McLaren W1

Exceptional performance

The W1 features distinctive gull-wing doors.

On October 6th, 1974, McLaren, with Emerson Fittibaldi, won the constructors’ championship for the first time in F1 history. Emerson, driving the M23, won his second title, but it was also the first time that McLaren had produced a driver’s champion. It was the first time that a team had won the title, and with a W team at the helm. This was the day that Team McLaren became world champions in both name and reality.

Today, 50 years later, we are witnessing the birth of a historic model that once again demonstrates the dominance of Team McLaren. It is called the “W1.” It is the latest edition of the “Ultimate Series,” a limited edition model series that marks the pinnacle of McLaren’s road car lineup, following on from the legendary F1 of the 1990s and the iconic P1 of the 2010s.

The specific target models for development were the Speedtail and Senna. It will reach 300km/h quicker than the Speedtail and will complete the descent three seconds faster than the Senna on the test course. This gives you an idea of the extraordinary performance of the W1. Incidentally, to achieve this performance, the W1 is lavishly packed with 12 world-first technologies and 45 McLaren-first technologies.

“Aerodynamic Monster”

This time too, the aerodynamics have been pursued relentlessly, with panels on the roof and a long tail rear wing that extends by 300mm.

At a sneak preview held for limited media prior to the announcement, the first impression of the actual car’s style was that it was “a legitimate successor to the P1 and an evolution of it.” At first glance, it appears to have a simple, unadorned design, but upon closer inspection, it reveals elaborate aerodynamic specifications.

It’s truly an “aerodynamic monster.” This is the greatest distinctive feature of the Ultimate Series to date, and also the appeal of McLaren road cars. The latest W1 has taken this to the next level. In particular, when you open the W1’s distinctive gull-wing doors (anhedral, not dihedral), you can see that the cross section has a complex shape like a Formula 1 wing, with three panels joined together. It’s so cool that you’ll want to drive with the doors open. And the tires are so exposed. It’s the first time I’ve seen a road car with so many visible tires.

As always with McLaren, everything has an aerodynamic purpose. From the roof panel to the long tail rear wing that extends 300mm, they paid meticulous attention to airflow. And yet, unlike the Senna, it’s not ostentatious. This is a car that really shows the evolution of aerodynamics. In race mode, the front is lowered 37mm and the rear 17mm, and a whopping 1 ton of downforce is applied to the rear. They even went so far as to tilt the powertrain itself by 3 degrees to make space for the ideal rear diffuser.

The brand’s commitment to formula cars

Opening the door and getting in, I was greeted by a highly functional cockpit, typical of McLaren. Seats made with new materials are fixed to the newly developed CFRP monocoque body (Aerocell). The position is determined by moving the pedal box back and forth. If you tilt the headrest forward, there is a small storage space beyond it.

The powertrain is what really stands out. It’s equipped with the new 4.0-liter V8 unit “MHP-8,” which will lead the next generation. The engine alone produces 928 PS, and of course, 233 PS per liter, the highest specs in McLaren’s history. The maximum rotation speed is 9200 rpm.

This is combined with an e-module containing an axial flux motor that produces 347 PS and an 8-speed DCT (reverse is electric), driving the two rear wheels through an e-differential. Yes, McLaren has once again stuck to RWD. This is a commitment that only a brand that primarily produces Formula cars can muster. The overall system specifications are an astounding maximum output of 1275 PS and maximum torque of 1340 Nm, and as a result of focusing on weight reduction, the vehicle weight (dry weight) has been achieved at 1399 kg, almost the same as the P1, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of just 1.1 kg/PS.

McLaren’s first pushrod suspension

In pursuit of aerodynamics, the powertrain has been tilted three degrees to accommodate the ideal rear diffuser.

Of course, the suspension system is also completely new. It is the first McLaren road car to use a push rod system. This is combined with an inboard style suspension, which also helps optimize aerodynamics. The front suspension in particular is mounted directly to the aerocell, and weight and performance have been optimized by 3D printing the arms and other components. The active control system has also been updated to the latest version.

Anyway, if you start listing the specifications, performance, and features, it becomes overwhelming. It’s likely that your head will start to heat up even before you actually try it.

The price is over 2 million pounds. Of course, it depends on the MSO. Apparently, the world’s limited edition of 399 units has already been allocated.

SPECIFICATIONS

McLaren W1

Body size: Length 4635, Width 2074, Height 1182mm

Wheelbase: 2680mm

Dry weight: 1399kg

Engine: V8 DOHC Turbo

Total displacement: 3988cc

Engine maximum output: 683kW (928PS)

Engine maximum torque: 900Nm

Motor maximum output: 255kW (347PS)

Motor maximum torque: 440Nm

System maximum output: 938kW (1275PS)

System maximum torque: 1340Nm / 4500-5000rpm

Battery capacity: 1.384kWh

Transmission: 8-speed DCT

Drive system: RWD

Suspension type: Front and rear double wishbone

Brakes: Front and rear ventilated disc Tire

size (rim width): Front 265/35R19 (9.5J) Rear 335/30R20 (12.0J)

Top speed: 350km/h (electronically controlled)

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h: 2.7 seconds

Vehicle price: Approximately 2 million GBP