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

Aston Martin News

Aston Martin news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily with model reveals, first drives, auction results and current market values. Our coverage runs across the Vantage, the DB12 and the DBX707, alongside landmark engineering projects such as the Valkyrie and Valhalla. We also follow the earlier cars that established the marque's name for British craftsmanship. Reporting comes from first-drive access and from the auction floors where these cars change hands. One thing separates this from other luxury sports car news. Many of the Aston Martins covered here are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, so the story and the asking price appear together. For Aston Martin news today, and the performance car news around it, start below.

By Edward Jones – March 23, 2021

Hackett London Continues Aston Martin Partnership, Launch...

Aston Martin has announced that Hackett London has renewed their long-term partnership up until 2024. Aston Martin and Hackett London are continuing their partnership which started all the way back in 2004. What's more, this partnership now includes the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team. That means Hackett London will be the official travel wear and officewear supplier for the team and will even outfit Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll. To start off this new chapter between the two brands, Hackett London is launching the Aston Martin Racing by Hackett collection for Spring Summer 2021. This collection will include a range of men's clothing that revolves around a passion for the automotive world and motorsports. Items within the collection include polos, gilets, windbreakers, sweat pants and more. The Spring Summer 2021 Aston Martin Racing by Hackett collection is available now at Hackett.com. Also be sure to check out the new Porsche 911 GT3 apparel collection.

By Andrew Nabors – March 22, 2021

Aston Martin Unveils Vantage F1 Edition

More power and new suspension tuning will improve your lap times! Six decades ago, Aston Martin decided to leave Formula 1 racing. Now that they've returned, a new Vantage has been long overdue. Aston Martin has unveiled the Vantage F1 Edition with 25 additional horsepower. Now with 535 hp under the bonnet, the suspension and aerodynamics were also dialed up. Torque from the AMG 4-liter is unchanged at 505 lb-ft, but it is available across a wider rpm range. To create the ultimate street-legal Aston Martin, the springs, shocks and sway bars are all-new. Rolling on 21" forged wheels, Pirelli developed a propretary tread for this beast. Suspension mounting points have been reinforced and braces were added to the steering gear. The only potential gripe is that this car is only offered with the 8-speed automatic. The ZF box sends power to a 2.93 differential in order to keep rpm low at cruising speeds. The body is essentially the same as the F1 Safety Car we first saw in Bahrain, and the upgrades have added 440 lbs of downforce. Pricing starts at the equivalent of $193,494 with deliveries slated for the Summer. If this is where Aston Martin is heading, sign us up! Shop Aston Martin Vantage Images (C) Aston Martin

By Andrew Nabors – March 18, 2021

Aston Martin Teases Something New For March 22

Almost five years ago we were thrilled to see the Vantage evolve into a track missile, so could it happen again? Social Media is buzzing because Aston Martin has teased something new for March 22nd. The AMR lineup consists of their performance-minded cars at an easier price-point. Some of the sensibilities are withheld to keep weight down and a manual transmission is standard equipment. If I had to guess, we are looking at the silhouette of the 2022 Vantage AMR Pro. This year's Vantage offers 503 horsepower through a seven-speed dog-leg. You also have 505 lb-ft of torque at almost any rpm thanks the 4-liter V8. The twin-turbo engine is built by AMG and this is the only way you can have it with three pedals. Could this new car have more power from the Black Series? Anything is possible, so check out these great offers from our dealers and stay with us for all your Aston Martin news. View All Aston Martin Vantage For Sale Image (C) Aston Martin

By Andrew Nabors – March 08, 2021

Aston Martin Unveils 2021 F1 Safety Cars

Pacing the world's most popular motorsport is not an easy task. You need to be very fast and highly visible, so Aston Martin has unveiled the 2021 Formula 1 Safety Cars. Next weekend the eyes of the world will be on Bahrain, with the Vantage and DBX leading the way. Their first SUV has 550 horsepower and it is loaded with two screens to view live race coverage. Riding shotgun is Dr. Ian Roberts, and a local doctor is also onboard. They have ample room for ambulatory care, along with the ability to carry a driver to the care center. The Vantage needs to take the field ASAP, so engineers found 25 more horsepower under the hood. Now with 535 hp and 505 lb-ft, it reaches 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The new aerodynamics offer 340 lbs of downforce at 124 mph, and the steering, suspension, and chassis were also reinforced. Hopefully, the Q division will make this kit available for us, so tell us which races you are looking forward to this season. Shop Aston Martin Images (C) Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.

