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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 Khris Bharath – May 02, 2026

Jeremy Clarkson Reveals He’s Driving Aston Martin’s New $1M Valhalla

Jeremy Clarkson was recently spotted in central London, getting into a silver Aston Martin Valhalla. Earlier today, Jezza revealed in a post on his Instagram that he had two cars to review this week, showing a Fiat Panda Grande alongside the Valhalla finished in silver with green accents, the same one he was spotted in earlier. Tellingly, he noted that one of the two cars has been getting significantly more use than the other, and it's not hard to guess which one. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeremy Clarkson (@jeremyclarkson1) The Valhalla is very much one of the top exotic cars of the moment. Developed in collaboration with Red Bull Racing under the direction of Adrian Newey, it is Aston’s mid-engined road car with series-production plug-in hybrid tech, a first for the British marque. Power comes from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG, working in tandem with three electric motors to produce a combined 1,064 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. The Valhalla can hit 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 217 mph. Production is strictly limited to 999 examples. Customer deliveries only began recently, and high-profile sightings are already stacking up. Back in February this year, Gordon Ramsay, in his own Midnight Blue example, was photographed outside The Savoy in London, making it two of Britain’s most recognisable faces already behind the wheel of one of its most exciting new cars. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aaron Moniz (@aaronspotz) Clarkson, now 66 remains one of Britain’s most prominent motoring voices, and his automotive presence is as loud as ever. Despite spending much of the past few years fronting Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon, he has never truly stepped away from the car world. His weekly columns for The Sunday Times and The Sun keep coming, and he recently appeared in a Harry’s Garage video riding shotgun in a Gordon Murray T.50. His former Top Gear and The Grand Tour co-presenters are similarly refusing to fade into the background. Richard Hammond and James May both remain active on DriveTribe, the automotive media platform the trio co-founded together, while May has also built out an unlikely second career with his own gin brand. With The Grand Tour having wrapped its main run in 2024, all three are now doing their own thing. A combined career spanning well over three decades, and to the relief of fans, they’re far from done. View All Aston Martins for Sale Images via Instagram: @jeremyclarkson1, @aaronsportz

By Khris Bharath – February 22, 2026

Gordon Ramsay Spotted Driving His New $1 Million Aston Martin Valhalla in Central London

Traffic in Central London rarely stops for anything, yet earlier this weekend, heads turned when celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay was seen in his new Aston Martin Valhalla, a $1 million hybrid mid-engine supercar limited to just 999 units worldwide. First showcased as a concept in 2019 as the AM-RB 003 concept, the production variant was revealed in 2021, with final testing wrapping up in March last year. deliveries only began recently. Ramsay appears to be among the earliest owners, with his windscreen carrying a registration that simply reads “Valhalla.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Freddie Atkins (@tfjj) He was subsequently spotted arriving at ‘The Savoy,’ the iconic luxury hotel in the heart of the British capital, where Drivers entering the forecourt follow instructions to use the right-hand lane, an unusual move in a country that otherwise keeps left. Diving into the Valhalla configurator, Ramsay’s example appears to be a beautifully specified Midnight Blue example, with a 2x2 Twill satin carbon fiber package, an Elwood blue central stripe that runs the length of the car over the roof scoop, the top-mounted twin-exhaust all the way onto the fixed rear wing, along with blue accents (Theme 2). It sits over Forged Magnesium satin-black multi-spoke wheels and black brake callipers. A right-hand drive car, the blue/satin carbon theme continues on the inside with twill carbon finish accents on the dash, steering, seats, and carbon fiber seats contrasting against what appears to be a pale blue leather interior with blue stitching. Underneath the sculpted carbonfiber bodywork sits a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank Mercedes-AMG-derived V8 paired with hybrid assistance, which puts out a combined 1,064 horsepower and 812 pound-feet of torque. An F1-derived hybrid system features two electric motors on the front axle, with a third in the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission providing additional torque to the rear wheels, resulting in an all-wheel drive setup. The hybrid setup offers about nine miles of all-electric range. The aero package was designed by the great Adrian Newey, one of the greatest minds in Formula 1 and Aston Martin F1’s team principal, and is capable of 1,322 pounds of downforce at 150 mph. The Valhalla can hit 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 217 mph, figures that place it firmly in contemporary supercar territory, positioned below the more extreme V-12-powered Valkyrie. Ramsay’s garage already includes several limited-production Ferraris alongside Aston Martin models such as the DBS 770 Ultimate, DBR22, Valour, and the Valiant. The hybrid Valkyrie now joins a spectacular collection of other exotics. View All Aston Martins For Sale Images: @tfjj

By Edward Jones – October 07, 2019

James Bond 25 "No Time To Die": All Aston Martin Cars Ann...

