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What has McLaren learned 10 years after introducing its first hybrid?
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–> by Sebastien Bell
2 hours ago
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by Sebastien Bell
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When McLaren unveiled the all-new Artura, it couldn’t help but draw comparisons to the erstwhile P1 hypercar. Few people, though, are better equipped to measure the cars against one another than Jay Leno.
The proud owner of a P1 with an impressive 10,000 miles (16,093 km) on the odometer, Leno is a McLaren aficionado, speaking highly of both the brand and its hybrid hypercar. How, then, does the Artura compare?
Quite well, it turns out. As is usual for Jay Leno’s Garage, there is no track driving portion of the video, so the Artura’s relative lack of power is no issue. Although the 3.0-liter V6 hybrid supercar makes plenty of power – 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) and 531 lb-ft (719 Nm) of torque, to be precise- the hybrid V8-powered P1 makes an even more impressive 903 hp (673 kW/611 PS).
Read: The McLaren Artura Gives You 671 Reasons To Love Its Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain
And Leno states that the P1’s ample power is one of the things he likes about it, admitting that it’s more capable than he is, which helps to keep him entertained. That’s not the type of difference that’s likely to make itself obvious on public roads, though, and it’s not like the Artura is a slouch.
According to Jamie Corstorphine, McLaren’s director of project strategy, the whole point of the new car was to incorporate the best of what the P1 offered in a more modern and manageable package. That means that the instant torque of the electric motors helps the Artura accelerate as violently as you like, while product advances mean the car is naturally improved over its predecessor.
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Leno says that the new supercar is decidedly quieter than the P1, praising it for its ability to allow he and Corstorphine to have a normal conversation while it’s in motion. The charging system and interior volume have also been improved to make the car more comfortable, usable, and reliable.
Recent recalls (not to mention the number of delays the car has suffered) would suggest that the overall reliability of the Artura is a bit suspect, but, according to Leno, McLaren’s service department is peerless.
While it certainly won’t replace the P1, Leno seems to conclude that it’s a worthy successor to it, and won’t disappoint anyone in the market for a hybrid supercar.
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