[RM Motorsports]

McLaren spilled the beans in a YouTube video that dropped on Wednesday, September 25 that asks, "What Makes a '1' Car?"

While the one-minute clip is heavy on dramatic music, footage of talent — odds are good you'll recognize more than a couple faces.

As for the name, given the video, it seems almost guaranteed that the new car will have "1" in its name, just like its predecessors.

At the end, a date and time flash up on the screen: October 6th, 1:00 PM British Summer Time (or, 8:00 AM Eastern Time).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTkMHrSjEb4

[RM Motorsports]

Its Official. New Mclaren Hypercar is called W1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34h1HPqhDHw

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I was wondering why I was suddenly seeing a flood of content lionising the F1 and then the P1 and then of course the video asking what makes a '-1' car gave it away. Sure enough, we've got a jazzy Idris Elba voiceover giving us the moniker of their newest pinnacle car.

Heady timing especially if Mclaren can seal one if not both of the Formula One titles. But who am I kidding, this is undoubtedly a limited run with prospective buyers not only solicited but owners all near enough accounted for.

Some of the other content I've found thrown up to me by the Youtube algorithm last week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBV_nqJFBEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZCCD2Wgdw

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Folks, we have the third entry in McLaren's pinnacle series of 1 cars:

https://youtu.be/aSGvZceuD5s?si=zpedhU9QRKhQlBGl

Must say I had a tepid response to the reveal. It's got the side proportions of the P1, and that McLaren characteristic chine line on the nose but with the two tone colour palette, it almost looks a bit beaky. And I can't escape the fact the headlights are reminiscent if the AMG One to me.

Oh well, my key takeaways were thus:

• I suspected they'd have a new clean sheet engine and going by the marketing spiel it looks to be that. But they haven't exactly strayed far from their ubiquitous V8 block because that's what they've gone for again. Imagine it's a reworking of the original twin turbo V8 but I suppose more details will be revealed in due course.
  
• Nothing on the interiors but that's an afterthought.
  
• Big fan of the rear wing implementation and how it articulates out to give the effect of a long tail. Neat!
  
• Stats seem par for the course these days.
  
• Unsurprised to hear they're leaning on the F1 programme and the electric aspect.
  
• I did have an interesting note about the verbiage. They call it a supercar which is interesting given how they leaned into the hypercar terminology when they were flogging the P1 to punters.
  
• Not sure I've heard of anhedral doors before. Looks like a regular old gull wing to me. Happy to hear otherwise.

Wonder if this'll be the starting gun for a new round of pyramid topping vehicles from the big boys. It feels less of a moment than when the P1, LaFerrari and 918 ushering in the hypercar era. Could be because I'm a distant follower of the scene these days I'm not as aware. Feel free to correct me.

I guess the other curiosity I have is whether this'll underpin a McLaren WEC entry in the hypercar class (can't recall if they're committed to the category?).

[ex-innova-guy]

Originally Posted by ads11

It's got the side proportions of the P1, and that McLaren characteristic chine line on the nose but with the two tone colour palette, it almost looks a bit beaky.

I agree. The front fascia just doesn't look as appealing as the P1.

Big fan of the rear wing implementation and how it articulates out to give the effect of a long tail. Neat!

Love how they’ve integrated F1 bits into the W1. With McL getting stronger, I hope more such tidbits trickle down to these road legal cars.

Stats seem par for the course these days.

The most interesting point to note is that this is an RWD while most others are AWD.

Unsurprised to hear they're leaning on the F1 programme and the electric aspect.

The electric motor produces a whopping 342 hp!

An unusual compromise is non-adjustable seats, although the location of pedals can be adjusted.

W1's base price starts at $2.1 million! :-)

Mat Watson has explained well about the W1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9Bjli-l_w

Lastly, as expected, all the 399 W1 are sold out.

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Originally Posted by ex-innova-guy

Love how they’ve integrated F1 bits into the W1. With McL getting stronger, I hope more such tidbits trickle down to these road legal cars.
The electric motor produces a whopping 342 hp!

Thing is Mclaren use Mercedes power units in F1 so they sure aren't getting their combustion engine for the W1 from the F1 programme. How much of the electrics on the F1 PU are in Mclaren's hands for them to tout it for their W1 powerplant?

The most interesting point to note is that this is an RWD while most others are AWD.

Are they though? I thought RWD was a distinct calling card for high performance. It's only rare exceptions that have AWD. Your exotics almost all shout about their RWD only status.

Lastly, as expected, all the 399 W1 are sold out.

As expected really. So that's roughly a billion's worth of sales accounted for once you factor in all the trimmings onto the base price.