Let’s face it: most automotive journalists – myself included – spend their days in the exciting world of cheap sedans, mid-range SUVs and the occasional electric car with delusions of grandeur. And while that’s already a nice gig (seriously, try whining about it to someone stuck in a cubicle), there’s a unique kind of adrenaline rush when someone throws you the keys to a $300,000 cash prize. McLaren Artura Spider and says, “Go have fun on the French Riviera.” It’s a tough job, but hey, someone has to do it.
Despite more than a decade of experience in the automotive industry, I had never driven a car with the level of performance and refinement offered by the McLaren Artura. Besides the usual review, my goal was to discover what it feels like to step into the shoes of a first-time supercar driver. After all, the Artura is McLaren’s entry-level supercar offering, making a compelling argument for newcomers to join the brand.
Judgement: McLaren Artura Spider adds power and charisma to a handling monster
Coming from a world of spicy hot hatchesperformance sedans and fast electric cars with surprising acceleration, I was curious to see how far a supercar could take me beyond those categories – and whether I would ultimately become quietly terrified of its capabilities. I admit I was initially skeptical about the price tag. Three hundred thousand? That’s about ten Volkswagen GTIs and a very nice garage. But after one ride I was eating my skepticism faster than the Artura devours asphalt.
An attention grabber with an eye for detail
Supercars, by definition, make their first impression long before the engine even starts. The baby McLaren is no exception, with its mid-engine proportions, absurdly wide stance and angry yet sexy demeanor loudly announcing its arrival. Every dive line and aggressive vent serves a purpose. And yes, even those dihedral doors that sweep up like wings aren’t just for show, they also help you climb into the cabin, over the wide side sills and into the purpose-built bucket seats. But more importantly, they make you feel cooler than everyone else.
The seats are mounted just a few centimeters above the asphalt, giving you the unmistakable feeling of being practically one with the road. You can actually see the carbon fairing wrap around you, a subtle reminder that you’re in something designed for speed, not just comfort. Surprisingly, visibility is better than you’d expect from such a low-slung car supercarand the Artura feels compact enough to weave through busy streets without major drama.
The same applies to the ground clearance. Thanks to the nose lift function, you don’t have to put up with the crushing sound of the front splitter hitting a speed bump. Yes, the ride is firmer than what you’d get from a sedan or an SUV (shocking, I know), but it’s not breathtaking. In fact, I’d say it’s about on par with a hardcore hot hatch. The active dampers do a commendable job of smoothing out the road’s imperfections, making the Artura tolerable even on less-than-perfect surfaces.
Usability is a weak point compared to almost all non-supercar offerings, but those who prioritize cargo capacity and in-cabin storage should probably look at the Grand Tourer segment. The great thing is that the Artura offers sufficient comfort both in the city and on the highway, making it very livable in daily practice – as long as you don’t overdo it with your supermarket list. Headroom is adequate even for taller people, so the only part of the ownership experience that requires some extra flexibility is getting in and out of the car.
The Superstar Effect
The trade-off for usability, of course, is that you feel like a Hollywood star every time you step out on the street. The Artura attracts attention like a Kardashian on the red carpet. Children point, adults yawn, and even the occasional grandmother can’t resist taking a photo. If you are a shy, introverted type, this car is not for you. Owning a supercar is as much about being seen as it is about the driving experience – and in the Artura you will definitely be seen.
Why drive a supercar? Because it is glorious
And now we get to the heart of what makes a supercar truly special: the driving experience. Of course, modern electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3 performance and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can deliver breathtaking acceleration and razor-sharp handling for a fraction of what McLaren asks for. So why bother with the supercar club at all? The short answer: It’s all about the thrill, the kind of raw, visceral driving dynamics that EVs, for all their brilliance, just can’t replicate (and sometimes can’t even maintain).
The cornering ability and chassis refinement of the McLaren Artura prove why supercars are considered a completely different breed. The superior stiffness of the carbon tub can be felt from the first corner, while the sharpness of the steering is far superior to anything you’ll find in a regular sports car.
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Crucially, the electronics are always there to save the day and ensure that even the least experienced driver can have fun behind the wheel while exploring their limits. Overall, I was surprised to find the friendliness of the entry-level McLaren supercar, proving how much things have evolved since the analogue era.
As expected, the outright performance of the Artura’s 690 PS (515 kW / 700 hp) plug-in hybrid powertrain feels downright impressive. The same can be said for most performance EVs, but none can match the growl of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 through the high-mounted exhaust. Crucially, no mainstream offering comes close to the way a supercar attacks the road and defies the laws of physics.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a blast behind the wheel of driver-focused gems like the Mazda MX-5 or the Ford Fiesta ST, and I’m a a lover of the raw, unfiltered atmosphere of a classic sports car. But what happened in Monaco was something else entirely, as the baby McLaren introduced me to a level of performance and cornering precision so insane it felt like it belonged in the plot of a sci-fi movie rather than reality.
The best way to describe it? Sitting behind the wheel of a supercar feels like slipping into an Iron Man suit: suddenly everything is easier, faster and about ten times more exciting than it has any right to be.
We all want the same thing
As if handing over the keys to the Artura Spider for the day wasn’t enough, McLaren went all-in on the “lifestyle of the rich and famous,” putting us up in five-star hotels and treating us to Michelin-starred dinners in the heart of Monaco so we could better understand their customer base.
What I discovered after briefly living among yacht owners is that deep down, we’re all chasing the same thing: pure, unfiltered excitement. At its core, a supercar delivers the same kind of thrill you felt as a kid riding a roller coaster, only with more horsepower, less sticky cotton candy fingers, and worth every second. And despite the fighter jets’ technical and sophisticated design, modern technology makes the thrill of a supercar surprisingly accessible to drivers of all levels, from seasoned professionals to, well, people who still treat a roundabout as if it were a complex math problem .
And really, isn’t that what we all want? If selling a kidney on the black market wasn’t frowned upon, I’d be halfway there.
