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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

Cadillac Will Reveal the One-Off CELESTIQ 'Night Test' at The Quail

By Khris Bharath – August 13, 2026

Cadillac Will Reveal a One-Off CELESTIQ 'Night Test' at The Quail

Cadillac will showcase a one-off CELESTIQ commission called ‘Night Test’ at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, during Monterey Car Week 2026. The commission is themed around solitary preparation, the athlete or musician putting in thousands of hours of work before the spotlight. Finished in high-gloss Caspia Tricoat Metallic, Night Test appears almost black, but direct light reveals a deep midnight-blue metallic finish across its bodywork. The color suits the CELESTIQ's unusually long, low proportions, with its fastback roofline, heavily sculpted lower doors, and thin rear lighting giving the car an almost concept-like profile. Dark-finish 23-inch reverse-rim wheels with Jade accents fill the arches, while up front, Cadillac's vertical lighting signatures flank the broad illuminated grille. A Jade-finish lighting bezel surrounds the headlamps. Inside, the cabin provides a much brighter contrast. Sheer Gray dominates the perforated seats, set against Backen Black across the dashboard, center console, roof structure, and upper cabin. Carbon fiber and brushed metal add a more technical character, while the expansive glass roof and four-seat layout highlight just how far removed the CELESTIQ is from a conventional Cadillac sedan. The underlying car remains Cadillac's most ambitious flagship in decades. As we found when we reviewed the flagship all-electric sedan last year, the CELESTIQ produces 655 horsepower and 646 pound-feet of torque through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, reaches 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and offers an estimated 303 miles of range. Every CELESTIQ is hand-assembled at the Cadillac Artisan Center in Warren, Michigan, an $81 million facility established inside GM's Global Technical Center that holds only six cars at a time. Annual production is expected to remain between 100 and 150 units. Clients curate their own palette of colors, materials, and finishes through a dedicated commissioning facility, with the production process centered around individual specifications. Priced from $300,000 before commissioning, the CELESTIQ occupies a very different corner of the Cadillac portfolio. The first customer car was delivered at Cadillac House at Vanderbilt, while only 25 examples were built for the 2025 model year. Night Test now offers another glimpse at what Cadillac's highly individualized approach can produce, trading traditional flagship opulence for something considerably darker and more restrained. View All Cadillacs for Sale Images: Cadillac

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 18, 2026

2025 Cadillac Celestiq Listed For Sale

Cadillac unveiled the Celestiq a few years ago as a revival of the dramatic flagship that characterized Cadillac in decades past. Many of the same principles from legends like the Eldorado guided the creation of the, like a massive footprint, dramatic design, and elevated craftsmanship. However, the Celestiq features a futuristic EV powertrain and plenty of high-tech features that catapult the idea of the ultra-luxury Cadillac into the 21st century. That said, traditional principles give the Celestiq its ultra-exclusive panache, like a strictly limited production volume and bespoke curation that involves customers working directly in conjunction with Cadillac’s design team. With 655 horsepower and 646 lb/ft of torque on tap, the Celestiq can get from 0-60 in just 3.7 seconds with dual-motor all-wheel drive. Reportedly, only 25 were made for 2025, and one of them is listed now for sale on duPont REGISTRY, the source for supercars since 1985. <- Gallery -> Available at Galpin Aston Martin in Los Angeles, California, this 2025 Cadillac Celestiq for sale has 668 miles on its odometer. It was delivered in November 2025 and features a Rosewood Metallic exterior color, along with an interior in a two-tone configuration that combines Renaissance Red with Sheer Gray. The original window sticker is included with the car, and the vehicle has also been treated with Paint Protection Film. If you want a chance to own the new chapter of Cadillac’s incredible flagships, this 2025 Cadillac Celestiq is one of just a handful of these futuristic yet traditional masterpieces made, and certainly one of the only ones available for sale now. View the price and listing by clicking below. View Price And Listing

A black Cadillac electric car is positioned under bright, parallel LED lights in a tunnel-like setting, facing the camera directly.

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 24, 2025

Cadillac Delivers The First Celestiq

At long last, deliveries of the Cadillac Celestiq have begun. Cadillac spent years teasing concept cars that would mark the return of a world-class flagship bearing the Cadillac name. Deciding to finally bring one of those concepts to fruition as a production variant, the Celestiq was bestowed the honor and responsibility of reviving Cadillac’s golden-age dominance and status as the world’s standard of automotive luxury. The all-electric halo car boasts a futuristic interpretation of what made Cadillacs iconic in the past: massive proportions, dramatic styling, sumptuous materials, and a steep price tag, specifically exceeding $300,000. Other features include an electrochromic glass roof with four zones for customized dimming, bespoke commissions, and a 3.7-second sprint from 0-60 thanks to its immense 655-horsepower powertrain. With each example of the Celestiq being built to its client’s specifications, the manufacturing and delivery process of the new flagship Cadillac has taken years to come to fruition since the announcement of the production version of the vehicle, but now, Cadillac has finally delivered the first example, officially kicking off a new chapter for the historic American luxury legend. The Cadillac House at Vanderbilt was the location chosen for the ceremonious handoff of the first Cadillac Celestiq example to its client, and the ultra-luxury electric sedan was the result of a design collaboration between the client and available curation assistance from a Cadillac designer, as is the case with all Cadillac Celestiq clients. With its estimated 303 miles of range and its bespoke ultra-luxury configurations coming to fruition, the highly anticipated reign of the Cadillac Celestiq has officially begun for one of the most legendary names in American automotive luxury. View All Cadillac For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 19, 2022

Cadillac x Lenny Kravitz Promote The Launch Of The New CE...

