McLaren introduces the W1, a $2.1 million hybrid hypercar

Another hypercar with an electrified powertrain. Stop me if you’ve heard this before.

But what about one promising over 1,200 horsepower and plenty of Formula 1 technology from a winning race team?

That’s the promise of the McLaren W1, a hypercar following in the footsteps of two McLaren legends – the electrified P1 and the original F1 hypercar. The W1, like the P1 and F1, is part of McLaren’s Ultimate Series for its most exclusive and cutting-edge supercars.

“With our new Ultimate Supercar, we are once again pushing the boundaries of true supercar performance thanks to an incredible 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,” the executive said in a statement McLaren general manager Michael Leiters. “This is truly a car that only McLaren could create.”

The MHP-8 engine is a completely new 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 916 hp. However, when combined with an electric motor, the power increases to 1,258 HP and 988 Nm of torque. All this power delivers 0-60 mph acceleration in 2.7 seconds, while a top speed of 186 mph is achieved in just 12.7 seconds.

The MHP-8’s use of a racing-focused flat-plane crank means the engine revs to a racing 9,200 rpm, with an accompanying gear symphony emanating from the W1’s exhaust.

The included electric motor is also race-sourced and weighs just 44 pounds, McLaren said. The electric motor and its control unit are connected to the gearbox, which means a direct connection to a car equipped only with rear-wheel drive.

Reaching such speeds in such a short time is the result of enormous aerodynamic work and a lightweight carbon fiber chassis, McLaren said. The car’s 3,000-pound weight combined with F1-inspired ground effects and aerodynamic features like an active rear wing indicate that the car will handle like a race car on the track, unlike grandpa’s classic Corvette on Main Street.

Interestingly, McLaren has opted for hydraulic steering and brakes, which isn’t cutting-edge, but is a nod to enthusiasts who are willing to trade responsiveness and weight savings for a more engaging drive.

In August, Leiters told Yahoo Finance that McLaren wanted to succeed under Ferrari’s plan. Leiters, a former Ferrari (RACE) employee, wants to limit the number of cars offered to customers and charge higher prices for exclusivity.

Ferrari’s last hybrid hypercar was the LaFerrari, which combined a V-12 engine and electric motors with an output of 950 horsepower and a price tag of over $1 million. Ferrari discontinued the LaFerrari in 2018, and the cars’ auction values ​​skyrocketed.

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Other competitors, such as Porsche with its older 918 model and Aston Martin with its Valhalla, are also in the million-dollar hybrid hypercar game.

This all means that the W1, which features cars like the LaFerrari and whatever else it has planned, won’t be cheap. McLaren said the W1, the latest of its new hybrid hypercars, will start at a staggering $2.1 million and only 399 models will be produced.

Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him further Twitter and beyond Instagram.

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