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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 10, 2023

Hennessey Shows Off Its 1,000HP Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing ...

Hennessey proves that supercar performance can come with four doors. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a truly special piece of engineering. It combines all the trappings of a bona fide luxury sedan with the pure American muscle and power of its beastly V8 engine, coming together to form an impressive piece of luxury performance automotive excellence. However, Hennessey Performance is known for taking what’s already excellent and bringing it up to an even greater level, and that’s what the Texas-based performance powerhouse did with the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing with its H1000 upgrade. Why the number 1,000? That’s because Hennessey upgraded the CT5-V Blackwing to have a total of 1,000 horsepower. It does so with an upgraded camshaft, cylinder heads, an upgraded supercharger and more. With carbon fiber accents throughout and sport wheels from Hennessey, owners of the upgrade package can add an intimidating and sporty edge to the luxury sedan’s subtle and understated yet still athletic look. However, it’s on Hennessey’s Pennzoil Proving Grounds where the H1000 CT5-V Blackwing truly shines. On the straights, a loud V8 roar announces the Cadillac’s incredibly quick acceleration. With 1,000 horsepower, and a level of performance that matches and exceeds many of the world’s supercars, the H1000 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing from Hennessey is the ultimate American luxury performance sedan. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey

By Edward Jones – March 24, 2020

Lexani Motorcars Now Accepting Preorders on 2021 Escalade...

Lexani Motorcars has mastered the craft of turning SUVs into rolling palaces. And now that the new 2021 Cadillac Escalade has been revealed, they are now taking preorders on new 2021 Escalade Mobile Offices. If you've never seen what Lexani Motorcars can do, you ought to have by now, then you're in for a treat. From the outside, the new 2021 Escalade Mobile Office looks tame overall, with a bit of an extension. However, everything changes once inside. From the stars in the headliner, to the luxuryreclinres and ample amount of technology, these mobile office is a stunning automobile. If you're interested, be sure to visit LexaniMotorcars.com for more information on these incredible vehicles and be sure to contact them to see how you can get yourself into one of these beauties. Visit LexaniMotorcars.com Contact Lexani Motorcars Website: lexanimotorcars.com/ Number: 1-844-4LEXANIEmail: info@lexanimotorcars.comAddress: Corona, CA 92880

By Andrew Nabors – February 12, 2019

SVE 1,000 Horsepower Suburban, Yukon & Escalade Now Avail...

If you are tired of being passed by supercars, SVE has upped the ante for performance SUVs. Just announced is the new SVE 1,000 horsepower Chevrolet Suburban, Yukon & Escalade. Stage 1 is limited to 850 horsepower since it was developed on the 5.3L V8. But if that isn't enough, the 6.2L models can be transformed to 6.8L thanks to a new forged rotating assembly. This 414 cubic-inch monster is then topped by their CNC ported heads and a massive supercharger. It yields 1,000 horsepower at the crank and 900 lb-ft of torque between 4 and 6k rpm. It also includes stainless headers and a transmission upgrade along with an 8-rib supercharger belt. It's all backed by a 3 year/36k warranty, and as an original owner of their 2002 Camaro SS I can attest to the build quality. Almost all high-volume GM dealers are authorized SVE retailers, so click the link to learn more about their powerful builds. Shop SVE For Sale Related: Up Close & Personal With SVE's 1,000 HP Yenko Camaro SVE Unveils 800 HP Yenko Silverado

By Edward Jones – January 22, 2019

Lexani Motorcars' New Extended Escalade is a Mansion on W...

Lexani Motorcars, known for their bespoke luxury stretch and armored conversion, have revealed their latest creation: the 30-inch Extended Cadillac Escalade Viceroy Edition. Categorized as the world's first 2019 stretched Cadillac Escalade mobile office with Lexani's ultra-lux VIP cabin upgrades, it's a sight to behold. Inside the stretched Escalade is as much technology as you can tastefully fit. A curved smart TV provides all passengers with entertainment while multiple Apple iPad Pros have been integrated throughout the cabin for individual entertainment or productivity. The raised ceiling with ambient LED and vivid star-liner lighting shine upon the interior, which includes airline style tables, a Mac Mini and more. For comfort and luxury, Lexani Motorcars appointed the new Escalade Viceroy Edition's power seats in diamond-stitched European leather. Lexani Motorcars knows that life isn't all about work, so they added a few touches for time when work is slow. A Sony Playstation 4 system is connected to the TV for the gamer in all of us. A VIP amenity package that consists of luxury champagne flutes, quality crystal old fashioned glasses and airline table add-ons are there for when passengers need to just kick back. And passengers need not worry about any threats while relaxing, because Lexani Motorcars offers up to B7 level armoring. For more information and inquiries, be sure to click the button below. lexanimotorcars.com Also Check Out: Lexani Motorcars Extended Escalade “Concept Two” Armored Escalade Office by Lexani Motorcars The Asgard by Lexani Motorcars: The Ultimate Mobile Office Presented by Lexani Motorcars The intention behind the launch of Lexani Motorcars was to carry the prestige of the Lexani brand to the custom luxury automotive market with unparalleled design, innovation, and quality. LexaniMotorcars.com

By Andrew Nabors – December 13, 2018

Hennessey HPE1000 Cadillac CTS-V is a 10-Second Sedan

We were sad to learn that model year 2019 will be the end of the CTS-V. What began in 2004 by shoving a Corvette Z06 drivetrain into an unassuming Cadillac has evolved into a supercharged 640 horsepower sledgehammer. From the factory, it offers 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque, but the engine is unchanged from its 650 hp and torque as rated in the Z06. But Hennessey has learned how to squeeze incredible power out of the stock bottom end. I honestly expected them to start with a 6.8 (414 ci) stroker crank to achieve 1,000 horsepower and 996 lb-ft of torque. But all the modifications are done to the top end. Starting with a custom camshaft, their hand-ported heads have larger valves, springs, and retainers. Lifters and hardened pushrods will answer the call of your right foot, as they are pressurized by a giant supercharger. A new intercooler and heat exchanger have been repeatedly tested in the Texas heat, and each car is tuned on the road and on their dyno. The exhaust headers and high-flow cats are stainless steel, and they are tuned to match the increased duration of the cam. Check Out The Fastest Quarter Mile Cars A CTS-V with over twice the power of mine makes me consider nitrous oxide, but perhaps a road trip to Sealy, TX will cure my blues. The HPE1000 package is available to all CTS-V sedans from 2016 to present, and it is backed by a 2-year 24,000-mile warranty. If you want a big & comfy Caddy that reaches 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, get ready to scare your passengers. Crossing the quarter mile at 10.5 seconds at 135 mph is no joke, so click the link below for all the details. Click Here To Learn More " width="680">

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