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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 Andrew Nabors – January 06, 2021

Zyrus Engineering Unveils LP1200 Strada

Winter in Norway can be bitterly cold, and that is why Zyrus Engineering has unveiled the hot LP1200 Strada. Based on a Lamborghini Huracan LP600-4 for sale, this completely carbon fiber build offers 900 horsepower in a street-legal package. Catering to a tech-savvy target audience, most vehicle systems can be controlled by your smart device. For those who need unparalleled performance, 1,200 horsepower is unlocked at the push of a button. Other superlatives include dropping 172 lbs from the curb weight while offering 4,431 lbs of downforce at 124 mph. All you need is a Lamborghini Huracan for them to start with, so click the button below. Browse Lamborghini Huracan For Sale Images (C) Zyrus Engineering

By Andrew Nabors – April 28, 2020

NOVITEC Unveils Tasteful Upgrades for the Huracan Evo

As one of the most popular models in their history, the Lamborghini Huracan Evo is ripe for customization. If you want to set yours apart from the other raging bulls, our friends at NOVITEC have released a slew of upgrades. Starting with the exterior, the carbon fiber aerodynamic parts are offered in several flavors. From subtle to scorching, you can pick and choose from several flavors of front splitters, rocker panels, and rear diffuser. Most prefer bare carbon, but they can be painted any color before delivery. Working with Vossen, the NL4 forged wheel package that is lighter than the original. They measure 20" x 9" front and 21" x 12.5" on the rear. They look perfect with NOVITEC springs that lower the car by 1.3" all around. Choose between stainless or Inconel exhaust. Stainless looks great, but the Inconel system is much lighter and has a very good reference since is wrapped in gold insulation. The interior is a blank canvas, as their leather shop is capable of any color or pattern. Click the button below to learn more and stay with us for all your NOVITEC news. Learn More " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 12, 2019

Alex Choi Unveils the Unicorn V3 Twin Turbo Lamborghini H...

If you have been following Alex Chois' Lamborghini Huracan. No, it was stolen or wrecked, it was being transformed. In a YouTube video last night he unveiled the Unicorn V3 Twin Turbo Lamborghini Huracan. This rally car started life as his daily driver, but Alex had visions of off-road endurance. With the help of his sponsors, they added an exoskeleton of steel to replace much of the body. Let's hope it never gets hit, because he mentions it is a combination of steel and stainless. Without any gussets between the pipes, they might shatter in compression. The twin-turbo kit has intake filters bolted to the intercoolers, because pre-heated air is better? The car was treated to 43 lights up front, and the taillights were simply flipped upside down. Even with all the changes, Alex says the car is street legal and it will pass smog. We don't know what rally classes it is legal to compete in, so stay with us for more coverage of this unique build. Browse Lamborghini Huracan For Sale Related:

By Andrew Nabors – March 28, 2018

Lamborghini Domination At TX2K18: Easy 200 MPH

If your stock Aventador or Huracan needs more speed, Underground Racing has perfected the twin turbo Lamborghini. Our friends at 1320video traveled to Texas for the annual TX2K race. Qualifying and testing brought cars from around the country. As the slower cars were sent packing, every competitor in the semifinals was driving an Underground Racing machine packing 4-digit horsepower.Underground Racing Gallardo vs World’s Fastest Corvette Z06You might think that the transmission and differential gears might not be optimal for 1/4 mile racing, but at these power levels drivers are forced to go easy on the launch. The boost builds up progressively until the cars are making over 2,000 horsepower by the 1/8th mile. It's slightly depressing to watch cars post top end speeds over 100 mph faster than my heavily modified LS car, and it proves that Underground Racing has a recipe for dominance. If you want to get in on the action, you will need a great deal on a Lamborghini Huracan. So click the link below and let the journey begin.Browse Lamborghini Huracan For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 13, 2017

Ride Along UGR's Lamborghini Huracan During its World Rec...

Boosted cars run better in cool weather, which is why WannaGoFast invited half-mile racers to North Carolina back in May. Underground Racing's twin-turbo builds are popular in these events due to their reliability and performance. Gideon Chamdi is probably their best customer, as his cars are always pushing the limits. Originally started as a way to promote his jewelry business. "Diamonds By Wire Racing" has evolved into a record-breaking powerhouse. His Underground Racing Audi R8 reached 244 mph at the event, and we heard rumors of the Lamborghini's blistering pass.The car is owned by Mohammed Bourashid of Kuwait-based Drag965, and he put Gidi behind the wheel to make sure it broke the record.Also Check Out: Underground Racing Gallardo vs World's Fastest Corvette Z06In stock form, the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 delivers 602 horsepower and 412 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. Given a flat stretch of road and favorable winds, it will reach a top speed of 201 mph. But this isn't enough for some. That's why Underground Racing had to ditch the dual-clutch 7-speed automatic in favor of an air-shifted 6-speed sequential transmission. Air shifters use a tank of compressed air to slam shift each gear. Normally found on pro-mod dragsters, the systems are expensive and complex. We're amazed the camera stayed attached on this run, so hold on for a wild ride. Where do you draw the line between street car and track machine? Tell us how far you would go to push your car to a new world record, and stay with us for all your UGR updates.

By Edward Jones – June 15, 2017

Lamborghini Huracan DCT 1/2-Mile World Record Set at Insa...

Underground Racing has been going pretty wild with Lamborghini Huracan modifications, and Mohammad's twin-turbo 2015 model is a perfect example. With about 1,800 whp on tap, his Huracan is a sprinting monster.At the recent WannaGoFast 1/2 mile event in North Carolina, Mohammad took his Huracan out for a few passes. His runs, in order, were 211, 217, 219, 220, and 222 mph. That last run, the 222 mph run, set a new DCT transmission Huracan world record. To accomplish the faster runs, Underground Racing turned up the power to the 1,800 whp mark. You can view the world record run in the video below.In the description of the video, we learn that the engine is fully built with billet connecting rods and pistons, as well as a JRR MoTeC M1 ECU. However, the DCT transmission is entirely stock, with a Dodson sportsman clutch cage and Underground Racing's own custom clutches.

By Edward Jones – September 16, 2016

Twin-Turbo Lamborghini Huracan Sets New 1/2 Mile Record

It seems like I write about the 1/2 mile record being broken just about every month and it's not a bad thing. Heck, if I could write about this record being broken every day, I'd be okay with that because it means someone out there is willing to push themselves and a car to the limit. And also with the records we get epic videos of these cars breaking the record.(Also Check Out - Koenigsegg One: 1 Breaks Three Records in One Day)The latest record breaking run comes from Underground Racing at the Shift Sector half mile event. The car in question is a UR X Version Twin Turbo Lamborghini Huracan that reportedly set and reset records all weekend. The record speed this Huracan hit during its run was 247.25 mph, which was about 7 mph faster than the previous record set a few months ago. What's more, this Huracan is 100% street legal.Check out the video below to see the record run for yourself. Lamborghini Huracan For Sale

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