DREAM DRIVE

I have a confession to make. In my years of loving cars (which has been since birth), my brand of choice has been the vintage—Jaguars, Lotus, Porsche (think Esprit, 911s, the iconic air cooled, and the unmistakable super cars of the ‘80s when I was a teenager).

But when our media partner, McLaren Automotive, presented me with the opportunity to take the new McLaren Artura for a glorious long weekend “test drive,” I was hardly going to turn down the opportunity (and this was before McLaren’s recent Formula 1 win at the Miami Grand Prix).

From the moment I sat inside this turbocharged dream machine, I was hooked. The curves and winding wonders of Sheridan Road will never be the same. It was truly one of the best driving experiences of my life.

What’s amazing is that its twin-turbocharged V6 engine is paired with an electric motor to provide 671 horsepower—easily taking you from zero to 60 in less than three seconds. As an air-cooled Porsche-phile driving an electric car for the first time, I was shocked to find myself driving in electric mode the majority of the time.

Curious to know more about what was under that hood, I did a little digging on the history of this legendary race car brand and what makes the Artura so special.

I found out that Bruce McLaren founded his eponymous car company in 1963, producing his first model—the McLaren M1A—within the first year. He made just 24 models before coming out with the M1B, which entered the Can-Am Championship and claimed 43 victories (besting its arch-rival, my beloved Porsche). Two years later, McLaren created its first Formula 1 entry, which debuted at the Monaco Grand Prix.

From there, the story grew even more compelling. Bruce McLaren died in a car accident in 1970, bringing the company to a halt. Fortunately, it was picked up by an entrepreneur and continued evolving. McLaren drivers went on to win the Formula 1 world driver’s championship several times before the company set its sights on creating a car for the likes of drivers like me—a road-legal vehicle capable of going over 200 miles per hour.

Flash forward to 2024 and the McLaren Artura I had the pleasure of driving. This high-performance, hybrid supercar is sculpted to harness airflow to the max. Everything about its aerodynamic design is light as a feather, gliding like air on the open road.

I was equally impressed with the interior, which has all the luxury features you’d want in a fine automobile paired with the power of a racing machine.

If you’re lucky enough to purchase one, ask your McLaren Automotive dealer about the 60th Anniversary Options. From paint finishes that evoke the legendary Triple Crown (a victory held only by McLaren) to emotive “Speedy Kiwi” branded elements and pedals, it’s the ultimate way to pay tribute to a man who sparked an automotive revolution.

With that, happy driving. See you on Sheridan Road.

For more information about McLaren Chicago, visit mclarenchicago.com.