Cadillac

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 Khris Bharath – October 21, 2026

Cadillac F1 Goes Full Western for the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix at COTA

Cadillac F1 Goes Full Western for the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix at COTA Cadillac heads to Texas this weekend for Round 18 of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a one-off livery created specifically for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Inspired by western wear and traditional Texas craftsmanship, For Vincent Traina, design manager at GM’s Performance, Motorsports and Accessories studio, this assignment brought together GM Design, his Texas background and a lifelong interest in Formula 1. Work began over the summer when Cadillac creatives, led by Cassidy Towriss, visited GM Design in Detroit. The team settled on western wear as its inspiration, combining the chain stitching found on blue jeans and vintage cowboy shirts with the ornamental scrollwork associated with fine saddlery. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@cadillacf1) “Injecting that creativity from the GM Design side, bringing in the culture of Texas as a Texan, and being such a fan of Formula 1, it all hit home for me.” - Vincent Traina, Design Manager, GM Performance, Motorsports and Accessories The finished car takes that idea quite literally, with thin contrasting lines tracing the dark blue and white bodywork to mimic individual embroidered stitches. Elaborate western-style flourishes run across the sidepods, engine cover, rear bodywork, and aerodynamic surfaces, with the exposed carbon fiber underneath adding another layer of texture, surrounded by decorative detailing, while elements like the sidepods and rear-wing endplate receive their own stitched-style borders. Even the car’s race number joins the theme, swapping conventional racing typography for ornate western-style lettering reminiscent of vintage rodeo posters, complete with pointed flourishes and layered outlines. “Of all the themes we came up with, this was probably the hardest one we could have picked. Rendering each individual stitch and executing it well in a digital illustration is hard.” - Jamie Thresher, senior design visualization CG artist A Formula 1 car is an unusually difficult canvas to work with, since every surface is refined to the millimeter around downforce, aerodynamic performance, and the airflow required to cool the power unit and brakes at high speeds. Traina’s Michigan team therefore worked with designers at Cadillac’s UK technical center to adapt the artwork to the car’s tightly defined aerodynamic surfaces. The Austin design is Cadillac’s third one-off race livery this season. The team’s primary 2026 livery debuted in February, followed by special treatments for Miami back in May this year and Silverstone in July. “In Miami, we drew on American symbols. At Silverstone, we celebrated American color. For Austin, we wanted to explore another part of that story through the character of the American West,” - Cassidy Towriss, Chief Brand Advisor for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. There are also some less obvious Easter eggs hidden throughout the design. Cadillac says the car carries embroidered renderings of the Austin skyline and a map of COTA, along with 50 stars representing the United States, cactuses representing Texas, and a horseshoe positioned with its heels facing upward, traditionally associated with keeping good luck from spilling out. Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez will also wear matching driver suits designed around the same western theme. Cadillac is starting to turn its one-off liveries into a design program of its own, and the Austin car may be the most intricate yet. View All Cadillacs for Sale Images: Cadillac

By Khris Bharath – July 14, 2026

Watch Bottas and Pérez Go Head-to-Head in Cadillac's V-Practice Showdown

This year’s Miami Grand Prix may be behind us, but Cadillac recently released a video of its Formula 1 drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio "Checo" Pérez, in a head-to-head V-Practice showdown at the Miami Concours Club, between its gas and electric performance models, filmed in the week leading up to the race. It is a fitting feature for the American brand making its Formula 1 debut this season, showcasing two high-performance models that sit at opposite ends of the V-Series spectrum, Cadillac's performance sub-brand, currently spanning six models today, with everything from the all-electric CT4 to the Escalade ESV. Bottas and "Checo" Pérez went out in OPTIQ-V and a CT5-V Blackwing for V-Practice, where they put them through their paces. Pérez had driven the circuit the previous day. Bottas was experiencing both cars and the layout for the first time. Starting with a precision slalom in the OPTIQ-V for V-Practice 1, with the car’s V-Mode, unlocking Competitive Mode, and personalized chassis settings, both drivers posted identical times of 25.98 seconds, a result that caught both drivers off guard, highlighting how well-sorted the OPTIQ-V's instant torque delivery (650 pound-feet) actually is, not just in a straight line but also in a lateral direction change context, with both drivers reinforcing how agile it felt for an EV. V-Practice 2 moved to full flying laps in the CT5-V Blackwing with the 10-speed auto, in V-Mode. Bottas posted a time of 1:30.4, whereas Checo was slightly quicker with a time of 1:29.9 but had it deleted for track limits. Both drivers noted how naturally the CT5-V's breadth of capabilities is both on and off track, with Bottas calling the balance genuinely impressive for a four-door luxury sedan. The OPTIQ-V arrives at a moment when Cadillac's EV momentum is genuinely building, with the brand having crossed 100,000 US EV sales despite broader market headwinds. duPont REGISTRY has reviewed three all-electric models: the Lyriq, the Escalade IQ Sport, and the flagship Celestiq, an evolving lineup that showcases just how seriously GM is treating the next generation of American luxury. The CT5-V Blackwing sits at the other end of the story entirely: an old-school 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that pairs with a Tremec 6-speed manual gearbox for 668-horsepower, and 659 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, currently the last V8-powered sedan on sale anywhere in the world that still offers three pedals. To further add to its exclusivity, Bottas and Pérez also unveiled a special CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, a limited-edition model we covered at its debut. View All Cadillacs for Sale Images: Cadillac

