2025 McLaren Artura Spider Review: Droptop With A Split Personality
by Kirk Bell
in McLaren News, Reviews
Image Source: McLaren Automotive
“Twenty, twenty, TWENTY,” my mom screams, as I approach a 90-degree bend preceded by a 20 mph sign on a country road near her home in Bumpkinville, Wisconsin. I’m doing plenty in the McLaren Artura Spider, and slow to about 40 mph for the turn, which the car handles with ease.
“Are you trying to kill your mother?” she asks.
“No, mom, that would kill me too,” I reply. “This car has a lot of capability.”
That’s the engaging supercar side of the Artura Spider’s multifaceted personality. As a plug-in hybrid, it can also be an electric economy car or an everyday driver.
The Artura is McLaren’s entry-level supercar, and the Spider fills the droptop role. It features a power-operated hardtop that opens or closes in just 11 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. Carbon-composite construction means the top adds just 136 pounds versus the coupe.
Electric Economy Car
McLaren also limits the weight added by its plug-in hybrid powertrain, which consists of an axial-flux motor in the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, a twin-turbocharged V6, and a 7.4-kWh battery. The hybrid system adds just 287 pounds, which keeps the curb weight down to a reasonable 3,439 pounds.
The V6’s 120-degree V makes it spread wider and sit lower than the typical 60-degree V6s in mainstream cars. A dry sump oiling system lets it sit even lower, and the 94 horsepower and 117 pound-feet of the electric motor contribute to a total system output of 690 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque.
Start the Artura and it defaults to the Electric mode, which can be used up to 81 mph and effectively gives this sleek supercar silent propulsion and the power of a Smart ForTwo. The small battery enables a modest 11 miles of electric range, so Electric mode is best used to save fuel in heavy traffic or when driving in emissions-free city zones.
Everyday driver
Click the powertrain controller on the right side of the instrument panel to Comfort and do the same for the suspension on the left side of the IP, and the Artura Spider becomes a comfortable everyday driver.
The car can run on electricity in Comfort mode, but step hard on the throttle and the V6 fires up with a pleasing “whum.” In Comfort, the exhaust note doesn’t drown out conversation, and the transmission and engine are relaxed. A deep stab of the throttle will unleash all 690 horses, but it’s just as happy to chill. Comfort also maintains a five-percent charge in the battery, which is important because reverse gear only runs on electricity.
The Artura Spider is made from pretty exotic stuff. It’s built around a new mid-engine carbon-fiber tub called the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), and it’s set on sticky 235/35R19 front and 295/35R20 rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires. That’s all aimed at performance, but the Artura manages to ride well enough to make it comfortable for regular duty. In their softest setting, the adaptive dampers absorb most bumps like a sport sedan.
City and highway driving give me time to check out the interior. My test car is equipped with the heated, power-adjustable comfort seats that have big bolsters to keep me situated in the corners but leave room for wider backsides. The $9,400 Performance Spec includes high-quality Alcantara upholstery with orange piping, and a $1,600 black package adds gloss-black plastic trim.
Engaging supercar
The Mr. Hyde side of the Artura’s multiple personalities is accessed through the Sport and especially the Track settings for both the suspension and powertrain.
My tester has the $5,100 sport exhaust system, which adds active exhaust valves and a symposer to pipe the exhaust note into the cabin. Sport mode opens the valves and activates the symposer, turning up the exhaust note’s volume so it becomes the entertainment rather than what’s playing on the radio. Track mode makes it even louder, which is great when dicing up the corners, but fatiguing when it drones on at highway speeds.
Sport and Track also unlock the powertrain’s supercar rambunctiousness. The throttle gets touchier, and the transmission hangs on to gears longer.
Despite the torque fill of the electric motor, there is a touch of turbo lag from a stop, but after that, power delivery gets intense. I open it up on a country road and the Artura pins me back into my seat. The transmission fires through shifts as the V6 approaches its 8,500-rpm redline with a raspy crescendo. The 0-60 mph run takes just 3.0 seconds, extra-legal speeds arrive all too quickly, and the Artura Spider tops out at 205 mph.
Sport mode keeps the battery at about a 45-percent charge, while Track overrevs the engine to charge the battery. On a 45-mile cruise back home, Track mode charges the battery from 20 to 80 percent, though I could also charge it from 0-80 percent in 2.5 hours on a 240-volt home outlet.
Sport and Track modes also firm up the dampers to make the ride busy on broken pavement and harsh over sharp bumps. The track is so firm that I wouldn’t recommend using it on anything but smooth pavement. On a twisty but patchwork country road, I put the suspension in Comfort to keep the tires on the pavement as much as possible.
The low-slung Artura leans slightly in corners, which translates as feel from my perspective. It feels hunkered down and stable mid-corner, where I can control oversteer or understeer by adding or subtracting throttle. I don’t get the chance to drive the Artura Spider on a track, but track time in the Artura coupe revealed that the Pirellis have unrelenting grip, the car rotates willingly, and the standard carbon-ceramic brakes are strong but have a wooden feel after initial bite. In that extreme circumstance, the transmission didn’t always downshift to the right gear for the best power out of corners. I found I could do better with the large carbon-fiber shift paddles.
The Artura’s best dynamic trait is its electro-hydraulic steering. It’s pleasingly quick and direct with good weight, and road feel is plentiful through the small-diameter, flat-bottom steering wheel. The car reacts to steering inputs with scatback agility, too.
