McLaren’s W1 Roars into Goodwood: A Hybrid Supercar with Nothing to Prove

Naturally, McLaren isn't holding back at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. The British marque is unveiling its new W1 supercar, the latest entry in its so-called "Series 1" lineage and a bold declaration that speed no longer needs justification.

The W1 is a 1,275-horsepower V8 hybrid, sending all that force exclusively to the rear wheels. Just 399 units will be built—of course—and every one is reportedly already spoken for. The sound, scent, and spectacle promise to deliver on both road and track, but fundamentally, the W1 is McLaren’s strategic attempt to reassert itself in the hypercar echelon at a moment when electrification is inevitable, even if customer appetite has yet to fully catch up.

This year also marks three decades since McLaren’s iconic 1995 Le Mans win, a milestone the brand is commemorating from multiple angles. The original F1 GTR race car will appear at the festival, with period driver JJ Lehto back behind the wheel. Alongside it, the new 750S Le Mans edition debuts—just 50 units, naturally, with added aerodynamics and a heavy dose of “homage” that feels more calculated than heartfelt.

Also returning to Goodwood for a third year is the Solus GT: a V10-powered featherweight that’s more concept sculpture than street machine. Weighing in under 1,000 kg and delivering over 800 horsepower, it exists mainly to remind the world that McLaren can still build “anything,” even if that “anything” ends up in a collector’s vault.

Fresh off an unexpected 2024 Formula One Constructors’ Championship, McLaren is also launching two “Celebration Edition” models: the 750S and the Artura. Each is limited to just nine units. Finished in Papaya Orange-inspired livery, they’re classic MSO (McLaren Special Operations) exercises—racing glamour repackaged for luxury garages.

Meanwhile, the brand’s Longtail models—its most potent and lightweight road cars—are turning ten. To mark the anniversary, McLaren is rolling out a “Celebrate LT” campaign and showcasing a curated selection from its own vault. What that means for customers is less clear.

So McLaren arrives at Goodwood ready, once again, to blend brand mythology, exclusivity, and nostalgia into a PR cocktail that dazzles even if it doesn’t surprise. Because when everything’s exclusive, nothing really is.