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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

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 30, 2024

Yiannimize x Divine Savages x Urban Automotive Reveal New...

This hypercar becomes even more bespoke. Koenigsegg is known for its unmatched engineering and design. Its hypercar and “megacar” lineage dates back more than 25 years. Throughout that time, the Swedish manufacturer has been at the cutting edge of high performance, breaking records and introducing unprecedented approaches to speed and power. One of the milestones in Koenigsegg’s heritage is the Agera, introduced at the beginning of the 2010s as the next chapter of Koenigsegg’s hypercar legacy. Until its discontinuation in 2018, the Koenigsegg Agera represented the pinnacle of hypercar performance with its unimaginably powerful twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 engine and dual-clutch transmission. One of the most unique examples of Koenigsegg Agera is Koenigsegg Agera N, a unique, ultra-rare iteration of the incredible hypercar. In a new collaboration between famous customization specialist Yiannimize, Urban Automotive, and luxury wallpaper brand Divine Savages, the Koenigsegg Agera N achieves a new level of bespoke customization. The Agera N has been unveiled with a new custom blue and white floral wrap, which is inspired by the Divine Savages signature wallpaper collection. Boasting bold patterns and eclectic aesthetics, Divine Savages brought its luxurious interior design solutions to the automotive world. The floral pattern is an unusual and head-turning way to highlight the unmistakable silhouette of the Koenigsegg Agera, and it takes one of the world’s rarest, most powerful, and most coveted hypercars, and makes it even more unique. View All Koenigseggs For Sale Image Source: Urban Automotive

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By Tyler Rampersaud – February 06, 2024

Shawn Stüssy Teases An Upcoming Custom Land Rover Collabo...

A fashion icon collaborates with an off-road legend. There’s no other vehicle on the road with the legacy that Land Rover has, and that’s because Land Rover forged its legacy off the road. With vehicles that dared to venture and thrive where most others in its time were unable to, Land Rovers quickly earned a lasting reputation as adventure-ready machines, and that’s a reputation that remains important to the manufacturer’s ethos to this day. When it comes to Shawn Stüssy’s legacy as an icon in Californian surf culture and fashion, Land Rover’s off-road reputation and unmistakable style are a perfect complement to it, which is why Shawn Stüssy appears to have teased an upcoming Land Rover collaboration in a new Instagram post. While the only image is a close-up of the logo, and the caption simply says “projects for 2024…” it appears that Shawn Stüssy, founder of the iconic and eponymous Stüssy surfboard and clothing brand, is collaborating with Land Rover specialist Commonwealth Classics on a custom Land Rover restoration. With the historic legacy of off-roading that Land Rover possesses, and the vision and icon status that Shawn Stüssy has, this collaboration is sure to be exciting. View All Land Rovers For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by shawn stüssy (@shawnstussy)

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 04, 2024

Kobe Bryant Tribute Techart Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet...

This custom masterpiece pays homage to a late sports legend. The Porsche 911 Turbo S is one of the greatest open-top creations from the 75-year-old performance luxury manufacturer, and that’s why it serves as the basis for a further elevated Techart customization. Created by TOYZ autoart, this 2021 Techart-customized Porsche 911 is a bespoke masterpiece with a special story, and the one-of-one cabriolet is available for sale at John Scotti Automotive in Kirkland, Canada. With a purple color and gold accents, reminiscent of the Los Angeles Lakers, the car is inspired by the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The interior is finished in black leather, and the stitching is yellow, with embroidered details throughout in both yellow and purple featuring both of Bryant’s player numbers, 8 and 24. Even the center caps of the wheels display the numbers 8 and 24. This car has plenty of factors that make it special. It’s not only a powerful and agile performance machine but one that is custom and bespoke. In addition to all of that, it’s a beautiful tribute to one of the greatest late legends in the basketball and sports worlds. If you're interested in adding this masterpiece of a car to your collection, view the price and listing by clicking below. View Price And Listing Image Source: John Scotti Automotive

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2021

TOYZ autoart Reveals One-of-a-Kind TECHART Kobe Bryant Ho...

A legendary homage to the legend himself. It's been well over a year since Kobe Bryant's passing, but the world has shown that they will never forget him. A perfect example of this is TOYZ autoart's latest creation, a one-of-a-kind TECHART Turbo that's an homage to the legendary Kobe Bryant. This very special supercar is based on the Porsche 911 Turbo S but it is far from being stock. As you can see from the images down below, it features a purple and yellow color scheme that mimics the LA Lakers jersey. From what we can tell, it's loaded with TECHART touches like the aerokit and sports exhaust system. TECHART notes in the Instagram post that more will be coming of this home supercar, so be sure to check back with us for more information and images as it's all released. View TOYZ autoart Inventory View this post on Instagram A post shared by TECHART (@techart_germany)

By Edward Jones – February 24, 2021

Yadier Álvarez Just Bought an Insane Apocalypse HellFire ...

Yadier Álvarez has just added an absolutely brutal vehicle to his creation, thanks to Apocalypse 6x6. His new Hellfire 6x6 is packing a 500 horsepower 6.2L V8 LS3 Corvette engine. Power from this engine is evenly distributed to all six of the truck's tires, thanks to a proprietary mechanical middle axle. As for the specific of his Hellfire 6x6, it's finished in a Kevlar coating, features a roll-and-lock fastback, ¼" thick full steel face bumper with enclosed 9,500 lbs winch, ¼" thick full steel windshield armor, active suspension, 40-inch tires and more. These Hellfire 6x6's start at $150,000 and they're worth every penny. They can also be equipped with the 707 horsepower 6.2L V8 supercharged Hellcat engine. For more information, be sure to visit Apocalypse6x6.com. View Inventory

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By Edward Jones – July 23, 2019

Dave Sparks Just Gave Andy Frisella a Ford F-550 6x6 for ...

