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 29, 2018

2017 Aston Martin DB11 for Sale in Frosted Glass Blue

Finding an Aston Martin DB11 for sale that you like shouldn't be that tough of a feat considering how customizable they are. But if you have a craving for the "blues," we have the perfect DB11 for sale for you. Available at Excell Auto Group is a pristine used 2017 DB11 for sale.This example comes with a Frosted Glass Blue exterior that matches a clear sky perfectly. The Gloss Black roof panel creates a two-tone appearance, a $1,595 option that seems to be popular amongst DB11's. Matching the exterior is an Aurora Blue interior with contrasting white tones. Champagne seatbelt, a $570 option, is another white tone addition to this DB11's cabin. On the darker side, the interior's high-gloss chopped carbon inlay ($1,095 option) is a perfect pair for the lighter tones.Aesthetics aside, the heart of this DB11 is a powerful twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 engine that's new to the company. The amount of power created by this engine rates in at a mighty 600 bhp and 516 lb-ft of torque. All of this power surges through an eight-speed automatic ZF transmission that uses quick shifts to accomplish a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.9 seconds. However, all prospective owners should know that the DB11 is more than just fast in a straight line. Aston Martin's engineers have equipped the car with adaptive damping and a series of dynamic settings. When combined, these features make the DB11 a blast on the track.Excell Auto Group is offering this Aston Martin DB11 for sale at a price of just $203,900. Considering how many options this DB11, that price is quite fantastic. It's a one-owner, 100 percent Carfax certified English sports car that needs a new driver. Is it you?Learn More About This Aston Martin DB11 for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 02, 2018

Aston Martin Valkyrie With Moon Dust Paint Is 1 of 1

If you are a successful entrepreneur, you deserve the finer things in life. If your collection of supercars needs a new centerpiece, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is a fine choice. But for one discerning collector, he wanted something out of this world.Delivery of Kris Singh’s New Pagani Huayra BC Macchina VolanteOur friend Kris Singh is an avid collector of supercars. His recent visit to Aston Martin included a meeting with Miles Nurnberger, their Design Chief. Wednesday was the first Super Moon of 2018, so naturally, their lunar conversation involved the design of the Valkyrie. Being that it would be amazing with Earth in the background, Kris had an idea. Aston Martin is no stranger to metallic paints, but instead of metal flake, Chris will be providing moon dust.Lamborghini Veneno Delivered to U.S.The brave Apollo astronauts risked it all to bring back samples of the lunar surface to help advance scientific causes. Even if you are naive enough to believe it was a hoax, moon rocks occasionally fall to earth as meteorites. The moon is a punching bag for asteroids, and it the scars on its surface are proof that it protects us from the big hits. Often times it gets a brutal beating that is hard enough to spray us with debris. Moon meteors are rare, so that makes them incredibly expensive.Wednesday's Super Moon had tinges of crimson, so Kris named the color Karosserie Lunar Red. The brilliant finish will have polished crystals of feldspar, which makes up much of the moon's surface. It will also ensure the Valkyrie will be the only one of its kind, and it will probably sell for a stellar price one day. This seems like a much better idea than sending a Tesla Roadster to Mars, so as soon as we have updates, you will see them here first. Have a great weekend everyone.Aston Martin For Sale Aston Martin For Sale (on Earth) BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!! My visit to Aston Martin was very inspiring. A few weeks ago @milesnurnberger had commented to me that a spec we were discussing reminded him of a Space Ship. I immediately responded, “The Valkyrie makes a Space Ship look like a Car!” ?? That got me thinking... How do I raise the bar of my spec to be worthy of Valkyrie level? ? If ever there was a machine that could grip the ground and rip around the craters of the Moon like it’s on rails, it would be the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Unfortunately, science won’t allow me to be the first person to drive on the Moon (gravity is still an issue, they say), but nothing is stopping me from bringing the Moon to my Valkyrie!! ? I have sourced, gotten proper verification, and purchased an actual Rock from the Moon which will be ground to dust and used as a key ingredient in Karosserie Lunar Red which will be the color of my Aston Martin Valkyrie. This will be the first car ever to feature a paint formula that includes actual ingredients from #SPACE !!! Thank You to everyone at @astonmartinlagonda, @redbullracing and Karosserie in Wayne, PA. More renderings will be released in the coming weeks and months. We will also document and share some of the process of making actual Moon Rock part of this very special color being developed exclusively for the most special car of my lifetime: The Aston Martin Valkyrie. ??? Thanks to ?@marcovanoverbeeke? for helping refine my spec and providing me with renderings and thanks to ?@capitolsunset? for setting the mood of the image on the Moon. More to come!! #ToTheMoonAndBack #? ??? ______________________________________________________ #AstonMartin #Valkyrie #AstonMartinValkyrie #Moon #MoonRock #KarosserieLunarRed #KrisSingh #Red #BloodRedMoon #ToTheMoonAndBack #ComingSoon #2019 #RaiseTheBar #NASA #RedBull #RedBullRacing #AdrianNewey #MarekReichman #MilesNurnberger #AndyPalmer #AstonMartinRules #GameChanger #LunarRed #F1 #Redhead #RedWillNeverBeTheSame #TheRedOfAllReds #BLESSED ______________________________________________________ PS - No information or details regarding my source, purchase price, weight of the Moon Rock, or other, will be shared. A post shared by Kris Singh (@lamborghiniks) on Feb 1, 2018 at 4:48am PST

