Aventador

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 – August 22, 2025

Lamborghini Donates The First North American Aventador To...

The Petersen Museum has the beginning of an era that’s over now. The legacy of V12-powered Lamborghini flagship supercars is one of the most important aspects of the over sixty-year-old manufacturer, with each one being a pioneer of automotive excellence in its time that would go on to help define the echelon of performance it occupied. Until a few years ago, that flagship position was occupied by the Aventador, which would end up being Lamborghini’s last non-hybrid “pure” naturally-aspirated V12-powered flagship. Now, the new Revuelto has taken the Aventador’s place, reaching an unprecedented level of performance with its plug-in hybrid powertrain assisting its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine, giving it a total of 1,001 horsepower. Since its discontinuation, the Aventador represents the end of a cherished era of performance in an automotive landscape that is rapidly changing amongst manufacturers’ approaches to electrification, and it’s quickly become an icon of times gone too soon. Dedicated to showcasing and celebrating automotive history, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, specializes in vehicles like the Aventador, and because of that, Automobili Lamborghini has donated the very first North American Lamborghini Aventador to the museum. The car, which is from 2011 but received the 2012 model year designation, has an important legacy as the vehicle used for VIP preview events in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles before many people knew about the Aventador’s existence. After the cover broke on the Aventador, the car was used for press events and track events to show off Lamborghini’s new era at the time. Now that the Aventador era of Lamborghini has come to a close, the former flagship V12 Lamborghini supercar has become a legend in the canon of automotive history. As part of the Petersen Automotive Museum’s collection, its iconic story and important role in the Aventador’s launch in 2011 will be on display for automotive enthusiasts to revel in. View All Lamborghini Aventadors For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 05, 2022

The Final Lamborghini Aventador Will Be Auctioned With 1-...

The era of the Aventador is coming to a close. It has been announced that the final Lamborghini Aventador, which will be an Ultimae, is set to be auctioned off on April 19th by RM Sotheby's. However, this auction is for much more than a milestone supercar. On top of getting the last Aventador, the winning bidder of the auction will also be getting a 1-of-1 NFT that was designed by Krista Kim in collaboration with Steve Aoki and . While Kim will be creating the visual artwork for the NFT, Aoki will be consulting the design and will also be producing a custom track for the final Aventador. But, wait, there's more because the collector who buys the last Lamborghini Aventador will also get access to VIP utilities like a private tour of Museo Lamborghini, previews of future Lamborghinis, and even a virtual "Meet and Greet" with Steve Aoki and Krista Kim. “Lamborghini and the NFT community fit together very well, as we share many values. We are both young-spirited innovators, looking out for unexpected projects and technological solutions”, explains Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman, and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “This project is very special for us as it is a true first, a path nobody has ever taken; to collaborate with such outstanding creative minds makes it all the more special.” As for the design of the last Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, it will feature the same gradients used in Krista Kim's artwork. This kind of personalization was made possible through Lamborghini's Ad Personam program. The auction will take place through RM Sotheby's on April 19th, 12PM EST. View All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Lamborghini

By Andrew Nabors – July 06, 2020

Lamborghini's Latest Creation Debuts July 8th

Something new is brewing in Sant'Agata. We are 2 days away from the latest Lamborghini, which will be live-streamed on Wednesday, 12 pm Eastern. All models of the Huracan are selling well, so it wouldn't make sense for a refresh. The Urus is still too new, but perhaps they have found more power. The real shocker would be a new Lamborghini Aventador for sale. It debuted in February of 2011, and we have enjoyed them for a decade. Because the car has a one-piece carbon-fiber cockpit, the have been limited to the single-clutch ISR transmission. Engineering a wider tunnel to accommodate a dual-clutch would change many other aspects, so it could be time for this Raging Bull to retire. Could it be a Sian FKP 37 Roadster? Stay with us to find out, and click the link below for great incentives on 2020 Aventadors. Browse Lamborghini Aventador For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – July 17, 2015

