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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 blue modern sports sedan, inspired by the Four-Door Dodge Charger Daytona, with a sleek design is parked in front of a textured, yellow-painted brick wall—there's more to this muscle car sedan than meets the eye.

By Khris Bharath – May 22, 2025

Dodge Charger Daytona Sedan Is Here And There's More To T...

Dodge has officially pulled the wraps off the 2026 Charger Daytona Scat Pack sedan: the four-door variant of the all-electric Charger Daytona coupe that we first saw in March 2024, during a global debut led by then-CEO Tim Kuniskis. Built upon Stellantis’ STLA Large multi-energy platform, this is the world’s only four-door muscle car on sale today, and is the pivot that Dodge needed post the lukewarm response from its coupe counterpart. The addition of the four-door model to the 2026 lineup should broaden the Charger’s appeal with added practicality. Key figures: It features the same dual-motor all-wheel drive setup as the coupe, delivering a massive 670 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Engage the Powershot button, and you get an additional 40 horsepower boost for 10 seconds, enough to rocket the 5,800+ pound electrified sedan to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. With Hellcat Redeye levels of performance, Dodge claims that it’ll run the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds, and remains the world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car. Choose from a variety of drive modes, including sport, track, drag, and custom. Additionally, you also get drift/donut mode, launch control, and race-prep options. As for the EV bits, you have a maximum range of 241 miles and the ability to replenish the battery from 20-80% on a Level 3 charger. A Level 1/2 combo charger for 120V and 240V outlets comes as standard. Beyond the mega performance numbers, there’s ample room for both passengers and cargo, all wrapped in the same aggressive widebody design (widest in the industry according to Dodge) as the coupe with its classic muscle car proportions. Sharing the same roofline, front and rear facias, and liftgate, the dimensions and wheelbase of the four-door Charger Daytona are pretty much identical to the coupe, but you get those two extra doors that improve usability, along with a cleverly packaged “hidden-hatch” that boasts a best-in-class 38.5 cubic feet of cargo room. For some context, that is 133% more than the outgoing Charger. The four-door Daytona is also loaded with a long list of standard features that includes a 16-inch digital gauge cluster, a 12.3-inch center touchscreen, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, dual-zone climate control, and Keyless Go with push-button start. Convenience features include Lane-keeping assistant, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high-beams. A nod to the Hemi V8 growl of old-school Mopars, Dodge’s simulated Fratzonic chambered exhaust is also standard. Want more? Opt for the Track Pack and you get red Brembo brake calipers, dual-valve adaptive suspension, along with larger 20-inch wheels and all-season tires, and a gloss black spoiler. Inside, you get fixed-headrest leather performance seats and a drive experience recorder (DxR) as upgrades. Additional options include a panoramic glass roof, 18-speaker Alpine Pro audio, carbon-fiber interior trim, premium LED lighting, and a power hatch. The order book is now open, and while pricing for the Scat Pack hasn’t been announced yet, expect it to be in the same ballpark as the coupe, landing anywhere between $60,000-$70,000, but the rebates and incentives should help. As for the entry-level R/T trim, that will have to wait until 2026, but more crucially for Mopar fans and enthusiasts, Dodge thankfully hasn’t turned its back on the gasoline power and Charger SixPack variants, with the Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter in-line six will arrive in the second half of 2025. Beyond the consumer market, the four-door Charger has also served as the backbone of law enforcement for decades, and while it is still too early to speculate, could a purpose-built ‘Pursuit’ version become a reality? The all-new Charger Daytona could certainly pave the way for next-generation vehicles and continue its legacy as a staple in American police fleets. Watch this space. View All Dodge Chargers For Sale Source: Dodge,Stellantis

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 10, 2023

LEGO Revs Up Imagination With Dom's Dodge Charger From Fa...

From big screen to your living room: recreate iconic street racing moments with the intricate, action-packed Dom's Dodge Charger LEGO Set.

