Legendary Performance
The McLaren name has long been associated with extreme performance vehicles built for the track and the street. More than 60 years ago, Bruce McLaren formed a racing team to compete in Formula 1, and since that time, the brand has seen its drivers standing atop the podium at the Indy 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and multiple F1 races. Today, McLaren is seeing great success on the track and boasts a range of high-performance machines for the street.

Building a Road Car
It was in 1992 that McLaren produced its first road car, and it was one for the ages. The 1992 McLaren F1 featured 1+2 seating – the driver sat in the center with passengers on either side and slightly behind, creating the ultimate driving position. With its lightweight chassis and V12 engine putting out more than 600 horsepower, the F1 could reach 60 mph in around three seconds with a top speed in excess of 200 mph, setting it apart from any other road car at the time. The prototype reached 240.1 mph in 1998, setting a production car speed record that would last until 2005 when it was beaten by the Bugatti Veyron.

Next Up: McLaren P1
Fifteen years after the last McLaren F1 was produced, the company introduced the logical successor to that legendary supercar: the P1. With Formula 1-inspired aerodynamics and carbon-fiber-intensive construction, the P1 arrived with an advanced hybrid powertrain. The 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 put out 727 horsepower, and the lightweight electric motor added 176 horses for a combined output of 903 horsepower. Performance figures were astounding – the P1 could sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.8 seconds, and in 16.5 seconds it was moving along at 186 mph, reaching that speed five seconds faster than the F1. Top speed was listed at 217 mph.

McLaren W1
Raising the performance bar when it’s already been set so high with vehicles like the F1 and P1 is not easy. But that bar is going up with the introduction of the all-new McLaren W1. Like its predecessor, the W1 features a hybrid powertrain, but there’s a dramatic jump in power. The W1’s 4.0-liter V8 engine puts out 916 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, and it teams with a 342-horsepower electric motor. With a total output of 1,258 horsepower and 988 lb-ft of torque, the W1’s hybrid powertrain is the most powerful engine McLaren has ever produced.

Extreme Stats
McLaren has built its reputation building light and agile sports cars, and weighing in at just over 3,000 pounds, the W1 certainly fits that expectation. With its lightweight chassis and powerful drivetrain, the W1 is the fastest accelerating road-legal McLaren the company has ever delivered. The new supercar will reach 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, 124 mph in 5.8 seconds, and by the time the stopwatch reaches 12.7 seconds, it’s going 186 mph. Top speed is governed to 217 mph.

Sold Out
McLaren plans to build just 399 W1s with a starting retail price of $2.1 million, but don’t get your checkbook out just yet – the entire run has already been spoken for. However, McLaren does have another offer for you.

Project: Endurance
McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing have joined forces to create an opportunity for a customer to own and drive a Le Mans Hypercar. On display during Monterey Car Week, the Project: Endurance racecar represents McLaren’s success in the triple crown of racing: winning the 1974 Indy 500, 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. The livery matches the car driven by Texan Johnny Rutherford when he won the 1974 Indianapolis 500. McLaren plans to try again to win all three races, but this time in the same year: 2027.

New Ownership Experience
“I’m delighted to announce that McLaren Automotive is collaborating with our colleagues in McLaren Racing to introduce a bold, authentic Le Mans Hypercar customer ownership experience,” said Nick Collins, CEO, McLaren Group Holdings. “In addition to owning the very latest LMDh race car – a driving sensation alone few will ever experience – customers will enjoy unique, wholly immersive access to the development and racing programme that will underpin our 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship contender.”

Bright Future?
McLaren may have had some rough patches recently with financial issues and multiple owners, but the future of the famed British marque is looking up. The hybrid Artura and outstanding 750S are getting rave reviews, and the new owners have given the company the stability to invest in new products like the extreme W1. According to Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, McLaren Chief Commercial Officer, if it seems appropriate based on customer interest, the company may expand beyond the 2-seat, mid-engine sports car. Meanwhile, McLaren Racing is on track to win its second consecutive Formula 1 Constructors’ championship, a feat it hasn’t done in more than 30 years, and if all goes as planned, the new Le Mans Hypercar will help the brand to its first single-year triple crown in 2027.