McLaren Names Next Ultra Hypercar
McLaren officially announced the name of its upcoming hypercar.
The W1 will be revealed on October 6, a date that McLaren carefully selected to mark 50 years since the company won its first F1 Constructors’ Championship, alongside Emerson Fittipaldi's F1 Drivers' title in 1974. The "W" is supposed to represent McLaren’s “ World Championship mindset” and provides a statement of intent.
It’s been over a decade since McLaren rolled out the groundbreaking P1 hybrid hypercar, a model that cemented its place in history alongside the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder—and it's been over 30 years since the original F1 showed up.
Despite impressive models like the Senna and Speedtail following in its footsteps, McLaren has yet to recreate that seismic shift in the industry. That’s where the W1 comes in, as the automaker aims to rekindle that same sense of excitement and technical brilliance.
Rumors suggest the W1 will debut an all-new hybrid V-8 powertrain, breaking away from the twin-turbo V-8 setup McLaren has used since the MP4-12C launched in 2011. The new hybrid system is expected to be both more powerful and lighter, shedding some of the bulk associated with previous electrified McLarens. The W1 is expected to bring a shift in design language as well.
So, will the W1 be the car to finally return McLaren to the top of the mountain? We’ll find out when the wraps come off on October 6.
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An experienced automotive storyteller known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge and experience having been part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic and built cars that raced in TCR, IMSA, and IndyCar.
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