On April 8, 2020, the 25th James Bond film will hit theaters, "No Time to Die." Just like every other Bond film before this one, there will be plenty of exquisite cars featured throughout. One automaker that we consistently see in Bond films is Aston Martin, who has supplied a long list of cars. For the 25th Bond film, Aston Martin is continuing the tradition and supplying four different cars. They include the DB5, V8 Vantage, DBS Superleggera and Valhalla. As you can see, they went half-and-half with modern and classic models. Check them all out down below. Aston Martin DB5 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Aston Martin Valhalla Source: Twitter

By Edward Jones – July 01, 2019

Aston Martin Shines in New "Bond 25" Teaser Images

https://twitter.com/007/status/1145424895142240257 A new James Bond film is on its way. Its name is still unknown, so the film is being regarded as "Bond 25." What's also been unknown is what cars Daniel Craig will be driving in the upcoming film. Thanks to a new slew of social media images from the official James Bond Twitter account, we now have a glimpse of Bond's automobiles of choice for the new film. Well, we know one of the cars that will be featured: an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. This model also showed up in the 1987 Bond film "The Living Daylights." It's a perfect classic car for the classic spy to be driving. However, there's also word that Bond will get behind the wheel of the new Valhalla supercar in the film. I guess we will just have to wait and see! "Bond 25" will release on April 8, 2020. See All Aston Martins For Sale https://twitter.com/007/status/1145353418803834880 Source: Twitter/@007

By Edward Jones – April 25, 2019

What Will James Bond's Next Car Be?

The new "Bond 25" film's cast has just been announced, and it's jam-packed with stars. According to Collider.com, the official cast is as follows: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomi Harris, Rory Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Dali Benssalah, Billy Magnussen, Ana De Armas, David Dencik, Lashana Lynch and Remi Malek. Now, there's one thing missing so far: the car. What kind of car is James Bond going to drive this time around? If history tells us anything, it's that James Bond drives an Aston Martin. This is a tradition that goes back to the 1964 film, "Goldfinger," with the DB5. Since then, numerous Aston Martins have been used, as well as a few other makes. Most recently, Bond drove a DB10 in "Spectre". This car actually sold for $2.6 million for charity. Before that, the DB5 was actually used in both "Casino Royale" and "Skyfall". So, what will it be? Could it be the new DBS Superleggera? DB11? Or even one of Aston Martin's new supercars or hypercar? Cast your vote down below. see all aston martins for sale Source: Collider

By Edward Jones – April 22, 2019

Jon Olsson Fans Vote on His Next Supercar

Jon Olsson has decided that he can't decide which supercar he should buy next. So, he let his fans pick out which car he would add to his collection next. To do this, he put a poll on one of his YouTube videos. In the poll were three options: Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, Ferrari GTC4Lusso and Porsche Panamera Turbo S. On the past Friday, the winner was picked with 43% of the votes, the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. Thankfully, Olsson isn't giving his fans the opportunity to pick out what the Aston Martin will look like. Given that the internet once voted on "Boaty McBoatface" for the name of a boat, he could've ended up with a pink and green car on white wheels. That being said, Olsson uploaded a few photoshops of what he thinks his spec will look like when he goes to order. I'm personally a fan of the grey spec with red trim. Congrats on the new ride Jon, I think the fans picked well! see all aston martins for sale

