W1

Born to break records, hearts, and bank accounts, the 2026 McLaren W1 hypercar is the long-awaited successor to the venerated, 903-hp P1 hybrid supercar of a decade ago. Lovingly crafted from carbon fiber and packing a 1258 horsepower hybrid powertrain, the W1 topples all of the brand's previous benchmarks: the twin-turbo V-8 and radial flux electric motor hybrid powertrain is claimed to be the most powerful in any McLaren yet; its 3084-pound dry weight calculates to a claimed power-to-weight ratio of just 2.45 pounds per horsepower. (The very, very rapid Ferrari 296 GTB hybrid, for comparison, lugs 4.3 pounds per horsepower.) Aerodynamics play their part in the W1 performance equation, of course: active aero bits including the Long Tail Rear Wing that extends rearward up to 11.8 inches combine to produce a maximum of 2205 pounds of downforce. So effective are the W1's powertrain and aero package that McLaren claims it's three seconds quicker around the company’s Nardo reference circuit than the track-focused McLaren Senna, and the W1’s 12.7-second time to 186 mph is quicker than that of the vaunted Speedtail. Remarkably and refreshingly, the W1 is a rear-wheel drive-only proposition. Record-smashing metrics aside, the new W1 is a gorgeous and exclusive work of kinetic art, the latest in a long line of road-going McLarens imbued with extraordinary levels of useable performance. If you have the means, it has the beans—to thrill beyond comprehension, that is.