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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 Edward Jones – February 19, 2018

Father Surprises 14-Year-Old with Lamborghini Race Car

At the age of 14, Steven Aghakhani has already delved deep into the world of car racing and has a growing list of racing achievements. The cars he's already raced include the Huracan Super Trofeo and Gallardo Super Trofeo. Now, thanks to a surprise gift from his father, he now has a new bull in his stable: the Huracan Super Trofeo Evo. What's more, he was the first American to take delivery of the latest Lamborghini race car.2016 Lamborghini Huracan Performante Specs Review and PhotosThe surprise was made in collaboration with O'Gara Beverly Hills. Steven's father walked him up to the covered car at the Beverly Hills dealership and uncovered his new all-black race car. While it may have been sitting dormant for the reveal, Steven and his team will be taking the car to the track this Spring.Check out the video below to see the delivery for yourself, and thanks to O'Gara Beverly Hills for sharing this event with us.

By Andrew Nabors – May 12, 2017

Lamborghini Gets Stunned by Insane Nissan GT-R

I have tried to understand racing from a rolling start but it never seems to make sense. Nevertheless, GTBoard.com has a knack for finding unlikely comparisons, and this one is perfect for the weekend. Somewhere in Europe a Nissan GT-R received a ton of aftermarket upgrades and decided to take on a Lamborghini Huracan. Both are AWD with dual clutch transmissions. Both have launch control and powerful software so it would be great to see this happen at a 1/2 mile drag strip. It takes serious willpower for a V6 to call out a V10, but the GT-R has a few tricks up its sleeve.Also Check Out Our Hottest Cars Of The WeekE85 is a wonder fuel that is much maligned by the oil-funded press. Made from corn or sugar cane, it is essentially 200 proof moonshine with a hint of gas to keep us from indulging. It offers a few horsepower on naturally aspirated engines, but turbos love it. That's because the alcohol cools the intake charge more efficiently than any intercooler. Cooler air is more dense, which allows for more boost. It also has an octane rating of around 110, allowing cars to run much more ignition advance. More boost, more torque, and much more fun! This GT-R is rated at 863 horsepower and 833 lb-ft of torque, but we don't know if that is engine or wheel horsepower. The Huracan makes 610 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque at the engine (assuming it is stock). Would you drive a stock Lamborghini over a modded Nissan? Tell us why in the comments below!

By Andrew Nabors – April 03, 2017

Lamborghini Delivers First Huracan Polizia to Highway Patrol

If you plan on breaking the law in Italy you better have a fast car. Back in 2009, the Italian Highway Patrol received a few potent Gallardos to enforce the limits and provide first aid as a first responder. It was featured in numerous films and it was a great source of national pride. After racking up miles and busting perpetrators it has been resigned to Lamborghini's Museum at the Headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese. In a press release over the weekend, Lamborghini revealed the details of the Huracan Polizia edition. In a ceremony in Rome, the new Patrol Car was delivered, and the Gallardo found a new home at the Highway Patrol Museum.The new Huracan will be used as a show of force, and for high-speed transport as an organ transplant courier. Finished in Police Medium Blue and white, it has a dividing stripe of the Italian flag running the length of the car. It was ordered with AWD and equipped with a light bar and sirens. The interior is outfitted with a holster, VHF radio, 360-degree video recording, first aid supplies. To keep transplant organs viable, the front luggage compartment has a refrigerator. A front fridge has for the R8/Gallardo/Huracan has been rumored by owners and technicians, so we hope it becomes a dealer option for the perfect beach day. You can't beat them so your best shot would be to find a Huracan for sale and start modding it. Be sure to stay with us for all your Lamborghini news.Lamborghini For Sale - duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – March 06, 2017

Lamborghini Huracan Performante Revealed: Specs, Pics and...

On Friday the world was shocked by Lamborghini's video. It was cockpit footage from the latest Huracan in a record-setting lap of the'Ring. The time to beat is now 6:52.01 thanks to the new Lamborghini Huracan Performante. A press release this morning dives deep into technical advancements and revised components, so allow us to offer up the finer details.Instead of traditional carbon fiber, the Huracan Performante uses forged composites to shed weight. Still made of carbon, the material is thinner with the same strength. The result is a loss of 88 lbs of curb weight. Active aerodynamics are programmed to react in 500 ms in order to control downforce. It also creates less drag which increases acceleration and top speed. It only takes 2.9 seconds to reach 62 mph and you will be capable of over 202 mph. The 5.2 liter V10 now makes 640 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. With a dry weight of 3,046 lbs, the Performante is the state of the art in lightweight motoring.View Lamborghini Huracan Price, Specs, Photos The exhaust is all new, with tuned runners exiting higher up than before. This allows 70% of maximum torque by 1,000 rpm, which is something Italian enthusiasts are not accustomed to. The chassis is 15% stronger, so the suspension was dialed in with more spring pressure and thicker sway bars. The interior offers new displays for the driver and race ready seats are optional. The base price for US buyers has been set at $274,390, which isn't bad for a record holding supercar. As soon as they begin arriving you will seem them first here on Autofluence.

