McLaren Demonstrates W1 Testing in Snowy Conditions, But Will Aston's Valhalla Outshine It? | Carscoops

      Most W1s are unlikely to encounter rain, let alone snow, but Sweden’s winter weather is an excellent environment for refining the supercar’s traction and stability control mechanisms.

      12 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      McLaren has unveiled visuals and a video of its W1 being tested in the Arctic Circle.

      The V8 hybrid produces 1,258 hp and 988 lb-ft of torque, making it McLaren’s most powerful road car to date.

      As the successor to the P1, it can reach 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds and 124 mph in 5.8 seconds.

      Since its reveal last fall, there hasn’t been much news regarding McLaren’s W1, but despite the P1 successor not dominating headlines, the team in Woking continues its development. The British manufacturer has recently released a video and a collection of images showcasing the W1 undergoing winter testing as part of its preparation for a market entrance during a rather challenging timeframe.

      The frigid sub-zero temperatures of Scandinavia may not be ideal for demonstrating the W1's acceleration, braking, and downforce-enhanced grip, which are best showcased on a dry track. However, these conditions are perfect for fine-tuning the traction and stability control systems.

      Related: McLaren’s W1 Is Their Fastest And Most Powerful Roadcar Ever

      In contrast to some competitors, McLaren has chosen to maintain a rear-wheel-drive setup for the W1 instead of adopting all-wheel drive. However, equipped with Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 tires and appropriately configured stability and torque vectoring systems, test drivers manage to make the W1 soar around the snow-covered tracks.

      The cold climate also serves as a valuable testing ground for assessing the durability of the engine, gearbox, electrical system, and hybrid battery. Engineers are investigating the potential effects of packed snow obstructing the cooling system’s vents—an issue not likely to concern most W1 owners.

      Despite its claims of being the fastest-accelerating and most powerful McLaren road car to date, some enthusiasts have voiced dissatisfaction that the W1 does not signify a significant leap in innovation compared to the P1, which debuted a decade ago. Matters worsened for the W1 in December when Aston Martin introduced the Valhalla.

      While the W1 boasts exclusivity, with McLaren committing to produce only 399 units compared to Aston’s 999, the V8-hybrid W1’s 1,258 hp (1275 PS / 938 kW) and 988 lb-ft (1,340 Nm) of torque outstrip the Valhalla’s combined output of 1,064 hp (1,079 PS) and 811 lb-ft (1,100 Nm) from its twin-electric motor-assisted V8. However, the McLaren’s 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint time of 2.7 seconds lags two-tenths behind the Aston’s. Adding to this, the pricing is also a factor.

      The W1 is priced at $2.1 million before taxes, making it nearly twice as costly as the $1.1 million Valhalla. Which of these two hypercars would you choose?