Celebrity Cars

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 Jordan Aquistapace – May 19, 2026

Watch Cleetus McFarland’s Corvette ZR1 Take on Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s Mustang GTD

Right now, an all-American battle is happening in the automotive world between two icons that continue pushing the limits of what’s possible on U.S. soil: the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the Ford Mustang GTD. Both have officially stepped into supercar territory, delivering plenty of power at a price that still undercuts much of the exotic car world. But despite the specs and Nürburgring lap times set by factory professional drivers, there’s still one question left to answer: What happens when two regular owners line them up and go head-to-head with their own cars? Well, automotive YouTuber Garrett Mitchell, better known as Cleetus McFarland, and professional drifter and founder of RTR Vehicles, Vaughn Gittin Jr., just answered that question in a recently uploaded YouTube video. The whole idea came about when the two discussed meeting up for a casual track session at 10/10ths Motor Club in Concord, NC, which snowballed into Cleetus trailering his C8 ZR1 from Florida, and then went even further, questioning whose car would lay down the faster lap time. And before you make the assumption that the Corvette automatically has the upper hand with a 300+ horsepower advantage, the 1.7-mile circuit doesn’t feature long straights where all that power can be utilized.Cleetus’ C8 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 isn’t your average out-of-the-box spec, making 1,100 horsepower to the wheels thanks to upgraded downpipes and an engine ECU tune, which also happens to void the factory warranty. For Vaughn, his newly delivered Ford Mustang GTD remains completely stock in the performance department, with 830 crank horsepower and a sophisticated suspension setup that most definitely outshines Chevrolet’s in the corners. As the founder of one of the largest aftermarket specialists for Mustangs, he did in fact find a way to shed close to 9lbs with newly developed RTR wheels. The track day even brought out T-Pain and Hert from Nappy Boy Automotive, who ultimately became the trusted timekeepers, delivering the good and bad news to both drivers. After a quick 15-minute warm-up with a professional driver in the passenger seat, Vaughn Gittin Jr. set off first with Cleetus to follow after, in a traditional time attack race format of five laps to set the best time possible. And as for the overall winner… you’ll have to tune into the video below to find out for yourself.

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 07, 2026

Watch Jay Leno's First Drive in His 1,250HP Corvette ZR1X

Jeremy Clarkson once referred to the Bugatti Veyron as quite possibly being the best car we've seen in our lifetime, and at that moment in time, it could’ve been true. But instead, the ideology of hypercars and four-figure horsepower became a chase for manufacturers and small brands alike, fueled by the pursuit of performance. And while millions of dollars could buy you any one of the countless hypercars on the market today, Chevrolet flipped the script by engineering the new Corvette ZR1X as a more affordable, American-made hypercar. On the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Jay dives into this just after recently taking delivery of his very own 1,250-horsepower Corvette ZR1X convertible . Having been around and owning all calibers of cars, from Ford’s first Model T to McLaren’s iconic F1, Jay Leno appears to be the perfect spokesperson on the matter at hand, which in this case is only best described as the American dream. General Motors President Mark Reuss joins Jay as they talk about Corvette’s journey with the ZR1X, built in a union production facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, by men and women to go head-to-head with the fastest and most expensive hypercars. Having owned ZR1 specs since the C6 generation, Jay is most impressed by the car’s evolution to a mid-engine configuration while still maintaining the feeling of an aspirational everyday driver. His configuration, finished in a two-tone black-and-red design with a split interior, features almost every option available from Chevrolet, including carbon fiber wheels, Michelin Cup 2R tires, carbon-ceramic brakes, and a high-wing package for downforce. With the odometer reading only 510 miles, surpassing its mandatory, electronic break-in period, Jay leaves the garage behind the wheel of his brand-new Corvette ZR1X for its first spirited drive. Driving dynamics seem to be a main talking point inside the cabin, showing just how versatile the fastest and most sophisticated Corvette ever built really is, all at the press of a button and a push on the accelerator. Without giving too much away, we can certainly report that Jay Leno thoroughly enjoys his new Corvette ZR1X so much that he’ll be making a trip to Bowling Green to personally meet Jason Neal, the man who built the motor of his car. Watch the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage by clicking below. All Corvette ZR1 Inventory

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 09, 2024

David Donohue Sets Record COTA Lap Time In John Hennessey...

