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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 Edward Jones – October 31, 2022

1965 Shelby AC Cobra 289 Featured At Kodner Galleries Boc...

Presented by Kodner Galleries. From the collection of Mr. Barry Amsdell, Boca Raton, Florida. Purchased in 2020 from a private seller in York, Nebraska, who according to a Nebraska certificate of title, purchased the Cobra in 1981 with 10,600 actual miles. Records indicate work done by Mike McClusky, McCluskey Ltd, Torrance, California in 2019 and an inspection of the Cobra by Michael McCluskey for Mr. Amsdell in December 2020. A letter dated 12-5-20 from Michael McCluskey to Mr. Amsdell "Re: Inspection of 289 Cobra CSX 2354" accompanies the Lot. No other service records are available. Since the 2020 purchase, the Cobra, as with the rest of the collection, has been stored and on display in Mr. Amsdell's Boca Raton commercial garage as seen in the photos shown here. Approval to bid on-line for this high-value auction requires pre-registration and a refundable wire transfer deposit paid directly with the auction gallery. Kodner Galleries will be offering this vehicle at their upcoming November 6th auction, which starts at 2pm. For more information, be sure to visit Kodner.com. View This Car's Listing

By Edward Jones – October 30, 2022

1965 Ford Shelby GT350 Featured At Kodner Galleries Boca ...

Presented by Kodner Galleries. The sales figures following the launch of the Ford Mustang in April of 1964 were nothing short of a phenomenon. Eighteen months into production, sales would reach nearly one million. Instead of waiting for the 'bubble to burst,' Lee Iacocca worked on the 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday' formula. Although a sales success, the early Mustangs were not the epitome of Total Performance, especially since this pony car was based on Ford's old economy car the Falcon. By this point in history, Carroll Shelby was known, trusted, and respected by Ford, thanks to his efforts in engineering the successful Cobra projects. In December 1964, the Sports Car Championship of America accepted the GT-350 into B-Production Racing. The Shelby GT-350 was unveiled by Shelby on January 27th of 1965 and during its racing career, the GT350 delivered three SCCA B-Production Championships in 1965-1967 for Ford. January 1965 was a busy month for Shelby America as Ford turned the GT-40 project over to him and two months later the company moved to the Los Angeles Airport facility for continued GT-350 production. The GT-350 began life as a White Mustang 2+2 delivered initially to Carroll Shelby's shop in Venice California from Ford's San Jose California Plant. From the collection of Mr. Barry Amsdell, Boca Raton, Florida. Purchased used in 2020 from a West Chester, Pennsylvania dealer. Mileage at the time of the 2020 purchase is unknown. Prior owner's records include parts receipts, restoration services invoices and numerous photos during and after restoration. No current service records are available for this Lot. Miscellaneous parts to accompany this Lot. Kodner Galleries will be offering this vehicle at their upcoming November 6th auction, which starts at 2pm. For more information, be sure to visit Kodner.com. View This Car's Listing

By Edward Jones – October 29, 2022

1987 Ferrari Testarossa Featured At Kodner Galleries Boca...

Presented by Kodner Galleries. The Ferrari Testarossa leaped to center stage of the automotive world in 1984 and remained there for 11 years as the world's fastest regular production car. It was the definition of 'supercar' in its era, the innovative benchmark against which all contemporary sports cars were measured. When Ferrari set about creating a replacement for the Berlinetta Boxer, a V12 engine, high performance, style and exemplary design were assumed. Ferrari dictated that luxury and practicality befitting the world's premier production sports car were also to be encompassed. Even as the Testarossa exerted a pull on the hearts and minds of car lovers. From the collection of Mr. Barry Amsdell, Boca Raton, Florida. Purchased used in 2006 from a dealer in Neptune City, New Jersey with 7500 miles. Other than the ninety seven miles since the purchase in 2006, the Testarossa, as with the rest of the collection, has been stored and on display in Mr. Amsdell's Boca Raton commercial garage as seen in the photos shown here. A service record dated 2/28/2006 and numerous service records from the previous owner to accompany this Lot. Owner's manual, tool kit and Ferrari leather luggage to accompany this Lot. Kodner Galleries will be offering this vehicle at their upcoming November 6th auction, which starts at 2pm. For more information, be sure to visit Kodner.com. View This Car's Listing

By Edward Jones – October 28, 2022

1992 Jaguar XJ220 Featured At Kodner Galleries Boca Raton...

Presented by Kodner Galleries. From the collection of Mr. Barry Amsdell, Boca Raton, Florida. Purchased used in 2008 from a Fort Lauderdale, Florida dealer with 5873 kilometers. Other than the 63 kilometers since the purchase in 2005, the XJ220, as with the rest of the collection, has been stored and on display in Mr. Amdell's Boca Raton commercial garage, as seen in the photos shown here. Pre-purchase Inspection dated 4/18/2008 to accompany this Lot. No current service records are available for this Lot. Owner's manual, tool kit and first aid kit to accompany this Lot. Kodner Galleries will be offering this vehicle at their upcoming November 6th auction, which starts at 2pm. For more information, be sure to visit Kodner.com. View This Car's Listing

By duPont REGISTRY – October 27, 2022

Rare 2016 Porsche 911 R Being Auctioned by Broad Arrow Au...

