The P1 hypercar transformed McLaren Automotive from fledgling upstart into full-blown Ferrari and Porsche rival. From there it went on a roll, subsequently giving us the 675LT and then the 720S, two vehicles that remain supercar benchmarks.
Now, there’s a follow-up to the P1. A true successor when other halo McLarens since – like the Senna, Elva and Speedtail – have been in a different vein.
It’s called the W1, that latter number signifying a legacy to the P1, and further back to the iconic F1. Big shoes to fill then…
And yet, at a glance, the W1 doesn’t seem that different from the P1. At a time when Ferrari has halved the number of cylinders and doubled the number of driven wheels in the new LaFerrari-succeeding F80, the W1 is still powered by a hybrid twin-turbo V8 with power going to the rear only.
But, that does mean the W1 has more engine capacity and cylinders (in the guise of an all-new 4.0-litre V8) than the Italian, and the front wheels remain uncorrupted. It’s 75hp up on the Ferrari, too…
So, is updating the P1 formula a route to success, or should McLaren have mixed up the recipe a little more? We took a deep dive with the W1, inside McLaren HQ, to find out. Over to Top Gear Magazine’s Head of Car Testing, Ollie Marriage, to find out…
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00:00 Intro
01:14 Design
04:02 Chassis
04:35 Engine
06:59 Chat with Chris Harrison
14:07 Interior
17:31 Conclusion
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