McLaren News

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

McLaren Appoints Kemal Curic As Its New Chief Design Officer

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 13, 2026

McLaren Announces New Chief Design Officer

McLaren is known for its rich racing legacy, as well as its groundbreaking supercar lineup. Cars like the F1 immediately gave McLaren a spot at the highest echelon of supercars, and its latest successor, the incredibly powerful W1, is the latest expression of McLaren’s exclusive performance engineering excellence. Now, a new Chief Design Officer is taking the helm at McLaren Automotive, Kemal Curic, and the future of McLaren’s design vision is going to be shaped under his creative direction. Curic brings over 20 years of automotive design experience to the company and joins McLaren from Ford Motor Company, serving as its Global Design Director for Performance Vehicles. Leading both exterior and interior design, Curic will also be in charge of the look of McLaren’s digital interfaces. With a reputation for evolving iconic nameplates while retaining hallmarks of heritage, Curic’s vision will showcase the next generation of McLaren’s lightweight engineering and track-focused, spirited performance approach. McLaren Automotive is giving Kemal Curic big shoes to fill. The current McLaren lineup consists of the hybrid Artura, the flagship 750S and 750S Spider, the GTS, and the limited-production W1 with well over 1,000 horsepower. Succeeding these models will be new cars that feature Curic’s creative direction and vision for the brand, which is what enthusiasts have to look forward to from McLaren Automotive in the near future. View All McLaren For Sale Image Source: McLaren Automotive

By Charles Bradley – April 05, 2025

McLaren Plans Brand Reinvention and Expanded Product Rang...

In a strategic move aimed at redefining its brand identity, McLaren Automotive is set to merge with British luxury automotive start-up Forseven Holdings, a deal orchestrated under the new ownership of Abu Dhabi's CYVN Holdings. This landmark merger signals a major shift for McLaren—from an exclusive focus on high-performance, mid-engined supercars to a broader portfolio of luxury vehicles, including the brand’s first potential SUV. A statement from the British-based car maker said: “As a clear demonstration of the Group’s intent to move at pace, McLaren Automotive’s portfolio will be expanded into new product categories, details of which will be announced later this year.” While Forseven Holdings is a relative newcomer to the automotive landscape, it brings with it a team of experienced industry professionals and a bold vision to “permanently transform the luxury automotive industry.” The merger blends Forseven’s electric vehicle innovation with McLaren’s legacy of design and performance, creating opportunities for a more diverse vehicle lineup that can reach new global audiences. Leadership of the newly formed entity will be entrusted to Nick Collins, a former Jaguar Land Rover executive. Collins said: “With the support and ambitions of our shareholder, we have a unique opportunity to sustainably grow McLaren into a world-beating company. The combination of what McLaren has achieved, and what Forseven has built in a short time is incredibly complementary. Together, we believe McLaren can be more, can do more and can offer more.” The strategic pivot follows broader automotive industry trends, with rivals like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin achieving strong growth by expanding into the luxury SUV segment. McLaren CEO Michael Leiters has previously supported broadening the model range, provided it remains true to the brand’s core DNA. The merger also paves the way for technological partnerships, especially with Nio, the Chinese EV brand also backed by CYVN Holdings. McLaren will gain access to state-of-the-art EV technologies, while also leveraging its relationship with Gordon Murray Technologies, acquired by CYVN in 2023, to enhance engineering and lightweighting capabilities. Although McLaren has faced financial headwinds, the merger with Forseven is a bold effort to reposition the brand at the forefront of the evolving luxury landscape. The move underscores a commitment to innovation and adaptability, ensuring that McLaren remains at the forefront of luxury automotive excellence. Jassem Al Zaabi, who will become Chairman of McLaren Group Holdings, said: “I’m personally committed to making this vision a reality. It isn’t just about investing, it is about shaping the future of McLaren as a brand, as a business and its place on the global automotive map. We want to – and we will – push boundaries and deliver groundbreaking innovations that drive real progress in the sector. This is the start of an exciting new era for McLaren as a car brand and an automotive business.” As the auto industry continues to shift toward electrification and luxury lifestyle integration, McLaren’s reinvention and merger with Forseven signals a transformative step into the future—while maintaining its performance-driven heritage.

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By Tyler Rampersaud – March 22, 2024

McLaren Group Announces Completion Of Its Capital Reorgan...

