McLaren W1 Coming To Forza Horizon 6, And You Can Drive It September 10

While most of us will never be lucky (or wealthy) enough to own the McLaren W1 hypercar, the British automaker is giving us the next best thing, a chance to “own and drive” one.. virtually in Forza Horizon 6. That’s right, the McLaren W1 is joining Forza Horizon 6 as the headline act of the game’s British Automotive Series update, landing in players’ garages on September 10.

If you purchased the Car Pass downloadable content (DLC) pack in Forza Horizon 6, you’ll be able to get behind the wheel of one of the most anticipated hypercars of the decade without ever leaving your couch when it gets added directly to your in-game garage, so buckle up and get ready for the ride of a lifetime.

Why the W1 Is a Big Deal for the “1” Lineage

McLaren doesn’t hand out the “1” name lightly. The F1 redefined what a road car could be in the ’90s. The P1 pushed hybrid hypercar performance into new territory and even landed cover-car status on Forza Motorsport 5 back in 2013. Now the W1 steps up as the successor to both, and McLaren isn’t shy about what that means.

The car is built around a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a hybrid system pulled straight from McLaren’s Formula 1 knowledge, producing a combined 1,258 horsepower and 988 lb-ft of torque, all sent to the rear wheels. On paper, that’s 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds, 0-186 mph in under 12.7 seconds, and an electronically limited top speed of 217 mph.

In Race Mode, the active aero package, including McLaren’s Active Long Tail, can generate up to 772 pounds of downforce. Numbers like that explain why McLaren describes the W1 as delivering “sensational power, cutting-edge aerodynamics and the latest lightweight chassis technologies,” aimed at “the highest levels of dynamic excellence and the purest driver connection.”

Where It Fits in Your Forza Garage

The W1 doesn’t arrive alone in spirit. It slots in next to the McLaren F1 and McLaren P1, both already sitting in Forza Horizon 6 as Legendary-tier vehicles, and it becomes the 13th McLaren available in the game overall. That lineup includes the Artura, the brand’s current production hybrid, meaning you can now build a full McLaren garage that spans from road-going hybrids to hypercar royalty.

Legendary status in Forza isn’t handed out casually either, so expect the W1 to show up with the kind of stats and handling that make it a genuine threat in online lobbies, not just a trophy car you park and admire.

When to Log In

Mark the calendar. The British Automotive Series update is playable from September 7, with the Festival Playlist and the McLaren W1’s arrival specifically locked to September 10. That’s also when three additional new-to-Horizon Car Pass vehicles are expected to be confirmed alongside it, plus a new Drift Attack mode and a fresh region to explore in Shimanoyama.

For Car Pass owners, the process is simple: update the game, load in on the 10th, and the W1 should already be sitting in your garage, ready to be customized and driven.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re the type who’d actually save up for a real McLaren someday or the type who’s perfectly happy living out that fantasy from a gaming chair, September 10 is worth circling. A 399-unit hypercar most people will never see in person is about to be one download away for anyone with the Car Pass. That’s a pretty good deal.