McLaren Artura sets new standards for supercars | McLaren Artura

Now that the acceleration readings have been verified, the all-new high-performance hybrid powertrain on the McLaren Artura sets a new benchmark for performance, building on the level of high-performance hybrid excellence that the groundbreaking McLaren P1TM, the world’s first hybrid hypercar, and the Speedtail Hyper GT.

The Artura’s advanced gasoline-electric drivetrain offers an unrivaled combination of throttle response, acceleration and zero-emission electricity. It’s designed to ensure that the all-new McLaren supercar covers the full spectrum of driving experiences, from everyday city driving to day-to-day meetings.

“The all-new, super-light electrified powertrain on the McLaren Artura is state-of-the-art in high-performance hybrid technology and is designed to bring all of the benefits of combustion and electrical energy in one package, setting new standards for combined performance and efficiency Supercar class. The Artura’s ‘clean sheet’ design has allowed us to focus on how that power can be made available to the driver and how much engagement is expected from a McLaren. “
Geoff Grose, chief engineer at McLaren Automotive

Minimizing weight was key to the design of the brand new powertrain. This is of tremendous importance in an electrified supercar and is in complete alignment with McLaren’s philosophy of super-light engineering, which is fundamental to the performance, agility and commitment of any McLaren.

A brand new 3.0 liter V6 internal combustion engine breaks the V8 convention established in the heart of the Artura with McLaren Automotive’s first supercar, the 12C. The 120-degree M630 unit with two turbochargers not only offers unmatched performance, but also enables the most compact packaging possible. An angle of 180 degrees was considered but discarded as this would increase the height of the crankshaft and therefore the center of gravity of the vehicle. The wide angle of the V6 cylinders allows the turbochargers to sit in a “hot V” configuration within the banks, which also benefits efficiency as they sit in a straight and therefore less restrictive exhaust arrangement. With 585 hp and 585 Nm of torque, the brand new V6 engine is 190 mm shorter and 220 mm narrower than McLaren’s 4.0-liter V8 with two turbochargers and 50 kg lighter.

While the configuration of the brand new engine is key to Artura’s powertrain packaging, it is the cutting edge technology that offers the greatest gain in lightweight and performance. The cylinder head and block use 3D printed cores that enable uncompromising precision cooling, including a micro-compact 2mm cooling duct between the cylinders. The block has directly coated nut bores instead of separate coated linings into which fuel is injected at a pressure of 350 bar.

The Artura’s V6 engine is designed not only for compact packaging and efficiency, but also to increase driver engagement. Common crank pins allow for a very short and stiff crankshaft that allows the M630 to rotate at a thrilling 8500 RPM. It’s also a very nifty engine, with the chain-drive rear and reduced noise levels so occupants only hear the V6’s distinctive intake and exhaust sound, which is passed through gasoline particulate filters to reduce emissions.

The V6 engine drives the rear wheels via a brand new seamless eight-speed manual transmission that is also designed for optimized packaging. The length of the gearbox was reduced by 40mm, which was aided by the use of a nested clutch instead of a parallel unit and also by removing a reverse gear. This function is now achieved by turning Artura’s electric motor in the opposite direction. The ultra-compact motor is fully integrated into the bell housing and delivers torque and linear acceleration to the rear wheels via an electric differential.

The electric motor’s axial flux design is another Artura benchmark. It is similar in size to a McLaren brake disc and, at just 15.4 kg, only slightly heavier than a conventional iron rotor component. However, it can generate up to 95 horsepower and 225 Nm and allows trips of up to 30 kilometers in the vicinity of Silent Pure EV mode, attributes ideal for city driving or early morning starts.

The purely electrical function is provided by a 7.4 kWh lithium-ion battery with five modules and a high energy density. The battery is fully integrated into the McLaren Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) chassis of the Artura and is located deep inside the car behind the driver, integrated into the floor and protected on three sides by the main carbon fiber structure and from the rear by the engine. This positioning also helps optimize both the center of gravity and the polar moment of inertia, which benefits dynamic agility.

The hybrid battery is located on a cooling manifold that is shared with the new electrical heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, which is also used to regulate the air temperature in the cabin. The batteries contain the technology first developed for the McLaren Speedtail and are thermally controlled using dielectric oil. This technology is also used to keep the electric motor at operating temperatures that offer the highest level of performance.

True to Artura’s engineers’ determination to optimize packaging and weight, the battery management unit is located next to the modules, with the power distribution unit (PDU) integrated into the battery. An integrated power supply unit (IPU) acts as a DC / DC converter for the vehicle’s 12 V system and further reduces weight, as no separate alternator or integrated battery charger is required.

Charging the battery from an EVSE socket takes only 2.5 hours from zero to 80%. The battery is carefully managed so that it never runs out of power. There is always something in reserve to turn the engine around or start, even if it has been parked for a long time. This management process also ensures that the battery remains in tip-top condition and the device is guaranteed for 6 years or 75,000 km.

An Artura driver can set how the electric motor is used to prioritize range or power, or switch off the combustion engine for quiet operation. The energy is generated exclusively by the combustion engine in order to maintain the brake pedal feel. However, under normal driving conditions, the battery can be fully charged from low to 80% in minutes. This ensures that the Artura is always ready to switch to all-electric mode. This option gives the driving experience discretion and economy and reduces CO2 emissions to just 129 g / km.

In addition, Artura’s high-performance hybrid powertrain contributes to significant property benefits that go beyond performance and handling: a comprehensive warranty of 5 years for vehicles and 6 years for hybrid batteries is standard for Artura customers, as is a 3-year service to plan.

McLaren Artura validated performance data