No, it’s not an automotive miracle, but an electric scooter born from an official collaboration between Pure Electric and McLaren. Does its prestigious label allow this Pure X McLaren to be exceptional? Verdict in a frosty trial.
McLaren: from the circuit to urban mobility
When we think of McLaren, we immediately think of Formula 1, expensive supercars and an obsession with performance. The British brand has embodied a certain idea of engineering for decades: efficiency, lightness and precision. A DNA which, on paper, seems a thousand miles from an electric scooter.
And yet, McLaren today lends its name to an urban mobility machine. A first “McLaren” accessible without mortgaging a kidney, even if it does not exceed the regulatory 25 km/h.
Pure Electric: much more than just a badge
The connection between Pure Electric and McLaren doesn’t come out of nowhere: it’s a family affair. Adam Norris, owner of the McLaren F1 team, is the father of Lando Norris, who has just won the 2025 championship. But Adam Norris is also the creator of the Pure Electric scooter company. Moreover, he launched it through a crowdfunding campaign which ended with a record fundraising of 2.61 million euros.
The collaboration between Pure and McLaren is therefore not an opportunistic license (albeit a bit nonetheless). It is based on direct links between the two entities. For this McLaren edition, Pure has chosen its top-of-the-range model, adding a very strong visual identity. No technical revolution, but an assumed variation in a Papaya orange specific to McLaren. On the other hand, you will have to shed 1199 euros to treat yourself to the red and white livery in homage to Ayrton Senna’s F1 MP4/4.
Test conditions
I got really wet to test this Pure X McLaren. So I played with it in the middle of winter and in the snow, far from ideal summer use. Snow, rain, cold, wet roads: the test took place in the middle of winter. The model already had a bit of experience, and the test driver weighed around 90 kg on the scale.
In total, nearly 200 km covered, including severe hills and climbs several kilometers long, just to test the power and endurance of the machine.
Technical characteristics
- Motor integrated into the rear hub (propulsion)
- Power: 500 W nominal, 924 W peak
- Batterie : 432 Wh (42 V)
- Announced weight: 16.2 kg
- Measured weight: 16.4 kg
- 10 inch tubeless tires
- Front drum brake
- Rear magnetic braking
- Steering with integrated shock absorber
- Folding handles with double locking
- Integrated side lighting and indicators
- Range announced: 62 km at 15 km/h
- Actual range observed: approximately 18 km
- Charging time: 7 hours
- Certification IPX5
Design and finish: it’s very pretty, compact, light and well finished
And no! This is not a war machine designed to set times. The Pure X McLaren plays the card of lightness and compactness. Characteristics more suited to urban travel.
And if there is one point where Pure justifies its positioning, it is on the manufacturing quality. The industrial maturity of the brand is felt: the paints are deep, the assemblies are precise and the materials inspire confidence. The folding system of the stem is robust, as is the double locking of the retractable handles which suffers from no play.
The goal of this scooter is compactness. Once folded, it becomes very small (15 cm wide), ideal for slipping into a crowded RER or under a desk. However, we regret the ergonomics of transport: no handles or straps are provided, and lifting 16.4 kg by the stem quickly becomes an ordeal on the subway stairs.
Folding is quick and easy. Everything is well thought out, right down to the hooking of the stem to the battery tube.
The user interface, however, leaves something to be desired. The central screen displays the speed roughly (useless since it is limited to 25 km/h) but makes do with imprecise bars for the battery. No info on time or partial mileage. As for the central stand, although more stable than a side stand, it is difficult to deploy the first time due to a poorly placed ergo.
Driving: stability above all, with a point of “enjoyment”
This is where the Pure x McLaren radically differentiates itself from the competition. Point of “skater” position (one foot in front of the other). The scooter has two retractable side footrests which invite you to ride facing the road, feet parallel.
The feeling is closer to skiing than snowboarding. This position lowers the center of gravity and offers astonishing stability. You steer the machine with your hips, which is very reassuring but makes driving a little less incisive in tight turns. Slaloming results in movements close to salsa or zouk. It’s pleasant and fun.
In terms of performance, it is much less exciting. Acceleration is very gradual, even sluggish (9 to 12 seconds to reach maximum speed depending on the battery). On the other hand, the comfort is surprising despite the total absence of mechanical suspensions. The position on the side footrests isolates the legs from vibrations much better than a classic deck. Tubeless tires and self-centering steering do the rest of the work on cobbles.
Braking is correct, with a stopping distance of 4 meters (sometimes a little less) at full speed for the rider’s 90 kg, mainly thanks to the efficiency of the front drum.
The lighting is basic and reminiscent of the competition’s entry-level models. We are far from broad spectrum lighting. The good news is that it reclines.
Mobile application: it sucks!
The Pure application is, unfortunately, anecdotal. If it allows you to adjust the intensity of regenerative braking or lock the scooter, the interface is austere. It is full of in-depth technical data which will not interest 99% of users, but ignores personalization features or a more fun dashboard. A disappointment for a tech product.
Autonomy: the real Achilles heel
The physics is relentless: to remain compact and “light”, the battery is small (432 Wh). Pure announces more than 60 km of autonomy, but the reality is quite different.
With a 90 kg driver in cold weather (4°C), the real range drops to 18.7 km (average of all journeys) before running out of fuel. From 16.5 km, the power slows down and the speed peaks at 21 km/h. This is sufficient for short everyday journeys (“the last mile”), but very limited for long walks. The downside remains recharging: you have to wait 7 long hours to fill this small energy reservoir.
🟣 To not miss any news on the WorldOfSoftware, follow us on Google and on our WhatsApp channel. And if you love us, .
