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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 Jordan Aquistapace – March 08, 2023

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By Andrew Nabors – August 27, 2020

2021 Aston Martin DB5 Junior is fun for Kids & Parents

Nobody believed they would resurrect their most iconic model, but never underestimate Aston Martin. The DB5 Goldfinger Continuation was a smashing success, but it left out a major part of their audience: those who are too young to drive full-size cars. That is why the 2021 Aston Martin DB5 Junior is fun for kids & parents. Built by The Little Car Company, it is a 66% scale electric roadster. It offers 6.7 horsepower at the rear wheels. The chassis, gauges, suspension parts and even the wire wheels have been perfectly scaled down. Finished in the iconic Silver Birch, the leather and carpets are exact matches to the original. Four-wheel disc brakes and a 20 mile range make it the perfect daily driver, and it it has three driving modes. Novice offers 1.3 horsepower, expert full power and 30 mph, and Race unlocks the Balance Of Performance restrictions to race against other little cars. https://www.facebook.com/astonmartin/videos/722643515259471 Stepping up to the DB5 Vantage Junior, a hidden missile switch unlocks nearly 14 horsepower. It will go much faster than 30 mph, and the limited-slip differential provides epic launches. The standard DB5 Junior starts at $46,000 while the Vantage will set you back $59,399. Click the button below to learn more from our dealers and stay with us for all your Aston Martin news. Browse Aston Martin For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 28, 2020

Aston Martin DB5 "Goldfinger" Continuation Cars Revealed

With the outrageous demand for original examples of the DB5, Aston Martin has revealed the DB5 Goldfinger continuation series. Limited to 25 cars, each will be built by hand in the same work stations as the originals, over 50 years ago. EON Productions owns the rights to the James Bond series, and they contributed details of the various gadgets seen on the big screen. Work on the first car is nearing completion, after more than 4,500 hours. It will arrive with the following: Rear smoke screen delivery system Rear simulated oil slick delivery system Revolving number plates front and rear (triple plates) Simulated twin front machine guns Bullet resistant rear shield Battering rams front and rear Simulated tyre slasher Removable passenger seat roof panel (optional equipment) All this can be yours for £2.75 Million, or roughly $3.37 Million. You will have a piece of automotive and cinematic history at the center of your Aston Martin collection. Our dealers have all the info, co click the button below to reserve yours. Browse Aston Martin For Sale https://vimeo.com/423515719

By Andrew Nabors – May 07, 2020

Aston Martin is Back to Work

When we first heard of an Aston Martin SUV, we thought it was a prank. However, the Aston Martin DBX for sale has proved to be an unprecedented success for the brand. That is why it has a dedicated plant in Wales that is back online. In their most recent press release, we learned that the headquarters in Gaydon will re-open soon. All employees are wearing protective gear at all times. Distancing is strictly adhered to, while deliveries of PPE continue to the National Health Service. Using the recent quarantine to take advantage of the desolate Interstate, I took a DBS Superleggera on a test run. Words can not describe the refinement combined with raw power. To see what I mean, click the button below and stay with us for all your Aston Martin news. Browse DBS Superleggera For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2020

Aston Martin's Valhalla V6 has a Historic Name

If one Englishman can be credited with Aston Martin's successes, it would be Tadek Marek. Their famed engine designer of the '50s and '60s was responsible for Podium Finishes, wins, & Championnships. To honor his legacy, the Valkyrie's little brother will honor his legacy, and that is why the Aston Martin's Valhalla V6 has a historic name. The press release says it is known as TM01, and this fire breathing 3 liter V6 is nothing short of amazing. Developed in-house, this new engine family will debut in the Valhalla in 2022. Weiging in at less than 440 lbs, it will serve as the high-revving generatior for Aston Martin's electric future. Turn up your volume and tell us what you think of this beast in the comments below. " width="680"> Browse All Aston Martin For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 24, 2020

Aston Martin DBX by Q is a Menacing Masterpiece

To build their first SUV, Aston Martin have built a world-class plant in Wales. We've learned the finer details of it in a pair of successive press releases. First, Prince Charles (HRH Prince of Wales) stopped by to christen the latest English invasion of Wales. After his visit, their Q division worked their magic. What you see here proves that the Aston Martin DBX by Q is a menacing masterpiece. Click the link below to order yours and stay with us for all your DBX news. Browse All Aston Martin For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 12, 2020

Aston Martin Unveils 2020 Vantage Roadster

When we first encountered the latest Vantage in 2018, it was unanimous that it would look amazing without a roof. The best cars are worth the wait, and that is why Aston Martin has unveiled the new 2020 Vantage Roadster. Normally their convertible models are distinguished with the "Volante" suffix, but this one is not like the others. A new Z-fold cloth top can drop in under 7 seconds, even up to 31 mph. Not only is it the fastest powered top of all time, it exposes the 70th anniversary of the Vantage. A new "vane grille" is a welcomed throwback from their black honeycomb motif. Several new wheel choices accompany new interior colors, and they saved the best for last. The AMG 4.0L twin-turbo V8 offers 505 lb-ft of torque and 510 horsepower to a 7-speed manual! Of course, the boring 8-speed automatic is optional, but shifting gears with this much power will be addictive.Click the button below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Aston Martin updates Browse All Aston Martin Vantage for Sale https://www.facebook.com/astonmartin/videos/536524763884189/

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