McLaren Artura vs. Porsche 911 Carrera GTS: A Comparison of British and German Hybrid Super Sports Cars

McLaren ARTURA COUPE

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Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

The advantages of a carbon fiber tub

McLaren Automotive launched its first mass-produced hybrid super sports car, the Artura, in 2021, based on the newly developed McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), a platform exclusively for hybrids. Meanwhile, Porsche added the 911 Carrera GTS in 2024, equipped with a T-Hybrid that combines an electric turbocharger and electric motor with a 3.6-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine.

The Artura adopts the cab-forward design that is symbolic of McLaren’s super sports cars. It features large air intakes in the side sections and a racing appearance that tapers towards the rear window. The 911 GTS also has a form that is instantly recognizable as a 911, a form that has continued to evolve since the first generation.

The body size is 16 mm longer than the 911 GTS, but the wheelbase of the Artura is 190 mm longer, and when comparing the side views, you can see the difference in their stance. In terms of vehicle weight, the Artura, which uses a carbon fiber monocoque tub, is more than 100 kg lighter than the 911 GTS.

McLaren Artura

Body size = Length 4539 x Width 1913 x Height 1193 mm

Wheelbase = 2640 mm

Vehicle weight = 1498 kg

Tire size = 235/35R19 (front), 295/35R20 (rear)

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Body size = Length 4555 x Width 1870 x Height 1295 mm

Wheelbase = 2450 mm

Vehicle weight = 1610 kg

Tire size = 275/35ZR21 (front), 325/30ZR21 (rear)

“Artura” with a maximum output of 159 PS

The Artura is equipped with a newly developed 3.0-liter V6 “M630” twin-turbo engine, which boasts an output of 585 PS on its own, and an axial motor, achieving a maximum system output of 700 PS. The “T-Hybrid” introduced in the 911 Carrera GTS is also equipped with a newly developed 3.6-liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine with an electric turbocharger, and the motor integrated into the 8-speed PDK delivers a maximum output of 541 PS and a maximum torque of 610 Nm.

McLaren Artura

Engine type = V6 turbo + hybrid

Displacement = 2993cc

System maximum output = 700PS / 7500rpm

System maximum torque = 720Nm / 2250-7000rpm

Transmission = 8-speed DCT

Drive system = RWD

Top speed = 330km/h

0-100km/h acceleration = 3.0 seconds

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Engine type = Horizontally opposed 6-cylinder + T-Hybrid

Displacement = 3591cc

System maximum output = 541PS

System maximum torque = 610Nm

Transmission = 8-speed PDK (DCT)

Drive system = RR

Top speed = 312km/h

0-100km/k acceleration = 3.0 seconds

Can we find value in McLaren’s “seriousness”?

The Artura’s cockpit features a 10-inch display in the meter nacelle and a vertical 8-inch touchscreen in the center. Compared to the sporty yet simple 911 GTS, the racy cockpit, which incorporates generous amounts of carbon fiber components, creates a “special” feel befitting a super sports car.

In terms of driving performance, the Artura has an overwhelming top speed of 330 km/h, but the 0-100 km/h acceleration time is the same at 3.0 seconds. While the Artura has a range of 33 km in “EV mode,” the 911 Carrera GTS’s motor is solely dedicated to driving assistance functions and is directly connected between the engine and PDK. It cannot run on the motor alone.

The Artura is McLaren’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid, and is generously equipped with technology derived from F1, pursuing not only performance but also efficiency. While both are hybrids, it stands in a very different position from the 911 GTS. Focusing solely on driving performance, there isn’t much difference between the two cars, but the price difference is almost 10 million yen. It all depends on whether you can find value in McLaren’s commitment to hybrids.