2025 McLaren Artura Spider: Open-Top Bliss With 690 Horsepower
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Monaco—Three years after the launch of the McLaren Artura hybrid supercar, the Woking-based manufacturer is introducing a Spider variant with a power-folding hardtop that opens or closes in just 11 seconds, even when driving at speeds up to 50 km/h. Engineers have made a series of modifications to the powertrain and suspension for this new model, but rest assured the Artura coupe is not being left out.
You know, there are plenty of exotic cars around Monaco and Cote d’Azur, which is where McLaren invited select members of the automotive press to test drive the 2025 Artura Spider. The locals and tourists alike are used to seeing them roaming the streets, and yet our bright orange tester consistently turned heads while we were there.
- Also: 2023 McLaren Artura: Big Fish
- Also: 2025 McLaren Artura Gets Key Updates, Adds Spider Convertible
Or maybe it’s because the car has the ability to go completely silent when operating in EV mode. Sure, the electric motor generates a very modest 95 horsepower, but you don’t really need more than that when navigating through dense traffic around town or crossing peaceful neighbourhoods. With a fully charged 7.4kWh battery, zero-emission range is approximately 30 km.
Out on the open roads of Provence, the Artura Spider feels right at home. The twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 and electric motor together produce 690 horsepower, an increase of 19 horsepower from the 2024 Artura. Peak torque is unchanged at 531 lb-ft, but revised mapping ensures a more linear delivery from 4,000-8,500 rpm.
New Artura and Artura Spider customers won’t be the only ones benefiting from these changes. Those who’ve purchased a coupe at any point during the past three years will be able to take their car to a dealer for a software update. Isn’t that a lovely attention?
Top-Flight Dynamics
While not as ferocious or hardcore as the 750S, the Artura is a formidable sports car, even more so with new transmission tuning that results in 25 percent quicker gear shifts. Meanwhile, engineers have increased the response rates of the Proactive Damping Control suspension by up to 90 percent, improving reaction to driver input and changes in road surface. Remarkably, the Artura Spider is only 62 kg heavier than the coupe, and the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) is rigid enough not to require additional reinforcements for open-top driving.
McLarens have always been some of the best in the supercar segment when it comes to ride quality, and the new Artura Spider is no exception. Of course, the cabriolet’s dynamics vary greatly depending on the drive mode, which can be selected via a controller right next to the gauge cluster.
Suspension settings can be adjusted independently from those of the powertrain, meaning you can select a soft setting for the suspension and a sharper one for the engine, for instance. And if you really want to put on a show, just activate Spinning Wheel Pull-Away mode, which turns off ESC and allows dramatic wheelspin when accelerating from a standstill with a large throttle load.
A More Vocal Sport Exhaust
The fixed-top Artura may sound a bit muted at times, but the Artura Spider is naturally more vocal with the top down. The optional sport exhaust system ($6,570) even cranks up the decibel count by 20 percent. With the side and rear windows up, wind buffeting is negligible, so you can enjoy the thrills of open-top motoring without experiencing that unpleasant feeling in the ears.
Should the sun become too strong, simply push a button to put the top back on. Our tester came with an electrochromic glass panel that effectively blocks 99 percent of sunlight and therefore keeps the cabin cooler. This fantastic option costs over $10,000 but you’d probably be wise to go for it.
Speaking of options, the 2025 McLaren Artura Spider starts at $338,900 in Canada, but ours was worth a grand total of $439,160 including a number of carbon fibre trim pieces inside and out. For sure, the convertible is much more expensive than the coupe, and that long list of pricey options is one of the car’s main drawbacks along with the small infotainment display and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (that’s right, you still need a USB cable).
Our Verdict
The new Spider variant brings that wind-in-the-hair feeling to the Artura lineup and the upgrades to the chassis and engine for 2025 make a serious difference across the board. It’s actually hard to fault the car’s driving dynamics. On the other hand, the steep price combined with faster depreciation than most direct competitors could be a deal breaker for some.
