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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

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By Jordan Aquistapace – March 09, 2023

The McLaren P1 Hypercar Celebrates 10 Years Of Hybrid Per...

Dubbed the 'best driver's car on road and track', the McLaren P1 marks a milestone for the brand's leap into the hybrid hypercar market.

By Andrew Nabors – October 18, 2017

McLaren Teases New Ultimate Series Supercars

It took years for McLaren to develop the P1, so we've all been wondering what could surpass it. In a press release this morning, they announced the most extreme street legal car. The P1 and the P1 GTR were the first two examples of McLaren's Ultimate Series. As part of the ongoing Track22 business plan, two new models are in the works.McLaren Special Operations Reveals 2 Unique BuildsDetails on the first car will be released early next year. Until then, the teaser image below will leave us wondering. After that release, the company is aiming to build the first ever "Hyper-GT". Given the codename BP23. This news is destined to shake up the competition so it might be time to get a McLaren of your own. Click on the link below to find great deals on remaining 2017 cars and stay with us for all your McLaren updates.Search McLaren For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 15, 2017

"The Professor" Becomes Most Expensive McLaren P1 Ever

Known as "The Professor," this McLaren P1 was commissioned back in 2013 by a discerning buyer. He designed and purchased the car with the intent of driving it for a couple of years, selling it and then donating the proceeds from the sale to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in order to fund a professorship.Last week in Amelia Island, the car was auctioned off by Gooding & Co., and it ended up selling for a record amount.With the hammer price coming in at $2,392,500, it has become the most expensive McLaren P1 sold, not including the P1 GTR. When offered, there was no reserve set, but it still outsold its estimate of $2-2.3 million.Related - McLaren 720S Fully Revealed: Price, Specs and The Full StoryThe car is finished in what is called "Professor 2 Blue," a paint that was adjusted several times before it was to the owner's liking. Joining the blue exterior are red accent stripes, and wheels finished in matte black and silver. Inside, The Professor is one of just two P1s that were fitted with specially molded seats that were designed after the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona's seat pattern. The owner also had McLaren install a passenger side vanity mirror, which isn't standard, with the phrase "You look beautiful" etched into the mirror for his wife.All McLaren For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 10, 2017

Rare Blue McLaren P1 "The Professor" Being Auctioned for ...

Back in 2013, an unknown automotive enthusiast decided to commission a McLaren P1 for himself. However, this wasn't a normal purchase, because he designed and purchased the car with the intent of driving it for a while and then selling it. Why sell it? He wanted to donate the proceeds from the car's sale to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.And now, in 2017, Gooding & Co. is setting to put this McLaren P1, called "The Professor," up for auction at their Amelia Island auction. All images courtesy of Gooding & Company. Copyright Mark Hardymon.The car is finished in what is called "Professor 2 Blue," a paint that was adjusted several times before it was to the owner's liking. Joining the blue exterior are red accent stripes, and wheels finished in matte black and silver. Inside, The Professor is one of just two P1s that were fitted with specially molded seats that were designed after the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona's seat pattern. The owner also had McLaren install a passenger side vanity mirror, which isn't standard, with the phrase "You look beautiful" etched into the mirror for his wife.Now that the car is headed to the auction, the owner is planning on donating the proceeds to Rose-Hulman so that the Alfred R. Schmidt Chair for Excellence in Teaching can be established. It's estimated to sell for $2-2.3 million.

By Andrew Nabors – February 21, 2017

McLaren's P1 Is Simply Amazing

McLaren built the P1 to change the supercar world. If it feels as though you are suffering from déjà vu, you are not alone. We saw this, in the early ‘90s, with McLaren’s mighty F1. Back then, such companies as Jaguar and Bugatti were vying for supercar supremacy through the title of the world’s fastest production car. With that title currently held by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, McLaren has the much loftier ambition of becoming the world’s best driver’s car. Taking the reins where the F1 left off, the P1 utilizes an advanced combination of twin turbochargers and electric motor muscle. It starts with 12C’s 3.8-liter forced-induction V-8, an engine designed entirely in-house with dry-sump lubrication and a low-positioned flat-plane crankshaft. The turbochargers make 20 psi compared to 17 psi in the 12C. With a few other tweaks for cooling and durability, the already amazing output of 616 horsepower has been raised even further, creating an astonishing 727 horsepower at 7,500 rpm. But wait; there’s more. To drive the car on battery for up to six miles, it draws on the power of a single electric motor. The extra 176 horsepower and 192 foot-pounds of torque are used to fill in the torque gaps during shifts, or for an explosion of power by way of the Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) button. The amount of power provided by IPAS really depends on how much electrical energy is left in the battery pack. Located just behind the passenger cabin are six modules, composed of 324 battery cells. Unlike so many hybrids, the P1 does not use kinetic energy from the braking system to recharge the battery. Instead, it captures energy normally wasted as the engine decelerates, say when lifting off the throttle, or it can be recharged directly by the V-8 engine with the press of the Charge button when the car is at a standstill. At its best, a full 903 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque are at the driver’s disposal. This power transfers through a seven-speed dual clutch transmission to the rear wheels and performance is nothing short of immense: 0-62 mph in less than three seconds, 0-124 in less than seven seconds, and 0- 186 in less than 17 seconds. For comparison, the F1 takes 3.2 seconds, 9.4 seconds, and 22 seconds, respectively, for the same jaunts. The one place the F1 still rules supreme is top speed, where the P1 is limited to 217 miles per hour, the F1 can reach 231. The one place we hope the P1 and F1 really diverge is in the number of units sold. McLaren had hoped to sell 300 F1s until the supercar market took a plunge, leaving it with just 64 road-going cars before production stopped. Only 375 examples of the P1 were produced, which makes them among the most coveted automobiles on earth. And that is why our McLaren dealers entrust us to find them forever homes. Stay with us for all your McLaren updates.

