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▪Ground-breaking successor to two of the greatest supercars of all time – the McLaren
F1 and McLaren P1TM – opens new chapter in McLaren’s famous ‘1’ car lineage
▪ Created with McLaren’s World Championship mindset; underpinned by the principles that define a real supercar
▪Epic all-new V8 hybrid powertrain with 1275PS – the highest power output of any McLaren ever and greater than all core competitors
▪All-new MHP-8 V8 combustion engine develops 928PS – at 233PS per liter the highest-ever output from a McLaren engine – and revs to 9,200rpm
▪Formula 1-inspired front suspension is mounted directly into the Aerocell with externally visible front arms and key components 3D-printed for weight optimization, including the use of titanium components
▪ Just 399 customer cars will be produced – and all are already customer-allocated
The Ultimate expression of a real supercar, the new W1 has been created according to the McLaren ethos of class-leading performance, informed by the core principles that underpin every McLaren supercar: epic power applied through cutting-edge aerodynamics, and lightweight chassis technologies; the highest levels of dynamic excellence and the purest driver connection; the perfect driver environment, for all driving situations; and awe-inspiring visual and aural drama.
“The McLaren W1 is a celebration of both the excellence of the iconic McLaren F1 and McLaren P1TM and the manifestation of McLaren’s World Championship mindset. With our new Ultimate supercar, we are again pushing the boundaries of real supercar performance with an epic hybrid powertrain featuring our all-new MHP-8 V8 engine, the most advanced aerodynamic platform of any McLaren road car, and extensive use of advanced lightweight materials. This allows us to engineer a supreme-track driving experience from the same car that gives unparalleled driving enjoyment on the road.
W1 is a supercar for all occasions; more than any other McLaren, it is equally at home on road and track and as the fastest-lapping and fastest-accelerating McLaren road-legal supercar yet, it is exhilarating to drive whatever the circumstances.
The spine-tingling driver enjoyment ensured by the W1’s revolutionary new high-downforce, low-drag, ground-effect aerodynamics design is further enhanced by the unique transformation process from Road mode to Race mode for track driving: W1’s ride height lowers (by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear) and a heave system stiffens the suspension. Front and rear active wings are deployed, with the McLaren Active Long Tail extending rearwards by up to 300mm to assist in generating the 1,000kg of downforce available in W1.
Epic performance from V8 High-Performance Hybrid powertrain with pure RWD
At the heart of W1 is an all-new High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, comprising McLaren’s all-new MHP-8 V8 combustion engine, an all-new E-module (integrating a radial flux electric motor and motor control unit), and an 8-speed transmission with E-reverse. Power and torque are to the rear wheels only, through an E-differential.
The 928PS of the new V8 and 347PS of the E-module combine to produce 1275PS, giving W1 the highest-ever power output of any McLaren and putting it above all core competitors. Engineered for epic power delivery and breathtaking performance, the powertrain combines with a vehicle weight of 1,399kg to deliver an astonishing power-to-weight ratio of 911PS/tonne for W1 – the highest-ever for any road-legal McLaren and more importantly, best-in-class.
The exhaust features tubular manifolds that are engineered to maximize driver engagement as well as performance, with long, equal-length runners tuned to build sound to a crescendo as the engine speed approaches its 9,200rpm electronic rpm limit.
The E-motor element is capable of spinning up to 24,000rpm and has a specific output of 23PS/kg, which is directly comparable to Formula 1 E-motors.
Born from Formula 1-inspired ground-effect aerodynamics
McLaren has been synonymous with aerodynamic innovation and excellence since its very beginnings, with Bruce McLaren himself always determined to push for any advantage offered by new ways of managing airflow to balance lift and drag in the most efficient way possible. The
1967 championship-winning McLaren M6A Can-Am racecar employed ground effect aerodynamics with great success and while it was another decade before the technology came to Formula 1 – and the 1990s before the McLaren F1 showed how effective it could be in a road car –
ground effect remains a significant advantage as part of an overall aerodynamic package for those car makers who can master it.
It is no surprise then that the new McLaren W1’s striking design is defined by aerodynamic requirements, with McLaren’s engineers focusing on combining the high downforce and low drag that ground-effect innovations provide to the foundations for the new Ultimate McLaren’s extraordinary abilities.
The Aerocell also incorporates fixings for McLaren’s first-ever Anhedral doors. The decision to adopt this door concept was dictated by aerodynamic requirements demanding a door design that is hinged only from the roof. In conjunction with the reduced-size side window drop glass, the McLaren Anhedral Door allows optimization of airflow from the front wheel arches into the high-temperature radiators, providing extra cooling space that allows the size of the radiators required to cool the powertrain to be reduced, optimizing packaging and saving weight. The fact that the door shape is reminiscent of the bodyside of the McLaren MCL38 Formula 1 car is also a neat visual signature.
The W1 builds on the Formula 1-inspired aerodynamic innovation that first distinguished the McLaren P1TM from its competition and has been honed in subsequent McLaren cars. The attention to aerodynamic requirements in W1 even extends to the powertrain, which is inclined by 3 degrees to accommodate the car’s high-downforce rear diffuser.
The lowering of ride height – by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear – and deployment of active front and rear wings is not just theatre: in Race mode, W1 is capable of generating up to
350kg of downforce at the front and 650kg at the rear, giving a total downforce of up to 1000kg in high-speed corners.