By Andrew Nabors – February 06, 2017

Lady Gaga's Lamborghini Huracan in Houston

Never missing a chance to please her fans, Lady Gaga decided to pose with her Huracan on Saturday. In Houston for the big game, it looks like she was caught getting ready for a run. The multi-platinum recording artist has collaborated with everyone from Tony Bennett to Beyonce. Her ride is a late model Lamborghini Huracan. Available in four configurations, the Huracan can be had in Spyder or Coupe body styles, with rear or all-wheel drive. The 5.2 liter V10 is rated at 580 metric horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission offered is a 7-speed dual clutch, and it makes for a relaxing experience. The beauty of the Huracan is that you don't need to be a celebrity to own one. Our dealers have great leasing options for 2016 models, and great deals on new arrivals. Stay with us for all your celebrity car news.All Lamborghini Huracan For Salehttps://twitter.com/RickLeventhal/status/827247899557892096

By Edward Jones – November 17, 2016

Lamborghini Huracan Spyder Goes Rear-Wheel Drive

Lamborghini has regarded the rear-wheel drive version of the Huracan, the LP 580-2, as a purist's dream. But, this was a coupe version, leaving those who like to drive with the top down out of the fun. Now, Lamborghini has unveiled the Huracan RWD Spyder, allowing convertible Lamborghini fans to breathe easy.(Related - Doctor Strange Talks About His Lamborghini Huracan)“The rear-wheel drive Spyder enlarges the Huracán family’s core product range,” said Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali in a press release from the Italian automaker. “It offers the lifestyle appeal of open-air motoring with the pure thrill of rear-wheel drive engineering. This is a Lamborghini for those with a passion for life and the purest driving experience on the open road. It’s also a Huracán for those entering the Lamborghini family, wanting a true Spyder experience without compromising on the performance and dynamic handling of a rear-wheel drive car.”Powering the car is the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine capable of 580 hp, all of which is sent to the rear axle. Being a convertible, you'd expect weight to be added on and you'd be right. This model weighs in at 3,327 lbs, while the base Huracan coupe weighs 3,135 lbs (192 lbs increase). To put more weight where the power is at, weight distribution is 40% in the front and 60% in the rear.Huracan Spyder Price, Specs, PhotosThe convertible aspect of the car consists of a soft top that can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 31 mph. The process of raising and lowering the top takes just 17 seconds.All Lamborghini Huracan For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 04, 2016

"Stina Stunts" Drifts and Spins the RWD Lamborghini Huracan

Stina Hübinettes is a commercial and film stunt driver, as well a professional driver who just picked up a pretty darn epic Lamborghini Huracan. However, this isn't the normal Huracan you've seen before.For starters, this Huracan is the LP 580-2. Notice that there's a "2" in the model name instead of a "4"? That signifies that this is the rear-wheel drive version of the car, which Lamborghini designed for the tail-sliding purists, like Stina.(Related - Couple Drifts New Modified Huracan Around Lamborghini Newport Beach)Of course, her and her husband, Sam Hübinettes, fitting the car with quite a few extra custom parts. This includes a custom hydraulic handbrake, an additional set of rear Wilwood Brake calipers, Vorsteiner Novara Edizione Aero Package, 20-inch Platinum Gunmetal Vorsteiner V-FF 103 Flow Forged Wheels and Nitto Tire NT555 G2 tires.Check the video below to see her rip give a walkaround of the car and rip the Nitto tires to shreds.All Lamborghini Huracan For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 15, 2016

Lamborghini Huracan from Ad Personam Looks Like it Belong...

Lamborghini's Ad Personam Studio aims to create one-off wonders through customer input and Italian style. The gist of this studio is that it is Lamborghini's own customization studio which customers can use to take their supercars to the next level.(Also Read: Miura Homage 2015 Lamborghini Huracan For Sale)To show off their capabilities, the Ad Personam team crafted up one unique example of the Huracan Spyder. With an army green exterior and bright orange interior, this Huracan looks like it would almost blend in if found in a military setting. Although, you won't find any guns strapped onto this supercar, only a mean 5.2-liter V10 engine.Check out the video below to see the car in its entirety.View All Huracans For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 15, 2016

Lamborghini Huracan Superleggera Spied At the Ring

Someone let an angry bull run wild at the Nürburgring and it looks ready for a fight. As the next evolution of the Huracan, the upcoming Superleggera (or super light) is on a diet for faster lap times. Caught in action by Automotive Mike, the fixed rear spoiler is a dead giveaway. While the driver is no Balboni, we can see the car being pushed to its limits on the old Nordschleife.(Also Watch - Ferrari 488 Challenge Car Spied On Track)For a brief history lesson, the Gallardo Superleggera went to extreme measures to lose 220 lbs. Mirrors, seats, and door panels were crafted of carbon fiber, and the stability system was relaxed for better track performance. Engineers went so far as to machine the wheel lugs from titanium instead of steel. What remains unclear is if this model will be offered in rear wheel drive only. The font axles and differential are very heavy, so we hope they are omitted for the production version. As soon as the car is finalized you will find it here, but in the meantime check out these listings from our dealers.Huracans For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 24, 2016

Germany vs Italy: Lamborghini Huracan vs Mercedes-AMG C63

DragTimes knows how to stage a real race. We have been following a strange trend in motorsports. No matter what type of race you attend, a Lamborghini Huracan is either competing, or at least on display by one of the participants. The reasoning behind this could be stunning Italian styling, or it might have something to due with their ability to put over 600 hp to all wheels, all the time.(Related: Tesla Model S P85D Ludicrous Mode vs Lamborghini Huracan)As a worthy competitor, the previous generation C63 AMG sedan packed the final version of AMG's 6.2L V8 tuned to 481 hp. But this car has been heavily modified by Weistec Engineering to make 770 hp. But that power is only sent to the rear wheels, and the steel-bodied sedan has a major weight disadvantage compared to a carbon fiber coupe.We're not sure if lane choice had anything to do with the outcome here, but something went wrong on the tower side. Pay close attention to the 60' times in the results, because races are won and lost on the holeshot. Kudos to DragTimes for using a pro tree instead of sportsman, its a great divider between amateur and professional competitors. Stay tuned to Autofluence for more heads up 1/4 mile action.Huracans For Sale

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