Designed to master airflow McLarens have always had a unique style among supercars. Perfectly blending aerodynamic proficiency with supercar drama. The W1 is no exception, it’s an absolute sensation to behold. The only thing in Britain, more striking, at present is the Eurofighter Typhoon. Unlike Ferrari who use past models to inspire their design, McLaren looks forward and creates new shapes to sing the song of speed. The only design elements this car shares with past McLarens are the Senna-like windows and the P1-inspired rear buttresses. Every other part is new and composed entirely of carbon fibre. In particular, are the new Anhedral Gullwing Doors like you’d find on a Pagani Huayra. These replace the iconic dihedral butterfly doors that have become a staple of McLaren since the F1. That being said, the exterior isn’t as radical as the interior. The seats are integrated into the chassis and the floor is raised like they are on a 2016 Ford GT. The dashboard, instrument binnacle and touchscreen are all from the Artura. The W1 is also the first ever McLaren to have an oval-shaped steering wheel. Something we haven’t seen on a British-built car since the Austin Allegro. It sits on an all-new Aerocell monocoque that enables full ground-effect aerodynamics and is composed of pre-preg carbon fibre. A technique was previously reserved for motorsport yet here has resulted in the lightest monocoque, McLaren have ever constructed. The W1 weighs 1,399kg dry, only slightly more than the P1. That’s an astonishing achievement considering most current cars are fatter and heavier than the ones they replaced. What’s even more remarkable though is how this car masters airflow. The Aerocell monocoque reduces the wheelbase and the suspension is composed of pushrods, torsion bars, and 3D-printed titanium components, to reduce drag. The gullwing doors ensure maximum air is passed to the radiators. The W1 also features an air duct and a large front grill to slice through the air like butter. But most notable is McLaren’s Active Long Tail rear wing which changes shape based on the car’s speed. It extends up to 300mm in the new Race Mode to fine-tune the downforce and drag for maximum performance. Meanwhile, the front wing, inspired by F1, optimizes airflow under the car for increased ground effect. This airflow comes into effect when you bury your foot into the carpet. All McLarens are fast but the W1 takes speed to such a peak, that the only thing faster is the Saturn five rocket. Takes speed to a new peak The W1 is fitted with an all-new MHP 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 developed by Ricardo that revs up to 9200rpm. The result is 928 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. However, like the P1 the W1 is a hybrid, featuring the same e-Module setup that you’d find in the Artura. However, this 1.38kWh unit is brand new and McLaren have managed to extract 347 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque. This motor works in tandem with the V8 driving the rear wheels through an 8-speed SSG dual-clutch gearbox via a hydraulic e-differential. Combined, the W1 produces an almost unbelievable 1275 horsepower and 988 lb-ft of torque. The result is 0–62mph in a blistering 2.7 seconds and it will keep accelerating with the same verve until it hits its limited top speed of 217mph. This isn’t just supercar or hypercar fast, it’s so rapid it’ll rip the earth into pieces. However McLarens aren’t just about straight-line performance, they’re also meant to be rapid through corners. The W1’s active aerodynamics, particularly the active long tail, means it corners with more precision and agility than a fruit fly. And McLaren, thankfully, still retains that traditional hydraulic steering, for that proper road-through steering connection. Now all this performance does cost a pretty penny, $2.6 million to be exact but you needn’t worry about writing out a cheque. All 399 W1s have already been allocated. But the bigger question is, does the W1 live up to what came before? McLaren’s “1” Hypercars: What makes them so special? The McLaren F1 has gone down in history as possibly the greatest supercar ever made. Certainly that reputation has been earned for the bar this car set back in 1993. Featuring the most quality automotive design from the gold engine bay to it’s completely carbon fibre constructed body to its F1-inspired middle driving seat layout. It was the perfect blend of advanced design and tech combined with a raw analogue drive. Thanks to its 627 horsepower V12 it also was the fastest car in the world, maxing out at 214mph. Small wonder then the F1 is worth over $20 million and is the core reason why in 2011, McLaren Automotive was launched. Over its decade-long tenure, McLaren Automotive has produced some truly exceptional cars. But without a doubt, the most exceptional came in 2013. On the face of it, the McLaren P1, may not appear to set the same records or be quite so bespoke as the F1. Yet it is arguably even more significant, for it formed the basis of today’s supercars. The P1 produced 916 horsepower, not only from its 3.8L twin-turbo V8 but also an electric motor. This made it the first official hybrid supercar (alongside the Porsche 918 and LaFerrari). It also utilised F1-inspired tech such as DRS. Without the P1, many of the current supercars like the 296, Revuelto and Artura simply wouldn’t exist. McLaren’s “1” hypercars are more than just million-pound toys for insta-billionaires. They are revolutionists that redefine the supercar rule book. They blend the latest speed-focused tech perfectly balanced with the ultimate driving expression, overshadowing all their rivals. Now the question, you’ve all been waiting for, is the W1 a worthy successor? Is the W1 a true “1”? It’s clear W1 isn’t a revolutionist as its forefathers. More or less it follows the same recipe as the P1:· Both are two-seaters.· Both are constructed entirely of carbon fibre.· Both use twin-turbo V8s combined with electric motors.· Both use the latest in F1-derived tech.· Both have a top speed of 217mph. However whilst it doesn’t redefine the supercar rulebook, what this car does is take McLaren’s experience in F1 and road cars and combine it all into their ultimate package. It refines and excels all the P1s innovations. An even more potent twin-turbo V8, a lighter, more powerful electric motor, a more active and cleverer rear spoiler and a more aerodynamically designed body. More speed, sharper handling, and an even more impressive gearbox. The W1 doesn’t redefine rulebooks it pushes those rules to new peaks. Peaks so high, that the likes of the new Ferrari F250, Porsche’s potential EV and all other upcoming rivals need to be outstanding to overthrow it. On that basis, it rightly deserves to be a McLaren “1”! F1rstMotors: McLaren “1” comparisonModelW1P1F1Year of Release202520131993Engine4.0l Twin–Turbo V8 with 1.38kWh e-Module3.8l Twin–Turbo V8 with 4.7kWh electric motor6.1l V12Horsepower1275hp903hp627hpTorque988 lb–ft664 lb–ft479 lb–ft0–62mph (100km/h)2.7 seconds2.8 seconds3.3 secondsTop Speed217mph (350 km/h)217mph (350 km/h)240 mph (386 km/h)Weight1,399kg (1.4 tonnes)1395 kg (1.4 tonnes)1140 kg (1.1 tonnes)Power to Weight911 hp per tonne657 hp per tonne550 hp per tonneGearbox8–speed SSG Dual Clutch with e-Motor Reverse7-speed Dual Clutch6-speed manualDriven WheelsRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveAmount Built399375106RivalsFerrari F250, Aston Martin Valhalla, Bugatti TourbillonLaFerrari, Porsche 918, Bugatti Veyron SSFerrari F50, Jaguar XJ220, Bugatti EB110