By Edward Jones – September 26, 2016

New McLaren P1 is Purely Electric...With a Catch

I always enjoy a humorous press release and McLaren has just outdone themselves. Announced just today was a brand-new, all-electric McLaren P1, but the car is only being released for a very select group of customers. You see, the new McLaren P1TM is designed for those aged six and under due to the fact that this P1 is actually a pint-sized supercar for young drivers to ride on.What's great is that the P1TM has a few unique features that drivers of the real P1 won't experience. For starts, it as a centrally-mounted steering wheel, just like the McLaren F1. It also has an open-top, something that the P1 does not have. And, like it's big brother, the P1TM featured McLaren's signature dihedral doors.For creature comforts, the P1TM has an MP3 player and audio system as standard equipment, which comes pre-programmed with "every popular nursery rhyme," according to the revealing press release. But, the best feature has to be the three-speed transmission in case the child has "arrived at the wrong playground."If you're interested in picking one of these up for your toddler, it will be available towards the end of October and sells at selected McLaren Automotive retailers for £375.00 (approx. $485 USD at today's exchange rate).Real McLaren P1s For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 06, 2016

World's First Chameleon Carbon Fiber McLaren P1

Manny Khoshbin is no stranger to the fine automobile. Don't believe me? Check out his Instagram profile, which is just full of pictures of his supercar collection as the subject. His collection at the beginning of last week was pretty incredible, but with the addition of his new chameleon carbon fiber McLaren P1, it's become even more astounding.(Also Check Out: Chrome McLaren P1 Goes Through McDonalds Drive-Thru)His new McLaren P1, which he calls the MK Edition, was the star of the show at Lamborghini Newport Beach's Supercar Show. Videographers, photographers and enthusiasts gathered around the car as it sat in front of the dealership. Jaws were dropping left and right the closer guests walked toward the car. From afar, one might think that the color-changing effect was coming from paint, but upon closer inspection you can see it's naked carbon fiber with an overlay. And if you look even closer, you can see that the bottom of the car has a matte finish, while the top is glossy.Khoshbin's P1, along with CJ Wilson's, has to be the most insane example yet. Check it out in the video below.View All P1s For Sale (NSFW Language in the second half of vid)

By Andrew Nabors – June 29, 2016

McLaren P1 LM Sets New Record at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Hills were made for climbing, records are made to be broken, and McLaren's P1 LM is capable of both. Goodwood is one of the largest automotive gatherings in the world, so it's only fitting that an English car dominated the field. With Indy Car veteran Kenny Brack behind the wheel, the LM made the run in a record-breaking time of 47.07 seconds.(Also Check Out - Two McLaren Flame Throwers In A Tunnel)Goodwood brings together the best drivers from every type of motorsport. Formula1 legends can be seen with NASCAR, rally and Indy winners, because the hill is a great equalizer of man and machine. Every year the Duke of Richmond invites the fastest drivers in their series to show off their talents on the course his Grandfather built in 1948. For unrestricted race cars, the record was set (by McLaren) in 1999 by a MP4/13 Formula1 car. That race ready car ran a 41.6, which makes the street legal P1 LM all the more impressive. Stay with us for more record breaking racing!We had to replay the video to not only see the run, but also to hear Mike Skinner's name from the color commentary.View All McLaren P1s For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – November 10, 2015

Bugatti Veyron vs. Pagani Huayra vs. Ferrari LaFerrari vs...

It's not uncommon to see videos of one, two or even three supercars or hypercars taking each other on. But it's rare that you'll see five going head to head, especially when all five are still wearing stock wheels.But that's what Salomondrin and his team are in the process of doing. In one of the most impressive hypercar showdowns to date, YouTube personality Salomondrin and his community of supercar owners, the "CupGang," gathered five privately owned examples of the world's finest vehicles to see how they stack up.A video shared to YouTube Nov. 8 gives us a look at the first part of this showdown; titled "HYPER 5 - PART 1," the video features Salomondrin talking through the details and back story of each of the five cars involved. A Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, Porsche 918 Spyder and Pagani Huayra all take turns around the track with him behind the wheel, prepping for a show of force.Check out the race preview in the video below, then find your own hypercar for your collection from our exclusive listings.P1s For Sale Ferraris For Sale Veyrons For Sale (via YouTube) See More Automotive News

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