British sports car maker McLaren has revealed the next step in its flagship ‘1’ hypercar range after the iconic F1 and P1: the 2025 McLaren W1. Fitted with a plug-in hybrid turbo V8 drivetrain making 938kW of power, the W1 is priced from circa-£2 million (or around AU$4 million as per current exchange rates) and all 399 units are already sold. It’s not yet known if any units of the W1 will be delivered locally, though New Zealand has at least one earmarked. The first W1s will be delivered to select markets in 2025 and will sit above other McLaren models like the GTS and Artura.
“The McLaren W1 is a celebration of both the excellence of the iconic McLaren F1 and McLaren P1TM 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” said Michael Leiters, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.
“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.”
Powering the 2025 McLaren W1 is a new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine codenamed ‘MHP-8’ that makes 683kW of power and 900Nm of torque on its own. That’s paired with a 225kW/440Nm radial-flux electric motor that’s bolted to the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission – which has no reverse gear, instead, reverse is electric – and fed by a 1.4kWh battery. Total outputs are a massive 938kW of power and 1,340Nm of torque, making the W1 one of the most powerful road cars ever produced and McLaren’s most powerful.
The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time is just 2.7 seconds, while 0-200km/h takes just 5.8 seconds, the next tonne at 12.7 seconds and an electrically limited top speed of 350km/h. Its electric range is just 2km, with the battery’s main purpose to feed the electric motors for maximum performance.
Weighing just 1,399kg for a power-to-weight ratio 670kW/tonne, the 2025 McLaren W1 produces up to 1,000kg of downforce thanks to a number of aero features. Transitioning from its road to race modes, the W1’s ride height lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear and a heave system stiffens the suspension. Front and rear active wings are deployed, with the active rear spoiler extends rearwards by up to 300mm.
Helping the W1’s dynamics further is its brake package, with six-piston front and four-piston rear callipers and 390mm carbon ceramic discs enabling a stopping distance from 100km/h of just 29 metres and just 100m from 200km/h – also helped by the W1’s Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres. All of this effort has allowed McLaren to make its fastest car yet, with a lap time around its Nardo reference circuit three seconds quicker than the track-focused Senna.
Inside the McLaren W1 is a new cabin design with new features to the McLaren brand, like the fixed seats and moveable steering wheel and pedal for greater driver connection to the car. An 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay features, while there is also USB-C and USB-A ports. Between the fixed seats is a storage area with a sliding cupholder and there is also a second area for small items behind the armrest.
The W1 also has a luggage stowage shelf behind the seats, accessible by moving the headrests, which fold flat forwards to provide a loading platform. With up to 117 litres of storage space, which allows for accomodation of two weekend bags or two crash helmets, according to McLaren. Finally, the brand claims that the W1 has excellent visibility, including the thinnest A-pillars the company has ever made and even a new digital rear mirror.
The 2025 McLaren W1 will hit select markets around the world in 2025. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest automotive news and reviews.
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