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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 Charles Bradley – May 04, 2025

Cadillac Formula 1 Team Debuts Bold New Logo at Glamorous...

The new Cadillac Formula 1 Team has revealed its official team logo in a cinematic teaser video unveiled during a star-studded event at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. Set to join the FIA Formula 1 World Championship grid in 2026, the team took center stage at Queen in South Beach, Miami, hosting a high-profile launch that matched the luxury and ambition of the brand. The exclusive event, hosted by actor and former NFL star Terry Crews, brought out motorsport royalty, including Mario Andretti and ex-Ferrari F1 winner Eddie Irvine. A key highlight of the evening was the first glimpse of the team’s bold branding, a visual representation of Cadillac’s entrance into the pinnacle of global motorsport. General Motors, through its iconic Cadillac luxury brand, is stepping into Formula 1 with a 350-strong team to compete against elite names like Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing. The entry is backed by a partnership with TWG Motorsports, led by Dan Towriss and born out of the Andretti Global organization, which competes in the IndyCar Series and Formula E World Championship. The team’s branding draws from Cadillac’s rich heritage and American identity, bringing a fresh voice to Formula 1’s traditionally European landscape. “Cadillac is honored to share the F1 stage with the best luxury brands from around the world,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “It’s a brand whose legacy on and off the track is filled with innovation, technological precision, and timeless beauty. Our journey has been long, but from the very beginning, it has been about ambition… audacity… and now acceleration.” https://twitter.com/Cadillac_F1/status/1918850162509709602 Cadillac Formula 1 Team CEO Dan Towriss also addressed the journey to Formula 1: “It’s been a long journey, and when we said we were going to build a Formula 1 team, we were told it would be ‘too hard, too ambitious and take too long to do it,’ but every ‘no’ sharpened our focus… Every time we ran into an obstacle, we just found a new way, a new path to get around it.” As the 11th team on the 2026 Formula 1 grid, speculation has intensified around Cadillac’s driver lineup. American IndyCar star Colton Herta remains a strong candidate, while a huge crowd assembled outside the Miami event and echoed chants of “Get Checo!” in support of Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez, following his exit from Red Bull Racing at the end of last season. Cadillac has appointed experienced F1 figure Graeme Lowdon as team principal and will begin racing with Ferrari power units until 2029, when GM Performance Powertrains will take over as a full FIA-approved F1 power unit supplier. With the reveal of its branding, Cadillac has set the tone for what promises to be a groundbreaking chapter in luxury performance and American motorsport ambition. View All Cadillacs For Sale Source: Cadillac, X

A silver Cadillac SUV is elegantly parked on a grassy field, framed by palm trees and a clear sky, showcasing the perfect blend of style and luxury.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 13, 2024

Cadillac Reveals The New 2026 Vistiq Luxury EV

Cadillac expands its electric luxury SUV offering. As one of America’s most prestigious and long-standing names in the world of automotive luxury, Cadillac is responsible for some of the greatest luxury icons of the past and present. However, Cadillac has been revolutionizing its future with a rapidly expanding lineup of electric vehicles, including a suite of luxury SUVs that continues to evolve. The latest to be fully revealed is the new 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, a new luxury three-row SUV that promises practicality, luxury, style, and EV tech. Production of the new Cadillac Vistiq is set to begin in early 2025, with the SUV boasting Cadillac’s state-of-the-art luxury and high-tech features, as well as a powerful EV drivetrain with impressive range. With its 102 kWh battery pack, the Vistiq has 615 horsepower, 650 lb/ft of torque, and an estimated driving range of 300 miles. With the Velocity Max feature, the Cadillac Vistiq's 0-60 time is as little as 3.7 seconds. Also adding to the car’s driving character are standard 21-inch wheels, with available 22 or 23-inch wheels, and available rear-axle steering. Its design takes cues from the Escalade IQ, Cadillac’s all-electric rendition of its iconic full-size luxury SUV, and boasts high-tech luxury features like a 33-inch LED screen, available carbon fiber or open-pore wood trims, five-zone climate control, and a 23-speaker AKG Studio audio system with Dolby Atmos. Starting at an MSRP of $78,790, the new 2026 Cadillac Vistiq will feature Luxury, Sport and Premium Luxury trim levels, with a Platinum trim launching in summer 2025, offering greater personalization options including more interior and exterior colors. View All Cadillacs For Sale Image Source: Cadillac

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 19, 2023

Watch Hennessey Race Its 1000HP Cadillac CT5-V Against Th...

