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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 Tyler Rampersaud – September 16, 2024

Luka Dončić x Forza Horizon 5 Reveal New '69 Camaro Colla...

One of the NBA’s biggest stars enters the world of Forza Horizon. At only 25 years old, Luka Dončić has become one of the most prominent players in the NBA, rising to stardom in the Dallas Mavericks as one of the most talented and formidable players in the league. However, his fame has already expanded beyond basketball, debuting a line of sneakers with Jordan and now entering the world of racing video games with his latest collaboration with Forza Horizon 5. The thrilling open-world video game allows players to experience a fantastic collection of cars, exploring on and off-road environments behind the wheels of high-performance and unique, exclusive gems of the automotive industry. The new collaboration with Luka Dončić features a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. The legendary classic muscle car is transformed into a custom, exclusive edition with a wide body kit and a special livery that echoes the Luka Jordan 3. Details like the signature Jordan print and white Jordan script on the tires make the muscle car truly special. Players of Forza Horizon 5 can download the new Jordan Luka 3-inspired Chevrolet Camaro in the game now. If you don’t have the game, it’s available now for Xbox Series X systems, and you can buy the game and get behind the wheel of this stunning exclusive collaborative Chevrolet Camaro by clicking the button below. Shop Forza Horizon 5 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Forza Horizon (@forzahorizonofficial)

By Andrew Nabors – July 18, 2018

Chevrolet Awards All Star MVP With New Camaro

Are you old enough to finish this: "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie &..........."? Its not a riddle, Chevrolet has been involved with Major League Baseball almost as long as they have been building cars. That's why Alex Bregman was given a choice between a new Colorado ZR2 or a Camaro SS. He is the All-Star MVP this year, and his home run at the top of the 10th inning was one for the record books.In a press release this morning, Chevrolet says he chose the car because he is giving to his mother. This 2019 Camaro SS has new exterior styling and the 10-speed automatic from the ZL1. Also borrowed from the supercar are the line lock and launch control systems. The Chevrolet Youth Baseball program is a partnership with the MLB and every Chevy dealer. They have donated over 150,000 equipment kits and setup over 1,800 youth baseball clinics across the country. Included with the press release are photos of Alex with Chevy's Vice President Brian Sweeny along with the Bregman family. Congratulations Alex on leading the American League to victory and getting mom a new car!Find Your Camaro Here!

By Andrew Nabors – May 30, 2018

Richard Petty Builds Camaro SS For Charity

If you have never been to Richard Petty's museum, it is well worth the scenic drive to Level Cross, North Carolina. Inside are more race cars and NASCAR trophies than you will ever see again. My favorite is a 1982 Pontiac Grand Prix cut completely down the middle, crankshaft and all. But the most recent addition to the massive complex is a new Chevrolet Camaro SS wearing the iconic #43. As reported by TheDrive, the King and his team have customized this Camaro to benefit the Petty Family Foundation. Their goal is to help children and veterans who are in need. It is hosted by charity contest site Omaze, which raises awareness for critical causes.The raffle winner will receive airfare and transportation, homecooked BBQ, and an afternoon with the King and his crew. It will then culminate with the delivery of this gorgeous Camaro. Before you get the keys, he will teach you how to properly drive the winding backroads of NC. Veterans deserve the very bestWhen it comes to celebrity charities, the Petty family is at the top. His son Kyle Petty founded the Victory Junction camp for terminally ill children, and they have given away more than most racers will ever earn. There are only 42 days left before the drawing, so click the link below for your chance to win.Click Here To Learn More

By Edward Jones – November 18, 2016

Jay Leno Teaches Brad Paisley How to Burnout in a 2017 Ca...

The new 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 comes equipped with line lock in its Track Mode. This allows the car to do some crazy burnouts with just about no effort at all.(Related - Jay Leno Drives the Ferrari F40 for the First Time)Jay Leno was given a new ZL1 for a few days and invited country singer Brad Paisley out to drive it. During the drive, Leno shows Paisley how to properly burnout by using line lock.After watching the video, Chevrolet did a great job on making burning out easy, even though Paisley did manage to mess up just once. Check out the burnout in the video below and learn how to burnout using line lock in the new 2017 Camaro ZL1.All Chevrolet Camaro For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 06, 2016

Bumblebee's New Camaro For "Transformers: The Last Knight"

As a self-proclaimed Autobot, I always get excited when Michael Bay releases the new cars for his Transformers films. This is because cars as extravagant as the Bugatti Veyron have made their way into the films, meaning I get to see movies that have both hypercars and robots in disguise. What more do you need? Aside from a remake of the original 1986 Transformers cartoon movie.(Related: The Cars of Transformers 4)The upcoming film, "Transformers: The Last Knight," is slated to be released next year, one of the many that will be released over the coming years. Bay has not released the plot synopsis for the new film, but the movie title hints at possible scenarios. (Honestly, we just need some Beast Wars action in the Transformers cinematic universe.) Even though we don't know what will happen in the film, we do know that Autobot Bumblebee has undergone a pretty massive makeover. (Seen above) Bumblebee from "Transformers: Age of Extinction"Unveiled on Bay's blog and Twitter account is the new look for one of the fan favorites. In his tweet, Bay notes that General Motors were responsible for the car's overhaul. The front has been modified with a new fascia, including a massive splitter. Side skirts and air channels were added to the sides, while the rear gets a noticeable wing.Other noticeable additions are the new hood, side vents above the Autobots emblem and HRE wheels.What do you guys think about this Camaro? Best one yet? Let us know in the comments below. Personally, I loved the retro-mod one, but as far as the current gen Bumblebees go, this might be my favorite.Camaros For Sale

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