The W1: A New Peak of McLaren Mountain

The W1 positions itself as the newest peak of McLaren Mountain, serving as a successor to the F1 and the P1. It's a machine that beats up on the Sena and the Speedtail for good measure. Normally, I'd first talk about the styling inside and out, but let's jump straight to the powertrain on this one. McLaren has developed a brand new 4 L twin turbocharged V8 for the W1, and it's a screamer.

The MHP 8 engine runs at an impressive 9200 RPM while producing 916 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. But that's not all - there's more because this one is a hybrid. The W1 employs a radio flux electric motor and a 1.4 KW battery pack, which feed in an additional 342 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque. Total system output is rated at 1,258 horsepower and 988 lb-ft of torque. All the oomph is sent rearward via an 8-speed dual clutch gearbox, and then down to the ground through a set of 335 section width P0 tires.

Performance is plentiful on the W1, with McLaren saying that it can go from 0-60 in just 2.7 seconds. Want to go 0-124 mph? That takes just 5.8 seconds. And if you have the space to test it out, the top speed is electronically limited to 217 mph. As expected, there's carbon fiber everywhere - really every McLaren Road car makes extensive use of carbon fiber, but here on the W1 it's all taken to 11.

The Aeros cell structure is crafted via a procedure reserved for low-runs Motorsport applications, and the actual carbon fiber is infused with resin before being fully formed. This both helps simplify the curing process but also makes the Aeros cell stronger. The resulting structure is the lightest McLaren monoco ever, due to the unique design of this Aeros cell. However, there were some engineering challenges - the front sits higher compared to other McLaren, so the front lower suspension mounting points are integrated into the chassis structure. There's no separate front subframe.

To bolt the steering rack, McLaren engineers had to find a solution. Instead of the dihedral door openings seen on past Coupe models, they opted for go-Wing style doors. The chassis works with McLaren's Active Race Control 3 suspension system, opting between Comfort Sport and Race yields drastically different setups to deliver the ideal Dynamic experience depending on what you want and where you are.

There's actually a level Beyond race called "Race Plus" for even more downforce and suspension stiffness on smooth, fast racing circuits. Speaking of downforce, this thing can make tons of it - the rear wing is active and can drop down and stretch rearward or flip up under heavy braking. Max downforce is rated at 2,250 lb at 174 mph.

The faster you go, the more this thing sticks when you need to stop. Just press the brake pedal to drop the anchors - the front and rear have 15.3 in rotors. The fronts have a six piston setup, while the rear has a four piston setup. As a complete package, the W1 is a true hypercar beast of a machine.

McLaren's Test Facility

On McLaren's test facility, the W1 can lap the track three full seconds faster than a Sena 3 seconds in racing might as well be 300 that's a huge jump in performance. Thankfully, it's also better looking than the Senna - which wasn't exactly pretty to begin with. This one isn't what I'd call pretty either, but it definitely looks better.

It looks proper, in that it's clearly designed to be very good at going very, very quickly. That notion continues in the cabin. The seats don't move, but the pedals and steering wheel can be adjusted. McLaren says there's enough space to fit some weekend bags behind the seats and you can spec a Bowers and Wilkins sound system if you somehow get bored of hearing that MHP engine scream towards its Sky-high Red Line.

Availability

McLaren plans to build just 399 examples of the W1, starting at $2.1 million. If you have that scratch lying around and would like to buy one, you're already too late - each one has already been allocated to its fancy-footed McLaren-loving owner. Hopefully, some of them will push their W1s to their limits because those limits are at the upper echelon of what road cars can do.

