McLaren W1 prototype tests in the freezing Arctic ahead of production

The McLaren W1 was cold-weather testing in the Arctic this winter. It was one of the key milestones before the new-gen hypercar goes into production. Earlier, we had seen a prototype testing on public roads.

The location for the test was located deep inside the Arctic Circle in Sweden. It’s one of the harshest places on the planet and an ideal place to test cars to their limit. According to McLaren, the W1’s chassis and systems were optimized during the tests. Its engine, gearbox, battery and electric motor were stress-tested in the sub-zero conditions. Even the effect of compacted snow and ice on the cooling system’s vents was checked.

The McLaren W1 uses an all-new 4.0-liter V8 hybrid powertrain that produces 1258 hp and 988 lb-ft of torque, with a redline at 9200 rpm. This makes it McLaren’s most powerful and highest-revving road car powertrain ever and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The W1 weighs just 1399 kg, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 911 PS per tonne. The result is 0-124 mph in just 5.8 seconds.