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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

A man in a red cap stands in front of greenery as a C8 Corvette with an American flag design, driven by Travis Pastrana, soars through the air on its longest jump, marked by a "110 FT." label and arrow indicating the distance.

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 16, 2025

Watch Travis Pastrana And Jim York Attempt The World's Lo...

They constructed a 110ft jump for the Corvette. Considered one of the most iconic names in action sports, Travis Pastrana built his successful career as a professional athlete on two wheels. While dirtbikes remain near and dear to his heart, starting to ride at only 4 years old, Travis' stunts and antics behind the wheel prove that he shares a passion for all things automotive. His driving skills recently paid off at Cleetus McFarland's Freedom 500 event at the Freedom Factory, where motorsport professionals and automotive YouTube stars raced the oval track in a fleet of Ford Crown Victorias. Finishing first place, Travis chose a brand-new C8 Corvette Z06 as his prize over a fully customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The promise of jumping the Corvette only came after shredding the tires in a burnout and spray-painting an American flag on it. But after a lot of thinking and deliberation from friends, Travis and his team decided that a Z06 was far too nice to destroy in a stunt like this. The plan quickly shifted as the C8 Z06 was stripped entirely of its livery, paint-corrected and detailed, and sold to a new owner before being replaced by a C8 Corvette Stingray. Set in the remote mountains of Maryland, in less-than-ideal conditions for a performance-focused road car, the team performed a ton of calculations and speed tests to guarantee a safe and successful run. Travis sent a speed check off the 110ft jump both on his dirtbike and side-by-side UTV to lock in 70mph as the magic number. Where a lack of speed is normally the biggest concern with stunts, the Corvette's mid-engine V8 proves to be the opposite in this scenario. Its 490 horsepower output and sub-3-second 0-60mph put it in the dangerous situation of over-shooting the landing. Professional stunt performer Jim York suited up for a shot attempting the world's longest C8 Corvette jump. And while the thumbnail may give you a hint at what to expect, we'll let you tune in to see what happens. View all Chevrolet Corvettes for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Chevrolet Corvettes For Sale " width="680"> Source: Channel199 YouTube

A person in a racing suit stands between a Formula 1 car and a limited-run Mercedes-AMG GT 63 on a racetrack with grandstands in the background, evoking scenes from the upcoming Brad Pitt F1 film.

By Khris Bharath – May 04, 2025

Limited-Run Mercedes-AMG GT 63 'APXGP Edition' Unveiled A...

With the 2025 Miami Grand Prix weekend upon us, Mercedes-AMG has taken the wraps off the GT 63 “APXGP Edition”, a limited-run coupe that celebrates the upcoming Apple Originals film, F1. Starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, and directed by Joseph Kosinski (who also directed Top Gun: Maverick), was shot during actual Grand Prix weekends. Pitt plays a retired driver pulled back into the high-stakes world of Formula 1, mentoring a young talent portrayed by Idris. Lewis Hamilton served as one of the producers, while Mercedes-AMG played a key role in production, from supplying track-ready AMG models, including an AMG SL, G-Class, GT, and FIA safety and medical cars, to helping with the crafting of the movie’s fictional racing team, APXGP. The race cars featured in the film, convincingly wrapped by Mercedes to look like F1 cars, are built on a Formula 2 chassis. This brings us to the special edition road car. The AMG GT 63 APXGP Edition borrows heavily from the fictional race team. Painted matte black with race gold accents surrounding the AMG-specific grille, it wears a chequered flag motif behind the front fender vents and is set against contrasting matte race gold 21-inch forged wheels. The carbon-fibre aero-kit, made up of splitters, sills, rear diffuser, and a fixed rear wing, is shared with top-tier AMG packages. As part of the extended Night Edition Package, black chrome now features on the radiator grille, the AMG crest, and the three-pointed star on the rear. Inside the race gold theme continues, with carbon fiber trim, black Nappa leather, and microfiber suede on the seats and steering, set against gold contrast stitching on the door panels, instrument panel, and the center armrest. It doesn’t stop there as the door sill trims feature AMG lettering that is backlit in gold, and the floor mats come with a leather insert embroidered with the APXGP logo in race gold. On the tech front, you get a high-end 15-speaker 1,170-watt Burmester audio system and a data logger that comes with the AMG Track pack. Just 52 examples of this special edition will be made worldwide, and each will come with a numbered badge that showcases the car’s exclusivity. As for performance, this sports car may be movie-themed, but it still packs a hand-built 4.0-liter Bi-turbo V8 with 577 horsepower, which gets you to 60 mph in just over 3.0 seconds. Throw in all-wheel drive, active suspension, a front-axle lift system, rear wheel-steering, and carbon ceramic brakes, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic grand tourer that can also do duty on track. Mercedes-AMG hasn’t announced pricing for the APXGP Edition, but considering the standard GT63 coupe starts just shy of $180,000, this limited run model targeting collectors should cost more. For fans, expect high-octane drama in the film F1, which is set to hit theaters internationally on June 25 and June 27 in North America. View All Mercedes-AMG GTs For Sale Source: Mercedes-AMG

A sleek black BMW M5 is parked in a dimly lit parking garage, its interior beautifully illuminated like the cockpit of a hypercar.

