The mighty W1 is extra than simply an acknowledgment of McLaren’s hypercar previous, it defines the long run applied sciences for its upcoming vary of fashions.
Have a look at any of the most recent supercars, be it the McLaren Artura, the Ferrari 296 GTB, or the just lately unveiled Lamborghini Temerario, and also you’ll discover traces of their hyper predecessors. Eleven years in the past, the McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari, and the Porsche 918 Spyder laid the muse for the way forward for the trendy supercar. Plug-in hybrids with monstrous energy outputs and infinitely adjustable aero could be the norm at the moment, however in 2013 they have been a rarity. Now, over a decade on, the Woking-based carmaker needs to present us a glimpse of the upcoming ten.
The 2025 McLaren W1 is a direct nod to its predecessors, the P1 and F1. And extra than simply paying tribute to the carmaker’s greats, the W1’s moniker signifies the start of a brand new period for the model. The tech unveiled on this $2.1 million hypercar, of which simply 399 items will ever exist, will encourage the marque’s future fashions.
As such, virtually each part on the 2025 McLaren W1 is new, beginning with its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. Though its displacement is an identical to its predecessor’s, it’s an all-new engine designed to work alongside an electrical motor. A lightened block, cylinder heads, aluminum pistons, and new twin-scroll turbochargers spherical out the listing of great adjustments. By itself, the W1’s V8 generates 916 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque whereas spinning as much as a 9,200-rpm redline. For context, the P1’s complete output, electrical motor and all, maxed out at 903 hp.
The W1 pairs its new V8 with a 342-hp radial flux electrical motor immediately built-in into its eight-speed automated transmission. Other than bumping its complete energy output to 1,258 hp and 988 lb-ft, it replaces the necessity for a conventional starter motor and reverse gear. Like its predecessors, McLaren’s newest sends all its energy to the rear wheels, with the carmaker citing insights from its Components 1 crew to handle traction and energy supply. The result’s a 2.7-second dash to 60 mph and a 5.8-second sprint to 124 mph. 186 mph is handled in 12.7 seconds, whereas its prime velocity is electronically restricted to 217 mph.
In contrast to the P1, nonetheless, the McLaren W1 isn’t a conventional plug-in hybrid with a usable vary. Its comparatively tiny battery pack holds simply 1.4 kilowatts, permitting it to cowl at most 1.6 miles on electrons alone (the P1 managed 19 miles EPA). As an alternative, the cells used on this utility serve purely efficiency functions. The selection to include a small pack, together with an electrical motor that weighs simply 44 lb, is how the W1 can declare the lightest attainable dry weight of three,084 lb.
The W1 encloses its new powertrain {hardware} in a novel carbon-fiber Aerocell monocoque. It’s distinctive to McLaren’s newest hypercar and incorporates what the carmaker calls its anhedral doorways, aka its new gullwing doorways. The carmaker cites aerodynamic constraints for his or her introduction on account of a door hinged on the automobile’s roof permitting for optimized airflow from the entrance arches and into the side-mounted, high-temperature radiators. It additionally doesn’t damage that they’re splendidly theatrical and completely at residence in a multi-million greenback hypercar.
Inside, the McLaren W1 debuts built-in seating, basically chairs carved into the monocoque. By eliminating standard buckets, the carmaker successfully shrinks the W1’s wheelbase by 2.8 inches whereas elevating its footwells. As such, its steering wheel, pedals, and first controls alter as a substitute. The W1’s wheel is squared-off, that includes simply two buttons: “Enhance” and “McLaren Aero Deployment.” Its digital instrument cluster is mounted to the steering column and strikes with the wheel, guaranteeing legibility. Its powertrain and chassis settings flank it, adjustable through two paddles. In the meantime, the solar visor above it’s now made from carbon fiber and simply 0.1-inch thick.
Just like the P1, the McLaren W1 will doubtless introduce us to the carmaker’s design language for future fashions. It’s distinct, angular, and formed primarily by wind tunnel testing. The W1’s objective to be each a street and observe automobile drastically informs its styling. It sits in a low-drag configuration when cruising, aiming to be slippery.
Nonetheless, have interaction race mode, and it squats by 1.5 inches up entrance and 0.7 within the rear. Concurrently, it deploys lively entrance and rear wings working alongside the downforce generated by its floor impact. Its lively rear spoiler alone can prolong by 11.8 inches. By incorporating these lively parts, the W1 generates as much as 2,205 lb of downforce, 772 lb coming from the entrance and 1,433 lb from the rear. Nonetheless, its wing can allow a drag discount system whereas doubling as an air brake relying on what’s being demanded.
On the suspension entrance, the McLaren W1 debuts Race Energetic Chassis Management III. It incorporates an inboard damper system to allow the aforementioned Race mode with out spoiling its trip. It consists of titanium torsion bars upfront with an lively heave ingredient crosslink. Within the rear, it incorporates a Z-bar setup with lively drop hyperlinks. The W1 introduces this motorsport-inspired suspension setup whereas retaining the hydraulic energy steering system the model is well-known for.
Its commonplace carbon ceramic brakes measure 15.4 inches up entrance with six-piston calipers. The W1 wears bespoke 265/35 and 335/30 Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS rubber to make use of the extra stopping energy greatest. Nonetheless, P Zero R and P Zero Winter 2 can be found as optionally available extras. Combining these new energy, chassis, and aerodynamic applied sciences, the McLaren W1 laps the carmaker’s Nardo reference observe three seconds faster than the Senna.
Setting its efficiency apart momentarily, McLaren goals to make the W1 certainly one of its most customizable automobiles ever. The marque designed it with customization in thoughts, providing all 399 items nearly limitless choices. One of the attention-grabbing is a brand new materials known as InnoKnit, successfully a knitted-to-fit cloth that covers the inside in massive items of supplies, decreasing the necessity for seams.
Though manufacturing is because of begin quickly, McLaren states that every one 399 items have bought with a beginning value of $2.1 million.
This text appeared in our February 2025 Difficulty.
Introducing the February 2025 problem of duPont REGISTRY, #477, starring the all-new McLaren W1. To get your fingers on a replica, both purchase a single problem or subscribe.
