Despite how many automobile brands are out there, customer loyalty still exists. You can see that when you take a walk through your neighborhood and go past the house with only Fords in the driveway. Jay Leno has vehicles from multiple manufacturers, but he’s been faithful to McLaren for decades. He has one of the legendary V12-powered F1s from the 1990s as well as a 2015 version of its twin-turbo V8 hybrid successor, the P1. Leno is also on the list for the next car from the English brand’s Ultimate series, the W1. He recently received a preview of it in prototype form thanks to Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive. Luckily, he allowed the rest of us to see it up-close.
If the W1’s exterior looks a little elaborate, it’s because the W1 is a function-over-form machine. Light weight is essential to the W1 being what McLaren calls “The Real Supercar,” so the company developed an all-new carbon fiber tub known as the Aerocell, which is topped with carbon fiber bodywork and gullwing-style doors. Fully assembled, the W1 weighs 3,084 pounds.
The W1 also needs to manage airflow strategically to minimize drag and maximize downforce. Active aero, including a movable flap in the front splitter and an extendable rear Active Long Tail, keeps the W1 planted. According to Leiters, that latter part generates up to 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds) of downforce.
McLaren pairs the W1’s carbon fiber construction with a potent hybrid powertrain. The combination of a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 and McLaren’s E-module adds up to 1,258 horsepower and 988 lb-ft of torque, which an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic sends to the rear wheels. In an age in which so many high-performance cars use all-wheel drive to maximize power delivery, McLaren keeps things relatively old- school. It even opted for hydraulic steering and brakes.
Unfortunately, since the W1 isn’t in production yet, we’ll have to wait to see how it is on the road. So will Leno—customer deliveries start rolling out in 2026.