And in addition to OTA updates, depending on the market the new electrical architecture includes integrated stolen vehicle tracking within the telematics as well as E-call, which can dial emergency or recovery services in the event of an accident or breakdown.

eHVAC system
The new Arturia platform also incorporates new electric heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (eHVAC) system, designed to work with or without the assistance of the internal combustion engine. The compact unit, incorporating an electric compressor, condenser, and evaporator, is located in the front of the car to improve weight distribution, without the need for ‘pipework’ to run forward from the engine. Not using the internal combustion engine to drive the compressor allows optimal control of compressor speed for better cooling in arduous conditions.

The eHVAC system is able to heat or cool quicker than a conventional HVAC system, and provide greater precision between chosen temperatures. It uses a diffused vent that runs horizontally across the dashboard. This design increases flow into the cabin at lower velocities and with consequently improved occupant comfort and reduced system noise.

High-Performance Hybrid powertrain
The benefits of a High-Performance Hybrid powertrain are already in evidence in McLaren’s current range with the Speedtail – and of course previously from the McLaren P1™. The Speedtail has the greatest power and torque of any McLaren road car, with a combined 1,070PS (1,055bhp) and 1,150Nm (848lb ft) and even though it is an ultra-limited hypercar, the exhaustive development that produced it – and the philosophy of greater efficiency and lower emissions without compromising performance – helped to define the Artura’s unique attributes of hypercar innovation in a series-production supercar.

The Artura’s hybrid powertrain combines an all-new twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine together with an industry-leading axial flux electric motor (E-motor) integrated within an all-new eight-speed transmission and a lithium-ion battery pack.

The combined output of the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain is 680PS and 720Nm, with the torque of the E-motor ensuring instant throttle response. Straight-line acceleration of 0-100km/h (62mph) is achieved in 3.0 seconds and 0–300km/h (186mph) in just 21.5 seconds; yet at the same time the Artura is capable of driving up to 30km on battery power alone, making the car fully zero-emissions capable for most urban journeys. The cleanest and most efficient McLaren road car ever, the Artura returns more than 50mpgand 129g/km CO2 on the EU WLTP cycle*.

The McLaren Artura has four Powertrain modes, covering every driving requirement: E-mode, Comfort, Sport and Track. E-mode is the default for silent start-up and zero-emissions, fully-electric driving. In Comfort mode, the V6 petrol engine runs in tandem with the E-motor, with maximum assistance for fuel saving. In Sport model, the E-motor provides torque infill at lower revs, while the V6 targets maximum performance. Track mode delivers the same blend of hybridized power, with transmission software delivering faster shifts.

All-new V6 petrol engine

  • 2,993cc twin-turbocharged V6; 120° v-angle with turbos in ‘hot vee’
  • Develops 585PS – a specific output approaching 200PS per litre – and torque of 585Nm
  • Light and compact: 50kg lighter and 190mm shorter than McLaren V8 engine

“Our all-new V6 engine is compact, light, powerful, and extremely efficient. The dimensions aided packaging of the hybrid system and enabled a lower center of gravity for the Artura, while the 120° vee design allowed us to have a very short and stiff crankshaft, which means the engine can rev all the way to 8,500rpm, delivering the drama and excitement you expect from a McLaren supercar.”
Richard Jackson, Head of Powertrain, McLaren Automotive

Designed by McLaren engineers to set new standards for smaller capacity V6 turbocharged engines, an all-new 3.0-litre V6 is at the heart of the Artura’s powertrain. Generating 585PS (577bhp) and 585Nm (431lb ft) of torque, the M630 produces more PS per litre than any McLaren engine except for the 4.0-litre V8 of the Elva and McLaren Senna. Lightweight – at just 160kg it weighs 50kg less than a McLaren V8 – and extremely fuel-efficient, its unique wide-angle configuration and compact size enable a High-Performance Hybrid powertrain package that is shorter than McLaren’s V8 engine and seven-speed transmission. That’s all the more impressive given the addition of an eighth gear, as well as the inclusion of McLaren’s first electronically controlled differential.

Mounted longitudinally and driving the rear wheels, the engine is a 2,993cc dry-sump V6 with an 84.0mm bore and 90.0mm stroke. Valve timing is continuously variable. Peak power of 585PS (577bhp) is produced at 7,500rpm, with the redline at 8,200rpm (8,500rpm intermittent). 585Nm (431lb ft) of torque is generated from 2250-7000rpm. Gasoline direct injection (GDI) operating at 350bar pressure ensures precise fuelling for increased power and reduced emissions, with one central injector per cylinder, while Gasoline Particulate Filters (GPFs) and catalytic converters ensure all legislative requirements are met.

The engine employs a 120˚ ‘hot vee’ layout. This configuration allows shared crank pins enabling a very short and stiff crankshaft appropriate for high power, high-revving engines. The wider angle brings advantages that include a lower center of gravity and the creation of a cavity within the vee to house the twin turbochargers. This is one of the factors that makes the engine 220mm narrower than McLaren’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, its compact nature assured by additional advantages in length and weight.

The ‘hot vee’ configuration additionally optimizes performance and emissions. This enables short, equal-length exhaust runners feeding the turbos, allowing faster spooling with very close-coupled catalysts feeding straight to the rear with minimal pressure drops.

Unusually, the compact mono-scroll turbochargers are symmetrical, removing the performance compromises usually seen in the exhaust and intake systems of twin-turbo vee engines. The system uses ball-bearing technology to reduce friction within the turbo, allowing it to spin up faster. Combined with electronically actuated wastegates that can instantly adjust position regardless of system pressure, turbo-lag and response time are minimized. This – together with the power from the E-motor – gives the Artura extremely rapid response to throttle inputs.

A series of complex heat shields tightly surround the ‘hot vee’ to cool it efficiently. These enclose the engine to stop heat diffusing through the rear of the vehicle, with nozzles fed from the back of the high-temperature radiator (HTR) fans to blow air at high speed between the top of the ‘hot vee’ and the underside of the heat shield. This heated air is funneled out through the powertrain chimney, an opening in the heat shield in the center of the rear deck mesh.

The lightweight engine block, cylinder heads, and pistons are all aluminum. The block has directly coated parent bores rather than separate coated liners. This technology allows the engine to be significantly shorter. The cylinder head and block utilize 3D printed cores, a technology more typically used in Formula 1™ than road cars, allowing uncompromised precision cooling, for example, a micro-compact 2mm cooling passage between the cylinders.