By Andrew Nabors – November 22, 2017

Aston Martin Launches New 2018 Vantage Configurator

Timing is everything when it comes to the launch of a new car. Aston Martin knows how their customers make a decision. Choosing the proper time to launch the new Vantage was critical to making a statement, and the car is causing a sensation. The new Aston Martin Vantage is the one we've been waiting for. A hand-built masterpiece with a price that won't break the bank. To get a better idea of its possibilities, a Vantage configurator is available to make your dreams closer to reality.Staring at only $150,000, the Vantage enters a highly competitive segment of V8 powered luxury coupes. The value comes from the AMG V8 under the bonnet. The latest 4.0 liter V8 from Mercedes-AMG is a compact powerhouse. The same engine found across the AMG lineup, it offers 503 hp and 505 lb-ft of torque in a light & efficient package. It is mounted lower and farther back than the previous Vantage, and thanks to the rear-mounted automatic transmission, the car is neutrally balanced.Next-Gen 2018 Aston Martin Vantage Is Here! View Vantage For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 22, 2017

Aston Martin Releases Video Made by Famous Photographer "...

Rankin has been a highlight in the photography world, having published around 30 books and photographed subjects like the Queen of England. Now, he can add the new Aston Martin Vantage to his long list of subjects he has photographed. In a new set of photos, Rankin captures the new Vantage in a way no other human behind a camera could. The idea behind the photoshoot was to capture the car as the "archetypal hunter" and using the ethos of "beautiful won't be tamed." These photos and the video spanned across two shoots and were taken at both the Atlanta Motorsports Park and in Rankin's Studio. You can view the video below by clicking play.All Aston Martins for Sale

By Edward Jones – November 21, 2017

Surprise: 2018 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Race Car Revealed

Right off of the heels of Aston Martin releasing the new 2018 Vantage, the English automaker has also decided to show the world the new Vantage GTE race car. This new race car was developed alongside the road-going Vantage and has already undergone 8,000 miles of testing that includes two tests lasting 30 hours. Looks like it's ready for any 24-hour race. Powering the car is the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine found in its street-legal brethren. However, the powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics have been greatly altered to make it a much more race-ready car. Expect to see the new Vantage GTE taking part in the 2018 WEC.Aston Martins for Sale

By Edward Jones – November 21, 2017

Next-Gen 2018 Aston Martin Vantage is Finally Here

Aston Martin has been teasing the new Vantage for weeks now, but we're finally here with the official unveiling of the new English sportscar. Here are a few highlights: Redesigned interior and exterior Brand-new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine First Aston Martin with an Electronic Rear Differential Top speed of 195 mph Aston Martin Announces Valkyrie AMR Pro Track CarThe new design of the Vantage is quite self-explanatory. Overall, the entirety of the new Vantage is brand-new, giving the model a fresh look that it's been in need of. The interior has also been revamped with new style and, most importantly, Aston Martin has increased the car's headroom. Customers can buy the new Vantage now with an MSRP of $149,995. Deliveries are expected in the second quarter of 2018.