Presented by Broad Arrow Auctions. There are some cars so perfectly suited to the era in which they were created that they become representative of not just the ethos of the manufacturer but of what is key to an entire generation of automobile enthusiasts. The Porsche 911 R of 2016 is one such car. Built in limited numbers, it was an immediate hit with both Porsche collectors and automotive enthusiasts in general. So desired, in fact, that it ultimately normalized the idea of allocations and waitlists for those interested in purchasing the most desirable Porsche models. Delivered new in August 2016 this 911 R features an unbelievably low 193 miles at cataloging. No doubt impressed with the Communication Color livery in Porsche's marketing materials, 911 R limitation number '597' is finished in White with side stripes in Red. The interior is upholstered in black leather with GT Silver stitching and front lightweight carbon bucket seats with houndstooth inserts. This well-optioned 911 R features front axle lift, extended range fuel tank, LED Headlights in Black with PDLS and wheels painted in high-gloss black. On the inside, and most notably, it was optioned with A/C, Sport Chrono, BOSE stereo, Light Design package, carbon fiber floor mats and illuminated door-sill guards in carbon fiber. While the options list, as good as it is, creates the personalized spec of '597' there is no denying that the 911 R even in its most basic form is one of the best Porsche 911s of all time. All 911 R featured the 4.0-liter, 500-horsepower engine from the GT3 RS, a newly developed six-speed manual transmission, ceramic composite brakes, carbon fiber body panels, titanium exhaust, and a Magnesium roof panel. Any magazine or YouTube channel that could get their hands on a press car raved about the sound, power, and pure driving experience that surrounded anyone fortunate enough to sit behind the wheel. Integral to that experience was a Porsche enthusiast's combination of the 4.0-liter, 500-horsepower engine from the GT3 RS and Porsche's new six-speed 'GT Sport' manual transmission - developed exclusively for the 911 R. The new six-speed 'GT Sport' manual, closed up the ratios, and shortened the throws creating a connection between driver and car in a way no PDK equipped Porsche can. Rare is the opportunity to acquire an era-defining supercar like the 911 R, let alone with the odometer showing just over delivery miles, yet this R has, in effect, leapt from the brochure pages allowing the future owner to turn the daydreams of 2016 into reality today. View Estimated Price

By Edward Jones – October 27, 2022

1981 DMC DeLorean Back to the Future Replica Featured At ...

Presented by Kodner Galleries. From the collection of Mr. Barry Amsdell, Boca Raton, Florida Records indicate that this is an exact replica of the "Back to the Future" DeLorean handmade in Fort Worth, Texas by Robert "Video Bob" Moseley, a professional master prop builder who is considered an expert on the props for "Back to the Future" series of movies. It appears from the available records the DeLorean BTF was purchased used in 2013 in Cadillac, Michigan. Records do not reflect mileage at the time of the 2013 purchase. Since the purchase in 2013, the DeLorean DMC-12 BTF, as with the rest of the collection, has been stored and on display in Mr. Amsdell's Boca Raton commercial garage, as seen in the photos shown here. There are no service records available for this Lot. Owner's manual to accompany this Lot. Kodner Galleries will be offering this vehicle at their upcoming November 6th auction, which starts at 2pm. For more information, be sure to visit Kodner.com. View This Car's Listing

By duPont REGISTRY – October 26, 2022

Kodner Galleries Announces Boca Raton Auction

Presented by Kodner Galleries. Kodner Galleries, established in 1906, is a fifth-generation family business and the oldest full-service auction gallery in Florida. With bi-weekly auctions from our Dania Beach, Florida block-long location, Kodner offers wide-ranging items including fine estate jewelry, luxury timepieces, couture handbags, fine art & sculpture, modern design home furnishings, silver, collectibles and even rare collector cars. Kodner also offers professional gemological and appraisal services for all your jewelry, art and estate needs by Russ Kodner, President of Kodner Galleries and a GIA Graduate Gemologist and licensed appraiser. The experienced Kodner staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Visit Kodner.com Kodner is pleased to offer in our upcoming November 6, 2022 auction, the collection of Mr. Barry Amstell, Boca Raton, Florida. This one-owner collection of twenty-four cars, three motorcycles, a mini car and two vintage gas pumps was collected over a period of twenty years and is housed in a custom commercial warehouse gallery in Boca where the cars are on display as works of art. Among this wide-ranging collection are rare exotic examples including a 1992 Jaguar XJ220. The highlight of the auction is Lot 12, a 1965 Shelby AC Cobra. In the domestic models are five vintage Corvettes including a 1954 roadster and the prized 1963 split rear window Sting Ray. Among more modern examples is a 2005 Ford GT with 148 original miles. View Listing View Listing View Listing View Listing Understanding the overlap of the rare collector car and fine watch buyers, Kodner’s November 6 auction will also feature twenty-four men’s luxury timepieces including the finest names in the watch industry, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, F. P Journe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex and more. RICHARD MILLE RM-11-03 PATEK PHILIPPE NAUTILUS 5740/1G-001 F.P. JOURNE OCTA CALENDRIER View Auction Catalog

