Introducing the McLaren W1
Is the McLaren W1 the superlative supercar?
Launched on the 50th anniversary of McLaren's first Formula 1 World Championship win, W1 embodies an obsession with perfection. Built in a limited edition of just 399 units worldwide, the W1 is not just an exhilarating car; it is a statement of intent from one of Britain's most celebrated performance manufacturers.
Positioned at the pinnacle of the McLaren range, above the Artura and 750S, the W1 draws directly from McLaren's Formula 1 programme. Driving it is an experience that engages all your senses simultaneously. The performance levels redefine what is possible, providing you with a swift reminder of the brand's unrivalled racing heritage.
The W1 is unmistakably McLaren. Its profile is defined entirely by aerodynamic necessity, its engine note shaped by decades of motorsport refinement. Here is a supercar that strikes an irresistible balance between world-leading design and engineering.
Design and Practicality
While most view aesthetics and aerodynamics as separate disciplines, the McLaren W1 treats them as one. The body is sculpted entirely around airflow management, with every crease, aperture and surface transition enhancing the aerodynamics.
The W1's anhedral doors perfectly reflect this philosophy. Their upward-and-outward opening motion is a signature McLaren design trait, but their geometry also actively channels air around the front of the car, adding to the overall aerodynamic balance.
At the rear, the Active Long Tail system extends by 300mm in Race Mode, altering the car's silhouette and massively increasing the effective area of the rear diffuser. The total claimed downforce of 1,000kg - five times the road configuration figure - is the result of this system working in concert with the ground-effect underbody, a technology borrowed directly from Formula 1.
The cabin is equally purposeful. The W1 integrates both seats directly into the carbon fibre monocoque. Rather than adjusting the seat, the pedal box and steering column move to suit the driver - a motorsport-derived solution that optimises driving position while reducing weight.
McLaren's proprietary InnoKnit fabric lines much of the interior. This patented woven material allows speaker grilles, ambient lighting and trim surfaces to be consolidated into a single lightweight layer.
Technology and Safety
The Mclaren W1 infotainment is deliberately restrained and appropriate for a car designed to prioritise driver engagement above all else. Audio is integrated into the InnoKnit interior surfaces to eliminate the extra weight of conventional speaker housings.
McLaren Hydraulic Performance Steering transmits road surface information with extraordinary clarity, maintaining an analogue quality that purely electric systems cannot match.
The Mclaren W1 safety architecture centres around structural and dynamic engineering rather than conventional driver aids. The carbon-fibre monocoque provides occupants with an exceptional level of protection, while Race Active Chassis Control III maintains composure at speeds that would challenge any other road car. Carbon ceramic brakes measuring 390mm front and rear, with six-piston front calipers, provide stopping power commensurate with the W1's extraordinary performance.
Engines and Performance
At the heart of the W1 sits the all-new MHP-8 - a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8 that revs to 9,200rpm. Working in tandem with a new E-module, weighing just 20kg and derived from IndyCar racing technology, the combined system output reaches 1,258bhp and 988lb ft of torque.
All that power is delivered exclusively to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with an integrated E-Differential, keeping weight to a minimum and demanding genuine driver skill.
The result is the fastest accelerating road-legal McLaren ever, reaching 124mph from standstill in a phenomenal 5.8 seconds. The W1 laps the Nardò Technical Centre three full seconds faster than the McLaren Senna, underlining just how significant a step forward this supercar represents.
Experience the McLaren W1 with Stratstone
The McLaren W1 is a machine without equal in McLaren's history. A tour de force of engineering, aerodynamics and hybrid performance, the W1 will define this elite class for years to come.
Speak with our specialist team at your nearest Stratstone McLaren retailer to discuss the W1 or explore the wider new McLaren range.
