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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 – May 18, 2023

McLaren Owner Lifts His $3M Senna GTR Up To His $39M Pent...

Making its way up to the 57th floor, the McLaren Senna GTR will be the perfect living room decoration.

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 10, 2023

McLaren Beverly Hills' Fourth And Final McLaren Senna XP ...

Honoring one of F1's greatest legends, the final McLaren Senna XP is a true collector's example for the ultimate fan of Ayrton Senna.

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 02, 2023

$175K MSO Brazil Livery 2019 McLaren Senna For Sale

Inspired by the home country of an F1 legend, this Brazil-inspired McLaren Senna is perfect for the collector that is a fan of Aryton.

By Andrew Nabors – August 27, 2020

2021 McLaren Senna Breaks Four Consecutive U.S. Track Rec...

One if by land, two if by sea was Paul Revere's warning of a looming English invasion. He would have needed four lanterns for this impressive achievement. That is because a stock 2021 McLaren Senna has broken four consecutive U.S. track records. In a press release this morning, McLaren announced they have set new records at Virginia International Raceway, Laguna Seca, and back-to-back lightning laps at the National Corvette Museum's Grand Course. With Andy Pilgrim behind the wheel, the car turned in the fastest ever lap for production cars at Corvette's home track. His lap time was 2:02.86 on the full course, and the timing loops clocked it at 1:23.34 on the West Circuit. Instrumentation measured 1.64g of grip in turn four, another unprecedented feat. At Virginia International, it covered 4.1 miles of the full course in 2:34.9, again taking honors for the fastest production car by reaching 172.9 mph on the front stretch. " width="680"> The average speed of that lap was 134.5 mph, another impressive accolade. Finally, they headed to Monterey to beat the 1:28 lap record at Laguna Seca. The Senna's time was 1:27.62, smashing a time that had stood for years. As a coup de grace for their competitors, the car was entered into the World's Greatest Drag Race where it delivered the quarter-mile in 10.08 and the half-mile in 15.65, crossing the finish line at over 171 mph. Browse McLaren Senna For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 26, 2019

McLaren Senna by Lego is Their First Interactive Collabor...

Lego's full-scale examples of production cars have been life-size models with intricate details. But the latest creation from the Danish toy company incorporates functional details. The McLaren Senna by Lego is their first interactive collaboration, and it has infotainment and several interior parts from the real car. This will allow kids of all ages to get behind the wheel, turn on the headlights, and operate the touchscreen. Surrounded by almost a half-million bricks, you will realize the time and effort that has gone into this build. Several teams of 10 builders spent 2,725 hours building the car. The design started with a laser scan of a new Senna, then it took 4,935 hours to translate it into Lego bricks. This amounts to the time it would take to build 9 real McLaren Senna models, which are 1,102 lbs lighter than the Lego versions. Of course, it is a great promo for Lego's latest Speed Champions Edition. Your own Senna will be 5" long and composed of 219 pieces. Or check out our dealers to find a real McLaren for yourself. Shop McLaren For Sale https://www.facebook.com/mclarenautomotive/videos/410479129517973/ Related: McLaren Senna GTR Unveiled McLaren Senna 0-183 MPH Test Run

By Andrew Nabors – January 28, 2019

McLaren Senna Breaks Records on The Grand Tour

We've been patiently waiting for Amazon to upload the 3rd series of The Grand Tour. Starting with the fastest McLaren to-date, Jeremy Clarkson chose to put it to the test. After a high-speed runway launch, he deemed it too fast for their small test track. Therefore he handed the keys to their expert driver Abbie Eaton. She pushed the machine to its limits to show the McLaren Senna Breaking Records on The Grand Tour. As a perfect homage to Ayrton Senna, this beast is powered by a twin-turbo 4L V8 making 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Because they test their cars under the meanest conditions, these ratings are conservative to say the least. Our dealers have all the info on this supercar, so click the link below to find a McLaren near you. View All McLaren For Sale https://www.facebook.com/thegrandtour/videos/376050253183955/ Related: Howard Panes' Vibrant McLaren Senna is a Must-see McLaren Senna by LEGO Speed Champions

By Andrew Nabors – October 29, 2018

Stunning Senna Delivered at McLaren Newport Beach!

