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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 silver 2023 Aston Martin Vantage coupe is parked indoors on a light-colored floor with beige curtains in the background.

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This is the end of performance perfection as we know it.

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Satin AMR Green Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition Roadster ...

Made to satisfy the needs of any F1 fan, this Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition will give you the on-track feel you're looking for.

By Andrew Nabors – February 12, 2020

Aston Martin Unveils 2020 Vantage Roadster

When we first encountered the latest Vantage in 2018, it was unanimous that it would look amazing without a roof. The best cars are worth the wait, and that is why Aston Martin has unveiled the new 2020 Vantage Roadster. Normally their convertible models are distinguished with the "Volante" suffix, but this one is not like the others. A new Z-fold cloth top can drop in under 7 seconds, even up to 31 mph. Not only is it the fastest powered top of all time, it exposes the 70th anniversary of the Vantage. A new "vane grille" is a welcomed throwback from their black honeycomb motif. Several new wheel choices accompany new interior colors, and they saved the best for last. The AMG 4.0L twin-turbo V8 offers 505 lb-ft of torque and 510 horsepower to a 7-speed manual! Of course, the boring 8-speed automatic is optional, but shifting gears with this much power will be addictive.Click the button below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Aston Martin updates Browse All Aston Martin Vantage for Sale https://www.facebook.com/astonmartin/videos/536524763884189/

By Andrew Nabors – July 10, 2017

Aston Martin Reveals V8 Vantage GTE Soapbox Racer

Riding high on the resounding win at LeMans, Aston Martin Racing arrived ready for yesterday's race: "24 Seconds of Le Ally Pally". Red Bull's Soapbox Race took place yesterday in London, and it was improvisation at its best. While most entries fielded whimsical rides, Aston-Martin arrived in a gorgeous scaled model of the new V8 Vantage GTE. A replica of the car that won LeMans, it was designed around Alex Summers, their Senior Engineer at Prototype Operations. Darren Turner and Jonny Adam were the drivers responsible for the checkered flag, so they were tapped to head up the team.Also Check Out: Porsche 911R vs Aston-Martin V12 Vantage SFor some reason, every other automaker passed up on the opportunity for great exposure. Red Bull's events are watched the world over, so kudos to Aston Martin's marketing team. Sparing no expense for the downhill build, the team started with a tube-frame chassis. It could be chrome-moly tubing or leftover exhaust parts, but the results are the same. Center-lock alloy wheels and rear disc brakes are straight from the Vantage, and the one-piece composite body was painted in a full-size spray booth. It was a valiant undertaking, but first place eluded the team. Finishing 2nd, they lost to "Brooklands Special" in a replica of the 24 Liter Napier Bentley. Gravity is a powerful tool at our disposal, so perhaps Red Bull could combine the jump from space with soap box cars or Flutag for the ultimate in acceleration. If you need inspiration for your build, our dealers have a nice selection of V8 and V12 Vantages for sale, so stay with us for all your Aston-Martin updates.

By Andrew Nabors – June 15, 2017

Aston-Martin Reveals The Vantage AMR

Last year's World Endurance Championship was as nail-biting as ever. All the usual players competed on the world stage, which saw Aston-Martin Racing blowing the doors off of the competition. Owning an Aston-Martin is a goal worth reaching for, but racing takes it to another level. To transform such a masterpiece into a track car might seem to be putting pearls before swine. Nevertheless, the notion of the gentleman racer has not escaped Aston-Martin's management. In order to lower the barriers to entering motorsports, Aston-MartinIn order to lower the barriers to entering motorsports, Aston-Martin have created a new range of cars aimed at all-out performance. Sharing the name with their motorsports division, AMR will have two primary objectives. The first will be limited production of performance models, the first being the new Vantage AMR. The secondary goal is to cultivate the the AMR Pro race cars. Those are the track-ready models built by Q division of Aston-Martin Special Operations.To make sure the new series makes an impact, the new Vantage AMR will arrive with a 430 hp V8 or a 595 hp V12. The latter has received 30 more horses than previous examples and it can be had with a seven-speed manual. A six-speed box is optional on the V8 cars along with automatics if you really don't care about driving. The ultimate examples will have the AMR 'Halo Pack' that is inspired by the WEC winning #95 Vantage GTE. It is finished in Stirling Green (in honor of Stirling Moss) and Lime Green. As a proper finishing touch, the badge can be enameled with the Union Jack for no additional cost. To save on weight, some of the interior pleasantries have been deleted. Forged wheels and titanium exhaust will also be trademarks for the brand. Both engins are available in coupe or convertible bodies that will begin production this fall. Pricing will start at €126,995, or around $141,000. We applaud them on this new endeavor, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel.

By Edward Jones – November 07, 2016

2018 Aston Martin Vantage's New Engine Heard for First Time

The Aston Martin Vantage has remained relatively untouched for quite some time, but the English automaker is shaking up the model with the inclusion of the Mercedes-AMG GT's M178 V8 engine.(Related - Reviewed: Aston Martin AM37 Boat)While the exacts of the car still remain under wraps, AutoEvolution's spy photographers caught the car being tested on Nurburgring roads. They also suggest that with this engine, a new gearbox and chassis, this year's Vantage could be quicker than the V12 Vantage.Aside from the engine, the new Vantage is also getting a decent facelift. Aston Martin has noted before that the Vantage would take after the DB10, and this video seems to conclude that.Hear the new Vantage for yourself by clicking play below.All V8 Vantage For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 30, 2016

Bespoke Aston Martin Swedish Forest Edition V8 Vantage S

Aston Martin's bespoke program, Q by Aston Martin, takes commissions on specially customized vehicles for their model line-up. Each bespoke car they create comes as a one-off that the owners can be proud to say is their very own creation. The customization branch's latest creation comes from the green trees of Sweden and was commissioned by Aston Martin Stockholm.(Related - Going 200 mph in an Aston Martin One 77)This new car, called the Swedish Forest Edition V8 Vantage S was "inspired by the colors of the forest." This inspiration can be seen in green carbon fiber trimming, wood interior accents and green leather. To learn more about Q by Aston Martin, visit their website. View V8 Vantages For Sale

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