It seems that roughly once a decade, we can expect McLaren to do something completely bonkers and drop a new Halo model on us. In 1992, it was the F1 that set the world ablaze, and only three years after McLaren Car became McLaren Automotive and started producing cars again, we got the iconic hybrid P1. Now, it's the turn for McLaren Automotive to set the standard for the decade with the release of their latest halo offering, the W1.
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Drawing on years of Formula 1 experience and with an engineering team that has helped secure no fewer than 16 Formula 1 World Championships across both Driver's and Constructors championships, the W1 pushes the boundaries of what road-going supercars are capable of.
Powertrain
The heart of the beast is a hybrid drive power unit that produces a total of 937kW. At the centre lies an MHP-8 4.0-litre 90-degree V8 with a flat plane crank. This twin-turbo unit is responsible for 682kW of the total output, giving it an astonishing specific power output of 171 kW/litre while revving to a lofty 9 200 r/min. This is complemented by an electric drive module contributing 255kW, drawing power from a 1.384 kWh high energy discharge battery pack.
Together, these units produce the 937kW with an equally impressive 1 340 Nm of torque. This power is sent to the rear wheels only through an 8-speed gearbox.
The decision to retain a rear-wheel drive configuration is a bold one at a time when many others are opting to make use of front-wheel assistance, but one that stems from McLaren's desire to retain a pure enthusiast driving experience. To complement this, they have retained hydraulic power steering and hydraulic braking.
“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.
“Formula 1-derived aerodynamics, pure rear-wheel drive and McLaren hydraulic performance steering showcase McLaren’s approach to purposeful innovation as a racing company that always delivers the best possible performance. It is therefore no surprise that the new W1 is our fastest-lapping and fastest accelerating road-legal car ever. It also provides the purest driver connection by remaining true to the principles that underpin the ultimate supercar driving experience. This really is a car that only McLaren could create.”
- Michael Leiters, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive
Design
Striking a blend between function and form, the new W1 takes the learnings from the Formula 1 team and the aerodynamics of their F1 cars and employs it in a road car. With over 350 hours of wind tunnel time where more than 5 000 data points were tested, the W1 is capable of generating 1 000 kg of aerodynamic downforce for unmatched stability at high speeds. This includes active aero elements, ground-effects underbody and diffuser, as well as an active long-tail rear wing.
The carbon fibre monocoque not only channels the air to where the engineers want it, but it also provides a low centre of gravity base for the hybrid drive components. Passengers in the W1 are positioned exactly where the engineers want them, with the steering wheel and pedals moving rather than the seat. This helps ensure that the weight distribution remains as the engineers intended.
Performance
All of this combines to help the McLaren W1 achieve legendary performance. The sprint to 100 km/h from a standing start takes only 2.7 seconds, and 200 km/h comes up in a frightful 5.8 seconds. 300 km/h takes 12.7 seconds before it hits the 350 km/h speed limiter.
This acceleration is impressive considering that the W1 is only rear-wheel drive. McLaren has achieved this thanks to its experience in Formula 1 and has employed this knowledge into the suspension design and setup. This approach also allows the McLaren W1 to corner better than before, and on the Nardo test circuit, the W1 has lapped a full three seconds faster than the McLaren Senna.
“W1 is a supercar that embodies all of the fundamentals of performance, honed through decades of motorsport and supercar innovation. Underpinned by epic power and a light vehicle weight of just 1 399kg – which combine to give a best-in-class ratio of 911PS-per-tonne – W1 not only eclipses all other road-legal McLarens on both acceleration and lap times, it redefines supercar acceleration and performance full-stop. In delivering ground-breaking low drag for straight-line performance and high downforce for awesome cornering ability, especially with the unique new McLaren Race mode engaged, we have elevated the standards for real supercar credentials to an entirely new level”.
- Marcus Waite, Head of Attributes and Performance, McLaren Automotive and former Formula 1 Race Engineer.
Price
McLaren says that pricing starts from €2 million including taxes, but before MSO personalisation. Only 399 McLaren W1s will be built and all have been spoken for. Rumour has it that South Africa can expect to see a single unit making its way to our shores.