Another innovation – this time benefitting refinement and packaging – is the location of the chain drive at the rear of the engine. This reduces NVH intrusion into the cabin, as well as torsional vibration. Overall, the new V6 produces very little mechanical noise, either from the engine itself or associated pump and valvetrain sounds. Intake noise has also been optimized for refinement.

The combination of enhanced refinement and instant driver engagement under throttle enables the Artura to fulfill its dual role as a vehicle that can be driven every day in normal urban traffic and an incredibly immersive supercar on road or track.

The advances in refinement have allowed McLaren to tailor a unique exhaust sound when the throttle is depressed. The delta between on- and off-throttle sound is the greatest of any McLaren to date, acknowledging the differing demands of the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain’s driving modes. This has been achieved through a number of routes, including the reduction in length of the exhaust system itself – the exhausts exit straight back from the ‘hot vee’, reducing weight and allowing for the creation of a full-width rear diffuser. The lightweight exhaust system has optimized resonators to enhance the Artura’s harmonic and full-bodied exhaust note.

All-new eight-speed transmission

  • Newly designed and developed specifically for the Artura
  • Lightweight and compact, with E-motor integrated within the clutch bell housing
  • Short individual gear ratios optimize power/torque delivery and driver engagement
  • No mechanical reverse gear – E-motor runs in reverse instead

“With eight forward gears, all with short individual ratios, the all-new, twin-clutch transmission encourages the driver to keep the V6 engine in the power and torque band for more of the time and fully enjoy the Artura driving experience. The transmission is lightweight and very compact, especially when you consider that it has the powertrain’s E-motor – which also fulfills the role of mechanical reverse gear – integrated into the clutch bell housing.”
Geoff Grose, Chief Engineer, McLaren Artura

The McLaren Artura has a completely new and technically advanced eight-speed seamless-shift transmission. Designed to integrate the E-motor yet still be very compact, the technically advanced transmission offers high performance and significantly improved CO2 figures. Despite an extra gear over the seven-speed transmission on McLaren’s V8-powered vehicles, the length of the gear cluster has been reduced by 40mm, helped by the use of a nested clutch rather than a parallel clutch.

The transmission acts to transfer torque from both the E-motor and the V6 engine. This allows the vehicle to operate in a zero-emissions mode using only the E-motor after the internal combustion engine is disconnected.

The use of eight gears allows the ratios to be more closely stacked, giving lightning-fast gearshifts – close to 200 milliseconds – while twin clutches enable the continuous transfer of torque from the input to the driveshafts during each change of gear. The E-motor’s torque can also be utilized during gearshifts, particularly those at low vehicle speeds and low engine rpms, to smooth the transition from one ratio to the next. The eighth ratio is used as an overdrive to improve consumption characteristics on motorways.

Both electric and mechanical oil pumps feature; the electric pump is necessary whenever the engine is disconnected from the transmission, but it can also be used to supplement the mechanical pump which, as a result, is smaller than would otherwise be the case.

Cooling for the transmission is provided by two new medium-temperature radiators (MTR). A feed is taken from the high-temperature radiator (HTR) circuit and each MTR is fed by an air intake at the base of the roof buttresses, pre-cooling the water to enable clutch cooling to lower temperatures than the engine and transmission.

E-motor and battery pack

  • Compact, high power density E-motor generates 95PS and up to 225Nm
  • Five-module Lithium Ion energy dense battery
  • Usable energy capacity of 7.4kwh; 30km of electric-only range

“The compact, high power density axial flux E-motor and energy-dense Lithium-Ion battery pack that comprise the electric element of the Artura powertrain bring 95PS and up to 225Nm to the total power and torque outputs of McLaren’s new High-Performance Hybrid. This contribution is key both to the electrifying supercar performance and the 30km of emissions-free, EV driving capability.”
Sunoj George, Head of Electric Drive Technology, McLaren Automotive

So much innovation has been concentrated into the compact dimensions of the all-new petrol V6 that it’s easy to overlook the other driving force inside McLaren’s High-Performance Hybrid powertrain – the electric motor and battery pack that comprises the electric element.

The E-motor is truly ground-breaking, being the first application of an axial flux motor in a series-production road vehicle.  Most E-motors in the automotive world use radial flux technology, where magnets are positioned around a rotor. An axial flux motor is fundamentally different, featuring a stator sandwiched between two rotor hubs and able to deliver exceptionally high power and torque density, while also being smaller and lighter.

The Artura’s E-motor weighs just 15.4kg including the transmission interface, which is less than half the weight of the 38kg radial flux E-motor in the McLaren P1™. It generates 95PS (94bhp/70kW) – power output of 4.6kW/kg that is 33% higher in terms of power density than the unit in the McLaren P1™ – and maximum torque of 225Nm (166lb ft). The E-motor is capable in conjunction with the battery pack of propelling the Artura in pure EV mode for up to 30km, and to a maximum speed of 130km/h/81mph. The torque delivery profile of the E-motor is different to that of the V6 petrol engine; the peak of each does not occur simultaneously, hence the Artura’s 720Nm maximum overall.

The short axial length of the E-motor fits neatly inside the bell housing of the Artura’s bespoke eight-speed twin-clutch gearbox. By packaging the E-motor in line with the engine and transmission, its power and torque are transferred directly to the main transmission shaft, improving response. By contrast, with an offset radial flux motor, additional gearing is needed to transfer its outputs to the main transmission shaft. The E-motor also fulfills the role of a reverse gear by spinning backward when required, meaning that there is no need for reverse gear in the Artura’s transmission.

The Artura’s battery pack is another example of McLaren honing its hybrid expertise. Whereas both the McLaren P1™ and the Speedtail have ‘power batteries’ akin to those found in motorsport, the Artura features an ‘energy battery’ that enables both impressive acceleration performance and a practical 30km zero-emissions range when fully charged. The usable battery energy is 7.4kWh.

The battery pack consists of five lithium-ion modules, which sit on a cooling manifold. The battery management unit sits alongside the modules, and the power distribution unit (PDU) is integrated into the battery to save space. The battery is indirectly cooled via the refrigerant in the cooling rails of the manifold; the refrigerant circuit runs from the front of the monocoque where the new electric heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is located. Optimized cooling of the battery delivers greater power and supports consistency of the zero-emissions range.

The entire battery assembly is enclosed within a fireproof cover and mounted on a structural carbon fiber floor that is bolted as one piece into the rear section of the carbon fiber monocoque. The floor, which features aluminum inserts and a structural foam core, provides crash protection below the battery pack. Protection from the side and above comes from a bespoke cavity engineered into the monocoque, shared with the fuel tank which sits above the battery. The engine, transmission, and rear frame shield from any rear impact, meaning the battery pack is incredibly well protected. It is also located as low as possible in the vehicle, benefitting the Artura’s center of gravity.

