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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 – April 17, 2021

GAA Classic Cars April 2021 Auction: 1970 Plymouth Road R...

Presented by GAA Classic Cars - The Plymouth Road Runner Superbird may have had a short-lived production cycle, being produced just in 1970, but it still made quite the impact. Those equipped with the massive 426 HEMI engine had 425 horsepower on tap and were blisteringly fast. Heading to the upcoming GAA Classic Cars April 2021 auction is an original, numbers-matching 1970 Plymouth Superbird. This example is well documented and comes with the original Chrysler Corporation Car Production Broadcast Sheet & window sticker. The previously mentioned 426 HEMI engine is also found in this Superbird, which is mated to a rebuilt Torqueflite transmission. As for accolades, this is one of 135 HEMI Superbird produced in 1970 and one of 36 known to be equipped with the automatic transmission. It shows 24,959 actual miles on its odometer and is finished in the correct Alpine White paint (repainted in 2000). This 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars' April 2021, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. For more information about the event, click here. View Listing

By Edward Jones – April 16, 2021

GAA Classic Cars April 2021 Auction: 1969 Dodge Charger R...

Presented by GAA Classic Cars - 440 fans need not apply, because this 426 HEMI is fed by dual quads. Riding on the original steel wheels, it's nice to see a Mopar that hasn't been raced or resto-modded. The air cleaner, hose clamps, and even the vinyl top are showroom new thanks to loving owners. The A833 4-speed is ready for a night on the town, and the trim tag has all the right options. This Charger is a feature vehicle from a private Tennessee collection. The Ron Jones Collection consists of over 100 vehicles offered at no reserve. This 1969 Dodge Charger R/T HEMI will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars' April 2021, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. This one is going across the block during primetime on Saturday, so get registered now. For more information about the event, click here. View Listing

By Edward Jones – April 15, 2021

GAA Classic Cars April 2021 Auction: 1967 Chevrolet Nova

Presented by GAA Classic Cars - Square body Novas are more popular than 69 Camaros. We said it, somebody had to. The reason why is that the 66-67 cars are among the lightest, fastest, and best handling cars of the '60s. Not just among Chevys, the suspension is better than most cars of its era, and these cars introduced a chassis that lasted well into the 80s. This 3-year build started with a 468 big block. Backed by a TH400 trans, it sends power to a 9" loaded with 3.55 gears. The suspension is TCI coilovers with a 4-link. It is a full resto-mod loaded with power windows, Vintage Air, tilt column, Dakota Digital dash, aluminum radiator and dual fans. This is a car that idles fine in sweltering traffic and sings smoothly through 3" mandrel-bent pipes. There is nothing else that can be done, so the cost to replicate it makes the notion of bidding on this car a worthwhile effort. This 1967 Chevrolet Nova will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars' April 2021, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. For more information about the event, click here. View Listing

By Edward Jones – April 14, 2021

GAA Classic Cars April 2021 Auction: 1969 Dodge Charger D...

Presented by GAA Classic Cars - The Dodge Charger Daytona, named after the city Daytona Beach, has long been a popular classic muscle car for many reasons. From its looks and power to its history, the Charger Daytona is a highly sought-after vehicle. At the upcoming GAA Classic Cars April 2021 auction, bidders will get their chance to own a very special example of the iconic car. This example is finished in the striking F6 Bright Green Metallic paint and is one of only 34 to be finished in the color. Inside the cabin is a white and black interior with vinyl bucket seats. In between the seats is the shifter for the A727 Torqueflite automatic transmission. This transmission handles the 375 horsepower created by the 440 Magnum V8 engine. Laying all of the power down are Magnum 500 wheels shod in Firestone Super Sport Redline tires. It also comes with a Galen Govier Report and is also documented in the Chrysler Registry. This 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars' April 2021, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. For more information about the event, click here. View Listing

By Edward Jones – April 13, 2021

GAA Classic Cars April 2021 Auction: 2006 Ford GT w/ 11 M...

