What was it like driving your first supercar?

Let’s face it, most automotive journalists (myself included) spend their days immersed in the heady world of economy sedans, midsize SUVs, and the occasional electric vehicle with fantasies of grandeur. While it’s already a pretty sweet job (seriously, try complaining about it to someone trapped in a cubicle), when someone hands over the keys to a $300,000 McLaren Artura Spider There’s a unique adrenaline rush you get when it’s thrown at you and says, “Go have fun.” French Riviera. “It’s a tough job, but hey, someone’s got to do it.

Although I have over a decade of experience in the automotive industry, I have never driven a car with the level of performance and handling sophistication that the McLaren Artura offers. In addition to the usual reviews, my goal was to explore what it’s like to be the driver of a supercar for the first time. After all, the Artura is McLaren’s entry-level supercar offering, giving newcomers a compelling reason to join the brand.

Review: McLaren Artura Spider adds power and charisma to handling monsters

Coming from a world of hot hatchbacks, high-performance sedans, and electric cars with incredible acceleration, I was curious to see how far a supercar could take me beyond those categories, and whether I would eventually be quietly impressed by its capabilities. fear. I admit, I was initially skeptical of the price tag. Three hundred big? It’s about ten Volkswagen GTIs and a very nice garage. But after one drive, my doubts ate up the asphalt faster than the Atura.

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Attention to detail and eye-catching

By definition, a supercar makes a first impression before the engine revs. The Baby McLaren is no exception, its mid-engine proportions, ridiculously wide body, and angry yet sexy demeanor loudly announcing its arrival. Every swoop line and aggressive vent has a purpose. Yes, even those dihedral doors that swing up like wings aren’t just for show, as they help you climb into the cabin, over the wide sill and into the specially designed bucket seats. But more importantly, they make you feel cooler than everyone else.

The seats are mounted just inches from the tarmac, giving you a palpable feeling like you’re almost one with the road. You can actually see the carbon fiber tub wrapping around you, which is a subtle reminder that you’re sitting in something designed for speed, not just comfort. Surprisingly, visibility for such a low-slung supercar is better than you’d expect, and the Artura feels compact enough to navigate busy streets without any major drama.

The same goes for ground clearance. Thanks to the nose lift feature, you won’t have to endure the heartbreaking sound the front splitter makes when it hits a speed bump. Yes, the ride is firmer than a sedan or SUV (shocking, I know), but it doesn’t break your spine. In fact, I’d say it’s about as good as a hardcore hatchback can be. The active dampers do a great job of smoothing out road imperfections, allowing the Artura to withstand even less-than-perfect surfaces.

Practicality is a weak point compared with almost all non-supercar offerings, but those who prioritize cargo capacity and in-cabin storage should probably consider the grand tourer segment. The upside is that the Artura offers enough comfort in the city and on the motorway to make it ideal for everyday living – as long as you don’t overdo your supermarket list. There’s plenty of headroom even for taller people, so the only part of the ownership experience that requires extra flexibility is getting in and out of the car.

superstar effect

Of course, the trade-off for practicality is that you’ll feel like a Hollywood star every time you hit the streets. Artura turns heads like a Kardashian on the red carpet. Children point and point, adults are stunned, and even the occasional grandma can’t help but take a photo. If you are a shy, introverted person, this is not the car for you. Owning a supercar isn’t just about the driving experience, it’s also about being seen – and in Artura, you definitely get seen.

Why drive a supercar? because it is glorious

Now we get to the heart of what really sets a supercar apart: the driving experience. Of course, modern electric cars like the Tesla Model 3 Performance and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can deliver stunning acceleration and razor-sharp handling for a fraction of what the McLaren requires. So why bother with the Supercar Club? The short answer is: it’s all about thrills, a raw, visceral driving dynamic that, as great as electric cars are, can’t be replicated (and sometimes even unsustainable).

The McLaren Artura’s cornering prowess and chassis sophistication prove why supercars are considered an entirely different breed. The superior stiffness of the carbon fiber tubes is felt from the first corner, while the steering is sharper than anything you’ll find in a regular sports car.

More: McLaren W1 is the fastest, most powerful road car ever

Crucially, the electronics always come to the rescue, ensuring that even the most inexperienced driver can enjoy driving while exploring their limits. Overall, I was surprised to find how friendly the entry-level McLaren supercar was, proving how much things have changed since the analog days.

As expected, the outright performance of the Artura’s 690 hp (515 kW / 700 PS) plug-in hybrid system is impressive. The same is true for most performance-focused electric cars, but none of them can match the roar of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 blasting through the high-mounted exhaust pipes. Crucially, nothing mainstream can come close to the way a supercar attacks the road, defying the laws of physics.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely get excited after driving driver-focused gems like the Mazda MX-5 or Ford Fiesta ST, and I adore the raw, unfiltered vibe of a classic sports car. But what happened in Monaco was something else entirely, as the baby McLaren introduced me to such insane levels of performance and cornering precision that it felt like it belonged in the plot of a science fiction movie rather than reality.

What’s the best way to describe it? Sitting behind the wheel of a supercar feels like donning an Iron Man suit – suddenly everything is easier, faster, and about ten times more exciting than it should be.

we all want the same thing

As if handing over the keys to an Artura Spider for a day wasn’t enough, McLaren treated us to the full “lifestyle of the rich and famous,” putting us up in five-star hotels and serving us Michelin stars in restaurants Star catering. The heart of Monaco so that we can better understand their customer base.

After spending a short time with yacht owners, I discovered that, deep down, we are all looking for the same thing: pure, unfiltered excitement. Essentially, a supercar delivers the same rush a kid would get on a roller coaster, just with more horsepower and fewer marshmallow fingers, making it worth every second. Despite its engineering and design sophistication reaching fighter jet levels, modern technology makes the thrill of a supercar surprisingly accessible to drivers of all skill levels, from seasoned pros to those who still view roundabouts as for people with complex mathematical problems.

Really, isn’t that what we all want? Now, if there is no objection to selling kidneys on the black market, I’m halfway there.

Photo Thanos Pappas/Carscoops