From the battery pack, a high-voltage DC supply runs to the integrated power unit (IPU) at the front of the car. It is a combined DC/DC converter, on-board charger, and front power distribution unit, and the sharing of power electronics in this unit reduces weight. The DC/DC converter changes the high-voltage DC current from the battery to the low-voltage DC current that is used in the vehicle’s 12v system. The electronics also convert AC taken from the plug-in vehicle charger to the DC that charges the battery.

Artura customers can maintain the charge in the battery pack through the use of the engine, including via a ‘set charge to 100%’ function that prioritizes using the internal combustion to recharge it, for instance ahead of entering an urban area. However, you can also plug in – a charge from zero to 80% takes around two and a half hours via a standard EVSE cable. The batteries can also harvest power from the combustion engine, with the driver able to influence this behavior from the cockpit.

The battery is never allowed to completely discharge, thanks to a number of power reserve functions. These include a reserve to crank the engine on vehicle start-up, a reserve to power reverse ‘gear’, and a reserve for when the car remains parked for extended periods.

The power distribution unit located inside the battery gives its distribution to the state-of-the-art, super lightweight motor control unit (MCU), which converts the high-voltage DC current of the battery to the AC current that the E-motor needs under acceleration. As further evidence of the pace of development at McLaren, the MCU weighs around 68% less than the equivalent unit in the McLaren P1™.

Driving dynamics

“The Artura is super-lightweight, with the entire powertrain packaged centrally in the vehicle and as low down as possible. The rear suspension is a clever multi-link wishbone system that’s designed to be significantly stiffer than anything we’ve used before, and advanced Proactive Damping Control is also a central part of the car’s dynamics. We wanted to make a thrilling, engaging supercar that asks very few compromises of the driver or the passenger and the Artura truly delivers on the McLaren promise of class-leading driving dynamics and cutting-edge technology. ”
Geoff Grose, Chief Engineer, McLaren Artura

The Artura’s engineering credentials are guaranteed to excite anyone who values incredible driving dynamics. The only supercar in its class to offer the combined attractions of super-lightweight carbon fiber construction, a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive configuration, the purity of electro-hydraulic steering, the instant torque of an E-motor (which helps to deliver throttle response that is twice as rapid as any non-hybrid McLaren) and the advanced handling benefits of an E-differential, the Artura has been designed to engage and delight in the way that only a McLaren can.

McLaren engineers have ensured that the Artura has two distinct characteristics that would ordinarily be diametrically opposed: increased agility and increased stability. This has been possible because of a combination of actions and innovations beyond the core advantage of a carbon-fiber monocoque structure, notably a completely new rear suspension concept and McLaren’s first electronically controlled rear differential, which together allow the enjoyable accessibility of the car’s dynamic behavior to be separated from its high-speed stability.

Chassis settings can be adjusted electronically with three Handling modes: Comfort, Sport, and Track. Each set has its own distinct set of parameters for the dampers, for example, a compliant ride for urban driving when in Comfort mode or enhanced dynamic response through tighter damper control when in Track. The settings for the E-diff are also altered as the driver cycles through the Comfort, Sport, and Track settings.

More experienced drivers can utilize the expertise of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, where conditions allow. The ‘ESC On, ‘ESC Dynamic’ and ‘ESC Off’ settings are distinct from the Handling and Powertrain modes, offering the driver full control over the level of vehicle intervention available.

Along with throttle response, the steering feel is the most immediate and pure connection between car and driver and the most tactile way to maximize driver engagement. McLaren has always favored electro-hydraulic assistance over a fully electric steering set-up and has maintained this with the Artura, to best deliver the immediacy, on-center feel, and detailed feedback for the driver.

The Artura also features a new steering column. A fundamentally different design concept that enhances modal stiffness, the column is mounted directly onto a super-stiff, cross-car beam behind the facia. There is also a bespoke torsion bar in the steering rack to create a more nimble and agile dynamic experience, with a greater weight build-up away from the center, and a more natural and unassisted feel.

Suspension
The McLaren Artura features an all-new, completely redesigned rear suspension. The upper-link is a unique wishbone, but what would ordinarily be a lower wishbone has been split in two to become a multi-link component. Viewed from above, rather than connecting to the upright through one central joint, it now features two joints that are further apart. At the same time, the toe control arm has been positioned much further from the wheel hub than is usual, in an extreme location almost at the inner rim of the alloy wheel.

By splitting the wishbone and maximizing the distance between the toe control arm and upright, there is a much greater separation between the connecting points. The result is significantly increased toe stiffness on the rear axle. Additionally, the large, forged uprights deliver stiffer camber, which allows the load to be taken off the suspension links, in turn aiding weight reduction.

The lighter, more compact V6 engine and the geometry of the rear aluminum frame gave McLaren engineers greater freedom in choosing the inboard pick-up points of the suspension. The lower link points in particular are much further forward than is usual. By aggressively using the kinematics in this way, the weight of the rear suspension was able to be reduced by 2.4kg of unsprung mass on each side of the car, benefitting both ride and grip levels. The toe control arm is also located in front of the wheel, rather than behind it, moving the weight distribution towards the center of the vehicle.

The result is a rear axle that is considerably stiffer around the z-axis, with the stiffness of both camber and toe also significantly increased. This gives greater control under braking and acceleration, with stability improved overall across the board and grip levels during cornering enhanced.

The front suspension, which features dual aluminum wishbones, is similar to the system developed for the McLaren 600LT. This combination of lightweight uprights and double wishbones delivers enhanced steering and precise vehicle reactions, with faster responses to driver inputs and heightened feel.

The grip is enhanced by continuously variable, twin-valve hydraulic dampers that feature individual compression and rebound characteristics. Single-stiffness springs and mechanical anti-roll bars are used, in combination with a new iteration of McLaren’s Proactive Damping Control system. Developed from the technology pioneered on the McLaren GT, PDC II is the most sophisticated example yet of the Optimal Control Theory software algorithm first developed for the 720S.

The Proactive Damping Control system uses inputs from sensors to ‘read’ the road rather than reacting to camera-based information. Feedback from four-wheel accelerometers, three body accelerometers, and two pressure sensors per damper – as well as multiple sensors that measure steering angle, vehicle speed, yaw rate, and lateral acceleration – is processed in less than two milliseconds to ensure the vehicle state is optimized for outstanding levels of control.

