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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 12, 2021

Jaguar Classic Unveils E-Type 60 Collection

Monday, March 15th marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic E-Type, so Jaguar Classic has unveiled the E-Type 60 Collection. After procuring a dozen surviving specimens, each car was treated to a full restoration. Taking inspiration from two famous cars, the coachbuilders built six coupes were built to honor the 9600HP. The other six cars mirror the 77 RW roadsters. Six pairs of coupe and roadster have been sold to their most valued customers. E-Type 60 logos can be found on and around the cars, and each car has an engraved center console by artist King Nerd. They evoke the memories of Jaguar Test Driver Norman Dewis, whoose road trips sorted the E-Type's final details before launch. The cars have new close-ration 5-speed sticks with 3.8-liter XK engines. Jaguar Classic provided their latest in connectivity, integrating SiriusXM, Bluetooth, electronic ignition, and an aluminum radiator. Next summer, the six customers and guests will embark on a road trip from Coventry to Geneva along with Jaguar fans from around the world. If you need more English luxury in your life, click the button and stay with us for all your Jaguar news. Shop Jaguar Images (C) Jaguar Land Rover

By Andrew Nabors – March 12, 2021

2022 Mercedes-AMG SL Begins Winter Testing

An old friend is making a comeback. The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL has begun winter testing nearly 70 years after it arrived in the U.S. This teaser hit our inbox this morning like a ton of bricks. Moving upmarket, the SL has traded in Mercedes-Benz branding to become exclusively the product of Mercedes-AMG. Staying true to other aspects, they mention SL still stands for Super Light. Development on this new flagship began in the digital realm, and now its being flogged near the Arctic Circle. Of course, the finishing touches will be made on the 'Ring. The roadster will be fun, but let's hope there is a new Gullwing in the works also. Stay with us for all your AMG updates. Shop Mercedes-Benz SL Images (C) Daimler A.G.

By Andrew Nabors – March 11, 2021

Bentley Baby Trike Grows With Them

Your little British motoring enthusiast deserves the best, so that's why the Bentley baby trike grows with them. Rolling up to the playground in anything less would be embarrassing, and it offers six riding modes. Starting at 6 months, the 5-point harness and safety guard keep them in place. Almost every aspect is adjustable, so you will eventually have a tricycle perfect for kids up to 5 years old. Styling is inspired by the Continental GT, with staggered wheels, 2-tone fenders, and a diamond-stitched seat. The canopy has SPF 50 for long life, and even a window to keep your eye on the occupant. Sequin Blue was developed by Mulliner as an exclusive exterior finish, doesn't your baby deserve the best? Shop Baby Bentley Images (C) Bentley

By Andrew Nabors – March 09, 2021

What is the 2021 Jeep Magneto?

Celebrating Easter Weekend at Moab is a rite of passage for all Jeep owners. You will see hundreds of CJ, TJ, Cherokee, and Gladiators, but what is the 2021 Jeep Magneto. Two teasers were uploaded this morning to preview what will be unveiled. There are two distinct possibilities that each deserve consideration. This isn't quantum mechanics, but let's suppose Schrödinger's cat is actually two examples of a capable 4WD. Plurality exists at your local dealer, as they offer the Wrangler Hybrid 4xe alongside the Wrangler 392. One has four cylinders along with a turbo and a battery while the other is a rip-snorting 6.4 Hemi from SRT. Vote for what it might be in the poll below and stay with us for all your Jeep news. Shop Jeep Wrangler Image (C) Stellantis

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 04, 2021

Discover Porsche Design's New Sports Chrono With Subsecon...

Porsche Design’s watch collection consists of luxury handmade timepieces crafted to reflect the Sports Chrono Package available in the vehicles that roll off the production line. The lifestyle branch of the German auto manufacturer is going back to its roots with the Sports Chrono with Subsecond Chronograph. The new timepiece is presented as the same available clock option in the all-new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. The 42mm Sports Chronograph features a titanium case with a choice of a Black, Blue, or Brown gloss-style dial. The single sub-dial located at the 6 o’clock position functions as a 60-second counter, deriving its inspiration from the early days of motorsport racing. An in-house Porsche Design WERK 03.200 movement powers the watch, increasing its functionality with a 38-hour power reserve and 300-meter water resistance. Depending on the color option chosen, the Sports Chronograph comes complete with a comfortable color-matched vehicle leather strap and titanium folding clasp. Shop the new Porsche Design Sports Chrono with Subsecond Chronograph by clicking the link below. Shop Now For more Watch news, Check out Makes And Movements: 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 x Porsche Design 911 GT3 Chronograph

By Andrew Nabors – March 03, 2021

Sir Lewis Hamilton's 2021 Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performan...