By Edward Jones – March 03, 2021

Aston Martin's Formula 1 Car Has Finally Been Revealed

The wait is finally over as Aston Martin has finally unveiled the new race car for the 2021 Formula One season. Named the AMR21, this new race car will carry 108 years of racing history behind it. It comes in an absolutely gorgeous Aston Martin Racing Green livery that is just jaw-dropping. Matching the car are the suits that both Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel will be wearing. Even if the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team won't be your favorite team, you can't deny that the AMR21 is going to be a beauty on the circuits. For some, they've been waiting to root for Aston Martin in Formula 1 for decades as this will be the first car in the championship to wear the wings since 1960. That's 61 years of absence! Executive Chairman, Aston Martin Lagonda, Lawrence Stroll said: “I’ve dreamed about this day for a very long time. I’ve always been a car guy and I’ve always loved racing, too. My first dream was to own a Formula One™ team. My second dream was to acquire a significant shareholding in Aston Martin Lagonda. Today is about the merging of those two dreams. So, as I say, today is all about dreams, and it shows that dreams really can come true, in the shape of our new AMR21." See All Aston Martins For Sale Source: Aston Martin

By Andrew Nabors – February 22, 2021

Aston Martin Names Girard-Perregaux As Official Watch Par...

Haute Horlogerie and hand-built supercars are literally a timeless collaboration, and that's why Aston Martin has named Girard-Perregaux as their official watch partner. The first timepiece will coincide with branding on the Cognizant F1 cars this season. Both brands appeal to a discerning clientele, and the press release notes the same functionality in the styling of the original DBR1 from 1956. These new watches represent 230 years of innovative design and style, so check out our latest Wheels x Wardrobe featuring the DBX. As soon as these new timepieces are released you will see them here first. Aston Martin For Sale Images (C) Aston Martin

By Andrew Nabors – January 28, 2021

Aston Martin Is Ready To Race At Daytona

Although it is chilly outside, Speedweeks is heating up here in Florida. With teams preparing for the Rolex 24, Aston Martin is ready to race at Daytona. Two factory-backed teams will field the latest Vantage GT3 in the historic race, while the Vantage GT4 will star in the Michelin Pilot Challenge on Friday. This 4-hour opening event is a kickoff to a long weekend, and the weather is looking great. Team TF Sport has won LeMans in GTE, and they are excited about their Daytona debut. Car #23 starts from 7th place, and #97 starts in 13th spot. They will have their work cut out for them with Corvette Racing starting 1st and 2nd, so we're looking for a great race. Aston Martin Vantage For Sale Images (C) Aston Martin Racing

By Edward Jones – January 04, 2021

Aston Martin Formula 1 Team Makes Return on March 21, 2021

It's been six decades since the name "Aston Martin" has officially been in a Grand Prix. While they have taken part as a sponsor for Red Bull, Aston Martin is now back with their very own Formula 1 team. This new team will make its debut on March 21, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. Their two drivers will be none other than Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, a pair who have individually proven themselves as top-tier drivers. What's next for Formula 1 fans in regards to the Aston Martin Formula 1 team is the unveiling of their car which will be shown to all in February, although a specific date has not been given as of yet. Be sure to check back with us for more information as it's announced. Lawrence Stroll, the Aston Martin Lagonda Executive Chairman, has this to say regarding the Formula 1 team: “Formula 1 is a hugely powerful platform that will play a key part in the overall Aston Martin strategy as we seek to take the company forward. It is a truly global sport with a huge audience that we believe can help reignite the brand and further increase its desirability all over the world. This is a brand that has already had huge success in top-level international motorsport such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and now we have an opportunity to write a new page in the history books. That’s a hugely exciting prospect for anyone who is a lover of the Aston Martin brand, for fans of Formula 1 and the sport itself.” See All Aston Martins For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 21, 2020

Aston Martin Unveils DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Cars

Of all the tragedies we have endured this year, the loss of Agent 007 was untimely, to say the least. But his most famous vehicle lives on, as Aston Martin has unveiled the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars. Agent Q's famous gadgets were precisely replicated to function as the movie props, unfortunately, the machine guns fire compressed air. Skilled coachbuilders are using original tooling to assemble 25 of these machines, priced at $3.5 million each. Given the value of the original Aston Martin DB5 for sale, it's a bargain. Click the link below to find our Aston Martin dealer near you and stay with us for all your 007 news. Browse Aston Martin For Sale " width="680"> Image (C) Aston Martin

By Edward Jones – December 07, 2020

Exclusive Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition Revealed

Bowmore, the whisky distillery, and Aston Martin have teamed up for a special and exclusive model that will be limited to just 18 examples. The new Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition is made possible through Q by Aston Martin's extensive customization capabilities. Each example can be finished in either Bowmore Blue or Xenon Grey. Both of these colors are joined by exquisite copper inlays from the original whisky still. Inside, customers can pick either an Obsidian Monotone or Copper Tan Metallic/Obsidian Duotone interior, both of which a rejoined by Bowmore Tweed. And, just like the exterior, the interior also sports copper trim from the original Bowmore still. Each owner of the DBX Bowmore Edition will be invited to an exclusive Aston Martin Art of Living experience in Scotland where they will be presented with their new DBX and taken on a 170-mile trip through the Scottish countryside. Their goal will be to reach the island of Islay where they will be taken on a private tour of the Bowmore Distillery and given the chance to hand-fill their own bottle of a 39-year-old from the cask. The cherry-on-top of this tour is the visit to the No ! Vaults, the oldest warehouse in the world that has seen the like of VIPs including the Royal Family. Orders for the new Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition can be placed now, with delivery expected in Q4 2021. See All Aston Martin DBX For Sale

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