McLaren in October revealed a successor to its P1 hypercar in the form from W1.
The new hypercar is similar to the P1 in that it features a plug-in hybrid powertrain built around a twin-turbo V-8 engine, but in other areas it is completely different, especially when it comes to the chassis design.
One area where the W1 stands out is its use of 3D printing to manufacture lightweight yet strong suspension parts. The list includes front upper triangles, aerodynamically shaped lower triangles and front uprights.
To develop the pieces, McLaren teamed up America’s Divergent Technologiescompany specialized in 3D printing of complex parts, including for sectors outside the automotive sector. Divergent founder Kevin Czinger also founded Czinger hypercar brandwhich is developing cars that use 3D printed parts.
McLaren W1 suspension
The 3D printing process involves powdered metal being deposited layer by layer and melted into place using lasers. The completed parts then go into a heat treatment oven to bake and eliminate residual stress. Specialized software is used to design parts with minimal material, which results in somewhat organic shapes that the pieces sometimes take.
On the W1, the front suspension parts, which also include rods with internal shock absorbers, torsion bars and lift dampers, are mounted directly to the car’s carbon fiber center tube, eliminating the need for a front subframe. This helps save even more weight, whilst also optimizing airflow underneath the car.
McLaren W1 suspension
McLaren and Czinger aren’t the only manufacturers making moves in the hypercar space by using 3D printing for suspension parts. Ferrari also uses 3D printing for suspension parts for your rival F80 hypercar. Bugatti has also been using 3D printing for its hypercars for years, including for suspension parts in the latest Tourbillon hypercar.
The W1 is scheduled to begin deliveries in 2026. Pricing starts at US$2.1 million, but all 399 examples earmarked for construction have already been claimed, according to McLaren.