It used to be that a car would leave the factory with a certain amount of force, and unless or until you played it around and added it to the aftermarket, the force it produced. Well, it looks like McLaren has taken a page from the land of software progression and is updating all the Arturas, not just the new 2025 style, with 19 more ponies.
When it debuted, the McLaren Artura Hybrid developed a total of 671 horsepower from its 3. 0-liter twin-turbo V6 and electric motor. For next year’s model, McLaren recalibrated the V6’s software for a total output of 690 horsepower. Traditionally, that would be the end and there would only be a 19-horsepower hole between the Arturas before and after the update. That’s how the cars have worked. However, McLaren is making the update, which is supposedly entirely software-based, also available to existing Artura owners.
This means that if you’re one of the lucky few who already owns your own Artura, McLaren will soon send you an invitation to take the car to a dealership for an additional 19 horsepower, matching the strength of the new 2025 Artura. The company claims that the procedure takes about an hour and will be done without load. By the way, this additional force would last between 4,000 and 8,500 rpm. Peak torque remains the same as before at 531 lb-ft, but McLaren claims optimised delivery thanks to minor tweaks to the electronic mapping.
It’s worth noting that the 19-horsepower buildup is rarely the only technical upgrade to the 2025 Artura. McLaren overhauled the transmission for faster shifts, added 10 miles of electric range, added a release setup that will allow you to spin the wheels. The exhaust was modified, powertrain mounts were replaced, adaptive damping was brought forward, brake cooling was brought forward, and of course, a convertible variant was added. And, as far as we know, McLaren has no plans to distribute those parts for free to existing owners. So, it’s not like there’s no difference between, say, a 2025 Artura coupe and a 2024 one.
But between that and Honda’s announcement last month that it would equip the last-generation Accords with wireless Apple CarPlay, we may see a strangely welcome change in the way brands treat their products after they’re sold.
Do you have any tips or queries about Artura? You can check it out here: chris. tsui@thedrive. com
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