McLaren prepares for the future with a new business structure. Automotive enthusiasts know and celebrate McLaren for its innovative, lightweight, powerful, and blisteringly-quick supercars, but also for having over 60 years of racing heritage and rich history behind it. However, McLaren is opening a new chapter, and has reached an important milestone with the reorganization of its business, and with its revised structure, the British supercar manufacturer is ready to embrace the future with new technology, new products, and technical partnerships. Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is taking full ownership of the share capital of McLaren Group Limited, stepping up from previously being a long-term strategic investor in the business. With the reorganization, McLaren Group Executive Chairman Paul Walsh says that Mumtalakat will be able to help McLaren “focus on long-term business plan, including investment in new products and technologies, whilst continuing to explore potential technical partnerships with industry partners.” Mumtalakat’s CEO, His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, seconds Paul Walsh’s sentiments by saying, “This reorganization and new simplified structure positions McLaren for success and opens up strategic avenues, which include exploring new partnerships to enhance the company’s growth over the coming years.” With a lineup consisting of the new GTS, 750S, and a new Artura Spider joining a refreshed Artura, McLaren prepares to not only continue delivering excellent supercars and hypercars to the automotive world, but introduce bolder innovation, performance, luxury, and exclusivity with its strengthened business. View All McLarens For Sale

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By Tyler Rampersaud – March 15, 2022

McLaren Announces A New Metaverse/NFT Partnership With In...

McLaren NFTs and metaverse experiences are coming soon. Having partnered with InfiniteWorld, a metaverse infrastructure platform that helps brands create digital content using NFTs and the metaverse, McLaren is diving headfirst into the new world of digital experiences and offerings. MUST READ: McLaren F1 Releases Its New Collectible 1:2 Scale 2022 Team Helmet The brand plans to use these new features to create a “deeper, more engaged digital experience,” by minding NFTs and digital artwork of McLaren cars and other brand content. Some NFTs that McLaren plans to make are also slated to include buyer-only experiences that are only available to McLaren NFT owners. InfiniteWorld is a best-in-class platform, and plans to provide McLaren customers with digital experiences that change the meaning of McLaren ownership into something never seen before, making owning a McLaren into a McLaren lifestyle, which will be much more than simply owning a McLaren car, although any McLaren car is definitely an incredible thing to own by itself. Source: McLaren

By Edward Jones – December 02, 2021

Meet Nicolas Brown, the New President of McLaren, The Ame...

McLaren, The Americas have announced that Nicolas Brown has been given the permanent appointment as President of the Americas region. Brown is a perfect pick for the position as he has spent many years within the automotive industry. “Nicolas has already proven himself to be a great asset to our business in the Americas,” said George Biggs, Global Commercial Executive Director. “We look forward to him leading the team in our biggest global market, as the company moves into its second decade and beyond.” Prior to joining McLaren back in May 2019, he had been with BMW Group for 16 years. This included time with the Rolls-Royce and BMW brands in both North America and Europe. With McLaren, The Americas, he joined as Vice President of Sales until he took over as the Interim President when Tony Joseph decided to step down from the position. Now, his interim position will be a permanent one and that spells great news for the McLaren brand in the Americas. "We are now readying ourselves for the biggest transition in product since we introduced the 12C back in December 2011, with the all-new McLaren Artura, which will be instrumental in setting our course in the Americas as we make the transition to electrified and hybrid powertrains," said Nicolas Brown. "In addition, we’ll be moving into our new Americas headquarters in Dallas, Texas, early next year, enabling us to support our retailers with even more comprehensive aftersales, training and technical support. There is a bright future to look forward to as we continue to grow both our brand and sales in this key market." View McLarens For Sale Source: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – September 14, 2020

Pre-Owned McLarens Are Selling Fast in 2020

This year has been a rough one due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For McLaren North America, however, they are having seeing an incredible uptick in sales. In total, McLaren North America has sold 580 Certified Pre-Owned vehicles so far this year, an 11 percent increase when compared to August 2019. This sales figure is actually their best-ever in terms of year-to-date pre-owned vehicle sales. There were 50 cars sold in the Canada, while 530 were sold in the United States. The draw of the McLaren Certified Pre-Owned cars is pretty easy to see. Each car comes with a minimum one-year Certified Warranty after passing a comprehensive multi-point examination completed by McLaren-trained technicians. These pre-owned McLarens must also go through all servicing and maintenance that would be due within three months of its handover to the dealership and they have to be fitted with McLaren Genuine Parts as well. "Our mission is not only to build the best sports cars in the world, but also to offer the best ownership experience," says Tony Joseph, President McLaren North America. "McLaren Certified delivers that commitment on pre-owned McLaren cars from our retailers through the promise of quality and exclusivity with full factory support." See All McLarens for Sale

