Two brand-new hypercars were unveiled in recent weeks. In the red corner we have the Ferrari F80. In the orange corner we have the McLaren W1. These are the new halo models from two respected sportscar manufacturers. It will be some time before these hit the road anywhere in the world, let alone SA. However, we thought there is enough available info to bring you this Ferrari F80 vs McLaren W1 match-up. It’s worth noting that the 399 W1s and 799 F80s are reportedly all spoken for already. This isn’t good news for anyone reading this hoping to place an order.

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Two For Now

The last time these two brands faced off at this level they did so with the McLaren P1 and the Ferrari LaFerrari. These are two seminal hypercars that were 2/3rds of, what most petrolheads referred to as, the holy trinity. The missing member of the trio this time is a rival from Porsche. However, reports suggest that the German automaker is readying a new hypercar and that it will be based on the Mission X concept. While the concept car is battery powered, we suspect the upcoming Porsche will feature a hybrid powertrain. Speaking of which…

Hybrid Power

The McLaren W1 and Ferrari F80 both have hybrid powertrains. The F80 has a V6 petrol engine (ICE) that is boosted by twin-turbochargers. In addition the system has three electric motors, two on the front axle and a third aiding the ICE. As a result total system power is quoted as 883 kW. The W1 counters with two extra cylinders and a small, but powerful, hybrid component. The W1’s powertrain cranks out 938 kW of power and 1 340 N.m of torque. Both cars’ engines can rev north of 9 000 r/min.

Straight-line Performance

The F80 is all-wheel drive, thanks to employing electric motors on each front wheel. This means that it scampers off the line in a lighting-quick 2,15 seconds. And it will reach 200 km/h in 5,75. McLaren has made the decision to keep the W1 as a rear-wheel drive machine. As a result it is not as quick off the line as the Prancing Horse. It completes the benchmark sprint in 2,7 seconds, which is still impressive for a RWD car. The 0-200 run takes 5,8 seconds, the additional power of the Mac making up some time once it gains traction. The top speed of both cars is limited to 350 km/h, which we suspect is related to tyre technology.

Tech Transfer

McLaren and Ferrari have extensive motorsport programs. Both teams currently compete in Formula One, DTM, endurance racing and many other race series around the world. As a result their halo models need to reflect some form of technology transfer from track to road. The F80 and W1 were both honed in the wind tunnel. The Ferrari is said to deliver 1 000 kg of downforce at 250 km/h. This is quite a high percentage of the car’s overall mass of 1 525 kg. The F80 also boasts active suspension to allow for an ideal aero platform at all speeds.

The W1 generates an identical level of downforce as the Ferrari, 1 000 kg. The Mac has a dry weight of 1 399 kg, which should make it quite nimble on track. Active aero includes a rear spoiler that moves rearwards by 300 mm to be more efficient at high speeds. The car features high-downforce, low-drag, ground-effect aerodynamics as well as an active ride height. Race mode drops the ride height by 37 mm at the front and 17 at the rear in conjunction it stiffens the suspension. Both cars also feature massive, composite brake set-ups as well as specifically developed footwear to deliver quick lap times.

Which of these two halo machines would you want parked in your garage? Let us know on our Facebook page.