Brackley Technical Centre is the new home of the AMG Petronas F1 team, and they are ready for the championship. Public testing is only days away in Bahrain, so sir Lewis Hamilton's 2021 Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance has been unveiled. Next year will see an all-new aero package from the FIA, but that is no reason for them to rest on their laurels. Burning the midnight oil, engineers met this year's downforce changes without approaching the team's cost cap. The Mercedes-Benz star has been replaced by the AMG logo, accented by burgundy from their Principal Partner INEOS. Most major parts are carried over from the W11 car, with new adaptations to meet this year's rulebook. Changes were mandated to the floorpans, brake inlets, and diffuser to slow down all teams. Therefore, the W12 incorporates advancements to the engine, cooling system, and other critical areas. Of course, they are playing these cards close to the chest, so it will make for an entertaining season to say the least. We hope Sir Lewis can find some time to finish development on the AMG ONE, so stay with us for all your Mercedes-AMG news. Images (C) Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited

By Andrew Nabors – March 02, 2021

RM Sotheby's Open Roads Top 10 Results

In their first transcontinental online auction, we're pleased to share RM Sotheby's Open Roads top 10 results. With bidders from 41 countries, they achieved a sell-through rate of 76%. First-time buyers made up 28% of the bidding over the 3-day event. Europe and the UK had a dedicated day that resulted in $4,022,945, and day two was an American extravaganza thanks to $3,236,075 in sales. The highlights from day 3 were seven rare Porsches from one Swiss collector. Over 2,000 bids were handled by their new online platform, with several lots running into overtime thanks to bidding wars. If this is any indicator, Amelia Island will be one for the record books, so click the button for a preview and we'll see you at the Ritz-Carlton in May. Browse RM Sotheby's Consignments Top 10: 1 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series II 'Hot Rod' (CHASSIS NO. 3723 GT) $620,000.00 2 1984 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 S (CHASSIS NO. ZA9C00500ELA12665) $255,000.00 3 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe (CHASSIS NO. WP0AC2992VS375330) $180,000.00 4 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 3.8 (CHASSIS NO. WP0AC2A98BS783483) $165,000.00 5 1958 Jaguar XK 150 S 3.4 Roadster (CHASSIS NO. S 830401 DN) $160,000.00 6 1958 Scarab Reproduction (CHASSIS NO. 1958-08-015C) $125,000.00 7 1954 Kaiser-Darrin Roadster (CHASSIS NO. 161-001390) $125,000.00 8 2003 Ferrari 575M Maranello (CHASSIS NO. ZFFBV55AX30133721) $115,000.00 9 1968 Chevrolet Camaro 396/325 Convertible (CHASSIS NO. 124678L341611) $110,000.00 10 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (CHASSIS NO. 121.040.6503335) $110,000.00 Image (C) RM Sotheby's

By Andrew Nabors – March 02, 2021

Polaris Ranger EV Arrives This December

Santa Claus might sneak up on you thanks to an electric sled because the Polaris Ranger EV arrives this December. As the first collaboration between Polaris and Zero Motorcycles, it will herald the electric revolution in Powersports. The Ranger lineup is their best-seller, aimed at those who work or play outdoors. CEO Mike Speetzen mentions their "rEV'd up" plan will see Polaris opening a new segment for the industry. Another power player is Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World. His recent announcement to sell and service electric utilities from Lordstown Motors is heating up the American EV market. Are you ready for high-voltage in the backcountry? Tell us why or why not in the comments below. Image (C) Polaris Off-Road

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 01, 2021

The New C SEED 165" 4K Television Self-Folds Away In Seco...

What is better than having a brand new 165” inch television? The answer is, one that can fold up and put itself away in seconds. If you think you read that wrong, you did not. Designer Stefan Pani and the rest of the team at C SEED, leaders in pioneering the folding screens, are excited to announce the release of the M1 4K 165 Inch TV. The completely new visual setup features an Adaptive Gap Calibration system, which is an automatic distance measuring and calibration system that creates totally seamless foldable 4K/8K surfaces, free from any visible gaps. Every C SEED M1 comes with onboard 2.1 high-end audio for total quality sound to match the screen´s unparalleled visual quality, with the sound-bar organically integrated into the frame design. The blend of premium audio output and C SPEED’s MicroLED Technology allows for the best at-home viewing experience possible. At the push of a button, the floor opens and within seconds, a sleek column of machined aluminum rises silently from the ground, unfolding a 165inch screen of impressive size and settles down smoothly to provide you with an overwhelming entertainment experience. The C SEED M1 4K 165 Inch TV is currently available in four different finishes for the price of $400,000. For more Gear news, Check out Lexus x RTFKT Design A Futuristic One-of-One Sneaker To Celebrate The 2021 IS

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By Andrew Nabors – February 25, 2021

Fast Financials 2021: Fisker Recharged By Foxconn

What if your electric car could be an extension of your iPhone? Wall Street loves the idea, and our latest Fast Financials looks at how Fisker is being recharged by Foxconn. Our friend Henrik Fisker and his team are on the verge of unveiling the Ocean, a sustainable electric SUV. Their next model will be a collaboration Foxconn, the manufacturer of the iPhone. Sure enough, as soon as we opened the press release, TradingView allowed us to see Fisker's market cap reach for the sky. Assembly expertise will be handled by Magna, the same Austrian artists that build the G-Wagen, Supra, and BMW Z4, so expect to see incredible technology and attention to detail. He teased something new back in December, so stay with us for more updates! Fisker Chart by TradingView Image (C) Fisker

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