2025 McLaren Artura Spider Drops Its Top, Adds Even More Power

Feast your eyes on the 2025 McLaren Artura Spider, the brand’s first-ever convertible with a high-performance hybrid powertrain and the second Artura model. The Spider is introduced with significant upgrades to power, performance and driver engagement, which combine with the sensory pleasures of open-top driving to add a remarkable new dimension to the Artura.

Further elevating the Artura’s next-generation supercar performance, the enhancements that the Spider get are also being incorporated into the Artura coupe, with a new model introduced simultaneously. Both new Spider and coupe deliver the highest levels of dynamic performance, up to and including outstanding circuit ability, as well as meeting the requirements of regular driving and offering the near-silent electric-drive so beneficial in urban environments.

The new Artura Spider was designed and developed to ambitious targets across the board, with particular focus on driver engagement, performance, agility, refinement, efficiency and quality. The additional attraction of a retractable hard-top that operates electrically in just 11 seconds to provide a full convertible experience, ensures intoxicating supercar exhilaration.

“The new Artura is absolutely the complete next-generation supercar, whichever model you choose. We have upgraded the powertrain and the chassis systems to deliver more power, more dynamic performance and even higher levels of connection with the driver – without any compromise in everyday driving. And now alongside the new Artura coupe we have the Artura Spider, a new convertible that has all of these improvements and brings another dimension of open-air McLaren supercar exhilaration to our range,” said Michael Leiters, CEO, McLaren Automotive.

McLaren’s relentless focus on its super-lightweight engineering philosophy is key to delivering the advantages that enable delivery of the exceptional dynamic characteristics & performance. The 2025 Artura Spider tips the scales at just 3439 lbs, or a mere 136 lbs more than the coupe. Almost all of that weight is related to the roof motors. McLaren claims this figure makes the Artura Spider the lightest convertible supercar in its class.

Couple that with McLaren’s recalibrated high-performance hybrid powertrain, which now puts out 690 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque (an increase of 19 hp), with a serious power-to-weight ratio. The instant torque delivery provided by the E-motor and the 596 hp of the twin-turbocharged V6 engine give the Artura razor-sharp throttle response and acceleration across the board. The Spider will do 0-60 mph in just 3.0 seconds, with a limited top speed of 205 mph.

The soundtrack of the engine has also been enhanced, with a revised valved exhaust system incorporating a tuned resonator and upward conical shape to the tailpipes to further refine the engine note at the middle and higher points of the rev range. This provides a ‘cleaner’ sound that envelops the occupants. An optional sports exhaust system is available, offering an enhanced, clearer tone overall and even greater driver engagement through an exhaust symposer that channels authentic sound waves from the tailpipe into the cabin.

A Launch Control system for optimized performance on track is standard, as is a new ‘Spinning Wheel Pull-Away’ feature. Activated by disengaging Electronic Stability Control by pressing the ESC button on the driver binnacle, this allows dramatic wheelspin when accelerating from standstill with a large throttle load.

New powertrain mounts developed for the new McLaren Artura bring clear benefits to dynamic characteristics. The new mounts are tuned to improve control of the powertrain within the chassis. This limits powertrain movement, especially when under load and in turn improves stability, steering feel and vehicle agility, delivering a more precise, more involving drive.

In addition to the dynamic benefits provided by new engine mounts, the increase in stiffness means the driver is more aware of the powertrain itself as being integral to the overall engagement they experience, adding greater theatre and emotion throughout.

The Artura’s rear suspension pairs a top upper wishbone with two lower links and a tie rod in front of the wheel center, to maximize vehicle stability and precision and reduces understeer out of a corner while accelerating. The rear suspension concept combines with a bespoke version of McLaren’s Proactive Damping Control system that further supports exceptional ride and handling characteristics.

Ride and handling is revised for the MY25 Artura, with revised damper valving offering greater responsiveness. Performance of the Domain Control Units (DCU) in the ethernet architecture has also been enhanced, supporting damping and handling response rates and increasing them by up to 90%, which improves reaction to driver input and changes in the road surface.

Braking performance is also exceptional. The Artura utilizes carbon ceramic discs, enhanced lightweight aluminum calipers and new brake cooling ducts. The braking system works in combination with rear-axle kinematics and revised engine and vehicle damping response rates to deliver even better high-speed braking power and stability, also extending disc and pad life in track driving conditions. With revised ABS calibration, braking distances for the Spider and new coupe are now 31m from 62mph to zero and 124m from 124mph.

The advanced 8-speed transmission designed specifically for the Artura’s high-performance hybrid powertrain integrates the E-motor yet is still very compact; despite having 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 use of a nested clutch rather than a parallel clutch.

Gearbox calibration has been revised for the MY25 Artura. The eight-gear close-ratio gearbox now has a new pre-fill feature that provides even faster gearchanges, with shift speeds 25% faster. This is made possible by pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in the gearbox to the threshold required to enact a shift (the ‘kiss point’), so when the driver selects a gear (or an automatic shift is requested), shift time is minimized.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a lightweight and compact electronically controlled differential (E-diff). Located within the transmission, the E-diff delivers variable differential preload to optimize stability and agility.

The Artura has four powertrain drive modes: Comfort, Sport and Track, plus the electric only, emissions-free E-mode. Comfort mode combines electric and hybrid drive for extended stop and start driving with the combustion engine shut off at low speeds and redeployed when speeds or acceleration inputs demand. Sport and Track modes use the electric motor in an increasingly aggressive manner for low-end response and acceleration (‘torque infill’) and incorporate sharper gearshift strategies. Track mode delivers the highest high-voltage battery recharge rate. E-mode – which is the default ‘start’ mode – has been refined to provide greater emissions-free driving range.

