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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

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By Jordan Aquistapace – June 02, 2023

Scott Disick Reveals His New 1,100HP Widebody McLaren 720...

Upgrading his McLaren with looks and performance, Scott Disick's 720S is ready for any road or track.

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 11, 2021

Watch Daniel Ricciardo's McLaren 720s Donuts And Go-Karti...

Go-karting to most is seen as an occasional activity enjoyed for the fun of it, but in the world of motorsport, it is where future professional drivers gain the fundamentals of racing. Even long after early years of driving people to compete at high levels of karting, explained further in Daniel Ricciardo’s newest YouTube video. The video begins with Daniel warming up with McLaren 720S donuts in the parking lot, which resulted in a stern talking to for the McLaren Formula 1 driver. Daniel is joined on the mini track by Jenson Button, a professional British racing driver with years of karting experience. The video explains that as karting is the beginning stage of racing, it is never outgrown, as the two compete in various stages resulting in sore muscles for the professionals. Click the video link to watch Daniel Ricciardo’s No Brakes Ep 5 presented by Optus featuring Jenson Button. For more Celebrity Car news, Check out Zlatan Ibrahimović Spotted Out Driving His Exclusive Ferrari Monza SP2 Source: " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>

By Edward Jones – July 17, 2019

Jason Statham Rides to 'Hobbs and Shaw' Premiere in McLar...

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0AuQlRnOu8/ The film 'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw' is set to release to theaters on August 2, 2019, bringing tons of action along with it. For the premiere of the film, one of the stars, Jason Statham, rolled up in a McLaren 720S. Mclaren Automotive shared a shot of Statham posted up in front of the supercar on their Instagram account (see above). Why a 720S? Because it's also one of the stars in the film. In both of the trailers released for 'Hobbs & Shaw', the 720S can be seen whipping around and being driven like mad. You can check out the trailer down below to see it for yourself. Get ready for the release of the film. It's sure to be a wild ride! see all mclaren 720s for sale

By Edward Jones – May 24, 2019

Mika Häkkinen Shows Off Custom McLaren 720S GT3 That He W...

Mika Häkkinen, also know as "The Flying Finn," is a Formula One legend. During his F1 racing career, spanning from 1991 to 2001, he snagged two Formula One World Championships for McLaren. Now, McLaren Automotive and Häkkinen have teamed up to unveil a new 720S GT3. This specific 720S GT3 is finished in a Papaya paint that is about as bright as they come. As for its livery, it has five blue stripes running down that center and they even flow into the air tunnel on the hood. Pairing the blue and orange together turned out to be a beautiful idea. The most interesting part of the exterior is the Häkkinen name on the doors. That's because The Flying Finn will actually be racing this car at the upcoming Suzuka 10 Hours race later this year in August. We can't wait to see him in action again! See All McLaren 720S For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx1kHGlnLfd/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx0NRjHC9P4/ Featured Image Source: Instagram

By Edward Jones – April 11, 2019

Jason Statham's New McLaren 720S

Movie star Jason Statham has been going heavy in the automotive world for quite some time now. Most recently, he's been in the news, especially our news, because of his star role in the upcoming film "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw". In the film, he drives the McLaren 720S supercar- even the poster for the film has him leaning up against the 720S. Now, Statham has added a 720S Spider to his own collection thanks to his purchase from our friends at McLaren Beverly Hills. McLaren Spins Out for Fast and Furious Spin-Off The McLaren 720S Spider is truly one of the English automaker's finest convertibles. It all starts with the already incredible 720S supercar. For the convertible functionality, McLaren developed an all-new type of carbon fiber roof. This new retractable hardtop roof will open or close in just 11 seconds during speeds of up to 31 mph. My favorite new feature of the 720S Spider is the optional glass insert that's electrochromatic. This means the glass insert can go from clear to dark with just the flick of a switch. Now that's innovative. Congratulations on the new ride, Jason Statham! And an even better choice of a dealership. view mclaren beverly hills' cars for sale Source

By Edward Jones – April 03, 2019

Jose Ramirez Buys McLaren 720S from Marshall Goldman

Jose Ramirez is coming off of a hot 2018 season ready to take on the American League Central division for the Cleveland Indians. He may be able to easily help a ball travel out of the diamond, but for his own travelling he's opted for a new supercar. Marshall Goldman Motor Sales recently posted an image and video of Ramirez with his new ride, a McLaren 720S. His example of the English supercar is finished in Glacier White, with a Tan leather interior. It's a beautiful spec that will certainly catch the attention of fans when he's arriving at Progressive Field. Congrats on the new ride! view marshall goldman's inventory of cars https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzVzZBJZMr/

By Edward Jones – February 01, 2019

"Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" Trailer is Finall...

