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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 Andrew Nabors – March 18, 2021

John Hennessey Has Big Plans for the Venom F5

Seven years ago the Hennessey Venom GT set the production car top speed record at 270.49 miles per hour. Since then, the team has been able to design and build a new American supercar from scratch, and that is why our friend John Hennessey has big plans for the Venom F5. He has been a fixture in our magazine since the early days, starting with Viper builds in his parents' garage. Now, thanks to Shell & Pennzoil, the Venom F5 is capable of 300 mph. After a long series of tests this year, John says he is going for 500 kph, or 310.6 mph. To do this, they commissioned a unique twin-turbo V8 that offers 1,817 horsepower. We will be covering every detail of this mean machine as testing progresses, so click the button below to see what they offer for your daily driver. Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – January 20, 2021

2021 Hennessey Mammoth 1000 Is The Ultimate Ram TRX

• 1,012 bhp• 969 lb-ft torque The first production vehicle from Hennessey Performance was a Dodge, and after a few decades, the team has released another beast. With 1,012 horsepower and 969 lb-ft of torque, the 2021 Hennessey Mammoth 1000 is the ultimate Ram TRX. Working as a Tier-1 supplier to Fiat-Chrysler has its perks. Post Malone Gets Massive Hennessey VelociRaptor 6×6 for Christmas For starters, they received one of the first production examples of the new Hellcat-powered pickup. Starting with their own 2.65-liter supercharger, extensive tuning at their quarter-mile track and on the street has yielded an increase of 310 horsepower and 319 lb-ft over the factory ratings. • 0-60 mph: 3.2 seconds• 1/4 mile: 11.4 seconds @ 120 mph Due to the comprehensive nature of each build, only 200 examples will be offered. Each will arrive with a 2.5" lift, 35" tires, and their iconic 20" wheels. The rocker panel steps and tonneau cover are powered, and their full-length stainless exhaust sings a menacing melody. Including delivery, all you need to offer is $135,350- making it one of the most affordable ways to reach 1,012 horsepower. The 2-year/24k warranty is a testament to their build quality, so click the button for all the details. RAM TRX FOR SALE Image (C) Hennessey Performance

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.

By Andrew Nabors – March 31, 2020

Hennessey Twin Turbo 2020 Corvette World Premiere

Lets see how some boost motivates the new C8 Corvette Stingray! " width="680"> C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review Well it looks and sounds like a beast. Having efficiency while not in boost and offering 640 horsepower to the ground is very hard to do without access to the computer. Once it is cracked, John predicts 850 rear-wheel horsepower is not out of the question, so stay with us for all of your Hennessey Performance updates.

By Andrew Nabors – March 24, 2020

Hennessey Twin Turbo C8 Corvette on the Dyno

Boost can change your perceptions of a fast car. Unfortunately the automakers don't want us tinkering with their designs, so the latest from GM is more encrypted than the National Reconnaissance Office. Nevertheless, 5 lbs is not going to hurt anything. To make sure it is safe, the intake also receives a shot of methanol when the twins spool up. Even though they can't tune the computer yet, this conservative setup added 175 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque! Considering the car comes stock with a tunnel ram intake and equal-length headers, this car is the most efficient C8 Corvette of all time. Dual Air-to-water intercoolers are being fabricated to fit without modifying the trunk, so stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance news. " width="680"> Browse All Corvette For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 10, 2019

Hennessey Maximus Screams 1,000 Horsepower on the Dyno

You might find this hard to believe, but citizens of Rome had twisted notions of entertainment. We don't know who would pay to see a Gladiator meet his end, but many like to see their strength on display. If you are reading this, the notion of going into battle with a V6 will make you think twice, that's why our friends in Texas have built the ultimate weapon. Watch and listen as the Hennessey Maximus screams to 1,000 horsepower on the dyno. Although strapped to the rollers, no Jeeps were harmed in filming this video. Instead, their Demon hearts were treated to a proper baseline tune while the rings and valves were broken in. That is just one way Hennessey Performance beats their competition. Hennessey Maximus 1000 is the Ultimate Jeep Gladiator After a proper street tune (including a jump on Interstate 10), each build is given fresh Pennzoil Synthetic and a MOPAR oil filter along with a full tank of Shell Premium. Are you not entertained? There will be thousands of Gladiators, but only 24 examples of the Maximus. Click the button below to learn more, and stay with us for all your Hennessey updates. Click Here To Learn More " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – October 30, 2019

Hennessey Performance Unveils Maximus 1000 Jeep Gladiator

So you like Jeeps, trucks, and HEMI power. Many of these are relevant to our interests also, but this trifecta has been unattainable until now. It takes serious time and effort to stuff a V8 into the new JL chassis, so that is why Hennessey Performance has unveiled the Maximus 1000 Jeep Gladiator. A formal reveal will take place at SEMA, so allow us to give you a quick preview. Named for the famous Roman Gladiator, Maximus has enough power to tear down the Coliseum. Starting with Hennessey 8-lug wheels and BFG tires, you will be riding on Dana 60 axles with 4.88 gears. KING off-road supplies the 6" suspension lift along with new aluminum driveshafts. They are attached to an 8-speed automatic transmission with hardened internals and a beefy transfer case. Why is all of this necessary? Because the heart of a Hellcat is under the hood. MOPAR supplies a new Hellcat 6.2L V8, then it is treated to more boost, stainless exhaust, and a tune for 93 octane Shell premium. The result is 933 lb-ft of torque and 1,000 horsepower. Mr. Hennessey is quoted as saying: "Our MAXIMUS JEEP with 1000 HP is pure ridiculousness on 4-wheels. What other vehicle can climb to the top of Aspen Mountain with a KTM dirt bike in the back in the morning and then run 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds at the dragstrip later the same day?” Other included goodies include a Hennessey leather interior, powered running boards, fabricated front & rear bumpers, wide fenders, and a litany of LED illumination. Due to the extensive list of unique parts required, only 24 examples will be produced. Each one will arrive fully loaded for $225,000. Click the button below to learn more, and stay with us for live coverage from the SEMA show next week. Learn More " width="680"> Related: Hear the Extreme Growl of a Hennessey 2020 Camaro ZL1 1LE Hennessey McLaren 600LT vs Stock 720S

By Andrew Nabors – May 15, 2019

Would You Drive a Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster?

