If you’re following the supercar world, chances are you're familiar with McLaren—a British brand known for producing some of the most extreme and technologically advanced cars in the modern era.
Our discussion, however, is around the latest arrival in McLaren’s stable, the Artura. The hybrid sports car—although arguably not as capable as the track-special 765LT—has a lot of the McLaren racing DNA embedded in its newly-designed carbon chassis. Journalists across the globe are raving about the Artura’s ability to be an excellent all-round package.
A similarly-kitted hybrid V6 calls Maranello its home, the Ferrari 296 GTB. Ferrari has been on a roll lately, unveiling new products one after the other. Don’t get us wrong, we love the idea of Ferrari bringing out a new car. But the excitement, shall we say, has dulled down quite a bit compared to yesteryears. Unlike the 360s and 458s of the past, something’s lacking in these modern Ferraris. But that’s just our opinion.
Perhaps not as powerful on paper as the 296, the 2023 McLaren Artura is a worthy competitor, considering the similar architecture and performance numbers. However, versus the 296 GTB, the Artura offers stonking value, given its significantly cheaper MSRP. Woking’s latest 671 horsepower hybrid is shaping up to be the bargain in today’s sports car scene.
2023 McLaren Artura Vs Ferrari 296 GTB: Let’s Talk Exterior Design
You cannot complain about the looks of a Ferrari. However, the 2023 296 GTB might be an exception. Its design may not be to everyone’s taste, much like the Artura. Most people have a love-hate relationship with the Artura’s’ futuristic styling. It may come across as polarising, but you can’t deny how much presence it has. In terms of simplicity and uniqueness, it’s the McLaren that wins the styling department. Oh, and the Artura gets butterfly doors.
It’s not like the Ferrari is a bad car to look at. It feels tightly packaged, and the available styling elements give the sports car a distinct identity. Plus, the 296 has a lot of cues borrowed from older Ferraris, giving it a sort of neo-retro look. The convertible 296 GTS adds more drama with flying buttresses and a see-through engine cover. Both of which are available on the Artura despite it being a coupe. But the engine cover acts as a functional heat extractor in the Artura, and cannot be opened, unlike the 296.
Although both are two impressively engineered sports cars, neither of them are something we’d call beautiful. Striking, yes, but not works of art.
2023 McLaren Artura Vs Ferrari 296 GTB: Interior Impressions
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It’s a battle between the future and the present. Both cars have well-crafted interiors, and the overall experience is not disappointing, by any means. These are luxury supercars with a six-figure asking price, so we weren’t expecting anything less. While the Ferrari features touch-operated controls with haptic feedback, the McLaren is very much about physical toggle switches and rotary knobs. To be honest, we prefer physical controls since they are intuitive and easy to use.
However, it won’t be long before every automaker switches to haptic touch controls. The Ferrari’s switchgear is about high-res screens that feature multiple commands. One of the highlights is the new digital Manettino, which controls the various driving modes. Overall, the 296 GTB is a tech-fest, with touchscreen and haptic controls dominating the majority of the interior.
The Artura’s design is too simple. It’s, by no means, bad, but considering how its rivals have incorporated a lot of technology, McLaren could’ve done better. Both interiors exude quality, but in some respects, especially when it comes to usability, the simplistic design of the Artura comes out on top.
2023 McLaren Artura Vs Ferrari 296 GTB: What About Performance?
Ferrari has already gone the V6 route, and McLaren is also joining the party with the Artura. The Ferrari 296 GTB features a 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain, putting out a combined 830 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque. That’s 663 horses from the V6 engine and 167 hp from the electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission. The power is sent through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission to the rear wheels only. Top speed stands at 205 mph, and 0-60 happens in 2.9 seconds.
Powering the McLaren Artura is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 hybrid rated at a combined 671 horsepower and 531 lb-ft. Power is transmitted via an 8-speed DCT to the rear wheels, just like the Ferrari. However, the McLaren— despite having less power—has the same top speed of 205 mph and rockets to 60 mph slightly faster, at 2.6 seconds.
Honestly, both cars are seriously quick, and there are no public roads where you can test their limits. The Ferrari 296 wows you with the thrills of blistering acceleration, while the McLaren lets you enjoy all that the Ferrari does; at a discount. The 2023 McLaren Artura has an MSRP of $237,500, while the 296 GTB retails close to $320,000 before options.