Presented by GAA Classic Cars - Heading to GAA Classic Cars' April 2021 auction is an exquisite example of the 2006 Ford GT. It's fully optioned with a red finish and white racing stripe and black interior. What's more, this GT only has 11 miles on its odometer-- it even has the delivery plastic still on the seats. Basically, it looks like it just rolled off of the production line. This GT is a feature vehicle from a private Tennessee collection. The Ron Jones Collection consists of over 100 vehicles offered at no reserve. This 2006 Ford GT will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars' April 2021, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. This one is going across the block during primetime on Saturday, so get registered now. For more information about the event, click here. View Listing

By Edward Jones – April 12, 2021

GAA Classic Cars April 2021 Auction: 1926 Rickenbacker

Presented by GAA Classic Cars - After downing 26 enemy planes in WWI and before leading Eastern Airlines, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker built luxury cars. Aside from owning and operating the Indy Motor Speedway, his time at GM was spent acquiring Allison Engines, North American Aviation, and the launch of the LaSalle division of Cadillac. The world of the big automakers left something to be desired. Always looking to build a car worthy of his discerning expectations, he developed a matched set of flywheels for the front and rear of each engine. This allowed the Rickenbacker straight-8 to be one of the smoothest cars offered in the 20s. It was the first brand to offer 4-wheel brakes among other innovations. But he couldn't compete with the prices offered by Chrysler, and the company was sold to Audi in 1927. Over 35,000 cars were built with this being the only surviving Roadster. Recently treated to a frame-off, this piece of American history demands to be preserved. This 1926 Rickenbacker will be auctioned off at GAA Classic Cars' April 2021, which runs from the 22nd to the 24th. For more information about the event, click here. View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 17, 2021

Mecum Glendale Preview: Fire Opal Red 2014 Mercedes-Benz ...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - As one of just 132 examples built for the entire planet, this 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series is one of the most exclusive cars ever to wear the three-pointed star, a claim amplified by the Fire Opal Red paint it shares with only four other examples worldwide. It is also one of the most complete. The first car developed from the ground up by Mercedes-AMG, the SLS GT became an instant classic by virtue of its flashy gullwing design and world-class performance worthy of the original 300SL that inspired it. Nestled amidships in a brilliantly engineered spaceframe chassis, its naturally aspirated 6.2L V-8 engine and paddle-shifted 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission delivered a 197 MPH top speed, with ABS and driveline traction control always at the ready to counter the V-8’s power. The car’s incredible performance is balanced with such civilizing features as dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, COMAND voice activated navigation, an AM/FM stereo and SiriusXM satellite radio, Parktronic Parking assist, a rearview camera and blind spot assist. In totality, the SLS AMG GT was the crown jewel of the Mercedes-Benz/AMG collaboration. Yet, the wizards at AMG had more to say on the matter, and the Black Series served as their ultimate statement. They shaved 154 pounds with increased use of carbon fiber and a titanium exhaust system, added downforce with a lower front splitter and optional rear wing, and raised output by 39 HP to 622 HP at a lofty 7,400 RPM. Offered at just 2,326 miles, this one-of-five Fire Opal Red SLS AMG Black Series coupe also boasts the fully adjustable suspension, lightweight polished AMG forged aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and huge carbon-ceramic disc brakes that fill out the Black Series specification. Trimmed in black Alcantara and leather with red accents, the cockpit focuses the driving experience with the AMG Performance steering wheel, snug-fitting heated bucket seats and tailored controls, inviting confidence at the upper limits that are its home turf. A battery tender, books, two key sets and a custom-fitted AMG car cover are also included. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20). View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 16, 2021

The Steve Todhunter Collection Being Auctioned at Mecum G...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Becoming a car collector doesn’t happen overnight. One does not simply wake up one morning and think to oneself “Today is a good day to become a collector” or decide on a whim to begin filling the garage with rare and historic autos. No—becoming a true car collector is instead the result of one’s path over the span of many decades, shaped by life’s myriad and varying influences and the inspiration of personal surroundings, relationships and experiences. Identification as a car collector doesn’t come lightly; it’s a weighty claim of devotion toward a dedicated cause and action, and in the case of Steve Todhunter, the assertion alone is somehow still not enough to define his brand of commitment. Not only is Todhunter a car collector, he is perhaps the quintessential example of such and a man with an eye for evolution. " width="680"> From the humble horsepower heavyweights of the golden era of muscle to the rarest of the Mopar machines and, ultimately, to Ferrari, Todhunter’s preference for powerful and impressive automobiles has followed a path of development focused on quality over quantity. Instead of continuously adding to and growing his collector car stables in numbers alone, Todhunter has poured his efforts into raising the bar in regards to the rarity and desirability of the collector cars within. In the spirit of this one-man evolution, Todhunter is prepared to offer a selection of his best at Mecum’s Glendale, Arizona, auction this March 18-20, and it’s an encompassing assemblage that shall serve as medicine for even the sorest of eyes. Click the button below for a closer look at all the individual cars in the collection. View All Lots

By Edward Jones – March 15, 2021

Mecum Glendale Preview: 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininf...