As acceleration, braking and cornering continually alter, and the road surface constantly changes, so Proactive Damping Control interprets data and uses its digital models to predict the perfect damping response. The regulation of the body’s movement is tailored for occupant comfort, but the vertical load and contact patch variation is optimized to enhance grip levels by ensuring each tire remains more consistently in touch with the road surface.

E-differential
The Artura is the first McLaren to have an electronically controlled differential (E-diff). Smaller and lighter than a mechanical locking differential, the E-diff is integrated into the all-new eight-speed transmission, optimizing packaging and weight.

The adoption of an E-diff brings the enhanced levels of control required to manage torque moving across the rear axle of the Artura, with the immediacy needed to respond to the instant delivery by the E-motor. A mechanical differential would not be able to react with sufficient speed or precision to ensure the behavior of the car is always proportional to throttle inputs.

The calibration and tuning of the E-diff encompass values including corner radius, vehicle speed, damping characteristics, and torque split across the differential. This in turn allows levels of understeer and oversteer to be precisely calculated and controlled, constantly fine-tuning the Artura’s agility/stability attitude to benefit a driver drifting the car on a track or controlling yaw gain with the throttle. Traction when coming out of corners is also enhanced by the closer control parameters.

The Artura also features McLaren’s innovative Variable Drift Control (VDC), which allows the driver to adjust the level of traction control assistance – and therefore the limit of oversteer – using a slider control on the Central Infotainment Screen.

Braking
The brakes on the Artura are the latest-generation carbon-ceramic brakes and lightweight aluminum calipers from the same family as the system used in the McLaren 600LT and 720S. The carbon-ceramic discs measure 390mm at the front and 380mm at the rear and, working in conjunction with the kinematics of the new rear axle design, deliver superior high-speed braking power and stability.

In addition to the discs and forged aluminum calipers (6-piston front monobloc, 4-piston rear), the Artura adopts a version of the Formula 1-inspired integrated caliper cooling ducts seen on the 765LT. This technology delivers cooling air to the front calipers and discs, reducing brake pad temperatures during track driving.

The McLaren Artura features a bespoke brake booster and electrically driven vacuum pump, to ensure pedal pressures remain consistent whether the car is running on its internal combustion engine or electric power alone. There is no function to regenerate the battery through the vehicle’s braking system because the engine can provide sufficient charging, and this ensures feel through the brake pedal is entirely consistent.

Tires
McLaren’s tyre partner, Pirelli, has delivered three bespoke tires designed to maximize the Artura’s dynamic characteristics and performance. The tires – 235/35Z R19 at the front and 295/35 R20 at the rear – are all marked ‘MC-C’ to indicate they are a Pirelli Cyber Tyre® tailor-made for McLaren.

The P ZERO™ tire fitted as standard features an asymmetric tread pattern that improves braking and enhances handling and control across a wide range of road conditions, with a particular focus on wet weather performance. The compound developed for the Artura ensures maximum grip and stability, while the structural integrity of the tire improves steering response.

Two optional tires are available. The P ZERO™ CORSA tire is designed for use on both road and track and features racing-type compounds and unique tread patterns, achieving higher grip levels as well as improved braking and traction.  The P ZERO™ WINTER is the tire of choice for winter, its bespoke compound and tread pattern maintaining the levels of control of the P ZERO™ summer tire.

The Artura also features the innovative Pirelli Cyber Tyre® system. Consisting of hardware and software integrated into the vehicle electronics, the system has an electronic ‘chip’ in each tire and generates a stream of high-value data based on tire-specific conditions that is relayed to the control systems of the Artura to deliver the best tire performance.

Able to recognize whether a P ZERO™, P ZERO™ CORSA or P ZERO™ WINTER is fitted, Pirelli Cyber Tyre® produces accurate, real-time monitoring of temperature and pressure and a broader data set than a wheel rim sensor. With this information, drivers can set tires to the recommended levels to optimize performance; a ‘park mode’ refreshes the information when the driver returns to the car.

Additionally, by using a ‘track mode’, tire pressure thresholds can be changed on the infotainment display to a performance configuration that further enhances circuit driving enjoyment.

Driver assistance systems
The Artura is the first McLaren to offer Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These extend to Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop/Go, Road-Sign Recognition, Lane-Departure Warning, and High-Beam Assist. Intelligent ACC automatically decreases or increases the speed of the Artura to keep pace with the car in front, including in stop-start traffic conditions, with the driver able to set the distance between the vehicles. Additionally, the speed limit, which is recognized by a front-facing camera, is displayed on the digital screen and prompts the driver to adjust the cruise control.

The Lane-Departure Warning system is designed to warn the Artura driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane. High-Beam Assist recognizes oncoming vehicles at night, switching the Static Adaptive Headlights between main and dipped beam automatically. This enhances night driving by better illuminating the road ahead while removing the need for the driver to manually adjust the headlights.

Design

  • All-new body, all-new interior; design principles guided by purity, technical sculpture, and functional jewelry
  • Perfect supercar proportions – ‘cab-forward’ stance; long, low sleek nose; long roofline, very fast windscreen angle
  • Organic, ‘shrink-wrapped’ bodywork, following the philosophy of ‘everything for a reason’

“Our mission was to create a piece of pure technical sculpture, where technology doesn’t distract but enhances the visual experience. We were guided throughout by three key phrases – purity, technical sculpture, and functional jewelry. The purity is not only purity of line, but also in the integration of components; technical sculpture references the need to be stunning to look at, but there for a reason, like the forms you see in nature; while functional jewelry is best explained by the fact that we don’t decorate, we do what is needed and make it beautiful.”
Rob Melville, Design Director

The McLaren Artura’s pure, minimalist aggressive beauty appears almost effortless, but nothing could be further from the truth. The design mission was as sharply focused as every other aspect of this game-changing supercar program.

The Artura has perfect supercar proportions – a long, low sleek nose, long roofline, very fast windscreen angle, and very ‘cab-forward’ stance. Coupled with a compact wheelbase, 19-inch, and 20-inch wheels, and high fenders and haunches, the result is a superb dynamic feel overall, enhanced by the extremely compact rear overhang.

Viewing the Artura head-on, the signature hammerhead line is clearly visible running forward across the front, dissecting the airflow down into the radiators or accelerating it over the bonnet. The line ‘kicks up’ in the outboard corners, leading your eye into the eye-socket features that house the deeply rebated static adaptive headlamps. The lights are so deeply recessed that they alone give the Artura a mean, menacing look, contributing to the overall appearance of a car that displays a rare combination of both beauty and aggression. The large side intakes also help to endow the Artura with a striking visual character, captured in a pinched waist, powerful nose, and particularly curvaceous rear haunches linked by a tightly packed core.

