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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 Tyler Rampersaud – March 20, 2023

Watch Spy Footage Of The New 2024 Bentley Continental GT

Bentley’s grand touring coupe is ready to reintroduce itself.

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 16, 2023

Bentley Announces A New Dealership In Rome

Bentley arrives where all roads lead.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 07, 2023

The First Bespoke Bentley Bentayga EWB Auctioned For $1 M...

Bentley’s new flagship arrives for a cause. The luxury automotive world has changed. While the pinnacle of luxury driving had in the past came in the form of limousine-like sedans with impressive length, immense power, and peerless comfort, style, and luxury. However, the tastes of many car buyers have shifted to favor SUVs, and luxury SUVs are a larger segment than they have ever been before, and for many brands, including Bentley, serve as the flagship models, symbols of what a manufacturer can do when it pulls all the stops. The new Bentley Bentayga EWB, with its optional Airline Seat and technologies and features that are at an incredibly luxurious level, replaces the Mulsanne as Bentley’s uncompromising top-of-the-shelf model, and at Florida’s Naples Winter Wine Festival, the world’s first bespoke example of this incredible SUV was auctioned off for $1 million in order to benefit charity, namely the Naples Children & Education Foundation. MUST READ: 2023 Bentley Flying Spur S V8 Review: A Driver’s Luxury Sedan Being a bespoke model, the specific Bentayga on auction has a bold and unique configuration, created as a result of a collaboration between Mulliner and Bentley Naples. The exterior paint is done in a Snow Quartz color, which is pearlescent and comprised of three layers. Black accents provide an interesting contrast, and it gets even better in the interior. Finished in a similar Mulliner White and Beluga Black, the interior also features details finished in a stunning Amethyst color. The SUV is also equipped with Bentley’s famous new Airline Seat option, and the auction winners didn’t get just the Bentayga, but also an amazing Bentley brand experience, with a driving excursion through England and Scotland over four nights and five days. This incredible auction put an amazing vehicle together with an amazing configuration and an amazing cause. View All Bentley Bentaygas For Sale Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 18, 2022

The Bentley Flying B is A Historical Symbol Of Luxury Aut...

For a brand like Bentley, hood ornaments are quite important. Hood ornaments are one of the most undeniably classic symbols of automotive luxury, as they speak to the glory and craftsmanship of luxurious cars from eras past. Bentley, as a brand with over 100 years of history, is one of the few brands that still uses hood ornaments on its cars, and its current “Flying B” hood ornament is the sixth generation of the Bentley hood ornament. Creating it involves a level of craftsmanship that evokes historical coachbuilding and artisanal dedication, and although it’s a simple and seemingly superfluous touch, the Bentley hood ornament symbolizes the incredible level of luxury that Bentley is able to offer. MUST READ: Bentley Unveils A New Bespoke Sneaker Collection By ‘The Surgeon’ The Flying B is ordered for 97 percent of all Flying Spurs. Cast as a single piece of 316-grade stainless steel, the emblem takes 11 weeks to create from start to finish, after which it is fitted with the crystal acrylic wings by WCM Europe, as well as LEDs that add brilliance to it when it’s deployed. The Flying B has been a part of Bentley’s legacy since the 1920s, when it was a set of horizontal brass wings, to a streamlined single wing in the 1930s, then to rear-facing wings through the 1970s. There was a long period in which prominent solid hood ornaments were banned for pedestrian protection, but eventually, they came back in 2006 with a retractable design for the Azure and Brooklands, and in 2019, the current design took shape on the Flying Spur. With the Flying B, a historical icon of luxury still is made with the craftsmanship of the past. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley

By Andrew Nabors – May 11, 2021

See Why Your Baby Needs The Bentley Balance Bike

The Bentley Collection keeps growing! For little ones 3 years and up, Bentley has their next ride. With help from Mulliner, it has intricate details like diamond-pattern handlebars, and a color pallet from their production cars. Pedals are overrated, and your little ones will be safe thanks to a big disc brake. It locks into place to hold them steady, teaching proper threshold braking along the way. The magnesium frame is 1.4 lbs, and it can easily hold big babies up to 77 lbs. Its a logical stepping point from the Bentley stroller. Your local Bentley dealer has all the details, so click the button to find yours and stay with us for all your Bentley news. Browse Bentley For Sale Images (C) Bentley

