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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 Andrew Nabors – April 03, 2020

Adam's Polishes Unveils Potent Hand Sanitizer

Stories like this show us that American Industry is capable of taking on the world's worst problems. Adam Pitale saw a need for better quality car care products and founded his company in 2000. Use the quick detailer one time and you will be hooked, as such, I keep a bottle in every car. But desperate times require a safe & healthy customer base, so his team has switched gears. That's why we're glad to announce Adam's Polishes has unveiled a potent hand sanitizer. "Adam’s has shifted our chemical manufacturing to produce an FDA registered Hand Sanitizer! This formulation was developed and is manufactured in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Our Hand Sanitizer quickly reduces the number of microbes on hands and contains a natural humectant that also leaves your hands feeling moisturized, smooth, and soft and won’t dry out your skin with repeated usage. This formula is also fragrance-free, so it doesn’t contain any potential allergens or cause irritation." Due to unprecedented demand, orders are limited to 4 per person. Than you to Adam and your team for helping our nation in this time of need. Order Here

By Andrew Nabors – April 03, 2020

Rolls-Royce Bespoke Transforms Your Dreams Into Reality

When ordering your new Rolls-Royce Phantom for sale, you will be presented with more options than you ever thought possible. Leather, stitching and paint are all well and good, but what if you want to make your car truly unique? Realizing the dashboard is a blank canvas, Rolls-Royce Bespoke can transform your dreams into reality. Artist Thorsten Frank is gifted with the ability to transform your ideas into reality. Using the latest in 3D printing, a substrate is made of stainless, then a team of artisans cover it in any precious metal or gemstones. One commission even involved feathers of a pet falcon arranged in a Native American motif. If you can dream it they can build it, so click the button below to order your new Phantom from our dealers. Browse All Rolls-Royce Phantom For Sale

By Dylan Orluck – April 02, 2020

JP Logistics Helps Feed Frontline Medical Workers

Our good friends over at JP Logistics are the best in the business when it comes to transporting the world's most exclusive and exotic cars. The second this pandemic started, JP Logistics switched gears and started to help anyone in need. With COVID-19 numbers continuing to climb, JP Logistics has teamed up with World Central Kitchen and Help Feed the Frontline LA. World Central Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that helps put food on people's tables where there’s a need. Help Feed the Frontline LA partners with local restaurants to feed the medical staff that are on the frontlines fighting COVID-19. The team at JP Logistics understands the impact of what’s happening and are doing whatever they can to help. JP Logistics will be donating 10% of all net sales between now and April 30th 2020 to these organizations. On top of that they will be matching donations up to $25,000. To top it all off they have teamed up with Anthony Davis who will match all donations up to $250,000. If you have any questions or would like to support the cause please email them at support@jplogistics.net and title it COVID-19 Support. LET’S GO! Or you can click the button below to donate directly. Donate Now https://www.instagram.com/p/B-auS_zhL-0/

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By Andrew Nabors – April 02, 2020

GM Transforms Abandoned Factory to Make Masks in 7 Days

Warren Transmission is an old GM plant that was gutted and boarded up last year. Transmissions are the most complex part of any car, so the facility was capable of incredible flexibility when it was operational. With the unprecedented need for medical equipment, GM transformed this abandoned factory to make masks in only 7 days. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, a small team on March 20th turned the lights back on. After recruiting interior trim assembly line workers, their skills at leather and seatbelts now have a higher cause. After purchasing several mask machines and inventing faster ways to package them, this team of 2-dozen volunteers hopes to ship 20,000 masks per day by Monday, April 6th. Well done GM!

By Andrew Nabors – March 31, 2020

Hennessey Twin Turbo 2020 Corvette World Premiere

Lets see how some boost motivates the new C8 Corvette Stingray! " width="680"> C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review Well it looks and sounds like a beast. Having efficiency while not in boost and offering 640 horsepower to the ground is very hard to do without access to the computer. Once it is cracked, John predicts 850 rear-wheel horsepower is not out of the question, so stay with us for all of your Hennessey Performance updates.

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By Andrew Nabors – March 30, 2020

Elder Ford Receives First Bottle From American Freedom Di...

Master Sergeant Scott Neil is a veteran Green Beret who served as a Horse Soldier in Afganistan. After enduring several explosions from enenmy forces, he was transferred to Special Operations Command in Tampa, FL. Finding the transition to civilian life to be a tough road, Rob Elder reached out with an opportunity. Learning to build and modify Ford trucks, Elder Ford gained a valuable partner. That's why they have received their first bottle from the American Freedom Distillery. One of the most anticipated buisnesses in the bay area is poised to open next month. MSG Neil and three Special Operations veterans have traveled the world to craft the perfect Bourbon. The molds for their bottles were forged from WTC steel, and the logo represnts the Horse Soldier statue at Ground Zero. He is just one of the veterans that Elder Ford has helped to get back on their feet, literally in some cases. If you know of a veteran in need, please call 800-273-8255 or text 838255 for the Veteran's Crisis Line. Browse New & Used at Elder Ford of Tampa " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – March 30, 2020

