Novitec turns McLaren Artura up to 11

More power and new springs for McLaren's hybrid, plus a truly mad rear spoiler

By Matt Bird / Monday, 15 July 2024 / Loading comments

If there’s a criticism to be levelled at the Artura, it’s that this bold new hybrid supercar from McLaren looks quite a lot like the models that have come before it. The V6 plug-in is neither conventionally attention grabbing nor brave and adventurous for McLaren; the Artura’s nice, though perhaps the first series production hybrid out of Woking needed to go a bit further.

Novitec can go further. Quite a bit further, in fact. Its latest upgrades are said to ‘lend the mid-engined racer even more spectacular looks’, and there’s no arguing with that. Finished in carbon fibre, of course, though exhibited on a black car for some reason, Novitec’s new parts include a lift-reducing front bumper, covers for the intakes and one of the most incredible rear wings you’ve ever seen. It’s easy to tell this is one of even Novitec’s bolder solutions as there’s a ‘subtle lip spoiler’ also offered. There really is no missing it, like a giant halo over the engine deck, a spoiler design the likes of which are never really seen. Believe it or not Novitec says it works in conjunction with the front end to help handling stability at speed, so it’s not all for show. But rest assured anyone who thought the Artura lacked impact now has something to emphatically address that drawback.

There’s more, too, albeit the more usual Novitec fare: louder and lower and on some snazzy new wheels. Again black rims on a black car when trying to show off a fresh design seems strange, though they are forged Vossen MC3s - 19s at the front and 20s at the rear. Attention is drawn to them thanks to a 20mm suspension drop on Novitec’s springs. If ever there was a time to sacrifice a bit of rolling refinement for style’s sake, this might be it.

Finally, there’s a new exhaust for the V6, bringing another 35hp and likely a bit more drama to the combustion engine’s sound. It’s all very traditional supercar silliness; perhaps not where McLaren always aims, though it’s good for the option to exist for those more extroverted customers. The interior can be done any which way, too. The earliest Arturas are currently available from £150k, in quite subdued colour schemes. Just the cars for an XXL rear wing, then…