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9vfA_gjcU/ Dave Sparks (also known as "Heavy D") of the Diesel Brothers just gave his friend Andy Frisella one of the best birthday presents we've ever seen. Heck, it may be the best. What was it? A custom 2019 Ford F-550 6x6. Heavy D uploaded a video of him gifting the present to an unknowing Andy in his driveway. Andy looked absolutely flabbergasted at the gift, but who wouldn't be? This truck is absolutely massive, gorgeous and a true one-of-a-kind. Marshmello Got a New 6×6 Truck From Diesel Brothers and It’s Amazing https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz6gRK-n5Nc/?igshid=gqiq6i4mpjx1 One commenter on the video noted that when Heavy D first started Heavy Academy, he asked Andy to be a speaker. Frisella flew out and spoke, not accepting any payment for it. He did it all for free. It should be noted that he gets paid quite well for each of his appearances. It seems the two have a tradition of giving without receiving. Now that's true friendship. Andy Frisella Reviews His Brand-New 2017 Ford GT https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz6yK2dnB3-/ Upon seeing the truck, Andy wasn't the only Frisella that was stoked about the truck. His brother, Sal, loved it too. He loved it so much, in fact, that Andy is actually having Heavy D build Sal one and he's paying for it. So now we have Heavy D gifting Andy a 6x6 truck and Andy gifting his brother Sal a 6x6 truck. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

By Edward Jones – July 19, 2019

Vin Diesel's "Fast" Friends Surprise Him With Muscle Car ...

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0EYfVGlIWG/ Vin Diesel has been part of the "Fast and Furious" family for well over a decade. Heck, he was there when it all started. Because of the closeness between everyone in the films, they go all out when it comes to special occasions. For Vin Diesel's birthday, for example, they got him a wicked muscle car as a surprise gift. The muscle car he was given was actually Speedkore's Tantrum, a custom 1970 Dodge Charger. Powering this beast is a twin-turbo Mercury Racing V8 engine that puts out 1650 horsepower on race fuel and 1350 hp with standard fuel. And yes, it has a six-speed manual gearbox. Its exterior is made entirely from SpeedKore carbon fiber parts, while the inside has custom leather and Alcantara upholstery. It's truly menacing, just like Kevin Hart's SpeedKore "Menace". see all dodge chargers for sale https://www.instagram.com/p/B0GbfTTFJuZ/

By Edward Jones – July 08, 2019

Kevin Hart's New Muscle Car is Mean

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzqcOr3hM2M/ SpeedKore has just shown off Kevin Hart's latest addition to his car collection and it's a beast. Well, it's actually a menace. Okay, so its name is actually "Menace." However, Menace is all based a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, but it is definitely menacing. This custom muscle car for sale is powered by a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger attached. SpeedKore notes on their website that this setup produces a mean 720 horsepower. Brutal. As for everything else, it has carbon fiber exterior components, custom "Lakeshore Blue" PPG paint, custom dashboard, custom leather interior and a lot more. Seriously, this is an absolute beauty. MUST SEE: Kevin Harts Car Collection

By Edward Jones – January 07, 2019

Marshmello Just Got a New 6x6 Truck From Diesel Brothers ...

DJ Marshmello's truck just got unveiled and I'm sitting wondering if we'll ever see Post Malone's Hennessey VelociRaptor 6x6 race it. Marshmello, the famous producer/DJ has become a worldwide hit that's easily recognizable thanks to his massive helmet. Now, he's going to be even easier to spot out thanks to his new custom Ford 6x6 truck from the Diesel Brothers. This new truck was delivered by the Diesel Brothers to Marshmello and his manager, Moe Shalizi. Dave Sparks of Diesel Brothers posted an image of the truck, as well as a video. In the description of the video, he throws in the hashtag "#velociraptorkiller" as a call-out to Hennessey's 6x6 truck. You know what that calls for? A drag race between the two trucks. Duh. Maybe we can toss in a tug-of-war between the two. Which one do you like better, Post's truck or Marshmello's? Let us know in the comments below! shop trucks/suvs now https://www.instagram.com/p/BsLhzlvAYNa/ Featured Image Via Instagram

By Edward Jones – December 24, 2018

Post Malone Gets Massive Hennessey VelociRaptor 6x6 for C...

Back in October, Post Malone posted a pic to his Instagram of him with John Hennessey. Now, if you're familiar with John Hennessey, you know that he is the madman behind the Hennessey car brand. They specialize in some of the craziest cars, like a 1,000 horsepower Cadillac CTS-V and 1,200 horsepower Dodge Demon Redeye. Hennessey Performance has also created the VelociRaptor 6x6, which was apparently what John and Post were meeting about in the pic he posted up earlier this year. See Post Malone's Exotic Car Collection Hennessey Performance revealed on their Facebook page that they have delivered a gorgeous white VelociRaptor 6x6 to the famous Post Malone. " width="680"> This custom Ford Raptor comes with an extra set of rear axles that turn the truck into an off-road monster. Whether Post opted for the twin-turbo upgrade is unknown, but I would not be surprised he went for the additional power. Congrats are in order for Post on his new truck, because it's a beauty! Images by Taylor Sanger Photography via Hennessey Performance

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