The Artura’s sense of purity is achieved partly through the reduction in shutlines, which creates a visual cleanliness that emphasizes the bold form language. The air intakes in the nose and doors cut deeply into the body, while the elegant flying buttresses appear to ‘pool’ where they fall from the single-piece aluminum roof to meet the bodywork, creating a graceful visual effect in the remarkable one-piece rear clamshell.

Every vent, duct, fold, even the door mirrors, have a specific purpose in managing airflow, cooling radiators, optimizing downforce, and enabling onboard technology. Vented louvers on the front fenders, for example, reduce pressure in the wheel arches and guide ‘dirty’ air away from the side intakes; while ‘clean’ air is guided into those intakes via a complex aero path involving sculpted door channels.

The side intakes conceal the discreet inlets that feed air to the intake manifolds, along with the high-temperature radiators (HTRs) which cool the powertrain. The HTRs, which feature a new core technology, is a complex elliptical shape to ensure the maximum surface area is placed within the airflow. They’re also much smaller, having less engine capacity to cool.

The intake for the eHVAC system (along with the ADAS radar if optioned) is located in the center of the front splitter. The radar’s offset location creates an asymmetrical intake, maintaining maximum intake volume rather than artificially closing the opposing side for the sake of styling.

The organic ‘shrink-wrapped’ bodywork contrasts with the sheer sides of the dihedral doors. These vertical surfaces play a distinct aerodynamic role while their shape, which transforms into the curvature of the air intake, allowed McLaren engineers to optimize the weight and rigidity of the aluminum doors.

The complex technical areas where air enters and exits the Artura – including the front splitter, rear deck mesh, and open rear end – are dark in color, while the bodywork that guides and controls the flow contrasts in body color. The roof and flying buttress can be painted either in exterior body color or specified in gloss black, offering a customer two distinct personalities.  The Artura is also available with a full optional Black Pack, which applies a gloss black finish to the door mirror casings, exhaust, hot vee finishers, and front fender louvers, as well as to the roof and buttresses.

The full LED headlights feature 21 LEDs apiece, with four LEDs providing the main beam, five delivering the dipped beam, and the remaining 12 utilized for McLaren’s Static Adaptive functionality. The system moves the dipped headlight beam according to steering movements, allowing both the road ahead and surrounding areas to remain illuminated while turning. The system is fully digital, utilizing an array of LED lights with a variable intensity that become brighter or dimmer in relation to the direction of the turn. They also dip automatically via Auto High-Beam Assist when ADAS systems are optioned.

The LED rear lights continue the ultra-slim design concept, combining three functions into one unit: tail lights, brake lights, and indicators. Each rear light blade is made up of only nine components and a single blade of LEDs, minimizing both component count and overall weight – and as a result, each blade weighs half of those on a 720S, a car widely recognized as a champion of super-lightweight engineering.

The central-exit exhausts are set between the two light blades. Positioned high within the center of the rear mesh, the twin tailpipes exit straight out from the engine’s ‘hot vee’, having passed through the catalysts and gasoline particulate filters (GPFs). Positioning the exhausts this high allows for the Artura’s full-width, dual-level diffuser, which functions by the expansion of air across its full span, especially at the outboard corners.

A new seven-spoke cast alloy wheel design that is unique to the Artura is the standard specification, in a silver finish. Five-spoke lightweight flow-formed cast alloy wheels and 10-spoke super-lightweight forged alloy wheels are options, available in a range of finishes and delivering both a different visual dynamic and reducing unsprung weight by up to 10kg. Black, cast aluminum brake calipers with a white printed McLaren logo are standard, with six further caliper color choices as options.

The Artura is available in 15 exterior paint colors, including three – Flux Green, Ember Orange, and Plateau Grey – that are unique to the vehicle at launch. A further 16 MSO Defined exterior colors are also available through McLaren Special Operations, which also offers the opportunity for virtually any color to be specified as an MSO bespoke commission.

Customers can also specify components from a range of MSO carbon fiber body parts, either individually or as a pack. The MSO Carbon Fibre Pack sees the front splitter, diffuser, rear bumper, and door mirror casings finished in gloss finish visual carbon fiber, while gloss-finish carbon fiber front fender louvers can also be selected as a standalone option, as can an MSO rear spoiler, which is available from September 2021.

Interior
An Artura driver and passenger are both able to enjoy an environment that blends revolutionary ergonomics, technology, design, and refinement. An increased feeling of space is created by all surfaces being as far outwards as possible in order to maximize the interior volume, and the materials used throughout – from leathers to machined switchgear – create a technical and contemporary ambiance.

The interior design has been driven by the same principles of purity, technical sculpture, and functional jewelry that dictated the exterior of the Artura; the upper facia rises up to meet the wide and deep windscreen, which is bordered by a carbon-fiber structure that ensures particularly slim A-pillars; the facia seems to almost float, creating a sense of calm focus with no visual interruptions in the driver’s eye line and complementing the unmatched visibility.

Every McLaren cockpit is built around the driver, but the Artura brings a new level of meaning to that principle. This is achieved by mounting the Digital Instrument Cluster to the steering column, so it moves in conjunction with the steering wheel. As a driver adjusts the column to their preferred position, perfect visibility of the instrumentation is maintained – and better still, the rocker switches for the Powertrain and Handling modes are at their fingertips, being mounted on either side of the binnacle.

There are no controls on the steering wheel, a clear signal that its sole function is to steer the car and provide feedback to the driver. Additional key controls such as the Drive/Neutral/Reverse switches are close to the driver’s field of view, reducing distraction while driving.

With all controls centered on the binnacle, the vertically mounted, 8-inch (20cm) high-resolution Central Infotainment Screen has the center of the facia virtually to itself. As the primary hub for vehicle convenience, comfort, and connectivity functions, the screen displays audio, media, navigation, and other convenience features, with all key applications just a tap or two away in the same style of operation as a smartphone. The climate control function always remains visible at the bottom of the screen, enabling optimum usability at all times.

The new MIS II uses an Android-based platform that allows for continual advancement and additions. The system works through a series of apps, just like a smartphone. Multiple applications can be run simultaneously and scrolled through on an app list or activated using voice control. Support for Apple CarPlay® and Android AutoTM also integrates a mobile phone into both the instrument cluster and central display screen.

The Artura driver’s interaction with MIS II begins as they approach the car, using a new vehicle key that transmits via Bluetooth to unlock the car and commence booting the system. The system also works in reverse, shutting the system down and locking the doors when the driver exits the car and walks away at the end of a journey.

