The plug-in hybrid Artura supercar is bringing a new type of buyer into McLaren showrooms.
According to Charlotte Dickson, regional director for McLaren Asia Pacific, there’s a growing crowd of female buyers being drawn to the Artura.
“In Australia, our historic McLaren customer is always that core petrolhead. Your LT [models], your Senna, your 650S and 720S,” Ms Dickson told CarExpert.
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“This car definitely is a more approachable supercar, especially if you’re living in Sydney or Melbourne and you want to drive it at 6am and don’t want to irritate all your neighbours, this is perfect – but it still holds that core McLaren DNA that you want.”
“We’re beginning to see more females interested in this car, I think because it’s approachable. It’s a bit less intense and intimidating in a way. It’s been great for us in terms of opening that door.”
The new Artura ditches the 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine from McLaren’s early days in favour of a twin-turbo V6 mated to a lithium-ion battery and electric motor.
It’s capable of 33km of electric driving on a full charge, but will still do 330km/h flat out with the petrol and electric power sources working in tandem.
GTS 
750S 
“I do think that the hybrid technology element is drawing in a younger clientele for sure, people that want a little bit more balance in their supercar,” said Ms Dickson.
The Artura sits above the new GTS and below the 750S in the simpler new McLaren range.
The entry-level (Sport Series) 540C and 570S are gone, as is the 600LT, while ultra-limited specials like the Elva and Speedtail live in a different world entirely.
Although we’re expecting more powerful, track-focused LT versions of the Artura and 750S, it’s unlikely the brand will replicate the rapid cadence of new model releases we saw at one point in its brief history.
“We’ve tried to consolidate and really focus on the core McLaren business,” Ms Dickson told CarExpert.
“Historically we’ve had Sport Series, Super Series, then we had GT. Now we’re just really focused on selling supercars. whether it’s GTS or 750S or an Artura.
“Of course the special limited editions will always come, that’s important to the business, but certainly I think we’re more focused now in terms of what we really want to deliver. I think that’s really down to [McLaren CEO] Michael’s leadership.”
