McLaren Artura Delayed Again for the Usual Reasons

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

McLaren has confirmed that it will be delaying the launch of its new hybrid supercar, the Artura, until the summer of 2022. Slated to commence deliveries by the end of 2021, the company has stated that the chip shortage has forced a revised timeline.

The semiconductor shortage has been a popular excuse for automakers the world over and may still be valid. Chip manufacturers have continued prioritizing the production of newer, more advanced components yielding higher margins. However, these units typically do not make their way into automobiles and are more commonly found in smaller electronic devices.

That said, numerous people in the know have told us automakers are having much better luck sourcing the chips they need of late — hinting that the semiconductor shortage may just be a catch-all excuse for supply bottlenecks that have failed to abate. Regardless, none of those individuals work for McLaren. So we’ll have to take the company at its word.

Originally reported by Automotive News, McLaren verified the delay as stemming from the chip shortage — adding that it was an industrywide issue. Though the automaker has already had to delay the Artura once before, as the model was initially supposed to launch by June of 2021. McLaren cited software issues (another popular excuse) and claimed that problems with suppliers had made it impossible to get the vehicle out the door on time. It was rescheduled for the fall of 2021, stating that delivering the Artura supercar was a top priority.

Now it’s a full year behind schedule.

Though things could be worse considering the whole $1.6 billion Track25 program — intended to help the company deliver 18 new vehicles by 2025 and embrace electrification — is now behind schedule by over two years. McLaren wanted to get a glut of hybrid and all-electric cars into its lineup. But pandemic-related complications have created a host of problems and the company was already in desperate need of cash by 2019. It’s been borrowing money and selling assets for the last couple of years, with there being genuine concern that the company may never recover. It did, however, get a massive $758 million equity investment led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and global investment firm Ares Management over the summer.

And none of that will matter if the Artura fails to reach the market, since it’s supposed to supplant the 570S as the company’s biggest seller. In fact, the model was supposed to account for 40 percent of the brand’s annual sales by 2022. But that’s been made impossible due to the repeated delays.

The Artura rides on a new platform and represents sizable investments into McLaren’s R&D. The model is supposed to start at $225,000 and comes with a novel twin-turbo V6 mated to a plug-in hybrid system capable of all-electric driving. Rated at a combined 671 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque, the powertrain is said to snap the Artura past 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. It sounds great, provided it ever gets built.

[Images: McLaren]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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 3 comments
  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Dec 29, 2021

    It's fine, because as it turns out it's going to be at least another year before I can scrape together the down payment.

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Dec 30, 2021

    What's the point of having 18 new vehicles by 2025? That's terribly misguided. Heck, Tesla gets by with four, but more like two in reality.

  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
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