McLaren Leads the way in Ventilator Challenge UK

With car production and racing suspended, F1 teams and assembly workers have joined forces to build 10,000 ventilators. Using parts that are easy to mass produce, McLaren leads the way in VentilatorChallengeUK. Comanies that compete against one another in racing and sales are now racing to assemble the "RVMS". The Rapidly Manufactured Ventilator System is not complex, and it has simple electronic components. It was a design agreed upon by a consortium composed of: • Accenture• Arrow Electronics• Dell Technologies• Microsoft• PTC • BAE Systems• Ford Motor Company• GKN Aerospace• High Value Manufacturing Catapult• Inspiration Healthcare Group• Meggitt• Penlon• Renishaw• Rolls-Royce• Siemens Healthineers and Siemens UK• Smiths Group• Thales• Ultra Electronics• Unilever• UK-based F1 teams: Haas F1, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Racing Point, Renault Sport Racing, Williams With players like this, the National Health Service should have the first order fulfilled in a few days. We applaud this unprecedented cooperation, and McLaren taking the initative to organize such a noble effort. We will update this story as it develops, so stay with us for all your McLaren news. Browse McLaren For Sale " width="680">

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By Andrew Nabors – March 30, 2020

Audi Virtual Backgrounds are Perfect for Video Conferences

A majority of the automotive world is working from home. With an eye on offering a distraction from the current issues, you should upgrade your wallpaper to match your love of quattro. That's why Audi Virtual Backgrounds are perfect for video conferencing. Starting with a new Audi R8 for sale, their first uploads included a TT RS and an A8. More models will be added weekly to their social media accounts. You will find them here first, so stay with us for all your Audi news. Browse New & Used Audi For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 27, 2020

Dream of Clear Skies With Textron Aviation's Coloring Book

President GHW Bush was a distant cousin of my Grandfather, and they both were aviators in WWII. In later life they both wished for the same situation: CAVU. Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited is what pilots long for, but the current situation has most civilian aircraft parked indefinitely. Until we are back above the clouds, Textron Avation's coloring book is fun for young and old. It has new and vintage examples of Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker flying machines set against historic airfields. Get your kids and crayons ready! This situation will soon be through, so CAVU from us to you! Download Coloring Book Here

By Andrew Nabors – March 27, 2020

Top Investment-Grade Cars for Q1 2020

Although infections seem to be stabilized, the residual impact on the markets might take a while. Now that the Fed has cut the Funds Rate to 0%, commodities like gold, silver and copper are skyrocketing. We too deal in coveted materieals, in the form of amazing automobiles. Over the past 35 years, we have been the authority on what to buy and what to avoid. The most important factors are production volume, mileage, and the impact each one made upon the automotive world. Each one of these would add stability and liquidity to your portfolio, so here are a few potential centerpieces for your collection. Prices rise and fall for lesser cars, so our financial partners are here to help you: 1995 Porsche Carrera GT GT Silver Over Dark Gray 4,952 Miles Over 29mm (1.1") Remaining On Original Clutch All Records, Both Keys, Duffel Bag, etc View Price & Details 2017 Ford GT One Owner: Brad Keselowski 18 Miles #2 Heritage Edition Livery Full Clear Bra & All Options View Price & Details 1993 Jaguar XJ220 550 Horsepower 474 Lb-ft Of Torque 3,055 Miles-In New Condition View Price & Details 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Carbon Fiber Top Built In K40 Radar Jammer All Carbon Fiber Options View Price & Details 1995 Ferrari F50 3,365 Miles #2 of 349 Classiche Certified View Price & Details 2003 Ferrari Enzo 5,339 Miles Giallo Modena DS 4305 (Yellow) Exterior Black Interior View Price & Details 2014 Ferrari Sergio 1 of 6 Built To Celebrate 60 Years Of Collaboration Between Ferrari & Pininfarina Only Example Finished in Azzuro Lolo Paint 1,175 Miles View Price & Details 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta Built To Honor 80th Anniversary Of Pininfarina (SA stands for Sergio and Andrea) 1 of 80 844 Miles View Price & Details 1990 Ferrrari F40 7,338 Miles All Tools, Books & Keys Included View Price & Details 2019 McLaren Senna MSO Tarmac Exterior Push To Drink System Purple Carbon Fiber Interior View Price & Details 2017 Ferrari F12tdf Ferrari Atelier Build Certified Pre-Owned 125 Miles With Every Option View Price & Details 1976 Lamborghini Countach Periscope LP400 In Factory Condition Chassis no.1120154 is #77 of 160 Blue & White Leather Interior View Price & Details 2020 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 1 of 63 Produced For The World Fastest Production Car On The 'Ring 105 Miles View Price & Details 2001 Lamborghini Diablo One Of The Last Diablo VT Built Viscous Traction All Wheel Drive 6-Speed Manual With White Interior View Price & Details 2010 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato 525 Miles Built By Zagato To Celebrate Centenary Of Alfa Romeo Commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp as a “One Off” View Price & Details 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider 1,511 Miles Ordered With Every Single Option In Factory Condition View Price & Details 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago Versace Roadster View Price & Details 2,259 Miles 1 of 2 Versace Roadsters Built Signed By Versace If you need financial assistance, don't hesitate to contact our trusted financial partners: Woodside Credit Premier Financial Luxury Lease Partners Tell us which one will appreciate the most in the next 5 years and stay with us for all your collector car news!

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