The 2025 McLaren Artura Spider starts at $281,008, including a hefty $5,000 delivery charge and a $2,208 fee for a few take-home goodies in the America’s Accessory Pack. That’s $24,700more than the coupe, and McLaren is happy to sell you as many expensive options as you like. With a smattering of options, my test car carries a substantial $332,348 price tag.
That’s obviously a lot of money to spend on a car, but McLaren Artura Spider can be seen as three cars in one. It’s quiet and efficient for short bursts as an electric economy car and comfortable as a daily driver, but it’s the most fun as an engaging supercar that can scare the hell out of your mom!
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Source: McLaren
Review: 2025 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label Coddles Like A Spa On Wheels
by Kirk Bell
For as much as it can do while on the move, it’s what the 2025 Lincoln Navigator does while standing still that sets it apart. Lincoln wants you to think of the new Navigator as a spa on wheels and a third space where you can feel at ease.
The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature that’s calming me with the green glow of charged particles from the sun hitting the Earth’s magnetic field is only available when in Park. It’s one of three programs that come standard in every Navigator. The others are Waterfall Meditation with guided voice prompts and The Elements, which cycles through displays featuring water, air, earth, and fire. The system can also turn on the seat heaters/coolers, adjust the lighting and temperature, and play soothing sounds through the audio system. The Navigator isn’t the first vehicle with this type of system. Mercedes has offered a similar system for years in the S-Class and other high-end models. But this is the first application of this type of system in a Lincoln, and the Navigator is the only vehicle in its class with it.
The Navigator offers much more than Rejuvenate to keep occupants comfortable and help them relax, whether at a stop or on the go, especially the top Black Label model I’m driving. It comes standard with a 30-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (a mere 28 ways for the front passenger), heated and ventilated second-row seats, heated third-row seats, a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, a Revel 28-speaker audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system, power running boards, and three-zone automatic climate control.
The technology stands out even more than the luxury. That 48-inch screen that sits at the base of the windshield serves not only as the digital instrument cluster but also provides a second display for the navigation system. It has three more programmable display areas that can show the trip computer, a towing trip computer, the weather, a compass, the fuel economy, or the media that’s being played.
Lincoln also provides an 11.1-inch touchscreen on the lower portion of the dash. It controls what appears on the big screen as well as the normal infotainment functions. Leaving space to view the 48-inch screen required moving the steering wheel out of the way by giving it a small diameter and a flat top and bottom. Rather than looking at the instrument cluster through the steering wheel, drivers see it over the wheel. It’s a somewhat odd layout, but it works, though I prefer a more traditional layout.
The steering wheel is also home to a pair of five-way controllers. The right one handles the power controls for the steering column, mirrors, and pedals, while the left one activates the standard Blue Cruise. One of today’s better highway driver-assist system systems, Blue Cruise allows for miles of hands-free driving, but I’ve had trouble with it deactivating due to glare off my glasses when the sun lies ahead.
Space remains one of the Navigator’s greatest strengths, especially in the L body style that is a foot longer. It seats seven in comfort. The second-row features captain’s chairs and a small screen to control the temperature, massage function, seat heating and cooling, audio, and lighting. The seats power recline and tilt forward to allow access to one of the best third rows on the market. The power-folding third row drops down to increase cargo space from 36.1 to 75.4 cubic feet, which is accessed by a new split tailgate. That expands to a massive 121.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows down, which is only bested by vans.
This cabin is wrapped in high-quality, purposefully chosen materials. Buyers don’t simply pick a leather color and trim materials. Rather, they choose from three Black Label themes. My tester comes outfitted with the Atmospheric theme, which features Salt Crystal Gray leather with Adobe stitching and a diamond seat pattern, a Salt Crystal Gray synthetic suede headliner, black synthetic suede carpets and floor mats, dark wood interior trim, and aluminum wheels highlighted with Radiant Copper paint.
The Navigator remains a truck-like body-on-frame vehicle, and that format is at odds with the interior’s mission to coddle its occupants. This beast weighs in at 6,044 pounds and is engineered to tow up to 8,700 pounds (8,400 with my tester’s 24-inch wheels). The heavy components and sturdy frame give the Navigator a firm, borderline bouncy ride, though the standard adaptive dampers do a good job of quelling excess body quake.
Lincoln tunes the suspension for a firm, controlled ride. That means the body leans less in corners than it will in a Cadillac Escalade, but the ride isn’t as forgiving as the Caddy. Lincoln doesn’t offer advanced suspension components such as air springs or electronically controlled active anti-roll bars that could help the Navigator lean even less. At 231.9 inches long, the Navigator L is a monster on the road and cumbersome in parking lots. Rear-axle steering would be another smart addition to make it easier to park.
Drivers have a choice of seven drive modes that firm up the controls or soften them. No matter the mode, the steering has some welcome heft and is stable on center, and the powertrain always offers plenty of punch.
Under the hood lies a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that supplies 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It sends its power to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a two-speed transfer case comes with the standard heavy-duty towing package. The power arrives readily and with a prominent growl that’s unexpected and a little brash for a luxury vehicle. Some buyers may prefer a quieter engine. Of course, with all that power and weight, the Navigator L drinks gas like a sailor on shore leave. It’s EPA rated at 15 mpg city, 22 highway, 17 combined.
The 2025 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label starts at $121,485, including a $1,995 destination fee. For that money buyers get a roomy, powerful, and luxurious vehicle that can carry the family while towing the horse trailer or Airstream. Luxury brands offer more comfortable spas on wheels/relaxing third spaces, but none that offer as much capability as the Navigator L.
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Images Source: Lincoln
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