Family Three: McLaren W1 vs McLaren P1 vs McLaren F1

Bruce McLaren had road car ambitions, and the M6GT was based on the company’s wild Can-Am racecar. When he was killed during testing in 1970, the plan was suspended.

Roll on 18 years, and having led the team to sustained F1 success, team boss Ron Dennis decided it was time for the ultimate road car. Technical director Gordon Murray delivered the singularly brilliant F1, a car whose genius casts a bigger shadow now than ever.

The P1 couldn’t quite match it in terms of powertrain majesty, but was a hybrid supercar pioneer with wild styling and vast performance.

Now it’s the W1’s turn...

McLAREN F1

Price new: £540k / Now: £20m
Powertrain: 6,064cc nat-asp V12, 618bhp, 479lb ft
Transmission: 6spd manual, RWD
Performance: 0–62mph in 3.2 seconds, 240mph
Weight: 1,018kg
HIGHLIGHT: Innumerable! Carbon chassis and body, hugely charismatic BMW engine, vast performance
LOWLIGHT: Expensive then, Holy Grail now

McLAREN P1

Price new: £866k / Now: £1.4m
Powertrain: 3,799cc twin turbo V8 + e-motor, 903bhp, 664lb ft
Transmission: 7spd DCT, RWD
Performance: 0–62mph in 2.8 seconds, 217mph
Weight: 1,395kg
HIGHLIGHT: Still looks fresh, high-tech hybrid but old school handling thrills
LOWLIGHT: Definitely not for the fainthearted, hasn’t kept pace with LaFerrari in £££ terms

McLAREN W1

Price: £2m
Powertrain: 3,998cc twin turbo V8 + radial flux e-motor, 1,258bhp, 988lb ft
Transmission: 8spd DCT, RWD
Performance: 0–62mph in 2.7 seconds, 217mph
Weight: 1,399kg
HIGHLIGHT: Astounding bandwidth, handling, performance, everything really
LOWLIGHT: Expensive, all 399 have been sold