Welcome back to the battle for 300 mph. We have three countries fighting to build the world's first 300 mph production car. France is represented by Bugatti, Sweden has Koenigsegg, and the U.S. has Hennessey Special Vehicles. Today signals the start of production on their Venom F5 Coupe. Two dozen cars have been ordered, with each carrying a price tag of $1.6 Million dollars. What John Hennessey wants to know, is would you drive a Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster? The carbon fiber monocoque was engineered and designed by Delta Motorsport in Silverstone. All of their calculations were based around a solid roof, so it would take time and a few dollars to build a targa version. Behind the cockpit is a 463 ci Chevrolet V8. It uses twin turbos to make 1,600 horsepower and 1,300 lb-ft of torque. This level of power will destroy almost any dyno or strain gauge, so it will be possible to reach 300 mph without the resources of the big guys. Even if there is not enough room to bring the top with you, it would certainly be nice to have an open-air experience. Currently, only Lamborghini and Pagani offer carbon fiber coupes with targa tops, so it would be nice to have an American option. Tell us what you think of these renderings in the comments below, and stay with us for all your Hennessey Special Vehicles updates. Hennessey Special Vehicles Related: How Does the Hennessey Venom F5 Make 1,600 Horsepower? Hennessey Venom F5: 300 mph Rival to the Bugatti Chiron

By Andrew Nabors – February 20, 2018

217 MPH in the Hennessey Performance Exorcist Camaro

Ok Firebird friends and Camaro comrades, how fast have you been in your car? If you are like us, we always obey the speed limits because our government has our safety as its top priority. But if you find yourself being attacked by Demons, sometimes you need to leave as fast as possible. That is why John Hennessey and his team have taken the Camaro ZL1 beyond what anyone thought possible.How To Build An Exorcist CamaroThe Exorcist is the culmination of countless dyno runs and a host of upgrades. We've shown you the build process and there is no doubt the car delivers 1,000 horsepower. It starts with a teardown of the top end and tossing the original camshaft in the scrap metal bin. The heads are CNC ported and topped by fuel injectors that rival Niagra falls. The crowning achievement is a giant supercharger that has more displacement than your car's engine.https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=260&v=idRbOoHoqIMLate model Camaros are as aerodynamic as a brick, ask me how I know. So it shocking to learn the Exorcist is faster than the Corvette ZR1. But the press release earlier today also reminds us that this wild Camaro is capable of outrunning a McLaren 720S, Porsche GT2 RS, Ferrari 812 Superfast, Lamborghini Huracan, every police interceptor, and every car at the Daytona 500. To achieve this top speed, the team from HPE headed from their base just west of Houston to Continental Tire's proving grounds in Uvalde. This massive track west of San Antonio is the same place they pushed the HPE750 Mustang past 200 mph on a 2015 episode of Jay Leno's Garage.John Heinricy Delivers Hennessey ZL1 1LE Exorcist CamaroInstead of a manual transmission, this car was ordered with the bulletproof 10-speed automatic that was co-developed by GM & Ford. It offers a wider gear ratio spread than the stick shift, and each shift only drops a few hundred RPM. So with full boost available at almost any situation, the V-Box telemetry recorded 217 mph in 9th gear. To make it even more unbelievable, the run was performed on stock wheels & tires in lieu of Hennessey's optional upgrade package.We don't know if the car was limited by the differential gear ratio or by aerodynamics so it would be neat to swap in a set of vintage 2.14 gears and tape up the front end for a land speed record. For $119,950 you will have a car that can cross texas faster than a tornado and keep any Demon far behind you. So click the link below for more information and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance Engineering updates.Learn Morehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BfbYHWpg9CY/

By Andrew Nabors – December 07, 2017

Hennessey Performance Announces the HPE1000 Corvette ZR1

If you are reading this, you probably like boost. Corvettes sure do, which is why the new 2019 ZR1 has a massive supercharger poking through its hood. More boost means more power, so if you need 1,000 horsepower and 966 lb-ft of torque at your command Hennessey Performance is here for you.You might be wondering how they have already developed a set of upgrades. It is simple. They are able to make identical numbers on the LT4, which is found in every Corvette Z06 and Camaro ZL1. To make 755 horsepower from the factory, the ZR1 will arrive with high flowing intake and exhaust systems, which will allow HPE to make the same power as their HPE1000 Corvette Z06 and the Exorcist Camaro without such a radical cam and top end. But that doesn't stop them from porting the heads by hand and dropping in larger valves. It will be capable of reaching 60 mph in 2.5 seconds (with drag tires) along with consistent quarter-mile times in the mid 9's.Hennessey Teases New Venom F5 Hypercar ColorsNo matter how potent the factory exhaust is, it doesn't compare to Hennessey's stainless headers and high-flow catalytic converters. Although the new car has 13 separate heat exchangers, the intercooler system will be upgraded inside the blower along with its radiator. Each car will also include serialized badges inside and out, with all modifications backed by a 2 year/24,000 warranty. Click here for more details, and stay with us for a complete review of the HPE1000 Corvette ZR1.Obligatory Related Video: It will be something like this, just faster!

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