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New models - McLaren - W1McLaren raises hypercar bar with new W1New McLaren W1 is a plug-in hybrid delivering next-level performance for a select few8 Oct 2024 LEGENDARY F1 competitor turned sportscar-maker McLaren has announced a jaw-dropping carbon-fibre-bodied successor to its two former flagships: the McLaren F1 and the McLaren P1.
Called W1 – which might ruffle a few feathers among the intellectual property holders at what used to be HSV – the new 938kW/1340Nm rear-wheel drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) packs some awe-inspiring statistics to go with its visual and (likelyy) aural drama.
Priced from circa £2.0 million ($A3,873,000) in McLaren’s native Britain, the W1 is already sold out as all 399 examples were spoken for before mere mortals got a whiff of its existence.
It is unclear if any will make it Down Under, although it is likely given this is a market known for its well-heeled collectors and hypercar fanatics – including one McLaren customer who hoisted their Senna GTR 57 floors to use as furniture in their Melbourne penthouse apartment.
The W1’s arrival opens a new chapter in McLaren’s ‘1’ car lineage and has been created with “McLaren’s World Championship mindset underpinned by the principles that define a real supercar”.
All this translates to an epic all-new twin-turbocharged (twin scroll) 90-degree 4.0-litre V8 with a flat plane crank supplemented by electric propulsion from the plug-in hybrid system to create the highest power output of any McLaren yet and, according to the maker, greater than all “core” competitors.
The ‘MHP-8' V8, which redlines at 9200rpm, contributes 682kW for a per-litre output of 171kW – a new record for McLaren.
Additionally, the W1 receives an extra 255kW of shove from a power-dense E-module that integrates the electric motor and control unit for reduced weight and optimised packaging.
Battery recharging to 80 per cent can be achieved in as little as 22 minutes.
Aiding performance is the car’s lightweight engineering and extensive use of carbon fibre, keeping its mass down to just 1399kg, which McLaren says gives the W1 best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 670kW per tonne – another precedent for road-going McLarens.
Keeping it all under control are F1-inspired ground effect aerodynamics and a Race mode that McLaren says is a “world-first, radical ‘road to track’ character transformation, lowering ride height by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear and engaging up to 1000kg of downforce”.
Other active aero systems – again said to be the most advanced in a road-legal McLaren to date – centred around a “revolutionary” McLaren Active Long Tail rear wing that extends rearwards by 300mm and is just one of multiple patents filed for aerodynamic innovations on the car.
In hard numbers, it means the W1 is the fastest-accelerating and fastest-lapping road-legal McLaren to date, quicker than a Speedtail to 300km/h in a straight-line and 3.0 seconds a lap ahead of a McLaren Senna on McLaren’s reference track.
Acceleration is underlined by a phenomenal 5.0 seconds dash from 0-200km/h and 0-300km/h in under 12.7 seconds. Yes, 300km/h with the model electronically limited to 350km/h v-max.
All this from a rear-wheel drive platform that is aimed at providing “pure” driver control and engagement which McLaren says is made possible by extensive F1 know-how “that only McLaren as a racing company can deliver”.
The model rides on a new ‘McLaren Race Active Chassis Control III’ suspension setup with the bandwidth for on-road comfort and hunkered-down track performance in Race mode, while the tiller is connected to McLaren’s ‘Hydraulic Performance Steering’ said to optimise feel and feedback.
Stopping duties are via carbon ceramic 390mm front and rear discs, the former with six pistons, the latter with four.
Lightweight forged wheels, 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear carry Pirelli P- Zero Trofeo rubber.
Power is fed to the rear axle via an eight-speed transmission with E-reverse, coupled with new hydraulic electronic differential.
The bespoke chassis is called a McLaren Aerocell and is a carbon fibre monocoque with anhedral doors optimised for aerodynamic performance, again, designed and built using motorsport techniques.
Front suspension is F1-inspired and is mounted directly into the Aerocell with externally visible front arms. Key components are 3D-printed for weight optimisation, some fabricated in titanium.
The lengths McLaren went to with the interior are said to ensure “unmatched supercar driver ergonomics” accentuated by visibility on road and track as well as seats, pedals, steering wheel and primary controls that can all be moved.
And if the bog stock W1 is not enough, there is always McLaren Special Operations (MSO) that offers virtually unlimited bespoke options including a new InnoKnit tailored interior material.
But the warranty leaves a lot to be desired for the multi-million dollar price at four years for the vehicle six years for the hybrid battery and a four-year service plan.
So, having sorted out its financials (hopefully) with an injection of funds from the Kingdom of Bahrain, and some incoming new models, McLaren is moving forward at a rate of knots focusing on what it does best: Racing in F1 and making sportscars.
According to McLaren Automotive CEO Michael Leiters, the new W1 “is a celebration of both the excellence of the iconic McLaren F1 and McLaren P1 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.”  Read more1st of March 2024  McLaren Artura Spider a brand-first hybrid convertiblePowerful hybrid Artura Spider joins McLaren range, Coupe variants score 15kW power bumpAll new models Alfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chery Brabham Chrysler Chevrolet Cupra Citroen DS Dodge Fiat Ferrari Foton Ford Great Wall FPV Haval GWM Honda Holden Hyundai HSV Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Pagani Opel Porsche Peugeot Ram Proton Rolls-Royce Renault Saab Rover Smart Skoda Subaru SsangYong Tesla Suzuki Volkswagen Toyota VolvoMotor industry news GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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