McLaren W1 aims at everyday use rather than vmax

The new McLaren W1 hypercar will not chase top speeds like the original F1. Instead it will prioritise driver engagement and ease of use in the real world. 

All the same, it should get to its electronic limiter (set at 347km/h) quickly enough. For there’s system power of 938kW. 

That top speed is much the same as that of its P1 forebear. But it still can’t beat the 384km/h vmax of the original 1992 McLaren F1. That, by the by, was the world’s fastest production road car for over a decade. And that’s despite it having only half as much power as the W1.

Autocar UK asked the W1 vehicle line director, Alex Gibson, the why question. He said: “To go to 400kph, 450kph, there are compromises you have to make for real-world accessible driving on the road and track. Those were avenues we didn’t want to pursue with this product.

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“We didn’t want to get into really stiff sidewalls on the tyres, because then you compromise ride comfort on your day-to-day drives. Most of the time this car will be used as your point-to-point driving experience.”

McLaren’s head of performance, Marcus Waite, added that the W1 “needs to retain a certain harmony”.

“It’s got so many roles to play: to be a car that can accelerate faster than a Speedtail, and that can be faster around a track than a Senna. 

“We had to find a place where the car settled well.

“When we reflect on the choices that we can make, one of them is about how much cornering potential we keep in the car. For the way we’ve designed the car to be used, that’s the right place for us now.”

McLaren also made several key decisions to improve the W1’s tractability and overall driver engagement on road. Like sending the drive through rear wheels only, rather than opting for greater traction.

This decision was made primarily to preserve the steering feel, with hydraulic power assistance. Had there been a driveline to the front wheels, an electric motor would have been needed.

Rear-wheel drive also helped to cut weight significantly, by up to 80kg. 

Waite said “With rear-wheel drive, it’s an overall more complete car that’s much more engaging for the driver, and it’s true to who we are to do it this way.”

Torque is limited in first and second gear to reduce wheelspin and improve traction.

The W1 also offers a range of driving modes to suit a range of environments, including a road-focused Comfort setting. This limits the car to the 682kW of its V8 alone, although the motor is still engaged to provide instant throttle response.