Summer is all about supercars and the supercars of summer are convertibles. Supercar makers McLaren and Maserati unveiled new convertible models this week, McLaren with a convertible edition of its Artura performance hybrid and Maserati with its GranCabrio Trofeo, in turn an edition of its iconic GranTurismo.
And they’ll be fighting for eyes, minds, and money. The Artura Spider has a base price of $273,800, for the popular spec. Buyers can choose from three internal features that add $9,400 to the price: Performance, which has a sportier aesthetic; TechLux, where the focus is on technical luxury; and Vision, which has a more adventurous look and feel, according to McLaren.
Maserati hasn’t revealed pricing for the new GranCabriolet, however, the existing hardtop styling starts at $295,350. Experts hope the new style doesn’t deviate too much from that price point.
The Artura Spider is the brand’s first hybrid convertible. This is the previous Artura coupe, which used a 3. 0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder electric motor to produce a combined output of 671 horsepower (hp). McLaren beats that force in the Spider to 690 hp (with 531 pound-feet of torque).
McLaren will offer the same point of strength to current owners of the Artura coupe with an over-the-air update.
This rear-wheel-drive powertrain is smart to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. From 0 to 124 mph it takes 8. 4 seconds and the Artura Spider has a top speed of 205 mph.
It has an electronic self-locking differential that sends force to the wheel that has maximum traction while driving and 3 dynamic driving modes: Comfort, Sport and Track. They adjust the suspension and steering, as well as the response of the chassis.
In addition, the Artura has 4 powertrain driving modes: Comfort, Sport, Track, and electric-only E-Mode. Comfort mode combines electric and hybrid propulsion for maximum efficiency. Sport and Track modes use the electric motor for low-speed reaction and acceleration. They also incorporate more accurate change strategies. E mode is the default startup mode and can take the Spider for 21 miles on electric power.
The Artura’s one-piece retractable hardtop opens in 11 seconds, at speeds of up to 31 mph.
The interior continues, in high-performance, luxury or avant-garde versions, with the same buttonless steering wheel and paddle shifters as its hardtop classmate. The virtual driver demonstration moves with the guide column when adjusted to keep information in the driver’s field of vision. It has a stealth mode that hides non-essential content, eliminating distractions.
An 8-inch touchscreen includes Apple CarPlay; Wireless charging is optional.
Most Artura Spiders are equipped with the new McLaren Clubsport seats. Comfortable heated seats with memory functions are available at no extra charge. A Bowers surround sound system
Several assistance functions are standard, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic detection generation are optional.
The Artura has twenty “Elite” colors, in addition to the five popular colors. If buyers use McLaren Special Ops customisations, they will have access to a further 18 colours.
The Italian-sourced GranCabrio Trofeo takes on a more classic look with a long bonnet and a short rear axle. The comfortable four-seater even offers space for luggage for four. Here, the roof can be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h. in just 14 seconds. Maserati claims that the demo central controls can also be operated with a single finger, so drivers won’t want to take their eyes off the road.
Like the Artura Spider, the GranCabrio uses a 3. 0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine for power. It doesn’t have a hybrid component, but it still delivers 542 horsepower and 479 lb-ft to the rear wheels thanks to an eight-speed transmission. Automatic transmission. With an optimal start, the Maserati can go from 100 km/h in 3. 6 seconds and 200 km/h in 12. 2 seconds. It has a top speed of 310 km/h.
Like the Artura, the GranCabrio has driving modes that adjust the throttle, steering, suspension, and noise. The Maserati has Comfort, GT, Sport, Corsa and ESC-Off. The modes can be selected using the rotary knob on the steering wheel.
Corsa mode includes special features in the infotainment formula for torque vectoring and traction levels, adding settings for rainy surfaces and excessive drift. In those higher modes, the driver can activate a release feature for quick getaways.
The cabin of the Maserati GranCabrio has a 12. 3-inch center display and an 8. 8-inch comfort screen, and the company says the virtual climate controls are newly put in place and are the fastest to reach in their class. It also has gesture controls in the Beyond what is offered in the GranTurismo. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Baidu CarLife are standard.
A 12. 2-inch virtual tool cluster is also standard, with customizable perspectives for Classic, Evolved, Relaxed, and Corsa (the latter is activated in Corsa riding mode). Also available is a reconfigurable front demonstration that projects speed, maps, and directions directly. on the windshield.
Leather sport seats are available in colors, while steel accents adorn the doors and dashboard. Maserati claims that all fabrics are real, meaning that what looks like steel is steel and what looks like carbon fiber is carbon fiber.
Unlike the McLaren, the GranCabrio has a multifunction steering wheel with an on/off button on the left, a rotary drive mode selector on the left, and volume and adjustment buttons on the spokes. The paddle shifters on the steering wheel are made of brushed aluminium. and cover a wide variety of idlers, making it easy to handle while concentrating on the road.
Both convertibles will go on sale this summer for lovers of simple driving and either of them will be at home on a track day at the weekend or at a car show.
Jake Lingeman is the editor-in-chief of the Autos team at Newsweek. In the past he worked for Autoweek, The Detroit News, Bring a Trailer and CarBuzz, covering all spaces of the automotive industry. Jake is an alumnus of Wayne State University.