- The 2025 McLaren W1 has officially been unveiled as the British automaker’s next-gen flagship hypercar.
- Housing an all-new hybrid V8 drivetrain, it represents the most powerful McLaren ever.
- Only 399 examples will be built (all of which have already been sold).
The world has been introduced to McLaren’s latest poster child and “groundbreaking” rear-wheel successor to the P1 in the 2025 McLaren W1. Carbon-fibre monocoque, gullwing (or rather “Anhedral”) doors, magnesium wheels, and all.
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With the British automaker’s most advanced F1-inspired aerodynamics to date (downforce limited to 1,000kg without additional drag); exceptional lightweight engineering bringing the dry mass to just 1,399kg; a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 911PS/tonne; and a brand new 4-litre twin-turbo hybrid V8 drivetrain mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission…consider the bar well and truly raised.
In terms of performance, the W1’s staggering 938kW/1,340Nm power output is the highest of any in its entire mechanical lineage (double that of the iconic McLaren F1, in fact) as well as every core competitor.
Aside from an electronically limited top speed of 350 km/h, McLaren claims it can do 0-100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 5.8 seconds, and 0-300 km/h in 12.7 seconds. That’s quicker than Speedtail for the 0-300 in a straight-line sprint, and reportedly up to three seconds faster than the Senna-around-Nardo reference track.
With a redline of 9,200 RPM, the McLaren W1 is also one of the highest-revving turbocharged engines available right now.
The elevation also extends well beyond hardware. Advanced software has been leveraged to wrangle all that power and torque, and maximise traction.
Depending on conditions, varying levels of electric assistance are offered with a Sprint mode that juices your power to the max for a single lap. The GP setting, on the other hand, does exactly what it sounds like it does: managing levels of assistance for those longer, more endurance-oriented sessions.
Then there’s the Boost, which deploys full E-module power available; and can be paired with the Aero button for something akin to Formula 1’s Drag Reduction System (DRS) from the rear McLaren Active Long Tail wing.
An eight-inch touchscreen in the dashboard, with Apple CarPlay and USB-C/USB-A connectivity, is included. Mundane, but totally essential.
“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,” said Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive.
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“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.”
Leiters added: “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.”
As for the price tag, a McLaren W1 will set you back approximately £2.0 million (roughly AU$4 million) including taxes over in the UK. That is assuming you managed to nab allocation for one of the 399 limited examples which, as we mentioned already, have all been spoken for.