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 14, 2024

Did You Know Hypercar CEO Mate Rimac Daily Drives An E39 ...

Mate shows off his great taste in cars. Being curious car enthusiasts who geek out over all things automotive, we often wonder what some of the biggest names in the industry are daily driving when commuting to work. While it's exciting to know that Christian Von Koenigsegg may pull up on a Monday morning behind the wheel of a Jesko Absolute, it's even more interesting to hear about his love for NA Mazda Miatas and other platforms outside of the hypercar realm. It's realizing that although multi-million dollar hypercars are the ultimate dream, they're are plenty of timeless classics that deliver the same driving excitement to today's standards. The same thought pertains to the founder and CEO of the Rimac Group, Mate Rimac, who has already proven to the world that he is a true car collector with an impressive garage fleet. Mate is making waves in the automotive world after he recently posted an Instagram video of him leaving the Rimac Automobili facility in his personal E39 BMW M5. Captioned " POV: Hypercar company CEO goes home after a long day," the gloss black M5 stands out in a sea of employee cars sporting a euro plate that pays homage to BMW's iconic S62 engine platform. And although we've witnessed Mate taking delivery of his very own Rimac Nevera, his immaculate taste for cars expands into other classic German legends like the BMW E30 M3. His particular E39 M5 remains in pristine, factory condition, with an untouched tan leather interior and an odometer that displays less than 70,000 kilometers. The E39 BMW M5 represents a historic era for the brand, beautifully combining the practicality of a four-door sedan with the performance of a manual-driven, high-revving V8. As they continue to skyrocket in value among passionate purists, it's safe to say that Mate Rimac will keep his as a daily Croatian commuter. View all BMW M5s for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All BMW M5s For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mate Rimac (@materimac) Source: @materimac Instagram

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 12, 2024

How To Buy The Philipp Plein x Mansory G-Wagon

These G-Wagons were designed with an expert in all things over the top in mind.

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By Jordan Aquistapace – June 22, 2024

Celebrity Cybertrucks: Who's Driving Tesla's First-Ever E...

From A-list celebs to music moguls, they're all loving the Tesla Cybertruck. With so much hype built around the Tesla Cybertrucks for sale and its highly-anticipated release after years of waiting, it's only fair to say that you'd expect some A-list celebrity names on the list of early production deliveries. Before we start to argue on the basis of their buys, it is refreshing to know that those Cybertrucks were purchased with the intent of driving instead of trying to make a nice profit on the secondary market like most. The Tesla Cybertruck introduces a diverse target market that spans from young, tech-driven individuals with a knack for gadgets to reality show superstars with a taste for the finer things in life. Noticing the variety of owners since Tesla began deliveries on the Cybertruck, we at duPont REGISTRY decided to do a deep dive into the top celebrities who are already enjoying Cybertruck ownership. Whether it's Kim K pulling up on Rodeo Drive for a shopping spree or rapper Rick Ross pulling up to his private jet, it's clear that the Tesla Cybertruck has taken the automotive world by storm. As the first wave of Cybertrucks begins to be delivered, the market is bustling with a community of buyers eager to get their hands on Tesla’s new EV truck. Check out all the celebs who own Tesla's first-ever EV pickup truck and view all Cybertrucks currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Tesla Cybertrucks For Sale Kim Kardashian @kimkardashian Instagram Katy Perry @katyperry X Rick Ross @richforever Instagram French Montana @frenchmontana Instagram Pharrell Williams @roxanar_pr Instagram Lady Gaga @whoopsee.it Instagram Jay-Z & Beyoncé @kodaklens Instagram Key Glock @keyglock Instagram Justin & Hailey Bieber @Juliano/X17online Theo Von " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen> Serena Williams @dame/BACKGRID Spike Lee @officialspikelee Instagram Adin Ross " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen> Buy Searching for a Tesla to buy? duPont REGISTRY has hundreds of Tesla for sale right now, including some of the rarest Cybertrucks ever created. To view them all, click the button below to shop all Tesla Cybertrucks for sale. Shop Best Cybertrucks For Sale Sell Do you own a Tesla Cybertruck and are interested in selling it? duPont REGISTRY is the number 1 source for private sellers to list and or sell their Tesla. Click the button below to view listing options. Learn How To Sell Your Cybertruck

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 20, 2023

Kansas City Chiefs NFL Stars Travis Kelce & Patrick Mahom...

