BRITISH luxury car manufacturer McLaren has launched a new hypercar boasting a whopping 1,258 break horsepower (bhp).
The new McLaren W1 combines petrol and electricity to generate a massive 1,340 Newton metres (Nm) of torque.
The hypercar is the fastest road-legal motor ever, going from 0-200kmh in just 5.8 seconds[/caption]
It promises to reach speeds of 200kmh from standstill in a staggering 5.8 seconds.
The car maker have billed the new motor as the fastest accelerating road legal McLaren ever.
The motor was launched on the 50th anniversary of the first Formula 1 World Championship win for McLaren.
The W1 focuses on real world fun and drivability over “top trump numbers” according to vehicle line director Alex Gibson.
Instead of chasing top speeds designers opted for road performance and tractability with the W1 being limited to 217mph.
The W1 utilises a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine twinned with an electric motor to generate its massive 1,258bhp.
The MHP-8 V8 engine from the hypercar will be used in future series production supercars from the brand
With a focus on driver experience several key decisions were made to improve the W1’s tractability and driver engagement on the road.
Key to this, the decision to send the car’s power reserves through the rear wheels, rather than employing a four-wheel drive system.
The rear wheel drive system also helps to significantly cut down on the weight of the swanky motor.
The car’s impressive torque has been limited in first and second gear to reduce wheel spin.
McLaren utilised an 8-speed dual clutch transmission, which includes an integrated E-Differential on the W1.
And a new “exceptional aero” design for the hypercar produces a staggering 1,000-kg of downforce.
McLaren Automotive, originally McLaren Cars founded 1985, is headquartered in Woking, England.
The company boasts ownership of a successful Formula 1 team, with 189 race victories, 524 podiums and 171 fastest laps.
Designers said about the W1: “Not just any car can be given the ‘1’ title.
“1 cars have to be the ultimate expression of our supercar first principles.
“The same principles that forged the F1 and the P1
. Epic power, performance everywhere, pure driver connection and authentic theatre.
“Launched on the 50th anniversary of our first Formula 1 World Championship win, W1 embodies our world championship mindset.
“To strive to achieve more. Always pushing the boundaries of performance.”
The car generates an impressive 1,000kg of downforce with its new “exceptional” aero design[/caption]