With Hennessey upgrades that boost its performance, you'll have to watch to see if the Cadillac CT5-V comes out on top. While the anticipation of a mid-engine Corvette first excited collectors and enthusiasts for the C8 generation, the real excitement was built around the future of the high-performance Z06 version. Falling into the hands of the upgrade specialists at Hennessey Performance, the team decided to put the stock C8 Corvette Z06 up against its very own H1000 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing in a head-to-head battle. The new Corvette Z06 unlocks a new category of power for the Chevrolet brand, generating an impressive 670 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque directly to its rear wheels. The track-focused Corvette harnesses its power from a mid-engine 5.5L supercharged V8 that pairs perfectly with a quick-shifting 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In Hennessey Performance's corner is the once-factory Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, rolling off the production line with over 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. With Hennessey's H1000 package, the Cadillac CT5-V now makes a jaw-dropping 1,000 horsepower and 966 lb-ft of torque thanks to an upgraded supercharger, cooling components, and a more aggressive engine tune. The race takes stage on Hennessey Performance's test track, starting with a round one warm-up lap that turns into a 40mph roll race. With a couple more doors and some extra power under its hood, the Hennessey H1000 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing proves to be a worthy competitor against the new Z06. Needless to say, that specific C8 Corvette Z06 will not be stock for long in the hands of Hennessey Performance. View all Hennessey Performance inventory currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Hennessey Performance Inventory Source: Hennessey Performance YouTube

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 08, 2023

Cadillac's Iconic 'Goddess' Makes A Comeback On The New C...

Cadillac resurrects the iconic 'Goddess' mascot for its bespoke CELESTIQ model.

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 22, 2023

Cadillac Confirms August 9 Reveal & Teases Electric Escal...

A glimpse at the "black crystal shield" where a grille would normally be is our latest look at the all-electric luxury SUV.

jay leno s garage 2023 cadillac escalade v series.jpg

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 12, 2023

Watch Jay Leno Drive The 682HP Cadillac Escalade V-Series...

Top-tier luxury with 682 horsepower, Super Cruise, and air ride adaptive suspension... what more do you want?!

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 29, 2023

Cadillac Reveals New Facility For Personalizing Celestiq ...

Cadillac’s bespoke creation has a new home.

By Andrew Nabors – April 15, 2021

2012 Cadillac CTS-V With Manual Transmission For Sale

Presented by Private Seller - Imagine gliding down the highway in comfort. Now drop it from 6th to 4th gear, the exhaust opens, the magnetic suspension and electric steering go into race mode as you take an on-ramp at 110 mph. This is the dual-nature of Cadillac's V Series. While 90% of the 2nd generation cars were automatic, a few discerning buyers opted for three pedals. Your right hand controls the same T56 gearbox shared with the Camaro ZL1. It has triple-cone synchros for all gears and the clutch is from the Z06. It will last the life of the car because it is the same disc that Corvette Racing offers for C6R upgrades. The suspension is the 3rd generation Magneride, GM's patented system that is licensed by Ferrari and Lamborghini. It holds the vehicle to a fixed point in the sky, making the pavement a variable that is neutralized thousands of times each second. Driving easily offers over 20 mpg in a car that has 556 horsepower. The supercharger offers 551 lb-ft of torque from idle to redline, so you don't need to shift gears as often as lesser supercars. The value of these V-Series cars is leaping far beyond the car's window sticker, with V Wagons staying above 70 grand. Unmolested by younger hands, this car is a time capsule that deserves to be the centerpiece of your collection. P.S. You will also have a complete set of 2012 GM Service Manuals along with all books, both keys and the Nav DVD. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – February 01, 2021

2022 Cadillac CT4-V & CT5-V Unveiled At Daytona

As part of the pre-race activities at this weekend's Rolex 24, the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing were unveiled at Daytona. Their latest V-Series cars will offer twin-turbo V6 and supercharged V8 power with a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmissions. The first 250 examples of each car can be reserved, and the details of both will be revealed in a live stream tonight at 7pm Eastern. Image and film (C) General Motors

By Andrew Nabors – January 12, 2021

Cadillac Teases Celestiq Concept Car

With an electric lineup coming soon, Cadillac is teasing their Celestiq concept car at the Consumer Electronics Show. Starting with a new chassis, engineers and designers at GM's flagship brand envision battery-powered luxury and hand-crafted materials. The smart roof has four individual zones to adjust transparency, and the dashboard is one giant touchscreen. Hopefully, some of these features will find their way into a new Cadillac for sale, so stay with us for all your concept car news. GM's other big news is that the GMC Hummer EV is coming soon. Here is LeBron James offering a quick preview. Image (C) General Motors

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