I don't think the W1 will ever be as iconic and legendary as the F1. I do think it's quite a Leap Forward over the P1 however, and I look forward to seeing just how well it stacks up against some of the other great top-tier machines currently or soon coming to market.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enMcLaren is best known for its sultry supercars and its Championship efforts in Formula 1 the various supercars it builds are wonderful machines but ever so often they push a bit more strongly to blend the road and Motorsports efforts into something special an ultimate series car what started with the iconic F1 eventually developed into the mighty P1 well now there's a new one it's called the W1 and the numbers on this one are pretty amazing the W1 positions itself as the newest peak of McLaren Mountain it serves as a successor to the F1 and the P1 and beats up on the sen and speed tail for good measure normally I'd first talk about the styling inside and out but let's jump straight to the powertrain on this one Mclaren has developed a brand new 4 L twint turbocharged V8 for the W1 and it's a screamer the automaker employs a flat plane crank setup which allows the MHP 8 engine to run to 9200 RPM while producing 916 horsepower and 664 lbet of torque here's the fun part there's more because this one is a hybrid a radio flux electric motor and 1.4 KW battery pack feed in an additional 342 horsepower and 324 lbet of torque total system output is rated at 1,258 horsepower and 988 LBT of torque all the oomph is sent rearward via an 8-speed dual clutch gearbox and then down to the ground through a set of 335 section width perelli P0 tires performance yeah there's plenty of it here McLaren says the run from 0 to 60 happens in just 2.7 seconds want to go 0 to 124 mph that takes just 5.8 seconds would you prefer a run from 0 to 186 mph you'll only need 12.7 seconds to get there and if you have the space to test it out the top speed is electronically limited to 217 mph as you'd expect there's carbon fiber everywhere really every McLaren Road car makes extensive use of carbon fiber but here on the W1 it's all taken to 11 the Aeros cell structure is crafted via a procedure reserved for lowr run Motorsport application and the actual carbon fiber is infused with resin before being fully formed which both helps simplify the curing process but also makes the Aeros cell stronger the resulting structure is the lightest McLaren monoco ever because of the unique design of this Aeros cell however there were some engineering challenges the front sits higher compared to other McLaren so the front lower suspension mounting points are integrated into the chassis structure there's no separate front subframe this means the engineers also needed to find some to bolt the steering rack as for the doors McLaren opted for go Wing style doors instead of the dihedral door openings we've seen on past Coupe models the chassis works with mcclaren's active race control 3 suspension system opting between Comfort Sport and race yields drastically different setups to deliver the ideal Dynamic experience depending on what you want and where you are there's actually a level Beyond race called race Plus for even more downforce and suspension stiffness on smooth fast racing circuits speaking of downforce this thing can make tons of it the rear wing is active and can drop down and stretch rearward or flip up under heavy breaking Max downforce is rated at 2,25 lb at 174 mph the faster you go the more this thing sticks when you need to stop just press the brake pedal to drop the anchors the front and rear have 15.3 in rotors the fronts have a six piston setup while the rear has a four piston setup as a complete package the W1 is is a true hypercar Beast of a machine on McLaren's test facility it can lap the track three full seconds faster than a Sena 3 seconds in racing might as well be 300 that's a huge jump in performance thankfully it's also better looking than the Senna that was not a pretty car this one isn't what I'd call pretty either but it definitely looks better while still being very much a function over form sort of machine it looks proper in that it's clearly designed to be very good at going very very quickly that notion continues in the cabin the seats don't move but the pedals and steering wheel can be adjusted McLaren says there's enough space to fit some weekend bags behind the seats and you can spec a Bowers and wilin sound system if you somehow get bored of hearing that MHP engine scream towards its Skyhigh Red Line McLaren plans to build just 399 examples of the W1 it starts at 2.1 million and if you have that scratch lying around and would like to buy one you're already too late each one has already been allocated to its fancy footed McLaren Lovin owner hopefully some of them will push their w1s to their limits because those limits are at the upper echelon of what road cars can do I don't think the W1 will ever be as iconic and legendary as the F1 I do think it's quite a Leap Forward