From the end zone to the finish line, the two Super Bowl Champions have added automotive racing to their business portfolios. As the world of competitive motorsports continues to grow in popularity around the world, competitive race series are now being watched alongside sports like professional football. Since seeing sparked interests after former NFL quarterback Tom Brady sponsored a Hertz x Porsche motorsports team, other renowned athletes are eager to hop on board what seems to be a winning space for investors. The BWT Alpine F1 Team is proud to welcome Kansas City Chiefs NFL stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes as the two newest investors for its Formula 1 race program. The news recently became public after the Alpine F1 Team tweeted a quote from Travis Kelce that reads, " I am thrilled to lead an investor group and join forces with Patrick and the team at Otto Capital on this exciting venture with Alpine F1." With Travis and Patrick on board with Otto Capital, the two champion athletes now join a list of investors that also includes Northern Irish PGA golfer Rory Mcllroy. Behind the wheel of the two BWT Alpine F1 Team race cars for the 2023 season are #10 Pierre Gasly and #31 Esteban Ocon, both of whom are focused on taking the F1 team into a winning bracket. The result of gathering a powerhouse of investors is the addition of Alpine F1 into Otto Capital's 200 million euro fund. With a passion for competition and a drive to win, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and Rory Mcllroy are the perfect additions to BWT Apline F1 Team's winning formula for its future as a potential leader in F1. Shop all of the Official BWT Apline F1 Team merchandise and accessories by clicking the link below. Shop All Alpine F1 Team Merchandise Reaching ??? ??????? with @AlpineF1Team ?Welcome @tkelce #Alpine pic.twitter.com/vvOGO4Qa4y— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) October 17, 2023 Source: Alpine F1 Team Twitter

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 18, 2023

Victor Victor Worldwide's New Campaign Features An Incred...

The record label founder brought out his best Ferraris for the occasion. While multi-million dollar supercars and hypercars stand out as the driving force behind performance and luxury, they also act as inspiration and future goals for success-seeking individuals with a passion. This understanding is accurately portrayed in Victor Victor Worldwide's new campaign, featuring a short skit that resembles the uplifting motivational scene from the classic 1998 movie 'He Got Game' starring actors Denzel Washington and NBA star Ray Allen. The short skit stars professional skateboarder Tyshawn Jones, who recently went viral worldwide for ollieing over Victor Victor Worldwide founder Steven Victor's $5 million Ferrari Monza SP2 supercar on his skateboard. Steven Victor's car collection is making yet another cameo appearance, as the modernized movie scene showcases his jaw-dropping lineup of Ferraris that all present the same shimmering silver finish. Inspiring Tyshawn's character with the fleet of highly desirable Italian prancing horses, the two do a full walk-around of Ferrari's most expensive and exclusive models ever released. Steven Victor's carefully curated Ferrari lineup includes a Daytona SP3, LaFerrari, F12tdf, 812 GTS, and 458 Speciale. Configured from Ferrari in the same shade to assemble the ultimate garage, it's safe to say that Steven Victor's all-silver Ferrari collection will go down in history as one of the greatest. View all Ferrari models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Ferrari For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by WOCKOOOO!!! (@stevenvictor) Source: @stevenvictor IG

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 26, 2023

Mick Schumacher Spotted Driving A Rare Mercedes-Benz 190E...

While he wasn't on schedule to race, Mick Schumacher surely enjoyed his 190E EVO 2 rental. While the traditional office setting for a Formula 1 racing driver takes shape as the cockpit of a high-performance race car, we as F1 fans often wonder what cars the drivers choose for everyday commutes. As we found out last year with Lewis Hamilton's wild ride through Japan in a $250K R34 Nissan GT-R, the most desirable and exclusive cars are regularly available for professional racers, no matter where they are in the world. Leading up to the Japanese Grand Prix this past weekend, current Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher was spotted out in the streets of Japan with Monster Energy and Top Secret driving an ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz 190E EVO 2. Mick took to his Instagram to not only post some pictures and videos of the occasion but also to express his excitement for the chance to drive one of the most significant race cars in Mercedes-Benz's motorsport history. The Mercedes-Benz 190E EVO 2 is a legendary homologation special that was born to meet the requirements of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) racing series. Under the hood is a 2.5L 16-valve four-cylinder engine that produces 235 horsepower and is coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. As for performance, the EVO 2 can sprint from 0-60 mph in around 7.1 seconds and has a top speed of approximately 155 mph. Having spent some time exploring and sightseeing around Japan in the Mercedes-Benz 190E EVO 2, this proves that Mick Schumacher is an old soul with a passion for racing classics. View all Mercedes-Benz models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@mercedesamgf1) Source: @mickschumacher