For road driving the Active Long Tail wing sits over the rear bodywork and front and rear wing deployment is optimized for this environment, with the front wing sitting higher at low speeds to avoid damage from speed bumps. W1’s vehicle lift system further reduces this risk.
Dynamic genius without compromise, driven by McLaren DNA
McLaren’s philosophy of Lightweight Engineering and the use of bespoke carbon fiber structures deliver a vehicle’s lightest dry weight of just 1,399kg for W1, which is key to the requirement for outstanding performance, everywhere – whether on the road or on track.
The all-new McLaren Race Active Chassis Control III suspension with McLaren Race mode ensures a huge breadth of capability, from road-legal compliance to fastest lap performance and pure
Driver connection.
The Comfort handling setting gives the occupants a smooth ride quality with increased body control at medium and high speeds, while Sport provides a more engaging, connected setup with a focus on body control and agility at all speeds. When Race mode is selected a stable aerodynamic
the platform is prioritized, with an active heave element deployed for superior track dynamics and consistent downforce.
Brake performance is further optimized with aerodynamic features to keep the system cool. Directly inspired by Formula 1-style ducts, these have been designed to also increase downforce and radiator cooling by managing the wake of the tires, while the brake lines have been routed to minimize airflow disruption under the car.
The electronic parking brake is integrated into the rear calipers, saving weight while at the same time improving component stiffness.
The fastest lapping and fastest accelerating road-legal McLaren ever
Bettering even the super-lightweight and track-focused McLaren Senna – by an astonishing 3 seconds a lap at McLaren’s Nardo reference circuit – W1 is also the fastest accelerating road-legal McLaren ever. Hugely impressive in isolation, these two parameters are even more incredible when you consider that you need both high downforce and very low drag to achieve them.
Inspired by the work of generations of Formula 1 Race Engineers, McLaren’s Race mode gives a choice of two suspension settings – Race and Race+, with the latter being the firmest available. This allows drivers to select settings according to whether they are on undulating, bumpy tracks where consistent aerodynamic downforce is needed, or flat, smooth surfaces on which the ground effect platform is optimized.
Tyre performance is intrinsic to mechanical and aerodynamic grip and W1 features three 265/35 front and 335/30 rear tire options from McLaren’s technical partner, Pirelli. To fit the car’s extreme requirements, the Pirelli P ZEROTM Trofeo RS road legal track tire is the standard fitment. The tire has a compound specially developed to maintain the highest performance and
consistent grip over a track session. Pirelli P ZEROTM R and Pirelli P ZEROTM Winter 2 tires – again both bespoke to W1 – are also available, the former being a road-focused solution and the latter delivering outstanding cold weather performance.
The perfect supercar driving environment
The excitement of driving W1 begins with the McLaren Anhedral Doors opening upwards to reveal recesses in the roof and the front lower opening that helps to provide access to the innovative and comfortable cabin. The doors also feature a sculpted concave section on the inside to maximize occupant space.
Seating is uniquely integrated into the McLaren Aerocell carbon fiber monocoque, directly connecting the driver – and passenger – to the chassis. Both seats are fully upholstered for optimal support and comfort and provide a driving position that is more reclined than usual, with a high level of thigh support.
The pedals, steering wheel, and primary controls move to fully embrace the driver within the cockpit environment, with a perfect driving position easily found by adjusting the floor-mounted aluminum pedals, which have a unique adjustment action. The unique-to-W1 wheel is smaller and flatter than previous McLaren steering wheel designs. Integral shift lights that prompt the driver to select the next gear as the 9,200rpm redline approaches are optionally available.
True to the McLaren supercar principle of a pure driver-focused interface, the only two buttons on the steering wheel are Boost and McLaren Aero Deployment controls. Inspired by Formula 1, these have been ergonomically designed to be easy to reach and activate by the driver moving their thumbs and not their hands from the wheel.
Further information and adjustments can be found on the high-resolution 8” touchscreen McLaren Infotainment System (MIS II) located between the driver and passenger. This has Apple CarPlay with USB C connectivity, with USB A also provided for device charging and storage access.
Visually arresting engineering
McLaren’s Performance by Design strategic approach centers on the five key principles of McLaren’s design DNA – Epic, Athletic, Functional, Focused, and Intelligent – and the new W1 meets this brief. The heavily sculpted form – with almost every panel made from carbon fiber – is immediately recognizable as a McLaren supercar and a bold visual demonstration of the
W1’s duality of character, the smooth, flowing upper surface contrasting with the extreme and
uncompromising ground effect underbody.
The front aspect of W1 showcases its aerodynamic brilliance, with a large amount of lower bodywork layering designed to condition the flow of air towards aerodynamic surfaces heading towards the rear of the car. The upper nose section features intakes around the lights and upper wheel arches, with a large single nostril in the center of the bonnet. At the rear of this is an aerodynamic blade that lifts to reveal the EVSE charging port, brake, and washer fluid reservoirs. Visible carbon fiber aerodynamic structures and exposed suspension components are also a theme that echoes throughout the car.
Starting at $2.1 million, but sold out
How much does it all cost? Well, McLaren says the W1 will start at $2.1 million, but it strongly hints that things will only get worse from there. That’s because there’s an endless list of custom options available from McLaren Special Operations (MSO), meaning that theoretically, no two cars will be the same.
That, along with the fact that only 399 W1s will be built, and all of them have already been agreed upon. However, if you’re one of those lucky 399, you’ll be happy to know that the W1 comes with a four-year/unlimited-mileage warranty on the car.
