Introducing the McLaren W1: iBestTravel’s Newest Hypercar
On the 50th anniversary of McLaren winning its first Formula 1 World Championship, it is officially debuting its newest hypercar, the McLaren W1. To say the W1 has been highly anticipated would be an understatement. The new hypercar draws its lineage straight back to the legendary McLaren F1 of the early ’90s and is the direct successor to the McLaren P1. Those are big wheels to fill, to say the least. Let’s dive into McLaren’s newest halo car.
McLaren’s Most Powerful Engine
Just behind the driver’s seat in the W1 is the most powerful engine McLaren has ever produced. We would expect nothing else from a car meant to take over as the top dog. Like the P1 before it, the McLaren W1 has a hybrid powertrain blending a 4.0-liter 90-degree V-8 and an “E-Module” with a radial flux electric motor. If the term “radial flux” sounds familiar, it’s the same technology Koenigsegg uses in the “Dark Matter” electric motor in the Gemera.
The flat-plane-crank V-8 engine, which McLaren calls the MHP-8, makes 916 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor adds another 342 hp and 324 lb-ft, bringing the grand total to 1,258 hp and 988 lb-ft of torque. The McLaren W1 sends every bit of that horsepower to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and electronic locking differential.
To clarify, the W1 has a 354-hp and 324-lb-ft advantage over its predecessor, the P1. The W1’s V-8 alone makes as much torque as the entire P1’s hybrid powertrain.
Electrify All the Things
The McLaren W1’s E-Module is powered by a dielectric immersion-cooled 1.384-kWh battery with “motorsport-derived” cells, according to McLaren. The W1 keeps the battery at a minimum charge level to crank the motor and to power “E-reverse,” an electric reverse gear functionality. This sounds wild, but most Toyota hybrids have operated this way for years using one of their electric motors spun the other way to move backward.
The entire E-Module (the radial flux electric motor and integrated motor control unit) weighs just 44 pounds and is mounted to the side of the transmission.
The McLaren W1 can be driven in electric-only mode; however, the all-electric range is just 1.6 miles—sufficient to getaway smoothly from neighbors before unleashing the V-8’s roars.
All About Airflow
Considering what McLaren does on weekends, it’s no surprise that the brand invested massive efforts into the W1’s aerodynamic design. The W1’s aerodynamic platform is the most advanced ever created for a road car after over 350 hours of wind tunnel sessions and 5,000 metrics tested.
Everything is anchored by what McLaren calls the Aerocell monocoque, shaped to facilitate the W1’s ground effects. As observed in various interior images, the seats are integrated into the monocoque in a manner reminiscent of Formula 1 cars. This innovative approach saved 2.8 inches of wheelbase requirement. Like its predecessors, the W1 permits adjustments to the driving position by moving the pedal box.
The Aerocell also allows for the W1’s anhedral doors, which is a first for McLaren. This door design helps the W1 adhere to aerodynamic requirements as only doors that hinge from the roof would meet McLaren’s design criteria. This also helps optimize airflow from the front wheel arches into the radiators, while simultaneously complementing the aesthetic inspired by the silhouette of the McLaren MCL38 F1 car.
To enhance its aerodynamic capabilities further, the driver can activate a race mode, which lowers the ride height by 1.46 inches in the front and 0.7 inch in the rear, generating significant downforce for high-speed maneuvers.
Chassis Dynamics
The W1 features the third-generation McLaren Race Active Chassis Control suspension system with Comfort, Race, and Race+ modes. These modes also adjust the W1’s active aero at the front, rear, and underneath the car as per the driver’s demands. McLaren asserts that this system excels at transferring load and grip to the rear axle, therefore minimizing the need for all-wheel-drive.
The suspension utilizes titanium torsion bars and an active heave element crosslink. The rear is equipped with a Z-bar featuring active drop links to control heave. Additionally, the front uprights and wishbones were 3D printed for weight savings.
The W1’s braking system represents the next generation, with six-piston monoblock calipers in the front and four-piston calipers at the rear, clamping down on 15.4-inch carbon ceramic rotors. This state-of-the-art braking system can bring the W1 to a stop from 62 mph in 95 feet and from 124 mph in 328 feet.
How Fast Is the New W1?
The McLaren F1 earned fame as the fastest production road car during its era. Meanwhile, the P1 emphasized track capabilities and unparalleled handling. So, where does the W1 fit into this legacy? Impressively, it reportedly beats the McLaren Senna by 3 seconds per lap at the Nardo circuit, claiming to be the fastest-accelerating road-legal car ever produced by McLaren. With a claimed 0 to 60 mph time of just 2.7 seconds, we find this benchmark credible.
The maximum speed of the W1 is 217 mph, though it is electronically limited. It wouldn’t be surprising if McLaren later reveals a track-only version with the limits removed.
How Much is the McLaren W1?
In all honesty, the McLaren W1’s starting price of $2.1 million places it beyond the reach of most enthusiasts. The final cost can escalate depending on the desired level of personalization via McLaren’s MSO program. Even if financially feasible, the window of opportunity is closing as all 399 customer cars are already allocated!
As a final note, it is possible that McLaren may build one extra unit as a press car, potentially allowing for more excitement in the future.