The Circuit of the Americas was taken on by an American performance hero. John Hennessey is known for having an insatiable penchant for the ultimate American performance, whether that means tuning, acquiring, or building from the ground up, some of the greatest American performance cars ever seen. In the automotive world, the Hennessey name has become synonymous with speed, power, and engineering prowess, and despite not being tuned, John Hennessey’s stock C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 now has a feather in its own cap. Recently, Hennessey announced a partnership with racing legend David Donohue, with the two setting their sights together on achieving incredible records behind the wheel of Hennessey’s Venom F5 hypercar, but the new Corvette Z06 also took part in achieving racing success this past December, when Donohue took it to the Circuit of the Americas. The car is equipped with Chevrolet’s Z07 performance package, which adds to the already-formidable Z06 track ready carbon fiber aero and carbon fiber wheels. While conditions were less than ideal and prevented the lap time from being even faster, Donohue managed to clock an incredible 2 minutes and 19.18 seconds, recorded through the on-board lap time recorder in the Corvette Z06. This puts the car in the Austin, Texas circuit’s record books as the fastest Corvette Z06 at the track, and Hennessey filmed the entire lap for fans to experience both the performance prowess of the C8 Z06, and the driving skill of the legendary David Donohue, whose partnership with Hennessey has already proved fruitful. Watch the incredible lap below. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey

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By Jordan Aquistapace – August 28, 2023

UFC Star 'Suga' Sean O'Malley Buys A New Chevrolet C8 Cor...

From the UFC octagon to the exotic car dealership, Suga Sean is making all the right moves.

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 21, 2022

Watch The Stradman Take Delivery Of His Full-Optioned $17...

Starting at the dealership in Pennsylvania, The Stradman sprints to tackle the C8's 500-mile break-in period. As the C8 generation continues to mark itself as the first mid-engine Corvette in history, the real excitement came with the announcement of the highly-desirable Z06 package. With demand outweighing the supply from GM’s Bowling Green plant, collectors and enthusiasts are running to dealerships to try and secure one of the first chassis in the world. In his newest YouTube video, automotive influencer James Stradman documents his journey to Pennsylvania to take delivery of his brand-new C8 Z06 Corvette (Chassis #031). MUST-READ: C8 Corvette Z06 Price, Specs, Photos & Review The Stradman’s dream spec takes shape as a full-optioned configuration that presents a head-turning Accelerate Yellow finish with tons of exterior carbon fiber pieces. Utilizing the track-inspired extras from Chevrolet, the build comes equipped with a set of 20/21-inch carbon fiber wheels that add $12,000 to the original MSRP. The C8 Z06 mimics its exterior styling inside of its driver-oriented cabin, which incorporates an immense amount of carbon fiber and Accelerate Yellow accents. In total, The Stradman sat down inside the dealership to pay for the $173,011 Corvette configuration. Stay tuned as The Stradman makes his trek back to Utah intending to unlock full performance after reaching the 500-mile break-in period. Watch The Stradman take delivery of his $173k C8 Z06 Corvette by clicking the video above. View all Corvette models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Corvette For Sale Source: TheStradman YouTube

By Andrew Nabors – January 14, 2019

Jay Leno Drives his 1957 Corvette

Chevrolet was uncertain about the Corvette's future in 1957. The car was launched four years earlier with only 300 sold. But sales began to become profitable by 1955, when the ancient six-cylinder was replaced by the new V8. After fighting in the brutal Korean war, a soldier rewarded himself by ordering this 1957 Corvette in Inca Silver. In order to save weight, he ordered the car without the convertible top, heater, radio, or even courtesy lights. This featherweight supercar is the epitome of 50s performance, so its amazing to watch Jay Leno Drive his 1957 Corvette. Inca Silver was Corvette's first Acrylic Enamel paint, thanks to DuPont owning a majority stake in General Motors. Corvette gained a posi-traction rear differential, and Chevrolet Chief Engineer Zora Duntov made it the first American car to have 1 horsepower per cubic-inch. The 283ci engine with 283 horsepower was not only revolutionary, it launched the plastic fantastic to a winning streak that continues today. A 3-speed manual was the base-model transmission, so the owner opted for the 4-speed with a 4.11 differential, options that were both new for '57. Although the first-generation (C1) Corvette was produced through 1962, the 57 is universally accepted as the defining year. Stylists added tons of chrome and polished stainless for 1958, and the front end became much more haughty. What makes this one even more significant is that it was restored as part of Jay Leno's Collection. That means everything part is in better condition than the factory, and the only upgrades are the vintage Halibrand wheels with modern radial tires. Jay opted to preserve the original 4.11 gears and install a set of 3.54, which lower the rpm and allow for highway cruising. A fully loaded 1957 weighed in at 2,840 lbs, so this car is easily over 1,000 lbs lighter than a new Corvette ZR1. We have several dealers who specialize in Corvettes of all ages, so click the link below to find one near you. View All Corvettes For Sale Related: See all the Corvettes in Jay Leno's Collection Jay Leno's Restored 1963 Corvette Split Window 2019 Corvette Specs, Price & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 12, 2017