If you are still waiting on your new McLaren Senna, it seems that customers with the most options are being served first. Our friends at McLaren Newport Beach had this one in the works for almost a year. Working directly with McLaren Special Operations, the owner's dreams came to fruition last night. Even if you are not a fan of the University of Florida, orange and blue make for a gorgeous combination. An ordinary blue wouldn't do, so the body is made of blue exposed carbon fiber. "McLaren Racing Orange" has been reserved for many of the "Speedy Kiwis", back to when Bruce was building them by hand. It can be found on the air inlets, brake calipers, and a few other areas. Before delivery, the entire body was treated to a protective film because the owner is planning to hit the road. The interior is almost entirely carbon fiber, with the racing buckets ready for a 5-point harness. McLaren Newport Beach can apply this to your McLaren, so click the link below to view their inventory and stay with us for all your Senna updates. Click Here To View Inventory

By Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2018

Six Lucky McLaren Fans Ride With Bruno Senna

If you are going to ride shotgun, why not do it in the world's most anticipated supercar? Yesterday McLaren uploaded photos of six fans who got the ride of a lifetime. They were able to experience the new McLaren Senna with Bruno Senna behind the wheel. Surely no one would pass up such an opportunity, and perhaps they are prospective buyers. McLaren Senna in Full Carbon to Make Waves in Geneva Looking at the photos, the angle of the rear spoiler is a dead giveaway at how fast the car is going. Not only does it allow the fans to feel 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque; it gives McLaren engineers the opportunity to set the car's suspension with a passenger onboard. The car doesn't pretend to play nice and it makes no apologies. And that is why our dealers already have deposits for the first batch. If you don't need something quite that wild, check out these great incentives on the 720S below and stay with us for all your McLaren news. Button Text

By Edward Jones – March 06, 2018

McLaren Senna GTR Concept Revealed: Track-Only Madness

The McLaren Senna was originally introduced as the most extreme car that the automaker has ever created. Well, apparently that wasn't enough because McLaren has just revealed the new Senna GTR Concept, an even more extreme car that's meant for track-only purposes.McLaren says that the Senna GTR has more power and torque than the standard Senna. For right now the only figure announced is horsepower which is set at 812 hp (24 hp increase). What's more important than the power increase is the amount of downforce the Senna GTR provides. With up to 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs) of downforce, this supercar is absolutely ready for track use.As far as its design goes, the Senna GTR definitely has a more aggressive appearance but it's all done for the sake of function. In the front is a massive splitter that joins the rear diffuser in a mission to extend the car and provide optimal downforce. There's also the massive wing in the rear that gives the low car a bit more height.Supercars for Sale

By Edward Jones – February 28, 2018

McLaren Senna in Full Carbon to Make Waves in Geneva

McLaren is bringing a special take on their Senna model to the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. This 'Carbon Theme' Senna was created by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and is one of five different themes developed by MSO for the Senna. This new theme consists of a gloss-covered body made of visual carbon fiber, combined with black Alcantara in the cabin. You may be looking at the body and wondering why they chose the yellow and green accents, but there's a very specific reason for that. McLaren chose those colors were chosen to honor the great Ayrton Senna. The Solar Yellow and Laurel Green detail echo the livery on the helmet that the three-time World Champion Formula One driver wore. The visual carbon fiber consists of 67 different parts and it took almost 1,000 hours to produce. For 250 of those hours, the specialists at MSO were working on the Solar Yellow detailing. Complete McLaren Senna Specs & Price With this example of the Senna, McLaren is also showing off a new wheel option for the car. While standard wheels can come in three different finishes, the new MSO 7-Spoke, Hybrid Carbon Fiber Wheel has a center-lock setup with an aluminum/carbon fiber rim. This wheel comes in at 10% lighter than the standard wheel. Stay tuned for more news from the upcoming 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Advertise with duPont REGISTRY

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