The days of gasoline-guzzling asphalt beasts are numbered. By 2035, European automakers producing more than 10,000 vehicles annually will have to completely phase out internal combustion engines (ICE). Those manufacturing fewer than 10,000 cars a year—primarily supercar makers—have an extra year, until 2036, to make the transition. And it seems that supercar and hypercar manufacturers are determined to make the most of this remaining time. As the era of gasoline-powered cars approaches its Ragnarok, the car gods are competing not just in speed but also in technical ingenuity, giving birth to machines that blur the line between road cars and Formula 1 racers like never before. The latest example? McLaren W1.
Being a McLaren collector and enthusiast is not for the faint of heart. Besides a substantial fortune, one must possess the patience of an argasid tick, capable of spending over a decade waiting for its prey. The brand’s second flagship model, the McLaren P1, debuted a full 20 years after its legendary predecessor, the F1. The gap between the P1 and the new W1 is a comparatively modest 10 years—but the wait has been worth it.
Every McLaren is a masterpiece of engineering. Even the exterior design of these cars is a matter of technical precision rather than plain aesthetics. The brand begins by crafting the chassis, which is then “shrink-wrapped” in outer carbon fibre panels, almost like a second skin. Many of the aerodynamic elements are active, meaning the car can literally change its shape in response to driving conditions.
The McLaren W1 is a mild hybrid, equipped with an all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired with an electric module. The combined output of the powertrain reaches an impressive 1,258 horsepower and 1,340 Nm of torque—more than a Formula 1 race car.
The new engine, named the MPH-8, was developed entirely from scratch. It delivers 928 horsepower and boasts the highest power-to-displacement ratio of any internal combustion engine ever produced by McLaren: 232 horsepower per litre. The engine can rev up to 9,200 rpm, while its twin-scroll turbochargers kick in as early as 2,500 rpm.
The electric module consists of an axial flux electric motor, a control unit, and a 1.4 kWh battery pack. It adds an additional 347 horsepower to the V8 engine and allows the car to travel up to 2 kilometres on pure electric power. Despite its capabilities, the electric module weighs just 20 kilograms, and overall, the hybrid components are 40 kilograms lighter than those in the McLaren P1. As a result, the McLaren W1 has a dry weight of less than 1,400 kilograms—only 4 kilos heavier than the P1.
Legendary boxer Mike Tyson is often credited with the quote, "A fight should last 13 seconds: 2 seconds to close the distance, 1 second for the punch, and 10 seconds for the referee’s count.” In that same amount of time, the new McLaren W1 can accelerate to 300 km/h. The hypercar reaches 200 km/h in just 5.8 seconds and rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.7 seconds.
The top speed, like its predecessor, is electronically limited to 350 km/h.
The immense horsepower and torque are delivered exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electronically controlled differential. Interestingly, the reverse gear is fully electric.
The supercar is built around a carbon-fibre monocoque called Aerocell. The seat shells are moulded directly into the monocoque, meaning the driving position is adjustable only through the steering wheel and pedals. This integrated seat design allowed the wheelbase to be shortened by 6.8 cm.
The front suspension features a push-rod setup with double wishbones, mounted directly to the monocoque. The front metal subframe also serves as a crumple zone in the event of a crash. At the rear, the aluminium alloy subframe supports the powertrain and rear suspension, which also uses double wishbones but with conventional inclined damper struts. The suspension arms are crafted from titanium using 3D printing technology.
Even in an era where computers can simulate almost anything, the McLaren W1 spent over 350 hours in a wind tunnel, making it the most aerodynamically efficient car in the company's history. A roof-mounted air splitter (the first ever on a road-legal McLaren) directs fresh air into the engine bay, while active front and rear spoilers generate 350 kg and 650 kg of downforce, respectively, in Race mode. This means that in high-speed corners, the car is pressed to the road with a total force equivalent to one metric tonne. Additionally, the rear spoiler doubles as an air brake during hard deceleration.
The car features new gullwing doors, which, according to McLaren, "optimise airflow over the front fenders." These doors have a highly intricate design with aerodynamic channels and air splitters, partially inspired by the side pods of a Formula 1 car. Interestingly, the car has no traditional side sills—they are fully integrated into the doors.
Beneath the sleek bodywork lies McLaren's new Race Active Chassis Control III system, which can be adjusted across three driving modes: Comfort, Sport, and Race.
The McLaren W1 grips the asphalt with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires, sized 265/35 at the front and 335/30 at the rear. For everyday driving, McLaren also offers P Zero R tires as well as Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 for colder conditions. Forged six-piston callipers at the front and four-piston callipers at the rear, paired with carbon-ceramic discs, ensure the W1 can decelerate rapidly. The stopping distance from 100 km/h is just 29 meters, and from 200 km/h, it’s 100 meters.
The hypercar's steering wheel is equipped with an LED engine rev indicator for those moments when the driver prefers to manually shift gears using the paddle shifters. Aside from the paddles, the steering wheel features just two buttons: Boost and Aero. The Boost button temporarily engages the electric module for maximum power output—perfect for overtaking another hypercar on the autobahn—while the Aero button activates a low-drag aerodynamic mode.
The cockpit is outfitted with an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, along with USB-A and USB-C ports. As for storage, the W1 has no trunk at all. The only available space is a small shelf behind the seats, offering a modest 118 litres of capacity—just enough for racing helmets and a couple of travel bags.
The price tag for this masterpiece? $2.1 million. McLaren will produce only 399 units of the W1, and, unsurprisingly, they’ve all already been sold. True works of art don’t need advertising.