All-Star Game MVP Robinson Cano Wins Corvette Grand Sport

One of the best series of advertisements in automotive history was Chevrolet's slogan in the 70's: "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet". As one of the biggest sponsors of Major League Baseball, Chevrolet had something special for last night's All-Star Game. The American League won in the 13th inning, thanks to the efforts of Seattle Mariner Robinson Canó. To celebrate his first All-Star award, Chevrolet Vice-President Brian Sweeny offered him a new Colorado ZR2 or a new Corvette Grand Sport, with a few congratulations: "“Robinson Canó turned in a tremendous performance tonight and is an excellent example to all baseball fans, and especially our kids, that hustle, determination, and teamwork are what wins, and that is why Chevrolet is proud to present the MVP award”. Although the Colorado ZR2 is a hot seller, we think he made the right choice with the new Corvette. If you have been considering a more efficient daily driver, the naturally aspirated 6.2 liter is capable of 28 miles per gallon and an 11.8-second quarter mile at 118 mph. Reaching 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, it will scare the daylights out of any first baseman. The spoilers and wide body parts are borrowed from the Z06 for aggressive looks and incredible grip. A blue metallic finish with a white center stripe is a throwback to the original 1963 Grand Sports. It was a secret program to build race cars to compete on the world stage. Resurrected in 1996, they were powered by the final and most powerful version of the 350 V8. You might be wondering why he wasn't offered a Z06? That's because the wild ZR1 is almost ready to launch. It will probably send the Z06 back to the dugout, but the Grand Sport will remain as the best combination of power and performance. Congrats to Mr. Canó on the big win! if you want to be part of a winning team, our dealers have great summer incentives on new Corvette Grand Sports for sale. Stay with us for all your Chevrolet news.

By Andrew Nabors – October 26, 2016

Vice President Joe Biden Burns Out in his 1967 Corvette S...

As the 2nd in command for the nation, Vice President Biden has not been allowed to drive his 1967 Corvette since he took the oath of office. The Secret Service has strict safety rules that do not involve fiberglass roadsters or carburetors, so it took none other than Jay Leno to get the VP back behind the wheel. Mr. Biden is the original owner of the Stingray, as it was a wedding gift from his father. It has been in storage for the past few years, so his sons surprised him by rebuilding the 327 V8 engine with a few modern updates.(Related - 2018 Corvette ZR1 Prototype Caught in traffic)As the base model engine, the 327 (or 5.3 liter) V8 was the only small block offered that year. Four versions of the 427 (7.0-liter) were offered at extra cost, which has led to many base model cars being transformed into clones of the high-performance models. The running joke in the Corvette world is that more 427-powered cars are currently for sale than ever left the factory. Aside from almost 500 lbs in weight advantage, the small block Stingray is simply more comfortable. Your shoes aren't melting from a 300-degree floor pan, and the sports car actually rotates through corners while transferring weight on acceleration.He has only had three opportunities to drive his own car in the last seven years, so they had to make due with the Secret Service training compound somewhere near DC. While the small block might not have the stump pulling torque of its larger brethren, dumping the clutch produces the same results. They won't ever be as fast or collectible as big blocks, but they aren't missing out on the fun. The VP has obviously done this a few times, because his control of the drift is excellent. Tell us what your ideal early Corvette would be, and be sure to check out the listings from our dealers below.Corvette ZR1 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 15, 2015

Sylvester Stallone's 1968 Corvette is For Sale

If Rocky Balboa and John Rambo were to build a Corvette, this would be it.Aside from being a renowned actor, painter and boxing promoter, Sylvester Stallone likes his cars. He bought this wild 1968 Corvette at Barrett-Jackson's Las Vegas auction back in 2009, and it has a heavy hitting list of modifications.Built for a discerning owner, this convertible features a 510 cubic inch, or 8.3-liter, Donovan Big Block making 660 hp. Torque is not listed, probably because the Brodix heads make enough turning force to shatter the Lakewood bellhousing. A five-speed manual transmission sends power to a custom 5-link coil-over rear suspension.Because early Corvettes used the fiberglass body as a stressed part of the suspension, the entire frame was boxed with thicker steel to prevent the car from shattering upon launch. Anti-lock brakes and fuel injection bring this car into the modern era, along with air conditioning and power steering.A build of this caliber demands a sizable investment, with the power train costing over $30,000 on its own. If you need a convertible Corvette with no expense spared, Taggart Autosport of Cary, North Carolina is asking only $129,900 for the Corvette that was once Stallone's. Though it's had one other owner since Stallone's purchase, included with the sale is his autographed registration and a photo of Sly behind the wheel.(See Also: James May Reviews the Ferrari 488 GTB)This prize fighter may be old, but it packs enough power and prestige to go 12 rounds with any production car we can think of. For more information, hit the button below.View Listing Gallery Sponsored by: See More Celebrity Cars

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