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 27, 2023

Watch A POV Drive Of A 1,000HP Hennessey Dodge Hellcat

Between Hellcat and Hennessey, this performance is positively ludicrous.

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 08, 2022

Dodge Adds The 2023 Challenger And Charger Scat Pack Swin...

The end grows nearer, but so does a new beginning. As dramatic as that sounds, the radical and quickly impending change that faces the muscle cars that Dodge is known and loved across the country for is going to dramatically change the world of American Automotive performance. For years, cars powered by the Dodge’s incredible V8 engines, and especially the recent Hellcat-powered acceleration and power monsters have been poster children of domestic automotive excellence. Dodge is one of the cornerstones of the history of muscle cars in the United States, and with decades of legacy to look back on, the “Last Call” series of muscle cars that heralds the end of the current chapter of Dodge performance is a bittersweet reminder of how Dodge got where it is today. MUST READ: The New Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept Shows Off The Electric Future Of Muscle Cars The latest addition to the “Last Call” series references Dodge’s legendary “swinging” muscle car lineup from the golden age of muscle cars in the 60s and 70s. That’s why the new special edition of the Dodge Challenger and Charger is called the “Swinger,” and it’s available for the 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack and the 2023 Dodge Charger Scat Pack. Coming after the Dodge Challenger Shakedown and Dodge Charger Super Bee, the new Swinger models pay homage to the original Dodge Dart Swinger, which was part of the “Scat Pack” club with high power in a smaller package, along with bold looks, which are translated to the new models with retro-inspired gold badging and accents, and green accents in the interior, which match the F8 Green and Sublime Green available colors that reference the old car. Only 1,000 Chargers and Challengers will be made with this spec, and both will be available as widebody models. As this chapter ends and a bold new one begins, Dodge is making the goodbye as bittersweet as it can. View All Dodges For Sale Source: Dodge

By Andrew Nabors – March 29, 2021

Hennessey Mammoth 900 TRX Screams on the Dyno

This 4WD Demon Can Barely Be Held Back! How many safety straps does it take to contain a beast? All of them! The new Hennessey Mammoth 900 screams on the dyno in order to validate their latest offering, and it combines all the innovations unleashed on their Charger and Challenger packages. Starting with the top end, the team adds more fuel with new injectors to handle more boost. The supercharger is treated to a new snout with upper and lower pulleys before 200 miles of road testing. Once the tune was safe on the street the most successful dyno run yielded 728 horsepower and 679 lb-ft of torque. Almost 150 horsepower over what it made from the factory, you will keep Raptors in your rearview. Click the button to see what Hennessey Performance can do to your truck and stay with us to experience the Mammoth 100 and 1200 that are coming soon! Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2021

Dodge Offers Ingenious Security Upgrade For Hemi Cars

Thieves will think twice! Even if someone grabs your keys and cranks it up, Dodge is offering an ingenious security upgrade for Hemi cars. Owners of Chargers, Challengers, Hellcats, and Demons 2015 and up can stop by any dealer for a software upgrade. This will allow you to lock the engine's programming with a 4-digit code. Failure to enter the code or guessing incorrectly will set the self-destruct program....We could only hope... But in a more hilarious move, the car will be limited to idle at 675 rpm. Limited to a top speed of 3 mph will undoubtedly lead to a few (very) low-speed chases. Not only is this a great feature, its a good time for a warm-weather checkup since Summer is almost here. Your 808-horsepower Demon will be choked down to 2.8 horsepower and 22 lb-ft of torque. Browse Dodge Challenger Browse Dodge Charger Image (C) Stellantis