By Khris Bharath – May 01, 2026

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series Debuts ahead of 2026 Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix

Cadillac unveiled the CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series earlier today, the first road-going car from an American automaker to wear official Formula 1 and FIA branding, timed to drop ahead of Sunday's Miami Grand Prix. Only 26 examples will be built, the number chosen to mark Cadillac's debut season on the F1 grid. The base car is already one of the more interesting performance sedans currently on sale, packing a 668-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, bringing it in conversation with the likes of the G90 BMW M5 (also available in Touring form) and W214 Mercedes-AMG E63. But unlike those two, the Cadillac continues to offer a manual transmission. In fact, it is the last V8-powered sedan to offer a manual. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cadillac (@cadillac) "The CT5-V Blackwing embodies the very best of Cadillac track-capable performance. With the F1® Collector Series, we’re channeling the energy and innovation of Formula 1® into a road-ready sedan that feels every bit as special as our entry into the sport” - Mark Reuss, President, General Motors. For the F1 edition, GM Motorsports retuned the supercharger to push output to 685 horsepower while leaving the engine block and gearbox untouched. Every car ships with carbon-ceramic brakes, the Precision chassis package, and a bespoke interior trim throughout. The exterior wears a Midnight Stone Frost paint job with silver, gray, and black accents, along with full Formula 1 and FIA logos, with visual cues lifted directly from the MAC-26 racecar, that team drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will pilot on Sunday. The timing also aligns with a heavy moment for Formula 1 in the United States, since Sunday's race ends a five-week hiatus and opens the first of three U.S. rounds this season alongside Austin and Las Vegas, all under Apple's debut year as the sport's exclusive U.S. broadcaster. Cadillac will run its team headquarters out of Jungle Plaza in the Miami Design District on Saturday and Sunday with the V-Series lineup on display and team merchandise on hand, plus a Saturday appearance from Checo Pérez. On the grid, both MAC-26s will run a one-off Stars and Stripes livery featuring fifty stars on the front wing and "USA" in red, white, and blue across the rear. View All Cadillacs for Sale Images: Cadillac, General Motors

By Charles Bradley – January 16, 2026

Cadillac Formula 1 Team Turns First-Ever Laps at Silverstone

The Cadillac Formula 1® Team achieved a major landmark today as Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez completed the first-ever on-track laps for the new-for-2026 American squad. The team took to the historic Silverstone track during a pre-season promotional day, marking a monumental moment as it continues preparations for its debut F1 campaign. The laps were completed as part of a promotional filming day, serving the dual purpose of gathering footage of the car on track, and the opportunity to shake down the new machine to ensure all systems are working as expected in preparation for official pre-season testing. “Today was really an amazing day,” said Perez. “Everyone should feel incredibly proud to complete our first laps as a team. Each and every person has worked so hard to get to this moment and it was emotional to be part of motorsport history. We can, and should, all enjoy, but it’s absolutely fired me up for more. I just want to get back in and get mileage – this is just the start.” The car ran entirely in black at Silverstone, with the final 2026 Cadillac livery set to be revealed on Sunday, February 8, via a TV advertising spot during the 2026 Super Bowl, representing a bold new way for the team to connect with new audiences within the United States and beyond. Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1® Team Holdings, said: “Today’s shakedown is a significant step for the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. Watching the car roll out of the garage is a moment of pride. The first laps on track mark a historic milestone; the culmination of thousands of hours of work, driven by pure passion. Graeme has done an outstanding job of assembling a team of absolute racers that have given everything to get to this moment. This is just the beginning, as our work continues at pace towards Melbourne and beyond." Team Principal Graeme Lowdon added: “Today represents countless hours of hard work, commitment and belief from everyone involved in the team. It shows the progress we’re continuing to make in a short space of time. It’s been a great opportunity for the team to gel in a live garage environment, verify car systems, and resolve any initial issues. But it’s just the beginning of the road; we now turn our attention to pre-season testing in just a few weeks’ time, which will provide even more opportunity to learn.” View All Cadillacs For Sale Images: Cadillac