By Edward Jones – October 18, 2022

Barrett-Jackson Houston 2022 Highlight: 2006 Ford GT

Presented by Barrett-Jackson. This 2006 Ford GT is powered by a factory supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Limited edition one of 222 finished in Centennial White and includes factory optional blue racing stripes. The interior includes bucket seats, a center console with a 6-speed shifter and an aftermarket sound system. It was factory optioned with BBS lightweight wheels with 18-inch units up front, 19-inch units out back all bolted on over black brake calipers. This supercar has maintenance records, was just inspected again by Ford, original delivery checklists, pictures of production, the original delivery paperwork, and Ford Marketing materials. This GT has a clear 3M paint protection system installed including shielding on surface contact points along the engine housing. As well, some of the original factory plastics covering the passenger entry sills. Everything that was included on delivery day is with the car including a letter to the original owner from the Ford Performance Group and the factory quality & inspection documentation. This 4,557-mile GT (title reads exempt) comes with a car cover and bag, 2 keys with remotes and all owner's manuals. View Listing And Learn More

By duPont REGISTRY – October 17, 2022

Barrett-Jackson Houston 2022 Highlight: 2019 Ford GT

Presented by Barrett-Jackson. This 2019 Ford GT was produced in limited quantities and only sold to Ford-approved buyers. The third-generation GTs are true street-legal race cars that can launch to 60 mph in under 3 seconds and achieve a top speed of over 216 mph. This GT is Chassis No. 162 and boasts $66,750 in factory options. It is optioned with Equipment Group 200A at a cost of $30,000, the exterior gloss carbon-fiber package, 20-inch gloss-black forged wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and is finished in Liquid Gray tri-coat paint accented with Ingot Silver stripes and silver brake calipers. Race car features abound with its carbon-fiber monocoque, carbon-fiber body, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, electronic active damping and speed-activated keel deployable rear wing and airbrake. The GT's Re-Entry interior has a futuristic theme with its two-tone black and white color scheme. The interior also features an F1-inspired steering wheel with an integrated LED rev indicator and fixed carbon-fiber Sparco seats with adjustable pedal assembly. Powering this GT is a mid-mounted 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine producing 647hp and 550 ft/lbs of torque, mated to a 7-speed Getrag dual-clutch automatic transmission delivering power to the rear wheels. This supercar has paint-protection film applied and comes with original items that include the Window Sticker, factory battery charger and factory blue car cover with the chassis number printed on it. 551 actual miles. View Listing And Learn More

By Edward Jones – October 16, 2022

Barrett-Jackson Houston 2022 Highlight: 2006 AM General H...

Presented by Barrett-Jackson. This 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Wagon is powered by the factory Duramax 6600 6.6-liter V8 32-valve turbodiesel engine making 300hp and 520 ft/lbs of torque mated to an Allison 1000 5-speed automatic transmission. Finished in a two-tone color combination features a Metal Grey body topped with a black roof. The Alpha boasts 16-inches of ground clearance and aggressive approach and departure angles, enabling it to climb a 22-inch-high obstacle, handle a 60% grade, and wade through 30 inches of water. Equipped with Hella HID fog lights, Dick Cepek electronically adjustable shocks, Military Flir Night Vision camera system, Hummer Adventure package, bumper integrated winch and brush guard, Alpine touch screen stereo system which controls the winch and the fog lights (rear camera included) with Monsoon 5-speaker system including a sub-woofer, and custom made-to-fit Vizualogic rear headrest tablet WIFI LCD screens. Rides on the original 17-inch forged aluminum wheels with factory Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) wrapped in new 37-inch Kanati Mud Hog M/T tires. All work and service have been performed by professional Hummer-certified technicians. Produced in small quantities, a total of 729 H1 Alphas were built, 417 of which were wagons. The sale includes the original steering wheel, headrests, interior storage holder and books/manuals, the mini rescue kit and service receipts. This will also come with an Alpine alarm system that is not installed and a car cover. This two-owner vehicle with 30,135 miles. View Listing And Learn More

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