“Hybrid” need no longer be synonymous with “slow” or “Prius” thanks, in part, to the arrival of the 205-mph 2022 McLaren Artura. Admittedly, the Artura is not the first fast hybrid to enter the zeitgeist, but it is the latest addition to the growing ranks of low-slung and sporty gasoline-electric models, which includes vehicles such as the Acura NSX, Ferrari SF90, and Polestar 1. Don’t forget previous hyper-hybridized offerings such as the BMW i8, Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder, and McLaren P1, either.
Even more impressive is that these estimated figures fall a mere 0.1 and 0.2 seconds behind those of a racy McLaren 600LT we tested back in 2019 (and you can bet your bottom McLaren has plans for a lighter and more powerful Artura LT in the future). Heck, the approximately $230,000 Artura’s straight-line accelerative abilities are not even that far off the times of the seven-figure 904-hp McLaren P1, which motored its way to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds and blew past the quarter mile in a mere 9.8 seconds back when we tested it in 2015.
With the Artura due to go on sale at some point this year, the sports car is sure to soon find its way to our test track where we hope to confirm—or even improve upon—McLaren’s stated acceleration figures. Regardless, the Artura once again hammers the point home that gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains need no longer be associated with fuel misers such as the slow and dowdy Toyota Prius.