By Andrew Nabors – November 06, 2020

2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Orders Open Today

Last night something brutal hit our inbox. As a welcomed diversion from the election chaos, we learned that the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat orders open today. While they initially planned to build less than 2,000 examples, the team at the Detroit Jefferson North Plant have responded with big news. They will build as many as dealers can order for this model year. 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye & Durango SRT Hellcat Unleashed Now that your dealer has the ability to secure your reservation, you will have all the power of the Jeep Trackhawk with a longer wheelbase. All seven versions of the Durango can be had with 3 rows of seating, while Jeep is limited to two. Your family will enjoy reaching 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a few ticks after...A consistent NHRA-certified quarter-mile of 11.5 seconds. Your right foot will have access to 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. Brembo brakes measure 15.7" and will stop from 60 mph in 116 feet. All this for $80,995 includes a full day of learning at Bob Bondurant's High-Performance Driving School in Chandler, AZ. Click the button below to reserve yours and stay with us for all your SRT news. Browse New Dodge For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – September 01, 2020

2021 Ram TRX Mammoth 6x6 Hellephant 1200 Unveiled by Henn...

When the engineers at Fiat-Chrysler first considered dropping the Hellcat Hemi into a truck, they never could have foreseen this. Earlier today the 2021 Ram TRX Mammoth 6x6 Hellephant was unveiled by Hennessey Performance. Using the same recipe that underpins their other 6x6 trucks, this beast will arrive with 1,200 horsepower sent to six wheels. Since the stock block and heads are not up to the pressure, MOPAR will provide 3 Hellephant 426 Hemi crate engines to Hennessey headquarters in Sealy, Texas. RAM TRX FOR SALE Not only will it be the most exclusive build in their history, but it will also be their most expensive truck. Due to the time and skilled labor needed to build such a beast, it will set you back $500,000. That includes a new donor truck, 7-liters, three Dana axles, all-new suspension, Hennessey forged wheels, fabricated bumpers, LEDs, their all-stainless exhaust, and Brembo brakes. Click the button above to learn more and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance news.

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Launch Edition front 3/4

By Andrew Nabors – August 19, 2020

2021 Ram TRX Launch Edition Unveiled

For those who want the fastest and most powerful production pickup, there is already a waiting list. Those at the top have the option for a fully-loaded version announced in a press release last night. The 2021 Ram TRX Launch Edition was unveiled with all the bells & whistles. Only 702 trucks will be built, signifying the 702 horsepower it offers. RAM TRX Price, Horsepower & Specs The Anvil Gray paint is exclusive, and each truck will have a brushed aluminum badge on the center console denoting its production number. They will also have the Level 2 package that includes carbon-fiber trim, Heads Up Display, beadlock-capable wheels, and a 19-speaker system by Harmon-Kardon. Pricing for the TRX starts at 71,960, with the Launch Edition at $90,000. Production will start in a few weeks, but our dealers have great incentives on Hellcats to browse in the meantime. Click the button below for more MOPAR muscle and stay with us for all your Hemi news. Browse RAM TRX For Sale

2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock: The newest Dodge drag rac

By Andrew Nabors – August 13, 2020

2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock Unveiled With 807 H...

A ride in a 10-second car will change your life. You will only want to go faster, and we have the best way to accomplish that. The 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock has been unveiled with 807 horsepower and hardcore drag racing hardware. Starting at $79,995, you will have adaptive Bilstein suspension, 14.2" Brembo brakes, forged lightweight 18x11 wheels, and 315/40 Nitto drag radials at all corners. 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye & Durango SRT Hellcat Unleashed Based on the Hellcat Redeye, it leaps to 60 mph in 3.25 seconds. New parts in the engine and supercharger yield 707 lb-ft of torque along with a higher redline of 6,400 rpm. The official quarter-mile time is 10.5 at 131 mph, and the top speed is limited to 168 because of the drag tires. In track mode, the A/C is diverted to the power chiller, the rear shocks are softened, steering feedback is set for high-speed control, and the torque converter clutch rpm is raised. All the other Demon and Hellcat features are also onboard. You will have Launch Assist, Launch Control, a Line Lock, Torque Reserve, and Race Cooldown mode. Browse Challenger SRT For Sale

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