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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 Tyler Rampersaud – November 21, 2025

1-of-1 Pink 2015 Dodge Viper GTC Listed For Auction On dR...

The Dodge Viper is already a unique performance car, this one takes it up a notch. With a massive V10 engine under the hood, and a look throughout its generations that has made it one of the most iconic and recognizable American performance cars in existence, the Dodge Viper is a unique statement of automotive performance. Since its discontinuation, nothing has emerged that is quite like it, and it remains one of the world’s most desirable and unique examples of American Muscle. While its fifth generation was in production, Dodge introduced the “1 of 1” Viper Color Collection program, through which customers could choose virtually any visual aspect of their car to make it a truly unique one-off, and one of those cars, this 2015 Dodge Viper GTC, is up for auction on duPont REGISTRY LIVE right now. It’s finished in a unique pink exterior, with a black leather interior, Harman Kardon audio, and plenty of other desirable features. Of course, an 8.4-liter V10 engine lies under the long hood, and it sends 645 horsepower to the rear wheels. With 17,454 miles on its odometer, this incredible V10 American performance machine is one of the last examples of one of the most iconic performance cars ever, and one of the most unique Dodge Vipers ever made. If you’re interested in owning this one-off pink 2015 Dodge Viper, bidding online on duPont REGISTRY LIVE ends in five days. Click below to view more details about this incredible American performance machine and bid now. View Listing & Bid Now

A black convertible sports car with red racing stripes and a rear spoiler is parked on a paved driveway with greenery in the background. Bid On This 2010 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster ACR With Just 20 Miles today!.

By Khris Bharath – July 18, 2025

Bid On This Limited-Run 2010 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster ...

Besides the Chevy Corvette and the Ford GT, the Dodge Viper is, without a doubt, one of America’s most aggressive performance machines. Within that legacy of simplicity and big power, the ACR or American Club Racer introduced in 1999, emerged as the most track-capable version of the Viper as it sharpened its immense power reserves with serious aerodynamic and suspension upgrades. This 2010 Viper SRT-10 Roadster ACR, with just 20 miles, is a remarkably well-preserved example of that philosophy. Listed through Sotheby’s Motorsport, this particular example was originally delivered to Woodhouse Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Blair, Nebraska, and it remains a single-owner car. Currently located in Jordan, Minnesota, the features factory badging designating it as number #19 of 20 Woodhouse Limited Editions, created to honor the top-selling dealer by model. Given the ultra-low miles, the car shows minimal signs of age or wear and comes with complete documentation. At its core sits the massive 8.4-liter V10 that produces 600 horsepower, with power routed to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission. A 3.07 rear axle ratio and anti-spin differential help manage that power effectively, while the sport suspension should provide confident handling. This Roadster also features the desirable Customer Preferred Package 21B, a $14,550 upgrade that includes the full Competition Group. What this means is: two-piece lightweight slotted rotors, a front splitter spoiler, rear winged spoiler, deleted fog lamps, ACR badging, and a stiffened front stabilizer bar. Finished in Viper Black with a contrasting red stripe running along the length of the aggressive bodywork and the carbon-wing, the car features a black softtop and rides on forged Sidewinder wheels 18 inches up front, 19 inches at the rear, fitted to 295/30ZR18 and 355/30ZR19 performance tires. Aero plates and ground effects on the front fascia complete the package. Additional options include the Protection Group ($450), which adds embroidered mats and a custom car cover, and the ACR Driver Stripe package ($1,650), which gives the car its distinctive visual look. Inside, the Viper offers a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, air conditioning, and a 7-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with a 310-watt amplifier. The ACR represents one of the most focused builds in the Viper lineup. With 20 miles, complete factory options, and exceptional provenance, this SRT-10 Roadster presents you with a rare opportunity to acquire a near-new American performance icon, and with the top down, you’ll be able to hear that V10 even better. View Listing & Bid Now

By Edward Jones – September 15, 2021

Barrett-Jackson Houston Auction: 2021 Dodge Challenger SR...

Presented by Barrett-Jackson - This 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock features just 8 actual miles and is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The supercharged V8 produces 807hp at 6,300 rpm and 707 ft/lbs of torque at 4,500 rpm. Dodge claims the Super Stock to be among the world's quickest and most powerful muscle cars ever made, and the Challenger more than proves it with a 0-60 time of 3.25 seconds and a 10.5-second quarter-mile. The Super Stock comes with widebody fender flares as standard, adding 3.5 inches to the car's width, and rides on 20x9.5-inch SRT Low Gloss Performance Wheels wrapped in 275/40ZR20 all-season performance tires. Braking comes courtesy of 4-piston brake calipers clamping down on 14.2-inch vented rotors. Finished in Pitch Black over a black interior, this well-optioned Super Stock features a rear seat delete, Redeye badging, satin black rear spoiler and 220 mph primary speedometer. Along with performance features, this Super Stock also comes with its fair share of luxury for an ultra-high-performance car. Interior features include U-Connect 4C with an 8.4-inch display, premium Alpine speakers, 6-way adjustable power driver's seat, heated front seats, SRT leather steering wheel, integrated voice command with Bluetooth and a media hub with two USB and auxiliary ports. Become a bidder today! It’s not too late to register to bid or purchase tickets for Barrett-Jackson's Houston Auction, this Thursday-Saturday at NRG Center. Hundreds of cars are selling with No Reserve! View Listing

By Edward Jones – February 16, 2021

GAA Classic Cars Feb. 2021 Auction: 1970 Challenger 440/4...

Presented by GAA Classic Cars - Going up for auction at GAA Classic Cars' February 2021 event is one of only 34 1970 Challenger 440/4-Speed Convertibles ever produced. This example is finished in the Go Mango Orange paint that has black racing stripes running down the center and its sides. Matching those stripes is the black convertible top. Inside is Bright White upholstery that has contrasting carpet in black. The driver of this classic muscle car will also be delighted to see the correct Rallye Gauges and correct Chrysler Solid State radio. If you open the hood, you'll find an original 440 cubic inch RB V8 that follows a correct 2536430 casting number and October 31st, 1969 casting date with a matching partial VIN. And, aesthetically, the bright engine bay presents as expected, from its correct decals and original oil pan all the way to its factory inspection marks. It has been upgraded with a date-coded factory-correct six-pack induction. All the original 4 barrel components and distributor come with the car if the new owner wishes to convert back. This 1970 Challenger 440/4-Speed Convertible will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars' February 2021, which run from the 25th to the 27th. For more information about the event, click here. View Listing

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