over the P1 however and I look forward to seeing just how well it Stacks up against some of the other great top tier machines currently or soon coming to MarketMcLaren is best known for its sultry supercars and its Championship efforts in Formula 1 the various supercars it builds are wonderful machines but ever so often they push a bit more strongly to blend the road and Motorsports efforts into something special an ultimate series car what started with the iconic F1 eventually developed into the mighty P1 well now there's a new one it's called the W1 and the numbers on this one are pretty amazing the W1 positions itself as the newest peak of McLaren Mountain it serves as a successor to the F1 and the P1 and beats up on the sen and speed tail for good measure normally I'd first talk about the styling inside and out but let's jump straight to the powertrain on this one Mclaren has developed a brand new 4 L twint turbocharged V8 for the W1 and it's a screamer the automaker employs a flat plane crank setup which allows the MHP 8 engine to run to 9200 RPM while producing 916 horsepower and 664 lbet of torque here's the fun part there's more because this one is a hybrid a radio flux electric motor and 1.4 KW battery pack feed in an additional 342 horsepower and 324 lbet of torque total system output is rated at 1,258 horsepower and 988 LBT of torque all the oomph is sent rearward via an 8-speed dual clutch gearbox and then down to the ground through a set of 335 section width perelli P0 tires performance yeah there's plenty of it here McLaren says the run from 0 to 60 happens in just 2.7 seconds want to go 0 to 124 mph that takes just 5.8 seconds would you prefer a run from 0 to 186 mph you'll only need 12.7 seconds to get there and if you have the space to test it out the top speed is electronically limited to 217 mph as you'd expect there's carbon fiber everywhere really every McLaren Road car makes extensive use of carbon fiber but here on the W1 it's all taken to 11 the Aeros cell structure is crafted via a procedure reserved for lowr run Motorsport application and the actual carbon fiber is infused with resin before being fully formed which both helps simplify the curing process but also makes the Aeros cell stronger the resulting structure is the lightest McLaren monoco ever because of the unique design of this Aeros cell however there were some engineering challenges the front sits higher compared to other McLaren so the front lower suspension mounting points are integrated into the chassis structure there's no separate front subframe this means the engineers also needed to find some to bolt the steering rack as for the doors McLaren opted for go Wing style doors instead of the dihedral door openings we've seen on past Coupe models the chassis works with mcclaren's active race control 3 suspension system opting between Comfort Sport and race yields drastically different setups to deliver the ideal Dynamic experience depending on what you want and where you are there's actually a level Beyond race called race Plus for even more downforce and suspension stiffness on smooth fast racing circuits speaking of downforce this thing can make tons of it the rear wing is active and can drop down and stretch rearward or flip up under heavy breaking Max downforce is rated at 2,25 lb at 174 mph the faster you go the more this thing sticks when you need to stop just press the brake pedal to drop the anchors the front and rear have 15.3 in rotors the fronts have a six piston setup while the rear has a four piston setup as a complete package the W1 is is a true hypercar Beast of a machine on McLaren's test facility it can lap the track three full seconds faster than a Sena 3 seconds in racing might as well be 300 that's a huge jump in performance thankfully it's also better looking than the Senna that was not a pretty car this one isn't what I'd call pretty either but it definitely looks better while still being very much a function over form sort of machine it looks proper in that it's clearly designed to be very good at going very very quickly that notion continues in the cabin the seats don't move but the pedals and steering wheel can be adjusted McLaren says there's enough space to fit some weekend bags behind the seats and you can spec a Bowers and wilin sound system if you somehow get bored of hearing that MHP engine scream towards its Skyhigh Red Line McLaren plans to build just 399 examples of the W1 it starts at 2.1 million and if you have that scratch lying around and would like to buy one you're already too late each one has already been allocated to its fancy footed McLaren Lovin owner hopefully some of them will push their w1s to their limits because those limits are at the upper echelon of what road cars can do I don't think the W1 will ever be as iconic and legendary as the F1 I do think it's quite a Leap Forward over the P1 however and I look forward to seeing just how well it Stacks up against some of the other great top tier machines currently or soon coming to Market\n"