As with all McLaren models, the touchscreen is mounted in portrait, rather than landscape, mode. This reduces the width of the screen, enabling vehicle occupants to be positioned closer together while still enjoying generous space. Bringing them closer to the center of the car also helps further optimize Artura’s response and agility.

The all-new Clubsport seats, fitted as standard, are a particular point of focus in the interior of the Artura. Developed specifically for the all-new High-Performance Hybrid supercar, these single-shell seats uniquely combine the lightweight and support of a bucket seat with the range of motion expected of a seat with a moveable backrest. The innovative method of adjustment is simplicity itself: the driver sets their relationship to the pedals with the fore and aft adjustment, and then uses a singular control that tilts the whole shell elliptically around the same H-point to achieve the perfect driving position. With the recline and height combined, the seat moves upright as it comes higher, or reclines as it lowers, with an occupant’s thighs always supported. This adjustment enables a swift transition between an upright vehicle maneuvering position and a lower, driving-focused one, and removes the need for driver or passenger to alter their seat incrementally using multiple controls.

As with the super-lightweight carbon-fiber racing seats developed for the McLaren Senna, the upper portion of the seat is wide but thickly padded, giving equal support to broad-shouldered and wiry drivers alike. The new seats are compatible with an optional MSO Defined Harness Bar and MSO Defined six-point harnesses, and the single-shell construction and single electric motor reduce weight, to the extent that each Clubsport seat is up to 9.5kg lighter than the optional Comfort seat. Fully electric 10-way adjustable heated sports seats with memory function and comfort entry/exit are also optionally available for those wanting more luxurious comfort and support.

Interior refinement
McLaren engineers worked tirelessly to enhance cabin refinement in the Artura, building on lessons learned during the development of the GT and Speedtail. A car that will run for part of the time in silent mode faces more complex challenges than a vehicle powered only by an internal combustion engine.

Engine refinement has a major influence on both the cabin sound levels and ride comfort of a car. Factors such as the engine chain drive being located at the rear of the all-new V6 reduces NVH intrusion into the cabin, as well as torsional vibration. Fluid-filled mounts for the powertrain help to separate and ‘tune out’ certain mechanical frequencies of the V6 that would otherwise pass to the carbon monocoque and subframe.

The monocoque itself plays a key role in refinement, not only through its structural consistency and stiffness but also in the way it is integrated; in the McLaren Senna, for example, the carbon fiber chassis was used to amplify the low-frequency sounds into the cabin, while in the Artura specific work was undertaken to actively eliminate this effect in order to maximize refinement during everyday use.

New suspension bushes, particularly large on the rear axle, also improve NVH performance, as do the designs of the front and rear aluminum subframes and suspension spring stiffness. McLaren technical partner, Pirelli, also plays a major role in cabin refinement.

To assist driver comfort, the Artura Pirelli P ZERO™ tire is equipped with the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS), a Pirelli-patented technology that reduces road noise by using a polyurethane sponge inside the tire to absorb vibration and minimize noise transmission into the cabin.

The Artura’s electrically driven heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (eHVAC) system also brings multiple refinement advantages. Able to heat or cool quicker than a mechanically driven system, it is also more controllable and enables cabin pre-conditioning, either for cooling or defrosting. A new diffused air vent spans the facia of the Artura and, in combination with the foot, face, and windscreen vents, this increases mass flow into the cabin – but at lower velocities, meaning that desired cabin temperatures can be better maintained without an increase in blower noise. Dual-zone climate control and air-conditioning are standard on the Artura, with the system allowing fully automatic and independent settings for both the driver and passenger.

Model range, specification, and ownership
Beyond standard trim, three further levels – ‘Performance’, ‘TechLux’ and ‘Vision’ – offer a variety of interiors carefully curated by the design studio at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC). And as with every McLaren, customers seeking further personalization can explore the realm of McLaren Special Operations (MSO), which makes almost anything possible.

In standard trim, the new Clubsport seats are finished in lightweight Alcantara® – along with the dashboard, headlining, central armrest, and door armrests, ensuring that all primary surfaces feature highly aesthetic finishes in a tactile and technical material. A leather-trimmed steering wheel with a power-adjust steering column is standard.

Decorative elements around the window switch surround, center tunnel, instrument binnacle, and cast aluminum gearshift paddles are finished in Satin Black. The Central Infotainment Screen and overhead console have a Dark Titanium finish. The shift paddles are upgraded to extended, machined, and brushed in TechLux, Performance, and Vision.

The Performance, TechLux, or Vision trims feature either Alcantara® or supple Nappa leather on almost every surface, with the Extended Nappa Leather specification covering the whole cabin, including the doors, rear parcel shelf, central tunnel, and lower dashboard.

Sporty, aesthetic, and technical, the four Performance interiors available all feature lightweight Alcantara® on the seats, headlining, doors and dashboard, alongside Nappa Leather throughout the rest of the interior. The ambiance is sporty, functional, and aesthetic, with Performance stitching and contrasting color accents throughout. Dark Carbon Black, Graphite, and Ink Blue hues dominate, contrasting with a hint of color from Ember Orange or McLaren Orange accents.

The four TechLux interiors epitomize technical luxury and style, creating a sporty yet refined ambiance. The Extended Nappa Leather interior sees the entire cabin indulgently trimmed in the natural hide, the leather color is paired with vibrant highlight accents and finished with a stitch pattern bespoke to the TechLux trim. Interior components are finished in Brushed Dark Titanium, featuring Extended Brushed Metal gearshift paddles.

Avantgarde and sporty, the two Vision interiors available combine lighter hues of dual-tone Extended Nappa Leather and Alcantara® with simple, bright, and off-piste accents. Unique stitching highlights the details of the sophisticated environment. A vivid, reflective Zest accent unique to the Vision interior highlights the attention to detail, or alternatively a more restrained Vision Orange accent creates a darker, more subtle effect.

Hidden-until-lit ambient lighting, which McLaren introduced on the new GT, adds a further touch of elegance to the Performance, TechLux, or Vision models. This innovative technology features subtle chrome trim highlights around the door cards; cold-to-the-touch and seemingly solid metallic, a distinct lighting pattern become visible within them when the vehicle ignition is engaged, casting a subtle and soft glow across the cabin. Each Performance, TechLux, and Vision interior features a specific 12-color ambient lighting scheme, complementing the three trim themes.

