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 Khris Bharath – September 09, 2026

Aston Martin and Brough Superior Unveil the 300-Unit Street-Legal AMB 002

Aston Martin and Brough Superior have unveiled the AMB 002 Roadster, the first street-legal motorcycle produced by the two British performance marques, with production limited to 300 units and deliveries scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2027. The AMB 002 follows the track-only AMB 001, introduced in 2019, and the AMB 001 Pro, which arrived in 2022. The new machine was designed and engineered from scratch, with no carry-over componentry from either predecessor. duPont REGISTRY has also previously covered a 2022 AMB 001 that was once offered through Sotheby's Motorsport (SOMO). The design is without a doubt one of the most striking elements of this motorcycle, and the AMB 002 retains much of the visual drama of a concept motorcycle. A single round headlamp sits deep within a sculpted carbon-fiber nose, while exposed carbon weave, open bodywork and intricate wheel designs leave much of the machine's structure on display. A compact circular digital display, thin-stalk mirrors and a neatly integrated rear plate carrier provide the necessary road-going hardware without substantially changing its track-bred appearance. Aston Martin's design team has also applied several elements from its cars. The familiar side strake extends through the bodywork toward the headlamp, while twin oval exhaust outlets carry ribbed heat sinks inspired by those on the Vanquish, DB12 S and DBX S. At the rear, individual light blades reference the Vulcan, Valkyrie and Valhalla. <- Gallery -> “It was always a long-term dream to make an Aston Martin motorcycle for the road. Combining the bold design aesthetic and pioneering engineering innovation which define. Aston Martin and Brough Superior’s work to-date, the AMB 002 is the vivid expression of our shared passion for sculptural, visceral, covetable machines.” - Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin Power comes from an all-new 1,083cc four-stroke, water-cooled V-twin producing 130 horsepower and 81 pound-feet of torque. Brough Superior designs, machines, and assembles the engine in-house at its headquarters in Toulouse, France, using CNC-machined billet cases to reduce weight. The engine mounts within a titanium backbone frame milled from a solid billet. The frame weighs approximately 11 pounds and contributes to a claimed 50:50 weight distribution. Carbon-fiber body panels and a carbon-fiber fuel tank help bring total weight to roughly 419 pounds. The motorcycle employs Brough Superior's Fior double-wishbone front suspension, an evolution of the system developed for the AMB 001 Pro. The design separates steering and braking forces, which the company says allows more precise control of front-end geometry under braking while improving stability through high-speed corners. “This motorcycle is truly one of a kind, both in its design and in the riding experience it delivers. The rider's upright posture and the completely unobstructed field of vision combine to create a unique feeling of gliding above the road with absolute confidence and complete control.” - Thierry Henriette, President of Brough Superior Motorcycles Sas The AMB 002 also arrives as Brough Superior continues developing limited-production motorcycles outside its Aston Martin partnership. That includes the Richard Mille RMB01, another track-only machine limited to 150 examples. Orders for the hand-built AMB 002 are now being accepted ahead of first deliveries in Q3 2027. Pricing has not yet been announced. View All Aston Martins for Sale Images: Aston Martin, Brough Superior

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By Tyler Rampersaud – March 22, 2022

Deliveries Begin For The New Aston Martin AMB 001 Motorcycle

An incredibly unusual and beautiful turbocharged motorcycle comes from the likes of… Aston Martin. Fans of Aston Martin know how well-versed the brand is in making beautiful, luxurious, and fast cars that ooze luxury, sophistication, and incredible performance. Aston Martin knows without a doubt how to combine style and speed on four wheels. But what about two? MUST READ: Indian Motorcycles x Super73 Launch The New eFTR Hooligan 1.2 eBike Enter the AMB 001, created in a collaboration between Aston Martin and Brough Superior, an Aston Martin-branded motorcycle of which only 100 will be made. However, it doesn’t just rely on rarity to be unique, with 180 horsepower, a carbon fiber body and subframe, and a turbocharged engine, which is something nearly unheard-of in the motorcycle world. The unique turbocharged engine provides incredible amounts of torque across much of the RPM range, and at long last, customers of the new AMB 001 motorcycle are enjoying that unique performance out on the road, as testing has been completed and Aston Martin and Brough Superior are now starting to deliver the AMB 001. It might seem crazy, but seeing a two-wheeled Aston Martin on the road is now a very real possibility. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aston Martin (@astonmartinlagonda) Source: Aston Martin

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By Edward Jones – June 24, 2020

See the New Aston Martin Motorcycle Finally In Action

We haven't seen a lot of the AMB 001 motorcycle by Aston Martin and Brough Superior since 2019, but now we know it's undergoing some serious testing. Aston Martin has announced that the AMB 001 prototype is undergoing testing thanks to as part of its development process. This track testing is allowing the team to bench test the engine and fine-tune the chassis. You can actually see the bike tested down below in a video released by Aston Martin. According to the Aston Martin, deliveries of the bike will begin being delivered later this year and only 100 examples of the bike will be created in total. "Everybody involved has managed to make tremendous progress with the development of AMB 001, despite the challenges we have all been facing," said Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman. "This special motorcycle is, like our road cars, the result of beautiful design melding with modern technology to produce a bike that any collector will be proud of." See All Aston Martins for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – November 05, 2019

Aston Martin AMB 001 Debuts in Milan

Never before has the Aston Martin badge adorned a motorcycle. That is because there has never been a 2-wheeler worthy of their efforts. Welcome to the future of v-twin superbikes, as the Aston Martin AMB 001 has debuted in Milan. Working with Brough Motorcycles in France, they have combined a carbon fiber chassis with a massive turbocharged v-twin. The result is a gorgeous machine finished in Stirling Green and Lime Essence. Conservatively rated at 180 horsepower, all 100 examples will be confined to the racetrack. Browse All Aston Martin FOr Sale Taking inspiration from the Valkyrie and the Valhalla, your new bike has arrived. Click the button above to find our Aston Martin dealer near you and stay with us for all your Aston Martin updates.

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By Edward Jones – October 24, 2019

Aston Martin Motorcycles Are Coming

For the first time ever, we'll be seeing the Aston Martin wings on a motorcycle. This is all thanks to a new partnership between the English automaker and Brough Superior. The first motorcycle that we'll see out of this partnership will be, according to a press release from Aston Martin, a "combined vision of Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman and Brough Superior CEO Thierry Henriette." We'll be getting more information on this motorcycle on November 5, 2019 at Brough Superior's stand at the EICMA. see all aston martins for sale Also Check Out: Indian Chieftain Motorcycle Inspired by Travis Pastrana & Evel Knieval Harley-Davidson Unveils Electric Balance Bikes for Tiny Riders LEGO Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Kit Announced

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