Lamborghini Aventador vs. McLaren 650S Drag Race

It's always exciting to see supercars test their strength against each other, and even more so when we can watch the race from more than one perspective.In videos added to YouTube June 23 and April 28 by TheBayAreaRacing and Ramtin Haghighi, respectively, we get to watch a Lamborghini Aventador and McLaren 650S take each other on in a drag race at California's Coalinga Airport.Automotive event organizer Shift S3ctor was hosting one of their Airstrip Attack events, and shared a few pictures from the day on their Facebook page May 30. Not much information is given about the specifics of either the 650S or Aventador, including whether they are stock or not, but it's still an exhilarating match up to watch.Which do you think will win the drag race? Let us know in the comments, and then watch the videos above and below to see who made it to the end of the runway first. When you're finished, find your own Aventador or 650S to test out at a scheduled race event from our exclusive listings.650S Listings For Sale Aventadors For Sale Editor’s Note: Do not attempt to recreate or reenact anything seen in the video above unless on a closed course and under professional supervision, as portrayed in the video. The duPont REGISTRY does not condone any illegal activity on the roadway, and we remind you to always obey local traffic laws. (Source: YouTube, Facebook)

By Edward Jones – July 14, 2015

First Aventador SV in the U.S. Delivered to Lamborghini L...

Update: Lamborghini Las Vegas has sent us an amazing photoshoot of the Aventador SV. Images of the shoot have been added. Lamborghini Las Vegas has just taken delivery of an Aventador SV. Images of their new supercar resident were uploaded to Facebook today by Tom Brazill, Sales Manager at the prestigious dealership. And, according to their website, this is the first Aventador SV in the United States.This example looks to be finished in the electric Verde Ithaca paint, with contrasting black trim. This color scheme continues in the cabin, where a mostly black interior is highlighted by green trimming.(Related: Lamborghini Concept S Up for Auction)Underneath the Aventador SV's outworkings is a 6.5-liter engine that creates 739 hp and 507 lb-ft of torque. This power launches the green monster to speeds of over 217 mph, while accomplishing a 0-62 mph run in just 2.8 seconds.It seems as though the Aventador SVs are starting to make their way to dealers, so expect to see more news from us and more of these supercars on the road. In the meantime, click the link below to see all of the cars Lamborghini Las Vegas has to offer.View InventoryGallery (Source: Facebook) See More Dealer News

By Caitlin Duffy – July 06, 2015

Insane Porsche 911 Turbo vs. Lamborghini Aventador Drag Race

The Russian drag races at Unlim 500+ are back with another video, pairing a Porsche 911 Turbo with a Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 to see who can hit a quarter mile first.Featuring a PP-Performance upgrade that increased power to 650 hp, the 911 Turbo driven by Sergey I. can be seen waiting patiently at the starting line before tearing away. In the video below, added to YouTube July 2 by DragtimesInfo, it takes on a 700 hp Aventador driven by Jury L., making for a fast but impressive show of force.After its match up against the Aventador, the 911 Turbo takes on the same Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG seen in the video covered July 1. Which car do you think wins in each of these match ups? Let us know in the comments below, then browse our exclusive listings for a 911, Aventador or C63 AMG for your own collection.Aventador For Sale911 Turbo For SaleC63 AMG For Sale(Source: YouTube) See More Automotive Videos

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By Caitlin Duffy – May 29, 2015

Aventador SVs on the Track at Barcelona-Catalunya

We got a close-up look at a few examples of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce thanks to K&S Photographers May 27, after an event at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya brought a few out of hiding and onto the track.Their photos show a line of these incredible supercars sitting outside the W Hotel, where they braved rainy nights and dozens of flashing cameras before, we assume, tearing up the roads around the city.(See Also: Bugatti Veyron Races an Aventador, 900 hp 911 TUrbo S and Gallardo Superleggera)Now we get to take a closer look at what happened once these creatures made it to the track, thanks to Bloomberg Business. A video posted to YouTube May 28 shows us Bloomberg reporter Matt Miller's take on the powerful new Aventador SV, both on and off the track.Turn the volume up before watching this video, because the sonorous sounds of the SV's engine aren't something you'll want to miss. When you're done watching, take a moment to check out our exclusive listings of Aventadors for sale, and find the perfect one for your collection.Aventadors For Sale(Source: YouTube) See More Lamborghini News

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