Both a potential customer and a McLaren sales representative had an unpleasant end to their weekend, as the $232,000 (£190,715) Artura they were test-driving went up in flames. It is not yet clear how the fire started, but the good news is that both occupants managed to escape unharmed.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 15 at around 2:30 p.m. local time in Stourton, Leeds, U.K. The mid-engine hybrid supercar was being driven by the potential customer when it suddenly caught fire. The driver managed to get it off the road, and both occupants exited the vehicle before suffering any injuries. A passerby managed to take a video of the incident and shared it on YappApp.
“We received a call from the driver regarding a hybrid McLaren which went up in flames during its demo drive in Leeds, on the roundabout near the M1 at junction 44,” a West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told The Sun. “We sent crews from Hunslet, which arrived on the scene at 14:35. We also sent a Hazardous Material Officer to dispose of the electrical battery. The fire was put out at 15:02 with no report of injury.”
Read: The Problem-Plagued McLaren Artura The Subject Of A Fire-Related Recall In The U.S.
The Artura is McLaren’s latest plug-in hybrid supercar, and has a 94 hp (70 kW/95 PS) electric motor that is powered by a 7.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Fires that reach such batteries are notably difficult to put out, and are considered noxious.
Although it has been well-received by critics, the Artura has had a difficult development process. Initial deliveries were delayed due to software troubles, then again due to pandemic supply issues.
Recalled in America over fire risk
Then, in December 2022, the Artura was the subject of a recall in the United States. In that instance, McLaren found that a loose nut could compromise the connection of the direct injection fuel pump, allowing gas to leak, and potentially causing a fire. However, it remains unknown how this fire started.
In addition to the electric motor, the Artura also has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. Together, the engine and motor churn out a handy 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) and 531 lb-ft (719 Nm) of torque, which allows it to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.0 seconds.
THIS is the moment a £190,000 luxury sports car burst into flames during a test drive.
The #McLaren Artura – the supercar manufacturer’s first electrified car – was engulfed while being taken out for a spin in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Images show the scorched wreckage of the… pic.twitter.com/dn0vQMUhu5— YappApp (@YappAppLtd) October 16, 2023