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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 – August 19, 2024

RM Sotheby's $5.5M Ferrari F50 Sale At Monterey Sets A Ne...

RM Sotheby's makes waves in Monterey! To say that Monterey Car Week 2024 was a hit would be a complete and utter understatement. First-ever world premiers and record-setting auctions took place throughout the week of fuel-driven festivities. On the topic of high-end, collector-grade car auction sales, the professionals at RM Sotheby's knocked it out of the park with a new world-record-setting Ferrari F50 sale during the second night of its flagship Monterey Auction. The 1995 Ferrari F50 took the stage in Northern California and drove bidding to a whopping $5,505,000. With a starting bid of $2.5 million, the price continued to skyrocket as an intense battle of bidding took place amongst an excited crowd of collectors and enthusiasts. The massive seven-figure sale now puts this example at the top of the list of the most expensive Ferrari F50s ever sold at auction. The Ferrari F50 stands out as one of the Italian marque's 'Big Five,' which also includes the 288 GTO, F40, Enzo, and LaFerrari. While the F50 now shines as one of the most coveted collector cars in the world, it hasn't always received the recognition it deserves. Since Ferrari's release of the 349 cars in July of 1997, the list of owners featured familiar celebrity names like Mike Tyson, Rod Stewart, 50 Cent, Ferrari Collector David Lee, and many more. The Ferrari F50 features a naturally aspirated 4.7-liter V12 engine derived from Formula 1 technology, delivering an impressive 513 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. Paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, the F50 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and achieves a top speed of 202 mph. With RM Sotheby's setting the bar with its World Record Ferrari F50 sale, we can't wait to see what the next example brings to the auction block. View all Ferraris for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Ferraris For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) Source: RM Sotheby's

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 23, 2024

How To Buy: The Ferrari Edition Audio Collection by Bang ...

From the interior of the SF90 Stradale to the comfort of your home, Bang & Olufsen and Ferrari introduce a new level of luxury listening.

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 06, 2024

Rare 7,302-Mile Cashmere 1987 Ferrari Testarossa For Sale

This Testarossa is in pristine condition, ready to be driven and enjoyed by a discerning collector or enthusiast.

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 – October 16, 2023

Ferrari Announces Crytocurrecy As New Payment Method For ...

With Ferrari's new form of payment, there's no need for cash or financing. As the demand for desirable supercars increases alongside the community of affluent car collectors, manufacturers are starting to become more selective when it comes to allocating the latest and greatest models. At Ferrari, the brand prides itself on maintaining the tradition of cementing relationships with past, present, and future owners who share a passion for Italian craftsmanship and design. Today, Ferrari is pleased to announce its next jump forward into the future of automotive manufacturing with a new way to pay for your Italian handcrafted supercar or hypercar. CNBC Television recently reported that Ferrari will now be accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment when purchasing vehicles like the new Ferrari 296 GTB. The bright idea comes as part of a new partnership between Ferrari and BitPay, offering Bitcoin, Ether, or USDC as payment for the U.S. market. One of the main benefits of using cryptocurrency when shopping for a Ferrari is the savings that owners will retain from transaction fees or surcharges. Removing risk from both the dealership and buyer, the crypto amount will be immediately transferred into U.S. dollars at the time of purchase. However, buyers will be forced to pay a capital gains tax on any increase in the cryptocurrencies used to buy the Ferrari. The strategic move comes from Ferrari's belief that its younger clientele has built their fortunes on cryptocurrency, wanting to use it as payment to acquire their dream cars. With a $77 billion market value and a sold-out inventory for the next 2-3 years, Ferrari is adding the crypto payment as yet another method of growing itself into a leader in the supercar and hypercar space. View all Ferrari models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Ferrari For Sale Source: CNBC Television

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By Jordan Aquistapace – October 16, 2023

How To Buy: PUMA x Scuderia Ferrari F1's Football Jersey ...

Root on Scuderia Ferrari F1 with this limited edition jersey, just in time for the Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. As Formula 1 race fans prep for the United States Grand Prix, PUMA has teamed up with Scuderia Ferrari to launch an American Football Jersey that seamlessly combines the thrill of motorsport and the gridiron into a single piece of sportswear. The fuel-driven PUMA collaboration marks a pivotal moment for both brands, proving that Scuderia Ferrari's influence is not limited to the racetrack but has the potential to electrify audiences all around the world. Unveiled just before the race at the Circuits of The Americas in Austin, TX, the jersey pays homage to Texas' deep-seated football culture. And by doing so, PUMA x Scuderia Ferrari F1 connects with a broader spectrum of sports enthusiasts and style-savvy customers. At the heart of this collaboration is the Scuderia Ferrari American Football Jersey, a marvel that weaves the classic American football design with the unmistakable, high-octane vibe of Ferrari's racing heritage. Donned in Ferrari's iconic racing Rosso Corsa red, the jersey features Scuderia Ferrari emblems, sponsor logos, and driver numbers, staying true to its motorsport origins. The jersey stands out as a storytelling canvas that captures the soul of two colossal worlds, embodying the excitement of motorsport and the unbeatable spirit of American football. The introduction of this jersey underscores Scuderia Ferrari and PUMA’s commitment to engaging with fans globally, transcending traditional sports barriers. Whether you're a racing purist or a gridiron enthusiast, this jersey offers a slice of two worlds you love, rolled into one. Shop the new Scuderia Ferrari American Football Jersey as well as the entire PUMA x Ferrari Collection, by clicking the link below. Shop PUMA x Scuderia Ferrari F1 Source: PUMA

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 27, 2023

Ferrari Takes The Fashion Runway To Debut Its All-New Spr...

With a strong handle on supercar manufacturing, Ferrari applies its know-how to the fashion industry. Born in an area of the world where craftsmanship and fashion come second nature, the Ferrari brand has long instilled a luxury lifestyle built around its historic lineage of Italian supercars. In line with powerful combustion engines and finely crafted leather interiors, Ferrari has incorporated characteristics from its cars into a luxurious fashion line. The fashion professionals at Ferrari Style are pleased to have unveiled its Spring/Summer 2024 Collection on the runway in front of a crowd of celebrities, clients, and fans of the brand. The upcoming season features a wardrobe and accessory line that focuses solely on three categories: Color, Form, and Material. Showcased in both men's and women's styles, each piece contains some aspect of Ferrari, whether it be premium Italian leather or the manufacturer's legendary Rosso Corsa shade of red. Along with stunning head-to-toe high-fashion looks, Ferrari Style also proudly presented its successful eyewear and baggage collection as part of the runway event. With an upcoming clothing and accessory release that beautifully complements its high-performance supercars, the Ferrari Style Spring/Summer 2023 Collection is sure to find itself in the closet of a passionate owner or fan. View all Ferrari supercars and hypercars currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Ferrari For Sale Source: Ferrari Style