By Andrew Nabors – April 16, 2021

2021 Bentley Continental GT V8 Equinox Edition Price & Sp...

The paintjob alone takes 5 days Japan is a huge market for Bentley, so they have received a new Continental GT V8 Equinox as an exclusive special edition. This sleek monotone motif takes 5 days in the paint booth, with repeated color sanding and buffing by hand. It is almost as appealing as the new 2022 Continental GT Speed Convertible! Mulliner spent weeks deciding the colors and details that appeal to Japanese culture. The Piano Moonbeam and black veneers are contrasted by a silver thread that runs through the interior. All the carbon pieces have pinstripes buried under several coats of clear, and the styling of every small detail was meant to focus your attention to the performance of the V8 GT. Perhaps the best part of every Mulliner build is that it can be replicated for you. Our dealers stand ready to build your new Continental GT, so click the button to begin your Bentley journey. Browse Bentley Continental GT For Sale Images (C) Bentley Motors

By Andrew Nabors – March 11, 2021

Bentley Baby Trike Grows With Them

Your little British motoring enthusiast deserves the best, so that's why the Bentley baby trike grows with them. Rolling up to the playground in anything less would be embarrassing, and it offers six riding modes. Starting at 6 months, the 5-point harness and safety guard keep them in place. Almost every aspect is adjustable, so you will eventually have a tricycle perfect for kids up to 5 years old. Styling is inspired by the Continental GT, with staggered wheels, 2-tone fenders, and a diamond-stitched seat. The canopy has SPF 50 for long life, and even a window to keep your eye on the occupant. Sequin Blue was developed by Mulliner as an exclusive exterior finish, doesn't your baby deserve the best? Shop Baby Bentley Images (C) Bentley

By Andrew Nabors – January 18, 2021

What Makes The Bentley V8 So Amazing?

Because it can be found across four brands and a dozen models, lets see what makes the Bentley V8 so amazing. Their latest press release dives deep into racing and gearhead technology, so we have distilled the finer points of this smooth operator. 2021 Bentley Bentayga V8 Wins Luxury SUV Of The Year With a vision for the future, Audi and Bentley worked together for a clean-sheet design in 2011. By reversing the cylinder heads, the turbos are inside the valley. This allows them to spool instantly, and lowers dirty exhaust when warming up. Computer-controlled wastegates and dual-scroll turbines allow it to offer 568 lb-ft of torque at only 2,000 rpm. 2021 Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible vs W12 Coupe Easily capable of 700 horsepower, it is safely tuned to 641 in the new Lamborghini Urus. It can also be found in the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne. Audi offers several flavors in the SQ7, SQ8, A8, S8, and Bentley fields it in the Bentayga V8 and Continental GT V8. The cylinders are lined in steel for decades of life, so you can't go wrong with any of these fine automobiles. Stay with us for all your exotic car news. Browse Bentley V8 For Sale Images (C) Bentley Motors

By Andrew Nabors – September 08, 2020

Bentley Mulliner is Building a Trifecta For Salon Privé

Remember, remember the 22nd of September to see what Bentley hath wrought. While the Gunpowder Treason was foiled, nothing can stop Bentley's Mulliner division from building a trifecta for Salon Privé. One of the most exclusive car shows in the world, it will be the backdrop for the public debut for the 2021 Bentley Bacalar. Design Your own Bentley Bacalar The lawn at Blenheim Palace will also see a fully-restored 4 1/2-liter Supercharged Team Blower car to make a grand entrance. The 3rd car is a mystery. Their press relese says it is a new member of the Mulliner Collections family. Last year, they shocked the world by announcing a dozen new 1929 Blower Bentleys will be offered, making them the first pre-war continuations by any manufacturer. While it is the work of Mulliner Classic, Mulliner Coachbuilt will be represented by the Bacalar, Mulliner's first production car in decades. The 3rd division is "Bentley Mulliner Collections". They will continue to offer customized versions of new production Bentleys, built to your specification. That team has built a new 2021 Continental GT Convertible with every possible customization. To outline the significance of the moment, the weekend of September 22nd will be the first time all three Mulliner Portfolios will be seen simultaneously. Needless to say, we will cover this event for you, so click the button below to learn more about Mulliner from our dealers and stay with us for all your Bentley news. Browse Bentley For Sale

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