The Artura is equipped as standard with a generous suite of comfort and convenience features, including a McLaren five-speaker audio system and satellite navigation that includes turn-by-turn instructions and a simplified map displayed in the Digital Instrument Cluster alongside a full map on the Central Infotainment Screen. There is also DAB/FM radio, Bluetooth telephony, iPod/iPhone Integration, USB-C, and USB-B fast-charge connectivity.

The McLaren Track Telemetry app has also been enhanced with a preloaded track database, while a new key features Bluetooth technology to wake the car up sooner – enhancing welcome and start-up experience – and commercial-grade cryptography software to combat against potential relay attack.

A world-class Bowers & Wilkins audio system can be specified as part of an optional Technology Pack. McLaren and Bowers & Wilkins worked together to develop and tune the system to the Artura’s cabin architecture and acoustics. This includes QuantumLogic Surround technology to accurately identify and redistribute audio streams, Dynamic EQ processing to more accurately adjust for external sounds, and Clari-Fi for real-time restoration of low-quality audio signals. The 12-speaker system incorporates ContinuumTM cones for better damping and response than Kevlar, with a dual subwoofer integrated into the front of the Artura’s carbon fiber monocoque to provide an extremely stable location from which to deliver undistorted bass.

Further features of the Technology Pack include Full Adaptive LED Headlights Plus with Auto High-Beam Assist, Road-Sign Recognition, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with switchable follow mode, 360-Degree Park Assist, and Lane-Departure Warning.

A Practicality Pack includes Vehicle Lift, power-folding heated door mirrors with ‘Dip in Reverse’ functionality, four front and four rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, Homelink® (where available), and soft-close doors. The optional driver-controlled vehicle lift system raises the nose of the car, for instance over speed bumps or when entering or exiting car parks, while Homelink® allows for remote opening of up to three electric garage doors or house gates.

Ownership & warranty
Peace of mind – on quality, durability, and cost – were as important in the design, engineering, and development of the Artura as any of the other core considerations, such as performance and driver engagement. With the car being all-new – including the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain – and the distillation of more than five decades of McLaren experience and expertise in race- and road-car engineering, it is no surprise that the test and development program undertaken by McLaren was it’s most rigorous ever.

The Artura comes with a five-year/75,000km vehicle warranty, outstripping the three-year cover offered by most rivals. The battery is warrantied for six years/75,000km. A 10-year body (anti-perforation) warranty is also included, as is a five-year roadside assistance package.

McLaren Artura technical specification

Engine configuration M630 V6 engine, 2,993cc twin-turbocharged, hybrid powertrain with axial flux electric motor
Drivetrain layout Longitudinal mid-engined, RWD
Power PS (bhp/kW) @ rpm 680PS (671/500): 585PS (577/430) @ 7,500rpm from petrol engine; 95PS (94/70) from electric motor1
Torque Nm (lb ft) @ rpm 720 (531): 585 (431) @ 2,250-7,000rpm from petrol engine, 225 (166) from electric motor1
Transmission

8-Speed SSG (reverse using electric motor) with electronic locking differential (E-diff).

Electric, Comfort, Sport and Track modes

Steering Electro-hydraulic; power-assisted
Chassis MCLA carbon fibre monocoque with aluminium front and rear frames and chassis structures
Suspension

Independent adaptive dampers, front: dual aluminium wishbones, rear: upper wishbone and lower multi-link setup.

Proactive Damping Control (PDC). Comfort, Sport and Track modes

Brakes Carbon Ceramic Discs (390mm front; 380mm rear) with forged aluminium brake calipers (6-piston front monobloc; 4-piston rear)
Wheels (inches) Front: 19 x 9J; Rear: 20 x 11J
Tyres

Pirelli P-ZERO™ and Pirelli P-ZERO™ Corsa and Pirelli P ZEROTM Winter tyres with Pirelli Cyber Tyre® technology

Front: 235/35Z/R19 91Y

Rear: 295/35/R20 105Y

Length, mm (inches) 4,539 (179)
Wheelbase, mm (inches) 2,640 (104)
Height, mm (inches) 1,193 (47)
Width, with mirrors, mm (inches) 2,080 (82)
Width, mirrors folded, mm (inches) 1,976 (78)
Width, without mirrors, mm (inches) 1,913 (75)
Track (to contact patch centre), mm (inches) Front: 1650 (65); Rear: 1613 (63.5)
Lightest dry weight, kg (lbs) 1,395 (3,075)
DIN Kerb weight [fluids + 90% fuel], kg (lbs) 1,498 (3,303)
Fuel tank capacity, litres (UK/USA gallons) 72 (15.8/19)
Usable Battery capacity 7.4kWh
Battery charge time 2.5 hours to 80% charge (via EVSE cable)
Electric-only range (km/miles) 30/19*
Electric maximum speed 130km/h (81mph) *
Luggage capacity, litres 160

Performance data

0-97km/h (0-60mph) 3.0 seconds*
0-100km/h (0-62mph) 3.0 seconds*
0-200km/h (0-124mph) 8.3 seconds*
0-300km/h (0-186mph) 21.5 seconds*
0-400m / ¼ mile 10.7 seconds*
Maximum speed 330km/h (205 mph) – electronically limited
200-0km/h (124mph-0) braking, metres (ft) 126*
100-0km/h (62mph-0) braking, metres (ft) 31*

 Efficiency

CO2 emissions, g/km WLTP EU (combined) 129*

Warranty

Vehicle (years/km) 5/75,000
Battery (years/km) 6/75,000
Roadside assistance (years/miles) 5/unlimited
Body (anti-perforation) (years/miles) 10/unlimited

McLaren Unleashes High-Performance Hybrid Supercar

McLaren’s brand new electrified supercar has now hit the global stage with the release of the Artura. 

On Tuesday, McLaren unveiled the $225,000 Artura: a plug-in hybrid with a purity-focused architecture of carbon-fiber and high tech electronics capable of over-the-air (OTA) updates. 

The 2022 Artura will utilize McLaren’s new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), this new carbon-fiber tub will replace the MonoCell design derived from the MP4-12C. McLaren’s rivals such as Ferrari and Lamborghini still use aluminum on their lower-tier models. The MCLA was initially designed for electric-type powertrains and this new platform will be used in future McLarens. 

McLaren Artura Rear

Out of the box, the Artura features a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 that produces 577 hp and 431 lb-ft of torque. Its engine is in a very compact form weighing just 353 pounds, 110 pounds lighter than McLaren’s twin-turbo V8. The Artura’s aluminum engine is paired with an electric motor adding an additional 94 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque. Revving to a whopping 8,500rpm, the powertrain has a total output of 671 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque which is sent straight to the rear. The Transmission houses both the electric motor and the electronically controlled rear differential.

