McLaren has celebrated the arrival of its new Artura hybrid supercar with a one-of-a-kind “art car”, created and conceived by Nat Bowen: a leading British abstract artist known for her vibrant and colourful creations. The multicoloured car, which was also exhibited at the ME Dubai Hotel, was the star of a unique project that explored the concept of ‘chromology' (the psychology of colour) as well as the future of art.
A McLaren – but not as you know it
The exterior of this special “art car” is characterised by paint made up of translucent resin pigments that continuously adapt to the light. As a result, this paint reflects and absorbs the colours around it, resulting in a uniquely striking effect that makes the car seem part of the very space it inhabits. With this unique project, the artist tried to create a very different and engaging experience, designed to take visitors into an almost meditative state, a long way from their everyday stresses.
The smart tyres underneath the McLaren Artura
Leaving the unique colours aside, everything else under the bonnet of the Artura Art Car is more familiar. There a 671 bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a 3.0-litre V6 engine boosted by an electric motor. Among other features, the McLaren Artura is equipped with latest technology to make the driving experience even more engaging and safe. As a result, it was the first car to be fitted with the Pirelli Cyber Tyre system as original equipment: Pirelli technology that opens a genuine dialogue between the tyres and the car for the first time. The system consists of a sensor in each of the tyres that collects essential information for driving safety linked to software integrated into the car's electronics.
Also read: Pirelli's Cyber Tyre 5G: When tyres talk
House of Pirelli
The McLaren Artura was also chosen as the car to be included in the “House of Pirelli", an extensive virtual space created by Pirelli for its 150th anniversary, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a three-dimensional journey that explains the history and innovation of the Italian tyre firm, with explanations, images and videos. Visitors will find the Artura in the ‘Product and R&D Room', which is dedicated to all the different families of Pirelli tyres (for cars, motorcycles and bicycles) as well as its associated technologies. “People, planet, product” are the themes of the room dedicated to sustainability, which explains more about some of Pirelli's ecological projects, including the production of the first FSC-certified tyre in the world. Entering the last two rooms, you can explore the worlds of Pirelli that relate to motorsport, sports sponsorship, art and culture.