Finally, the trailer for the upcoming film "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" has been released. In the trailer (seen above), we get a chance to see just how far along the Fast and Furious franchise has come. Well, after watching the trailer you will see that the franchise we once knew for racing cars for pink slips now includes a supervillain, thanks to Idris Elba. I'm not saying that's a bad thing in any way, just that it looks very different when compared to the first film in the franchise. Then again, this is a spin-off film. See the Cars of Fast and Furious 6 The chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham looks to be phenomenal and it will surely result in some great banter between the two. If you're a fan of action films with fast cars, this will definitely be a film to check out. There's even a shot of a McLaren 720S sliding under a truck in the trailer. Not bad. I know I'll be seeing it in theaters. Also Check Out: Howard Panes’ Vibrant McLaren Senna is a Must-See Own an Original Piece of Movie History: The Original Eleanor Marshmello Just Got a New 6×6 Truck From Diesel Brothers

By Edward Jones – November 05, 2018

McLaren Spins Out for Fast and Furious Spin-Off

Shooting for the upcoming film "Hobbs & Shaw" has begun... quite literally. A video on YouTube by Aidan Farren-Hart shows some of the film's action as it's being filmed (see above). In the scene that Farren-Hart captured, we see a McLaren 720S spinning out as it's being chased by a motorcyclist. Naturally, the motorcyclist is shooting at the McLaren as it tries to drive away. "Hobbs & Shaw" is a spin-off film based on The Fast and The Furious franchise. The lead roles in the film are Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw, who are played by The Rock and Jason Statham respectively. Statham actually posted a photo of him and the film's director, David M. Leitch, standing in front of the McLaren 720S (see below). The film will be releasing on July 26, 2019. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bni3iSoHtmh/ Related: Why You Should Buy A McLaren 720S McLaren 720S Receives New Track Pack Specification Bugatti Chiron Destroys McLaren 720S in Rolling Race

By Edward Jones – November 29, 2017

Migos' Quavo Gets a New McLaren 720S

There is a 99% chance you've heard something from Migos before, especially the recent 'MotorSport' that they collaborated with Nicki Minaj and Cardi B for. That's a fitting song name considering Quavo of Migos just picked himself up a new McLaren 720S supercar. What's more, he calls all other rappers out in his Instagram post of the car, saying he's the only rapper with one. Swizz Beatz might have something to say about that. Anyways, congrats to Quavo on his new car. He's for sure a sport.Why You Should Buy A McLaren 720Shttps://www.instagram.com/p/BcF9NMUA2Uj/?taken-by=quavohuncho

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2017

Deadmau5 Buys a New McLaren 720S Supercar

Famous music producer Deadmau5 has unveiled on his Instagram page that he has purchased a new McLaren 720S for his garage in Canada. His 720S purchase doesn't come as a surprise when you consider that he's purchased a McLaren 650S and P1 in the past.In his revealing picture, Deadmau5 is standing next to a white 720S with the caption: "Mine!" It looks like this picture was taken at the McLaren headquarters. He also got to test drive an orange example of the car, saying that it's "quite a step up from the 650S."https://www.instagram.com/p/BYLLE3qnff4/?taken-by=deadmau5His new McLaren is powered by a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. With this much power, along with a dry weight of just 2,828 lbs, the 720S has a power-to-weight ratio of 0.251 horsepower per 1 lbs. With this power and light weight, the 720S will rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and 0-124 mph in 7.8 seconds. Top speed is also stated to be 212 mph.https://www.instagram.com/p/BYLYlsDnd3Y/Buy an Exotic or Collector Car

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