By Charles Bradley – January 13, 2026

Cadillac’s First F1 Livery Is A Design Manifesto In Motion

Cadillac’s long-awaited arrival in Formula 1 is no longer an abstract promise – it now has a face, a form, and a visual language. With the unveiling of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s Special Edition testing livery at General Motors’ new global headquarters in Detroit, the iconic American marque has revealed not just a race car, but a carefully crafted design statement ahead of its historic debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8. Unveiled by General Motors President Mark Reuss at the Hudson’s Detroit building, the livery will be used during Shakedown Week in Barcelona, Spain, January 26–30, before the team presents its final race livery on February 8. It marks the first visual chapter in Cadillac’s F1 story – and it is unmistakably deliberate. Developed through a cross-continental collaboration between the GM Global Design team and Cadillac Formula 1® Team, the Barcelona Shakedown livery reflects Cadillac’s broader ambition: blending American luxury, European motorsport rigor, and a design philosophy rooted in heritage but focused squarely on the future. The unveiling itself was rich in symbolism. An F1 show car wearing the Barcelona Shakedown livery now sits inside GM’s new Detroit headquarters, just miles from Cadillac’s original home in the city. The car will also appear at the Detroit Auto Show until January 25, giving enthusiasts a rare chance to see Cadillac’s Formula 1 design language in person before it reaches the racetrack. While visually striking, this livery serves a deeper purpose. In Formula 1, testing liveries traditionally disguise aerodynamic surfaces, much like camouflaged prototypes in the automotive world. Cadillac’s designers embraced that challenge, turning functional secrecy into an artistic expression. “Our new testing livery celebrates Detroit’s design heritage and the power of the global Cadillac Formula 1® team, while keeping our design secrets under wraps,” Reuss said. “The Barcelona test is just the beginning – we can’t wait to share our official race livery with fans around the world next month.” A Modern Crest for a Global Stage The monochrome palette creates a striking, premium presence built around a modern interpretation of the Cadillac crest and shield, which anchors the car visually. A large Cadillac crest draped across the rear does double duty – boldly announcing the brand’s arrival while artfully masking aerodynamic surfaces. Vertical Cadillac precision geometric patterns, rendered in alternating gloss and matte finishes, run through the bodywork, creating a textured, almost architectural skin that conceals form while celebrating brand DNA. It’s a design that feels simultaneously restrained and powerful, more haute couture than camouflage. The effect is intentional. Clean line work and disciplined color blocking reinforce a technical, future-forward aesthetic, aligning Cadillac’s visual identity with its performance ambitions at the pinnacle of global motorsport. There is also a deeply human layer embedded in the design. As a nod to the U.S. and U.K. teams building Cadillac’s Formula 1 future, the names of the founding members from both countries are incorporated into the livery – an elegant detail that connects craftsmanship, collaboration, and legacy. Tradition Meets Tomorrow For Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1® Team Holdings, the dual-livery strategy reflects Cadillac’s willingness to challenge convention. “Cadillac Formula 1® is committed to innovation on and off the track,” Towriss said. “TWG combined with General Motors allows us to rethink the norm and introduce the team in bold new ways. Debuting our race livery during a globally televised championship broadcast challenges convention and brings Cadillac Formula 1® to a global audience. Paired with this special-edition testing livery designed by the GM Global Design studios, we’re honoring automotive heritage while looking ahead as we build toward the 2026 season.” The official 2026 Formula 1 race livery will be unveiled on February 8, offering fans the first look at the design that will compete throughout the season. But in many ways, the Barcelona Shakedown livery is already doing something more subtle and arguably more powerful: it’s introducing Cadillac’s design philosophy to the world of Formula 1. By revealing the car in Detroit – inside a building that symbolizes General Motors’ future while sitting just miles from Cadillac’s original headquarters – the brand has visually linked its storied past to its Formula 1 future. As Cadillac prepares for Barcelona, Melbourne, and its place on the global grid, this first livery stands as more than a test suit. It is a declaration that American luxury, when filtered through motorsport, can be as precise, disciplined, and globally relevant as anything Formula 1 has ever seen. View All Cadillacs For Sale Image Source: Cadillac

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