By Edward Jones – November 16, 2017

Aston Martin Announces Valkyrie AMR Pro Track Car

The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the English automaker's extraordinarily extreme hypercar that will set a new precedent within the company. Today, Aston Martin has announced a new take on the Valkyrie, one that is more track-focused: the Valkyrie AMR Pro. While the road-going Valkyrie was restrained by the limitations created by making it road-legal, this new AMR Pro breaks free from any limits.Of the changes, the ones you'll see right off the bat are found on the exterior. The new appearance of the Valkyrie AMR Pro is created by a suite of new aerodynamic surfaces. Larger front and rear wings dominate the new hypercar's expression, while more minute modifications can be found across its body.Powering the car is a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter Cosworth V12 engine that has more power and torque than the road-going Valkyrie - exact figures have not been released as of yet. However, Aston Martin has stated that the Valkyrie AMR Pro will reach a top speed close to 250 mph.Coolest Cars in the WorldThose who buy the Valkyrie AMR Pro will go through a rigorous development program that's tailored to their personal abilities. What's more, facilities used by Aston Martin Red BUll Racing's F1 drivers will be available to the new owners of the Valkyrie AMR Pro.Only 25 examples of the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro will be created, but they have all been purchased. Expect deliveries in 2020.

By Edward Jones – November 01, 2017

Aston Martin is Sending the Vanquish S with a Special Edi...

To celebrate the final days of the Vanquish S, Aston Martin is creating a special edition called the Vanquish S Ultimate. Making the Vanquish S Ultimate stand out from the crowd are three different color schemes that were created by Aston Martin's design team.Powering this special edition is the same 6.0-liter V12 engine found in the standard Vanquish S. This means the Vanquish S Ultimate will have 595 bhp routed through an 8-speed Touchtronic III automatic transmission.Aston Martin Unveils Vanquish S Volante Tom Brady Signature Edition

By Edward Jones – October 24, 2017

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake Fully Revealed

Aston Martin's fourth addition to the new Vanquish Zagato is the unbelievably lovely Shooting Brake variant. The English automaker has recently released new images of the Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake, giving the world the best look yet at what seems to be the final variant in the Vanquish Zagato lineup.Powering the car, which will be produced just 99 times, is a massive V12 engine (no turbos here) that produces 600 horsepower. Joining the V12, in terms of hardware, is an adaptive suspension system that has shocks and springs that have been optimized for each variant. I can assume that the new Aston Martin Shooting Brake will have its suspension set for a butter-like drive.

By Andrew Nabors – October 18, 2017

Aston Martin Vulcan #14 For Sale

One of the best ways to increase demand is to limit the supply. That's why Aston Martin only built 24 examples of the Vulcan. Using the wild One-77 as a learning experience, they developed a one-piece carbon fiber tub that is only 396 lbs. The end result of a 9 person team, each tub was built in four days, requiring three trips through the Autoclave.Extensive computer modeling allowed the rear suspension, transmission, and spoiler to share the same mounting points. This is just one of the ways strength was optimized and weight was saved. For power, they turned to the GT3 division of Aston Martin Racing. Sure they could have added turbos or a supercharger to the 6.0 liter, but that would be too easy. In order to reach 800 horsepower, a new 7.0 liter V12 needed its own block, heads, and internals. Cosworth supplied the electronics in a unique format. The computer allows for 3 power levels so drivers can adapt to changing conditions.The big V12 sits behind the front wheels to provide an optimal weight distribution, and it is connected to a brutal Xtrac 6-speed sequential transmission. The straight-cut gears provide a rewarding soundtrack, as you shift from paddles on the steering wheel. Inboard suspension with DSSV shocks and adjustable sway bars make for comfort and performance in the same space. They could have used T45 steel for the roll cage. Instead, they went with 15 CDV 6 aerospace steel to save 13 lbs in the chassis. No detail was overlooked, which is why all 24 examples of the Vulcan are guaranteed to never depreciate. If you are looking for an investment, #14 is available by Kaaimans International. It is located in the United Kingdom with 200 miles on the odometer. Click on the link below for all the details and stay with us for more great Aston Martins.Learn More

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