Summertime is for supercars and the best supercars for summertime are convertibles. Supercarmakers McLaren and Maserati both revealed new droptops this week, McLaren with a convertible version of its high-performance hybrid Artura and Maserati with its GranCabrio Trofeo, itself a version of its iconic GranTurismo.
And they'll be competing for eyes, minds and dollars. The Artura Spider has a base price of $273,800, for the standard specification. Buyers can choose from three interior options that add $9,400 to the price tag: Performance, which has a more sporting aesthetic; TechLux, where the focus is on technical luxury; and Vision, which has a more adventurous look and feel, according to McLaren.
Maserati has not revealed a price for the new GranCabrio, but the current hardtop model starts at $295,350. Experts expect the new model not to stray too far from that price.
2025 McLaren Artura Spider
The Artura Spider is the first hybrid convertible from the brand. It's based on the earlier Artura coupe, which used a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder and electric motor to produce a combined 671 horsepower (hp). McLaren has upped that output on the Spider to 690 hp (along with 531 pound-feet of torque).
McLaren will be offering that same power level to current owners of Artura coupes via an over-the-air update.
That rear-wheel drive powertrain is good for a 0-to-60 mph sprint in 3 seconds with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Zero-to-124 mph takes 8.4 seconds and the Artura Spider has a maximum speed of 205 mph.
It has an electronic limited slip differential that sends power to the wheel that has the most traction while driving and three dynamic handling modes: Comfort, Sport and Track. They adjust the suspension and steering, and the reaction of the chassis.
Separately, the Artura has four powertrain drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Track and electric-only E-Mode. Comfort mode combines electric and hybrid drive for the most efficiency. Sport and Track modes use the electric motor for low-end response and acceleration. They also incorporate sharper gearshift strategies. E-mode is the default start mode and can carry the Spider 21 miles on electric power.
The Artura's retractable one-piece hard-top opens in just 11 seconds, at speeds of up to 31 mph.
The cabin continues, in either performance, luxury or avant-garde trim, with the same buttonless steering wheel and same paddle shifters of its hardtop classmate. The digital driver display moves with the steering column when adjusted to keep the important information in a driver's eyeline. It features a stealth mode that hides non-essential content, reducing distractions.
An 8-inch touchscreen is standard with Apple CarPlay; wireless charging is optional.
Most Artura Spiders come with new McLaren Clubsport seats. Heated comfort seats with memory functions are available at no extra cost. A Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker surround sound system is optional with special midrange and tweeter speakers. A 5-speaker system is standard.
A number of assistance features are standard including Lane Departure Warning and Road Sign Recognition. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection technology are optional.
Twenty "Elite" colors are available for the Artura in addition to five standard colors. If buyers use the McLaren Special Operations customizations they'll have access to 18 more hues.
Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo
The Italian-bred GranCabrio Trofeo takes on a more traditional look with a long hood and short rear deck. The four-seat soft top even offers places for four people's luggage. Here, the roof can be operated at speeds up to 31 mph in just 14 seconds. Maserati says the controls on the center display can also be operated with a single finger, so drivers won't need to take their eyes off the road.
Like the Artura Spider, the GranCabrio uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine for power. It does not have a hybrid component but still delivers 542 hp and 479 lb-ft to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. With a perfect launch the Maserati can clear 62 mph (100 kmh) in 3.6 seconds and 124 mph (200 kmh) in 12.2 seconds. It has a top speed of 196 mph.
Like the Artura the GranCabrio has drive modes adjusting the throttle, steering, suspension and noise. The Maserati has Comfort, GT, Sport, Corsa and ESC-Off. The modes can be selected via the rotary control on the steering wheel.
Corsa mode features special controls in the infotainment system to levels of torque vectoring and traction control, including settings for wet surfaces and extreme drifting. In those higher modes the driver can enable a launch control function for speedy getaways.
The cabin of the Maserati GranCabrio has a 12.3-inch central display and 8.8-inch comfort display, and the company says the digital climate controls are simply placed and are the quickest to reach in the car's class. It also has the gesture controls previously featured in the GranTurismo. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Baidu CarLife are standard.
A 12.2-inch digital instrument cluster is also standard, with customizable views for Classic, Evolved, Relaxed and Corsa (the last is automatically activated in the Corsa drive mode). A reconfigurable head-up display is also offered projecting speed, maps, and directions directly onto the windshield.
Sporty leather seats come in several colors while metal accents grace the doors and dashboard. Maserati says all the materials are real, meaning what looks like metal is metal and what looks like carbon fiber is carbon fiber.
As opposed to the McLaren, the GranCabrio has a multi-function steering wheel with a start/stop button on the left, a drive mode rotary switch on the left and volume and tuning buttons on the spokes. The paddle shifters behind the steering wheel are made of brushed aluminum and span a wide range of the wheel making them easy reach while concentrating on the road.
Both of these convertibles will be on sale this summer for well-heeled driving enthusiasts and both would be at home at a weekend track day or at a car show.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Jake Lingeman is the Managing Editor for the Autos team at Newsweek. He has previously worked for Autoweek, The Detroit ... Read more
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