McLaren has released the terrifyingly quick W1, the third of its line of ‘1’ cars after the P1 and F1, which were widely considered to be two of the greatest supercars of all time.

The British company says a “World Championship mindset” was applied to W1. Pretty bold talk, although the F1 team’s resurgence this year can back those claims and this may even give Lando Norris the extra 1% he needs to pip Max Verstappen to the 2024 title. He is in good hands though, as McLaren says engineers working on the W1 have contributed to 16 McLaren Formula 1 World Championship titles across driver and constructor categories. The October 6th unveiling date is also Formula 1 inspired, landing on the 50th anniversary of Emerson Fittipaldi sealing McLaren’s first Formula 1 Drivers and Constructors World Championships.

Powertrain and speed figures

At the heart of the W1 is its hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 915bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and 342bhp E-module (electric motor) which combines for a total of 1,285bhp and 9,200rpm. This enables a 0-62mph time of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 217mph. If you’re lucky enough to be on a runway to try getting to that top speed, 0-124mph takes 5.8 seconds, while McLaren says 0-186mph can be achieved in less than 12.7 seconds. These numbers make it the fastest accelerating McLaren road-legal supercar to date and the most powerful output of any McLaren ever. In comparison, the W1 beat the Senna by 3 seconds a lap at McLaren’s Nardo reference circuit in Italy.

The W1 uses an eight-speed transmission and power and torque are sent to the rear wheels only, through an E-differential. While it has a hybrid engine, the car is not a plug-in hybrid and can only travel 1.6 miles on electric power. The 1.4kWh battery instead acts as a reverse gear and enables a silent start.

McLaren says it has chosen to “retain the purity of a rear-wheel-drive chassis in a car with this much power and torque, at a time when competitors are turning to front-wheel-drive assistance”, thanks to its heritage in Formula 1 which uses the same principle. Bespoke carbon fibre structures give it a weight of just 1,399kg, and a power-to-weight ratio of 899bhp/tonne, the highest of any McLaren.

Aerodynamics

As well as the engine, the stunning performance figures are also achieved due to Formula 1-derived aerodynamics which were optimised after 350 hours of wind tunnel time. This enables the ride height to drop by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear and is demonstrated in the W1’s new Active Long Tail, which extends the wing by 300mm, assisting in generating the 1,000kg of downforce.

The front suspension design also helps with aerodynamic efficiency, with the lower wishbones of the pushrod and inboard damper system raised significantly to keep the channel of air flowing cleanly towards the rear of the car.

McLaren wants the W1 to be as at home on the track as it is on the road, featuring the third-generation McLaren Race Active Chassis Control suspension system with the following modes: Comfort, Sport and Race. Comfort is the W1s go to mode and utilises the electric motor at low revs, while Sport uses hybrid power for a more responsive throttle. Race mode gives the choice between GP and Sprint settings, depending on which type of track day you’re on. A boost button can be pushed, enabling full power from the electric motor alongside a DRS switch that closes the rear wing. A carbon ceramic brake system with 390mm discs and extreme brake ducts aid stopping power while on track.

Exterior Design

McLaren says the design of the W1 was “inspired by racing but purposed for all environments” and is based around a bespoke carbon fibre monocoque chassis. At first glance, the W1 is unmistakably a McLaren, but the British brand has tried something bolder this time. The front end has a new headlight signature seamlessly blended into the bodywork.

Another significant change is the first use of Anhedral (gullwing style) doors on a McLaren car, switching from its traditional use of dihedral openings. These offer easier access to the cockpit and have been chosen deliberately to help with aerodynamics, with giant intakes in the shape of the McLaren logo worked in.

W1 Interior

Inside, the W1’s seats - positioned in an F1-style driving position - are fixed into the monocoque, saving weight and reducing the wheelbase by 70mm. Every inch of space is accounted for, with even the insides of the doors sculpted to allow for extra elbow room. Despite the F1-style sitting position, the steering wheel, thankfully, is a little less complicated than the one used by Norris and Piastri, containing only two buttons for boost and active aero deployment. An 8-inch touchscreen is housed in the middle of the dashboard. This has Apple CarPlay with USB C connectivity, with USB A also provided for device charging and storage access.

Between the fixed seats is a storage area with a sliding cupholder and a second area for small items behind the armrest. A plane-style luggage shelf is accessible by moving the headrests and 117 litres of storage space can be accommodated overall.

A wide range of customisation and personalisation is available through McLaren Special Operations, including the first use of McLaren InnoKnit. The lightweight, environmentally friendly material seamlessly integrates into interior surfaces and components and can be tailored to different colours, textures and shapes. If this isn’t quite for you, leather and Alcantara can also be specified.

Production and Price

Just 399 W1s are being produced, and predictably, all have already been sold two years before the start of production in Woking for a price of £2 million, much more when buyers have finished customising.

words: Mike Booth
pictures & video: McLaren Automotive