McLaren reveals 1,258-hp W1, its fastest production car

McLaren's new flagship will be the British racing brand's fastest production car yet.

When it arrives in 2026, the $2 million-plus McLaren W1 will bristle with bespoke technology including a lightweight plug-in hybrid system, a new carbon-fiber shell and track-tuned styling.

According to a person briefed on the W1, the Formula One-inspired hypercar delivers 1,258 hp and more than 900 pound-feet of torque. It can sprint from a standstill to 124 mph in 5.8 seconds — a tick faster than the P1 that once sat atop McLaren's Ultimate Series lineup.

"The W1 has the performance of rivals twice the price," the person said.

McLaren will build 399 copies, with about half going to North American customers. Automotive News first reported plans for the halo model last year.

The W1 is a collaboration between McLaren's automotive and racing divisions. The engineering team behind the road car is responsible for 25 Formula One Grand Prix wins.

The model, which was code-named P18, was unveiled to customers a week before its Oct. 6 public debut.

Spread over three days, the Formula One-themed event at London's Tate Modern art gallery was attended by McLaren Automotive CEO Michael Leiters, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, McLaren-F1 Team Principal Andrea Stella, and Formula One world championship drivers Emerson Fittipaldi and Mika Häkkinen.

McLaren displayed the helmets of former drivers and Formula One royalty Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton. More than 200 Grand Prix trophies also were showcased for the first time outside of the automaker's Woking, England, headquarters.

At the event, CEO Leiters described the W1 as a "team effort" between the racing and automotive businesses.

It's the most advanced road car made by McLaren, Leiters said at the event, according to one of two attendees who provided details from the reveal to Automotive News. "It's F1-inspired through and through," the person said.

Ultimate Series models are designed to "push the envelope" in engineering and technology and exceed customer expectations, McLaren Americas chief Nicolas Brown said in February.

The W1 is powered by an in-house-designed 4.0-liter V-8 twin-turbo engine paired with a hybrid system that's about 70 percent lighter than the current generation, the source said. The car's high-density battery is a derivative of the one in McLaren's Formula One racers.

The W1 is aimed at the next generation of P1 customers, another person at the event said. "It's all about performance on the racetrack," they said.

The W1 sports a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a suspension system featuring 3D-printed components.

Additive manufacturing tech enables complex parts to be built lighter and quicker. "You can save 15 to 20 percent of weight" depending on the part, Leiters said in August.

The W1 will serve as a technology and design template as the brand looks beyond two-door roadsters. McLaren plans to develop a family of engines to power its expanding portfolio, which could include a four-door model in 2028.

McLaren's chief sales and marketing officer, George Biggs, previously referred to the W1's powertrain as "fundamental technology" for the brand in the future.

Developed in McLaren's Formula One wind tunnel, the W1 retains the racing brand's classic wedge shape.

"It's built for speed," one of the reveal attendees said, noting the car is designed for performance. "It's beautiful but functional."

The W1 ditches McLaren's signature butterfly doors for a gullwing style to improve aerodynamics. The pod-shaped doors, when open, expose the vehicle's wheels and suspension components similar to a Formula One car.

An active air splitter below the redesigned "eye socket" headlights opens or closes depending on driving mode and speed to reduce drag. A pair of "airboxes" flank the splitter to help with cooling. A carbon-fiber element on the roof, referred to as a "flow diverter," funnels air down the rear to maximize downforce and help cool the engine.

The side mirrors attach to a 3.5-foot carbon-fiber arm connected to the bottom of the door and front fender — a design that allows air to flow along the sides of the car.

The rear features new U-shaped taillights and a carbon-fiber diffuser below a center exhaust featuring dual titanium pipes. A P1-style, hydraulically actuated rear wing extends six inches in track mode to keep the car planted at high speeds.

Inside, a redesigned and larger OLED instrument cluster is behind a McLaren GT3-style squared-off steering wheel.

McLaren has developed a breathable and lightweight mesh, nylonlike material for the seats and interior panels that allows for lighting behind it.

The W1 sports a new angular five-spoke titanium wheel and an optional center lock wheel delivers a racier look.