The visual design and architecture of the new Spider make it immediately recognizable as an Artura, despite the integration of the Retractable Hard Top and the changes this brings. The ‘shrink-wrapped’, sculpted bodywork; signature ‘hammerhead’ nose; integrated front fender louvres; and headlight air intakes are all familiar yet still striking – as too are the dihedral doors that open close to the body to allow easy access and egress in tight parking spaces.

But as a convertible, the new Spider is unquestionably a supercar with a visual identity all of its own, and the requirements of the RHT system are central to this. All-new buttresses – which incorporate the rollover structure – include a glazed section to aid rear visibility that also doubles as a channel for airflow into the engine bay area. A heated rear screen, which raises or lowers at the touch of a button either to optimize comfort with the roof lowered or to allow exhaust sound into the cabin for additional driver engagement when it is raised, is located between the buttresses.

While the Retractable Hard Top itself is a carbon fiber and composite panel, it can also be had with an Electrochromic glass panel, which can either brighten the cabin or block more than 99% of sunlight at the touch of a button. McLaren has adopted advanced Suspended Particle technology for this feature on the Artura Spider, to further reduce heat transfer into the cabin when in the darkest mode – more than 96% of solar energy is blocked – helping to keep air temperature as cool as possible.

The RHT system is actuated in near silence by eight electric motors. Two motors fold the roof panel, two raise and lower the rear tonneau cover, and two control the aerodynamic covers on the leading edge of the tonneau buttresses. A further motor is responsible for rear window operation, another for the RHT latching mechanism. The roof is operated by an overhead control inside the cabin or from the vehicle key when the car is stationary, allowing it to be opened or closed from outside the vehicle. Dropping the top takes just 11 seconds.

The cabin of the new Artura Spider – trimmed in performance or luxury materials according to the driver’s preference – retains the purposeful, driver-focused design of the coupe. The ‘clean’ steering wheel is free of buttons and controls, aside from the sculpted gearshift paddles which move with the wheel for optimal driver ergonomics. The driver display binnacle, which moves with the column when adjusted for reach or rake to ensure all driving information is always within the driver’s eyeline, also houses the controls to select Handling and Powertrain modes, allowing changes – including an easy switch between electric and hybrid drive – without taking hands off the steering wheel. The screen display of the binnacle focuses on key information to minimize driver distraction, and further has a stealth mode that hides non-essential content, reducing distractions and promoting full concentration on the road ahead.

The innovative McLaren Clubsport seat is fitted as standard in most markets. Adjusting through an elliptical arc to combine the range of motion expected of a moveable backrest with the light weight and close support of a bucket seat, the Clubsport seat is equally at home on road or track. Adjustable lumbar support can be specified as an additional feature. Drivers wanting a more traditional but still appropriately sporting seat can option the electrically adjustable, heated comfort seats with memory.

The Artura’s McLaren infotainment and connectivity system (MIS II) uses two high-definition screens. Delivering smartphone levels of responsiveness, MIS II is capable of smartphone mirroring and the Artura now offers wireless charging as an option, for use with enabled mobile devices and incorporates a unique, soft-faced retainer that supports the phone in a vertical upright position. Familiar McLaren apps – including Variable Drift Control – also feature on MIS II.

MIS II also enables a number of ADAS driver assistance features with Lane Departure Warning and Road Sign Recognition now fitted to all Arturas. Also available optionally are Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Switchable Follow Mode, Auto High-Beam Assist, Blindspot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Detection.

A revised range of options and options packs are introduced with the MY25 Artura, including exterior and interior carbon fiber components and a new, faster vehicle lift. Silver badging is now a no-cost option, with new Stealth badging – which incorporates black badges front and rear as well as a black McLaren Speedmark on the wheel center caps – standard.

A 5-speaker McLaren Audio System is standard. Customers can choose to specify the Artura’s acclaimed Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker surround sound audio system, which is exclusively available with the Technology Pack. This system features Bowers & Wilkins’ Continuum midrange speakers to ensure precise reproduction of voices and instruments throughout the cabin, complemented by Nautilus Aluminum Double Dome tweeters to provide greater clarity at high frequencies. The Artura Spider additionally features an additional rear center speaker to optimize the cabin’s convertible-specific acoustic requirements.

The MY25 Artura has a new 15-spoke wheel as standard, in silver finish. A new gold-colored Orum wheel finish is available on both Dynamo and Star wheel designs, with the latter now available in a full range of finishes. The Calibre 10-Spoke Super-Lightweight wheel joins the list of optional wheels, and is available finished in Silver, Dark Stealth or Gloss Black. All wheels can be optionally specified with Titanium Wheel Bolts, saving approximately 0.4kg of unsprang mass – indicative of the level of attention given to delivering weight reduction.

The McLaren Artura Spider carries an MSRP of $273,800 for the U.S. market. There are three further interior specifications, each available for an additional $6,400: Performance, which has a more sporting aesthetic; TechLux, where the focus is on the technical luxury that the name suggests; and Vision, which displays a more avant-garde and adventurous look and feel.

An extended palette of exterior paints, some of which are available on the Artura for the first time, is introduced for the new Spider; twenty Elite colors are offered in addition to the standard five colors, with a further eighteen MSO colors also available.

Further information about the new McLaren Artura Spider, including full specifications and options availability, can be found together with an online configurator that allows customers to explore color and equipment choices, at: https://cars.mclaren.com/en/artura-spider