Presented by Mecum Auctions - 2001 marked the 70th anniversary of Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina and 50 years of its close partnership with Ferrari. To celebrate these historic milestones, the two Italian automotive titans collaborated on the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina, a car specifically designed to recall such legendary Ferraris as the 166 MM, the 250 GT California and the 365 GTS/4 Daytona. Only 448 were produced, each one bearing a numbered plaque designed and signed by Sergio Pininfarina. Based on the 550 Maranello, the Barchetta was designed in the mold of the classic front-engined V-12 Ferrari sports roadster. To that end, the Maranello’s aluminum roof gave way to a traditional-style cut-down windscreen that is almost 5 inches lower than the coupe’s. Twin upholstered roll hoops provide stylish passenger protection without intruding on the car’s sleek silhouette. There is no folding convertible top; just a manually fitted add-on soft top for emergency use. The Barchetta retains the 550’s all-alloy 65-degree V-12, a 5.5L 4-cam masterpiece rated at 485 HP at 7,600 RPM, and its manually shifted 6-speed transmission. That car’s ventilated 4-wheel disc brakes, Bosch ABS and limited-slip differential are also kept. No. 4 of the 448 produced, the 550 Barchetta offered here from the Steve Todhunter Collection was delivered new to Ferrari of Long Island in New York with the optional Fiorano handling package, which includes Brembo brake pads in red-painted brake calipers, special front and rear springs and shocks, a larger-diameter rear sway bar, modified power steering ECU and special alignment specifications. Its Rosso Corsa paint and modular alloy wheels are complemented nicely with the sharp beige Connolly leather interior that emphasizes the Barchetta’s sporting nature with large but firmly bolstered racing buckets, the famous gated shifter, suede-like Lorica fabric on the instrument bezel to eliminate glare, and automatic climate control. A fire extinguisher in a sleeve of Connolly leather clearly demonstrates the attention to detail. Showing just 1,507 miles after a major service by Scottsdale Ferrari in June 2019, No. 4 in this exclusive series is offered complete with documentation and accessories. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20). View Listing

By Edward Jones – March 14, 2021

Mecum Glendale Preview: 2006 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

Presented by Mecum Auctions - Many tuners and more than a few manufacturers have claimed to produce a “race car for the road,” but Steve Saleen made good on that boast with the twin-turbocharged Saleen S7, the absurdly low production version of the car that, in racing specification, won countless GT championships in its heyday. In 2006, the S7 Twin Turbo was at the cutting edge of production car performance, at a time seemingly forever in the past when enthusiasts were only just beginning to adjust their expectations upward to the horsepower figures that were the S7’s comfortable home turf. Even the legendary McLaren F1 fell prey to the S7’s incomparable speed and overall performance. Saleen produced just 14 turbocharged versions of these fantastic machines, which benefited from five years of intense development and thoughtful refinement. Built over a space frame composed of 4130 lightweight steel and honeycomb composite panels, the carbon fiber body panels show superior fit and finish. Subtle but significant improvements to the interior resulted in a much more welcoming environment, with multi-tone leather and suede upholstery, fully adjustable tilt and telescopic steering wheel, air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with CD player, rear camera LCD screen, power windows and locks, remote opening doors and trunk and GPS navigation, culminating in a level of comfort that far exceeds earlier models. The S7’s twin-turbocharged 7.0L all-aluminum V-8 engine generates 750 HP, sent earthward through a hybrid two-plate hydraulic clutch, longitudinally mounted all-synchro 6-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential to massive Michelin 275/35-ZR19 rear tires on black-coated center-lock wheels. Driven just 1,167 miles in 14 years, this all-black 2006 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo is a formidable presence that stands out in any gathering of automotive enthusiasts, no matter their allegiance. Its race-bred styling and championship-winning performance are undeniably unique, offering a driving experience that is still unsurpassed by all but the most wildly expensive new generation of exotics—in short, a true state-of-the-art, purpose-built American supercar. This vehicle will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions’ Glendale 2021 event (March 18-20). View Listing

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