"Now that is a Cadillac." A production car on the level of the CELESTIQ is something that Cadillac hasn’t had on its hands in quite some time. With a price tag above $300,000, a special manufacturing site for artisans to hand-build the car, and a bespoke design process for each example, it’s quite the ambitious project that seeks to revive the legendary glory days of the Cadillac brand. MUST READ: Why The New Cadillac CELESTIQ Flagship Is $300,000 With the reveal of the car, Cadillac is partnering with musician Lenny Kravitz. In a new video released by Cadillac, Lenny Kravitz tells the story of how his grandfather preferred Cadillacs, and how he respected the gravitas of the Cadillac brand growing up. He also talks about how excited he is to see his aesthetic visions materialized through the Cadillac CELESTIQ, and that the car presents a desirable opportunity for him as he has always wanted to design a car. For Kravitz, and every CELESTIQ owner, this is the start of an exciting future that blends future technology with timelessly respected craftsmanship and luxury. View All Cadillacs For Sale Source: YouTube/Cadillac

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 18, 2022

Why The New Cadillac CELESTIQ Flagship Is $300,000

This new Cadillac represents the brand’s glorious past and stunning future. Introduced earlier this year as a show car, the Cadillac CELESTIQ looked incredibly ambitious and avant-garde, but nevertheless, Cadillac decided to bring it to life as a production model, and the new all-electric model will serve as the brand’s ultra-luxury flagship model, carrying the long legacy of models like the V16 Aerodynamic Coupe and Eldorado Brougham. MUST READ: 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series ESV For Sale In Fort Lauderdale What makes this the most technologically-advanced Cadillac ever? The new Cadillac CELESTIQ has an Ultium-based electric powertrain that gives the new car an estimated 600 horsepower and 604 lb/ft of torque, as well as a 0-60 time of just 3.8 seconds, an incredibly quick number for the large luxury sedan. Driving dynamics are incredibly advanced to give the large vehicle the driving characteristics of something much smaller, with things like Adaptive Air Suspension, Active Rear Steering, Magnetic Ride Control, dual-motor all-wheel drive, Active Roll Control, tires created just for the CELESTIQ and more. Cadillac says that with its 200 kW DC fast charging system, the CELESTIQ can add 78 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes at a public DC fast charging station, with a total estimated range of 300 miles on a full charge. Why is the Cadillac CELESTIQ going to cost over $300,000? Even for a Cadillac, the CELESTIQ is slated to be quite expensive, but that’s because Cadillac has promised a true flagship model with the car, one that harkens back to the glory days of the brand that featured absolutely uncompromised luxury and truly stunning vehicles. $81 million was invested into the General Motors Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, where the new production CELESTIQ will be manufactured for the first time in the site’s 66-year history. The CELESTIQ’s “Artisan Center” is a high-security “clean room” where only those building the car can enter and only six cars can be made at a time. Each Cadillac CELESTIQ will be bespoke, and no two will be identical. Working with the dealer and with Cadillac’s design team through a design consultation process, clients will be able to personalize their CELESTIQ at a level that has never been seen before. What features make the Cadillac CELESTIQ “ultra-luxury?” The new Cadillac CELESTIQ goes far beyond most traditional definitions of automotive luxury, with features that will impress anyone, onlookers, drivers, and passengers alike. The unorthodox design features a fastback profile and massive 23-inch wheels, and the striking exterior is just a small taste of what the car has to offer. Entering the car, which happens without door handles, instead opting for power-opening and power-closing doors with the press of a button continues to tell an incredible story. One of the most dazzling features in the interior of the new Cadillac CELESTIQ is the new Fixed Smart Glass Roof, which features four separate zones to that each passenger can customize the amount of natural light let into their section of the interior. Combined with multi-color ambient lighting, this creates a highly personal experience for everyone in the car. While sleek and modern, the interior remains comfortable and sumptuous, with high-quality, handcrafted materials. The interior boasts 5 screens, one being 55 inches diagonally, and two being 12.6-inch screens for each rear passenger. Each passenger will have access to a world-class, highly advanced Gentherm ClimateSense climate control system, and the CELESTIQ will be the first vehicle to feature it. A 38-speaker interior sound system completes the luxury experience but paired with Active Road Noise Cancellation, and painstaking engineering for noise reduction, the silence of the CELESTIQ is also golden. Entering production this December, the new Cadillac CELESTIQ is ready to drive Cadillac into one of its most glorious chapters yet. View All Cadilacs For Sale Source: Cadillac

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