McLaren Artura Spider V6 Hybrid Review
Over the years, I've put plenty of McLarens through their paces on racetracks across the UK and Europe. But this time, we wanted a test that better reflected the typical lifestyle of an average buyer. Enter the McLaren Artura Spider: sleek, innovative, and distinctly hybrid.
Nick Rhodes is part of the Bespoke design team at the iconic car manufacturer Rolls-Royce and is the chief designer responsible for the creation of the Bespoke Rolls-Royce motor car, inspired by amber and the historic trade routes connecting the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea. Amber, essentially a fossil, has a tangible link with ancient life on Earth, capturing a sense of timelessness, simplicity, and enduring beauty – qualities that also embody a Bespoke Rolls-Royce. The textures, colours, and warmth of amber are reflected in this Bespoke creation.
Maserati unveils the MC20 Notte, the premier limited edition of its super sports car MC20, crafted for racing prowess on the track and engineered for superior performance on the road. The MC20 Notte Edition pays homage to the bold spirit that has continuously propelled the Trident forward, starting from Maserati's inaugural participation in one of history's most iconic races.
When the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo was delivered to my door, I was not quite sure what to make of it. So I parked my preconceptions and drove around as many different types of roads and areas of the English countryside to get to grips with this conundrum.
The Quattroporte Ferrari engine is, of course, its USP, a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a whopping 580 bhp. Maximum output is at 6750 rpm, which delivers its best roar too. The 21-inch wheels and rear-wheel drive are firmly aimed at those that love driving.
As I rolled into the car park at Caffeine and Machine, I was positively glowing. The drive there in the racing yellow Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS was superb, the sun was shining and all was well in the world. This is a fantastic driver's car with incredible performance but unlike RS Audis and the like, there’s a connection that has been honed and nurtured over generations. The visceral nature of the 911 driving experience is something truly special in these days of overly electronically muted cars.
To get to know a car, you really need to live with it on tour. So where better to take the McLaren 720S than to northern France along the amazing coastal roads, smooth as silk autoroutes and picturesque country lanes?
It came delivered in a box to the door, in a fetching but discreet Sarthe Grey, almost as if it did not want to be noticed. Paradoxically it showed off the lines magnificently, reflecting every hue and dapple of the morning light in the sublime bodywork. Unboxing such beauty as the McLaren 720S is like all your Christmases at once.
Wow, The Audi TT RS is amazing, way beyond expectations. Is this really an Audi? If I got into this car blindfolded I would swear it was Italian, there is a genuine passion here paired with incredible engineering.
The performance and feel are way beyond what I would call serious or sober, words I normally associate with Audi.
Have you ever wanted to properly test one McLaren against another? We thought it might be fun to pit the new McLaren GT against the McLaren 720S Coupe. So we schlepped up to Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford to give it a go.
Millbrook is an iconic test track for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers with an unparalleled series of on-road and off-road circuits designed to test cars in all possible real-world road conditions.
I took my son in the Ferrari F8 Tributo to Paris for the tour of a lifetime. To acquaint yourself with such a chef d’oeuvre you must challenge yourself and the car. And boy was it fun around the massive roundabout that is the Arc de Triomphe.
The Ferrari F8 Tributo Spider is the upgrade to the terrific 488 and lies between it and the Pista. Think of it as the younger sibling, faster, lighter and stronger but with the same DNA. Ferrari began their open-top V8 cars with the 308 GTS in 1977 and their legend continues with the new F8 Tributo Spider.
