Best Upgrades for the McLaren Artura

The McLaren Artura represents a genuine turning point in McLaren's history. It is the first McLaren road car built on an entirely new platform — the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture — and the first to use a hybrid powertrain as a core part of its performance character rather than a concession to emissions regulations. The result is a car that is lighter, more efficient, and more technologically sophisticated than the Sports Series car it effectively replaces, while delivering a driving experience that is unmistakably McLaren.

For aftermarket parts buyers the Artura presents an interesting situation. It is a newer platform than the 570S, 720S, and older McLaren models, which means the aftermarket is less developed. But that is changing rapidly — the Artura's combination of stunning design, strong sales, and an owner base with the appetite and budget for upgrades has made it one of the most interesting platforms in the current aftermarket landscape.

This guide covers the best upgrades currently available for the McLaren Artura and what to look for when buying parts for this generation of McLaren.

Understanding the Artura's Design Before Modifying It

The Artura's bodywork is more aerodynamically complex than it first appears. Its clean, flowing surfaces conceal a sophisticated aero system that manages front and rear downforce, cooling airflow to the hybrid battery pack and electric motor, and underbody aerodynamics through a carefully designed floor and diffuser arrangement.

Like the 720S before it, the Artura rewards aftermarket modifications that work with its aerodynamic architecture rather than against it. The car's proportions — slightly longer and lower than the 570S — give it a natural elegance that the best aftermarket parts will complement rather than disrupt.

Carbon Fiber Front Splitter

The Artura's front end is one of its most distinctive angles — cleaner and more resolved than the Sports Series cars it succeeds, with a wider lower section and more integrated aero surfaces. A carbon fiber front splitter is the natural starting point for any Artura build, extending the lower bumper line and adding front downforce while giving the car a more purposeful, planted appearance.

Because the Artura is a newer platform, front splitter options are more limited than for established McLaren models like the 720S. However the quality of the available options has been high from the outset — manufacturers who have developed Artura-specific parts have done so from accurate measurements of the production car rather than adapted tooling from older models.

When buying an Artura front splitter, verify that it is developed specifically for the Artura's bumper geometry rather than adapted from a 570S or 720S fitment. The Artura's front bumper is unique to this platform — parts developed for other McLaren models will not fit correctly.

Carbon Fiber Side Skirts

The Artura's flanks feature a clean, rising character line that flows from the front wheel arch to the rear. Carbon fiber side skirt extensions follow this line and visually lower the car, creating a more ground-hugging stance that suits the Artura's wide, low proportions.

Side skirts on the Artura also serve a functional aerodynamic purpose — managing airflow along the car's flanks and reducing turbulence entering the rear intakes that feed the twin-turbocharged V6 and hybrid system. Quality side skirts designed for the Artura will respect this function rather than simply covering the sill area with a flat carbon panel.

Rear Diffuser Upgrades

The Artura's rear end features a clean lower section with an integrated diffuser and centrally mounted exhaust outlet — a departure from the twin-exit arrangement of the 720S and other V8-powered McLarens. This unique exhaust configuration means Artura-specific rear diffuser designs are required — parts developed for other McLaren models will not integrate correctly with the Artura's centre-exit exhaust.

Carbon fiber diffuser options for the Artura add visual drama to the rear end and enhance the car's aerodynamic performance. The best options are designed around the Artura's specific exhaust outlet position and integrate with the factory bumper's lower section without requiring modification.

Exhaust Upgrades

The Artura's powertrain is one of the most technically sophisticated in any road car currently on sale. Its 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 works in combination with an electric motor to produce 680bhp — but the V6's acoustic character in standard form is deliberately muted, partly by factory exhaust restriction and partly by the hybrid system's ability to supplement power with electric torque in ways that reduce the engine's need to work hard at lower speeds.

An aftermarket exhaust system on the Artura serves a different purpose than on a pure combustion car. The goal is not simply more volume — it's improving the V6's acoustic character and sharpening its presence in the overall powertrain experience. A quality valved exhaust system on the Artura gives the engine a more distinctive voice without conflicting with the hybrid system's operation.

Downpipe upgrades for the Artura are available and improve flow through the V6's exhaust system, but the hybrid integration means ECU calibration following any exhaust modification is more complex than on a standard combustion platform. Always plan exhaust upgrades on the Artura alongside professional ECU work from a specialist with specific Artura experience.

Aerodynamic Upgrades — The Full Package

For Artura owners building a comprehensive aero package, the combination of front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser creates a cohesive visual and aerodynamic transformation that reflects the car's performance potential more completely than any individual component can achieve alone.

The Artura's clean factory design means a full aero package sits particularly naturally on it — the car's proportions accommodate additional aero elements without looking over-styled or cluttered. The visual language of carbon fiber against the Artura's body colours — particularly the lighter shades like Flux Orange, Artura Blue, and Ceramic Grey — is striking from every angle.

When building a full aero package for the Artura, buy all components from the same manufacturer or supplier where possible to ensure the design language is consistent across front, side, and rear elements. Mixing aero components from different manufacturers on a car with the Artura's precise body lines creates visual inconsistency that is difficult to resolve.

Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps and Detailing

As with every McLaren in our catalog, carbon fiber mirror caps are among the most accessible and immediately satisfying upgrades available for the Artura. They are a direct replacement for the factory mirror housings, require no tools beyond basic hand equipment, and transform the car's exterior detailing instantly.

For Artura owners who want to extend the carbon theme further, door handle surrounds, front intake surrounds, and engine bay carbon detailing parts are increasingly available as the aftermarket for this platform develops. These are the upgrades that owners notice every time they approach the car — small in isolation, but collectively transformative.

Buying Artura Parts — What to Look For

The Artura is a newer platform than most cars in our catalog, which means aftermarket parts availability is growing rather than fully established. This makes supplier selection more important than usual — because not every part listed as compatible with the Artura will have been developed from accurate Artura-specific measurements.

Look for suppliers who can confirm that their Artura parts were developed directly from the production car — not adapted from other McLaren models or produced from photographs. The Artura's unique dimensions, hybrid architecture, and specific body geometry mean that fitment precision matters even more than usual.

At Velocity Car Parts all McLaren Artura parts are verified for Artura-specific fitment before listing and backed by our fitment guarantee. Browse our full McLaren Artura collection and build your Artura with confidence.