By Edward Jones – January 08, 2019

McLaren 2018 Sales: More Cars Sold Than Ever Before

McLaren has been getting hotter and hotter with each year, and 2018 was their hottest year yet. The McLaren 2018 sales numbers have been announced, and they report that they've sold 4,806 cars in 2018. For comparison's sake, that's a 43.9% increase over 2017's sales (3,340 cars). This news of a record-breaking year was expected, as McLaren Automotive has been increasing sales numbers every year since it formed in 2010. North America has been McLaren's biggest single market, representing over a third of their global sales. "Record sales highlight what a momentous year 2018 was for McLaren Automotive when over 4,800 cars left our Production Centre," said Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive. "That compares to 1,650 in 2015 showing the remarkable expansion in just three years as we work to consolidate growth to 6,000 cars a year by the end of our Track25 business plan." The new McLaren 600LT, which was unveiled this year. The McLaren Production Center (MPC) in Woking, Surrey has been hard at work hand-assembling all of the cars. McLaren notes that the MPC puts out, consistently, 20 cars a day. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has been busier as well. With the influx of new McLaren buyers come more owners wanting to personalize their cars. This has led MSO to triple the number of bookings in one year. McLaren also unveiled the Speedtail in 2018, which will be their fastest car, ever. If you're looking to get in on the hotness that is McLaren, duPontREGISTRY.com has all the models you're looking for. Whether you're interested in the 720S with supercar stats, the 570GT for a refined, sporty drive or even the P1 hypercar, we've got it all. Click the button below to see the entire inventory. view all mclarens for sale Also Check Out: Top McLaren News of 2018 One-Off McLaren P1 GTR Designed to Honor Ayrton Senna McLaren 720S Specs, Price, Photos & Review

McLaren Composites Technology Center (1)

By Edward Jones – November 14, 2018

McLaren Opens Up New $65 Million Carbon Fiber Center

McLaren Automotive has opened up their second-ever production facility, called the McLaren Composites Technology Center (MCTC), in Yorkshire, England. The opening ceremony was led by TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This new facility cost £50 million, which equates to around $65 million USD. What's more, it will "create over 200 jobs when fully-operational and generate £100 million (~$130 million USD) gross value-added for the local economy," according to McLaren. But what is this facility for, exactly? McLaren says the MCTC will be working on innovating carbon fiber and composites. Furthermore, these materials will be used for future powertrain development in order to drop weight and better their energy efficiency. They are also underway in creating new prototypes for McLaren's upcoming lightweight carbon fiber tubs used in their cars. Get ready to see some exciting carbon fiber advancements in McLaren upcoming cars! Also Check Out: Ultimate Buyers Guide to the Ferrari F430 McLaren 720S Specs, Price, Photos & Review See Jay Leno's Car Collection

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 22, 2016

McLaren Hits Record Sales Just in Time for Anniversary

It's been five years since the world met the McLaren 12C, and McLaren's made nothing but positive progress since then. Three of the company's five years putting out production vehicles have seen profits, a nearly unheard of precedent for a producer of low-number supercars. In 2015, McLaren sold a record 1,624 total cars.Additionally, profits from McLarens sold isn't the only good news. As demand rises, more helping hands are needed. Employee numbers are up by 16% and research and development is up by 30% (good news for supercar fans). They invested a total of $65.1 million into research and development endeavors alone.McLaren is also the recipient of a new shareholder who is making a cushy investment into the company's future. According to a press release, "the Chairman of McKal Ltd is well-known to McLaren Automotive as an owner of two examples of the McLaren P1TM, as well as a frequent visitor to McLaren track events." He's now also a shareholder in the company.Congratulations to McLaren and all their success! And we can't wait to see what the Research and Development team is working on!McLarens for Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – June 25, 2015

McLaren Automotive Sees Record Profit Growth in 2014

McLaren Automotive hit the ground running when, in 2011, it first opened its doors as a production vehicle manufacturer, but their seemingly lofty goals have already more than paid off. McLaren's headquarters in Surrey, UKA press release from the marque issued today details the overall profit generated during 2014, which saw a reported 68 percent growth over 2013's operating profit. Year after year, they've increased both the number of models available and the number of cars sold, with a large majority of their sales leaving the United Kingdom.Around the world, 1,649 new McLarens were shipped in 2014, 1,401 of which were sold - an 18 percent increase over the number delivered in 2013. The increase in sales and popularity allowed for an increase in staffing and research and development as well, showing that every part of this manufacturer isn't just surviving, but thriving, in its first five years of existence.But particularly notable is the influence the P1 had in this growth - 2013 saw just 36 P1s ordered and delivered, but 248 made their way to owners in 2014. There will only be 375 created in total, meaning the P1 will likely hit the end of its production run before the end of fall 2015.The marque announced its intentions to remain an independent luxury manufacturer April 30. Though it may sound aggressively ambitious, the sales and growth records from the past few years make that plan all the more possible and likely.Stay with us for more updates from McLaren and other luxury manufacturers from around the world, and find your own piece of McLaren Automotive's impressive early history from our exclusive listings below.McLaren Listings Gallery (Source: McLaren) See More Industry Reports

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