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The Artura also brings a cool party trick to the supercar stage with its lack of reverse gear in the transmission. Instead, it utilizes the electric motor to spin in reverse when backing up the car. 

McLaren has stated a top speed of 205mph (330km/h) and zero to 60 time of just 3.0 seconds. This is rather impressive for a 3,303 pound, plug-in hybrid supercar.

The 2022 McLaren Artura will also host 4 driving modes, all of which can be seen on the column-mounted instrumentation panel. E-mode (all-electric mode), Comfort, Sport, and Track can be selected along with electronically controlled handling, and electronic stability control. 

The hybrid battery system onboard features a 7.4-kWh Li-On battery that fuels the electric motor. This battery pack can be charged via a plug-in or the petrol engine depending on the driving mode. 

Artura Interior

McLaren has maintained its signature styling with the Artura as it looks to be a cross between the 720S and Senna. The Artura’s interior will feature an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Artura owners will not have to visit an authorized dealer for software updates as the car features OTA when connected to wifi. 

The 2022 McLaren Artura is expected to arrive at dealerships in the fall of this year.

The POSAIDON S 63 RS 830+

For more than ten years, the downward-pointing trident has stood for unparalleled performance within the Mercedes-Benz and AMG community. This is because the specialists at POSAIDON – whose trademark is this polearm widely used in mythology – pick up where others left off a long time ago when it comes to performance enhancement.

But this raw power is rarely put on full public display by the POSAIDON engineers, who generally prefer to conceal it in a somewhat inconspicuous exterior that belies the lofty heights of performance it can actually achieve. A prime example of this is the POSAIDON S 63 RS 830+ shown here, which is based on the AMG variant of the large S-Class Coupe (C217).

POSAIDON pushed its 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine (M177DE40AL) from the factory-set 612 hp and 900 Nm to a ferocious 880 hp and 1,200 Nm. This transformation, which POSAIDON is valuing at €29,990 (US $36,322), was achieved using high performance turbochargers with ball bearings, a sport air filter, and down pipes with sport catalytic converters. Naturally, the software of the engine control unit, transmission control unit and drive train control unit (CPC) was also tweaked. So now, the two-ton POSAIDON S 63 RS 830+ goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. The top speed of this high-caliber bullet has been limited to 350 km/h to account for the tires.

But there’s more: Under the same name, POSAIDON is also offering the S 63 RS 830+ with 940 hp and 1,280 Nm, which – for the price of €52,000 (US $62,981)- goes beyond the other upgrades to include cylinder head porting, valve seat alterations and a water/methanol injection system (optionally with an individual tank). With this kind of power, it can go from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.8 seconds, but the max speed is still capped at 350 km/h, again to account for the tires.

And that’s not the end of the story! POSAIDON has already announced that another power stage is in the M177DE40AL pipeline, which will smash the 1,000 hp sound barrier!

There is also something a little tamer for those who want it, with the added bonus of TÜV approval: The POSAIDON S 63 RS 830, which – as the name suggests – delivers 830 hp and 1,100 Nm. This version comes with upgrade turbochargers and costs €24,000 (US $29,066) incl. TÜV certificate. Its top speed is also 350 km/h, and it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in three smooth seconds.

For more price-sensitive customers, POSAIDON is also offering a purely electronic performance upgrade: A software update for the engine control unit pushes the AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 to 700 hp and 950 Nm, which – paired with modifications to the transmission control unit and drive train control unit (CPC) – accelerates the S 63 4MATIC+ Coupe from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and to a top speed of 330 km/h. The price: €4,200 (US $5,087). A TÜV certificate can also be obtained with this.

By the way: All of these POSAIDON power levels are available not just for the S Class Coupe, but also all other AMG series with the M177 engine. These are the E 63 (213), GLE 63 (167), GT 63 (X290), G 63 (463), S 63 (222) and GLS 63 (X167).
POSAIDON is also offering similar upgrades for the C 63 (205) and GLC 63 (253) as well as for all AMG GTs with the M178.

The 2022 Porsche GT3 Remains a Sports Car for Purists

Porsche has just released the full details of the 2022 911 GT3 and we couldn’t be more excited. 

The new GT3 does have some newly added features but will mostly remain the same. This is great news for Porsche fans as there was never anything wrong with the GT3 in the first place. It has always had a high-revving naturally aspirated flat-six, track-oriented suspension, and the absence of unnecessary items found in a typical sports car. 

2022 Porsche GT3 Front

Porsche’s fourth iteration of the GT3 shows the attention to the precision that has fueled the GT family since day one. The 2022 911 GT3 will receive a new front suspension setup consisting of unequal-length control arms instead of conventional struts. The GT3’s suspension setup was influenced by the 2013 911 RSR race car. This setup provides better tire contact through turns and when the suspension compresses and rebounds. Porsche’s new adaptive dampers are capable of adjusting every 10 milliseconds, which means the spring rates have doubled without affecting the ride quality of the GT3. 

2022 Porsche GT3 Suspension

The new GT3 will also come sporting some aggressive aerodynamics capable of 150 percent more downforce than the previous model. Both front and rear aero are fully adjustable and are able to be adjusted to one of four positions, manually. The aerodynamics of the new GT3 was able to secure a sub-7-minute lap time on the Nurburgring.

2022 Porsche GT3 Aerodynamics

Porsche has continued the use of a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter 9A1 flat-six in the 2022 GT3. Porsche also mentioned they did not have to put the GT3 through any “sound engineering” as the engine’s sound was already perfect. Thanks to the independent throttle bodies and a 9,000-rpm rev-limiter, the GT3 will have a snappy 502 horsepower at 8400 rpm and 346 lb-ft of torque. 

2022 Porsche GT3 Side

Porsche has also continued the use of the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic PDK transmission from the previous GT3 model, which saves about 40 pounds in comparison to the eight-speed transmission from other 992-generation models. It will have an updated gear selector along with shift paddles. But if you’d like a more hands-on approach, Porsche will offer the new GT3 with a six-speed manual transmission. Porsche announced zero to 60 times of just 3.2-seconds with its PDK transmission and 3.7-seconds with the manual transmission. It has a top speed of 197 mph (317km/h) with the PDK and 199 mph (320km/h) with the manual transmission.

2022 Porsche GT3 Cockpit

It’s safe to say that the 2022 GT3 will have a price tag higher than the previous GT3 ($145,650) and even more so if you plan on upgrading from cast iron rotors to carbon-ceramic or from Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires to the Pilot Sport Cup 2R’s. Deliveries are set to take place in the fall of this year.