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

Audi News

Audi news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily with model reveals, first drives, technology launches and verified performance figures. Our coverage runs across the RS models and the expanding e-tron range, together with the road cars that sit beneath them. Audi is moving quickly on electrification, and we report each development as it is confirmed. Plenty of publications carry performance car news, but few carry it beside live inventory. Many of the Audis covered here appear on the duPont REGISTRY marketplace, so a review and a genuine asking price sit together. That combination is difficult to find anywhere else in luxury car news. For Audi news today, begin with the stories below.

By Andrew Nabors – November 10, 2020

Audi Leaves DTM Racing With A Clean Sweep

Knowing when to hang it up is the mark of a true competitor. Racing fans around the world were shocked when teams began to leave Germany's most popular racing series. Perhaps the hardest news of all was Audi choosing to suspend motorsports until their electric future is revealed. But just like all the greats, they left us with fond memories by going out on top. In their latest upload, we see Audi leave DTM series by delivering a clean sweep of all 3 championships. This is the pride of an automotive empire, showcasing the best innovations from Porsche, Volkswagen, and all other brands in their lineup. From the first Quattro to the TT RS, every Audi is born to compete. Click the button below to find yours and stay with us for all your Audi updates. Browse Audi For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – September 23, 2020

2021 Audi R8 Green Hell Celebrates Nürburgring Victories

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By Andrew Nabors – August 11, 2020

2021 Audi S3 Sportback Offers Something for Everyone

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By Andrew Nabors – June 10, 2020

How Audi RS Models Come to Life

What was once a struggling European luxury brand has been transformed into an industry leader. Up until last year, every VW brand had separate engineering and research divisions. Realizing the inherent waste, Audi Sport stepped up to the challenge. They are a separate automaker not contsrained by Audi AG, the builders of the A-Series cars and Q-Series SUVs. Therefore, Audi Sport has been responsible for the R8, e-Tron, and every RS model. While the chassis and many interior parts are shared with lesser models, every Audi RS is held to much higher standards. Relentless testing on the 'Ring and on the streets is used to flush out any imperfections. From piston rings to the leather stitching, each RS model represents thousands of hours in development and validation. Click the link below to browse incredible incentives on the RS 5 and stay with us for all your Audi news. Browse Audi RS 5 For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 22, 2020

New 2021 Audi A3 Arrives With Hybrid Power & Digital Cockpit

About a decade ago, the Audi A4 began to outgrow its humble beginnings. Adding luxury and style that were unique for an entry-level sedan allowed it to lead the brand into a new era. This bold departure from the past has allowed Audi to reach a new segment of customers, and become Volkswagen's cutting edge in technology and efficiency. The past is often prologue, so we're glad to announce the new 2021 Audi A3 will arrive with hybrid power and a digital cockpit. Starting with a bold exterior design, the slab-sides normally associated with the brand have given way to a form-fitted body that evokes speed and aerodynamic perfection even while sitting still. Inside you are treated to an elegant and symettrical interior. Gone are the myriad of buttons and controls, as they are incorporated into the latest in Human-Machine Interfaces. Our biggest gripe was the blank spaces Audi used to fill the panel, reminding you of options your car didn't have. These are all gone, as most optional content is now standard. Power comes from a 1.5-liter turbo rated at 150 horsepower. At least for Europe, a six-speed manual is rated at 50 MPG. We hope it makes it to the U.S. alongside the 7-speed dual-clutch. It is this transmission that is coupled to a 48V hybrid system to add 40 lb-ft when needed. The standard suspension is built for comfort, and an optional Sport Suspension adds active shocks and stiffer sway bars. The new Audi A3 will remain their most popular model, so click the button below for all the info from our dealers. Browse Audi A3 For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – March 12, 2020

New 2021 Audi RS Q8 is a Twin Turbo Super SUV

Badge engineering is an American term to describe the same car sold under another name at a different dealer. Although the concept began here, it seems alive and well in Europe. We're not discouraging this practice because it allows amazing models to target different clientele. If you don't need the aggressive looks and brutal power of the Lamborghini Urus, the new 2021 Audi RS Q8 is a twin-turbo super SUV. As a larger version of the Q7, it offers three rows of adult-size seating. It shares the solid foundations of the Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, and the Volkswagen Toureg. The Lamborghini 4.0L V8 has been de-tuned to offer 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. When ordered with ceramic brakes, the top speed is limited to only 190 mph. Impressive accolades include 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, and lapping the 'Ring in 7:42.2. Standard equipment includes active air suspension, active roll control, all-wheel steering, quattro AWD, and Valcona leather interior. All this can be yours for $113,000. Click the button below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Audi news. Browse All Audi For Sale " width="680"> P.S. They built this engine to run as smoothly as possible, so it uses a firing order of 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8, making it sound identical to every Ford 351 & 4.6 V8 Related: Lamborghini Urus Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – January 30, 2020

Audi's "Big Game" Ads Feature Maisie Williams and the e-tron

Football advertising is expensive. Manufacturers spend millions for 30-second spots, and much more at the minute mark. To maximize their return on the investment, many have chosen to leak their commercials a few days early. Such is the case, as Audi's Big Game ad features Maisie Williams and the new e-tron Sportback. Appealing to kids and their parents, she performs a perfect rendition of "Let it go". An excellent co-branding move with Disney, they are asking us to let go of gas, pollution, and the past. Once you drive an e-tron, you will understand why it is the perfect family machine. Click the button below to find one near you and stay with us for a Big Game car commercial recap. Browse All Audi E-tron For Sale " width="680"> Related: Audi e-tron Sportback is Your High-Voltage SUV

By Andrew Nabors – November 20, 2019

Audi e-tron Sportback is Your High-Voltage SUV

Life is short, so don't waste time charging your electric car. That is why the latest from Ingolstadt includes a big battery. If you want 277 miles of range and All Wheel Drive, the Audi e-tron Sportback is your high-voltage SUV. As the 2nd e-tron model, it offers better aerodynamics and more power than the e-tron wagon. Much like the Porsche Taycan, it has individual motors front and rear. In normal cruising, they offer a combined 355 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. In Sport Mode, the driver can unlock 402 horsepower and 489 lb-ft for 8 seconds. This allows it to reach 62 mph in 5.7 seconds. Top Speed is limited to 124 mph, and the front motor is only activated in spirited driving events. Browse Audi E-Tron For Sale Wheels range from 19" to 22", and LED matrix headlights are standard equipment. Our dealers have great offers on the e-tron wagon, or you can place your order for the new Sportback. Click the button above to find one near you and stay with us for all your Audi news. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – July 17, 2019

Audi R8 Generations Compared in Epic Testing

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By Andrew Nabors – February 19, 2019

Audi Sends E-Tron up 85% Gradient on Austrian Ski Slope

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