By Edward Jones – April 27, 2018

2018 Aston Martin Tom Brady Edition Vanquish S Volante fo...

The 2018-2019 NFL Season is set to start in just a couple of months and the draft just happened, so football fever is in full effect. If you happen to be looking for a new sports car right now and are a fan of the New England Patriots, we have the perfect car for you. For sale at Cleveland Motorsports is a new 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante 'Tom Brady Edition.' This car is one of 12 to be created and was designed by Q by Aston Martin and Tom Brady himself. Each of the cars in the collection, including this one, is handpainted in Ultramarine Black and has an equally deep-shaded Dark Knight leather interior that's been stitched by hand. Being a special edition, there are a few extras found throughout the car, all of them point out that this is indeed a car built to honor Tom Brady. For example, the headrests and fender badges feature a "TB12" logo, with the "TB" standing for Tom Brady (duh) and 12 signifying his jersey number.This bespoke car is available now at Cleveland Motorsports. Click the button below to learn more about this rare opportunity.View Price and Listing

By Edward Jones – December 08, 2017

Led Zeppelin Singer Robert Plant's Aston Martin DB5 for Sale

The Aston Martin DB5 is, on its own, an iconic automobile. It's beauty, luxury and aura is something that can be experienced from near or far. In fact, James Bond was epicurean enough to choose the DB5 for many of his missions. Another well-known icon that had a DB5 of their own was Robert Plant, singer, and frontman for Led Zeppelin... and it's now for sale.Steve Jobs' BMW Z8 Heading to AuctionThis specific DB5 that's for sale at Nicholas Mee & Company LTD is chassis number 1744/R. It was built in 1965, but Plant purchased the car in the 1970's. He had the car in his ownership up until 1986 when it was sold to a father and son who collect cars. They then had the car restored. It was under their ownership up until 2008 when it was purchased by the current owner.You can learn more about the car by clicking the button below.Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – October 27, 2017

Aston Martin Unveils Vanquish S Volante Tom Brady Signatu...

If I was obsessed with the NFL, my home team from Jacksonville, Florida would make it hard to find friends. No matter where a car show takes place, there are always members of Patriot Nation. Aston Martin knows how to pick the perfect fantasy team, so they've partnered with Tom Brady for a limited run of 2018 Vanquish S Volantes. This model year might be the last Vanquish to offer a naturally aspirated V12, as the twin-turbo superstar from the DB11 is primed to be shared across their team.So as a proper sendoff for the 580 horsepower convertible, only 12 examples will be produced. Q by Aston Martin-Commission is a new evolution of their custom shop that was revealed at this year's Geneva Motor Show. It allows the Q division to work directly with the customer to tailor the car in every way. Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman collaborated with Tom on the project, saying: "Q by Aston Martin – Commission’ is the ultimate in bespoke, in fact, it can even go as far as creating an entirely new car. Tom chose the Vanquish S as he recognizes natural athletic performance when he sees it. He has curated a beautiful, tailor-made car that will excite its owners for many years to come.”Aston Martin Launches DB11 Configurator Each example is painted by hand in Ultramarine Black. The interior is Dark Knight leather, stitched by hand. Tom chose carbon fiber with contrasts of "California Poppy" on the shift paddles and embroidery. A unique TB12 logo is found on the headrests and fender badges signify each as one of the twelve.The press release says deliveries are expected to start in the first quarter of 2018, so perhaps it will coincide with another trip to the big game. If you are looking to build your own bespoke Aston Martin, click on the link below to find your closest dealer and stay with us for all your Aston Martin news.Find Your Aston Martin

By Edward Jones – May 31, 2017

F1 Drivers Take Aston Martins Out for a Race...With a Twist

Seeing an Aston Martin supercar racing around a Formula 1 circuit isn't that outlandish. However, seeing two Aston Martins racing around a circuit with caravans attached most definitely is outlandish...and downright hilarious to watch.In order to get ready for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix in July, Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen decided to have some fun with their practice laps. A Vanquish Volante was Ricciardo's car for the race, and a Vanquish S Volante was ready for Verstappen. Attached to the backs of these cars were caravans, and I can easily say I've never see an Aston Martin towing...anything...at all.Check Out - Top 10 Most Powerful Exotic Convertibles of 2017As the two take the corners, the caravans sway side to side, but manage to get back on two wheels by some miraculous force of nature. Eventually, after many laughs and close calls, the caravans fall apart in a glorious manner. Check out the antics in the video below and get ready for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.

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