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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 – April 02, 2024

Watch Bill Goldberg Take Delivery Of His New 1-of-1 Dodge...

Watch a history-making muscle car in action. With the reveal of the new Dodge Charger, which introduces electrification to the legendary nameplate, the historic manufacturer, known for its integral contributions to what we know muscle cars to be today, entered a new and intriguing era. However, to send off the outgoing generation of Dodge SRT muscle cars, the brand decided to show its engineering mettle with the most groundbreaking performance it had created yet: in the form of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. With 1,025 horsepower coming from its supercharged engine, the Demon 170 shattered records and wowed the entire automotive world with its acceleration ability, and one of its owners is none other than former NFL athlete and WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Goldberg. Shown on his Goldberg’s Garage YouTube channel, the Demon 170 was added to his expansive collection of muscle cars, including the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. In the new video, Goldberg brings his 2018 Dodge Demon in for service, and his ride home is his brand-new Demon 170. It’s finished in the special Green Machine paint color, making it the only one like it in existence, on top of the car boasting a sub-2-second 0-60 time, as well as a sub-9-second quarter-mile time. With the new car delivered, and the 2018 Demon’s service completed, the video captures both iconic game-changing muscle cars in action on the road, where both cars are brought back to the garage, taking their rightful place in the incredible collection. With performance that demonstrates the full splendor of muscle car engineering as we know it, in an era that is at its end, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 has already written a chapter in automotive history. Watch the full video by clicking " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>. View All Dodge Demons For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 04, 2021

Kevin Hart's New 1,000 Horsepower "Hellraiser" Dodge Char...

Kevin Hart has added a new horse to his stable--- 1,000 horses to be exact. Hart's new Hellraiser by SpeedKore is a 1970 Dodge Charger restomod that packs a serious punch. With a 7.0-liter Hellephant engine under the hood, this muscle car has the ability to produce 1,000 horsepower and 950 lb-ft of torque. Mated to that engine is an 8-speed automatic transmission that will ensure quick shifts. Of course, the rest of the car has been completely redone and brought into the modern era. Inside, the interior was completely redone by Gabe's Custom Interiors and features Recaro GT Sportser seats, Simpson Racing 4-point seatbelts, 14-point roll cage, custom gauges, new AC system, Focal speakers and even a modern gear selector. There's so much more, but you can check all of that out on SpeedKore's website. If you're looking for a Charger of your own, be sure to check out what's for sale now by clicking the button below. See Kevin Harts Entire Car Collection See All Chargers For Sale Source: Speedkore

By Andrew Nabors – March 30, 2020

Lego Technic Unveils Dom's 1969 Dodge Charger

We were looking forward to the 9th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. The virus has wreaked havoc on Hollywood, so we will have to wait until next year. In the meantime, our friends in Denmark have added a timeless classic from the first movie. We're happy to announce Lego Technic has unveiled Dom's 1969 Dodge Charger. If you live your life a quarter mile at a time, click the button below to get yours before this limited edition is gone. Click Here To Order

By Edward Jones – November 07, 2018

Santa's Sleigh Gets Hellcat Power from Dodge

The one man who knows how to get from place to place in a timely manner his none other than Santa. Who else can travel the world in such a short span of time?! That being said, it seems the jolly old man needed an upgrade and Dodge obliged. In a new commercial from Dodge called "Upgrade, " Bill Goldberg plays the role of Santa Claus who's looking to upgrade his trusty sleigh. You may recognize Goldberg from his wrestling or NFL career. Joining him as Mrs. Claus in a social series planned for the holidays will be "All Girls Garage" host Cristy Lee. In the video we see the elves get to work on upgrading the sleigh, drawing inspiration from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye that's parked in Santa's garage. The result is a sleigh that has enough horsepower for the quickest toy delivery we've ever seen. Although, would it be called reindeerpower instead of horsepower? Anyways, check out the video below! Related: 2018 Dodge Demon Specs, Photos, Price, & Review Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye in Action! Jay Leno Drives 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye

By Edward Jones – September 18, 2017

Vin Diesel Stars in New Dodge Demon Ad

Vin Diesel's role as Dominic Toretto in the Fast and Furious movies has made him quite popular in the automotive world, especially to Dodge.In the movies, Dom is known for his beastly 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. This car has been turned into R/C cars, mini cars and is even in video games. Because of this, Dodge has had him promote their brand and their latest collaboration features the new SRT Challenger Demon.The Demon is just about extreme as you can make a production muscle car. Powering the car is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that produces an astonishing 840 horsepower and 770 lb-ft of torque. That power launches the muscle car from 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds. That's faster than most hypercars! Heck, it's so fast that NHRA banned it from competition.Check out the new advertisement from Dodge in the video below.Dodge Hellcats for Sale

By Edward Jones – May 04, 2017

Vin Diesel and Dodge Form "The Brotherhood of Muscle"

Being the star of "The Fast of the Furious," the film that just achieved the world's biggest global opening of all time, Vin Diesel has become a hot commodity in both Hollywood and automotive world. Naturally, Dodge has hopped on the opportunity to have him star in their new ad campaign that introduces "The Brotherhood of Muscle." Fitting name, eh?“Vin Diesel is the ideal partner to drive Dodge’s new campaign, ‘The Brotherhood of Muscle,’” said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, FCA - Global. “Both Dodge and Vin have large, extremely loyal fan bases that are passionate about high-performance vehicles, family and pride. It’s a natural fit that builds on the strengths of both of us.”If you've seen 'The Fast and Furious' films you know that Diesel's character Dom Toretto is frequently behind the wheel of a Dodge Charger. In fact, in Dodge's press release regarding this new ad campaign, Diesel said, “Ever since ‘The Fast and the Furious’ began, my favorite has been the 1970 Dodge Charger.”In the video below, you'll see Diesel driving cars like a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Charger SRT Hellcat, and a Durango R/T. Check them out by clicking play below!

By Edward Jones – January 13, 2017

Shaq's New Police Car is a Freakin' Hellcat

In a January 12, 2016 Facebook post from Sheriff Victor Hill of the Clayton County Sheriff's Office in Jonesboro, Georgia, it was announced that Shaquille O'Neal's new cop car would be a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. This comes after he was sworn in by the county as a Sheriff's Deputy.(Also Check Out - Justin Bieber's Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 Up for Auction)The Sheriff had this to say about Shaq's new ride: "When NBA legend Shaq O'Neal and "THE CRIME FIGHTER" decided that they would team up as the new dynamic duo to combat crime, the question was what type of crime fighting vehicle would be worthy of Clayton's now most famous deputy. Not to be out done by "THE CRIME FIGHTER's" infamous reputation for driving bad a..... police cars, Shaq broke the mold with a Hell Cat!"Now, imagine being pulled over not only by a Hellcat, but by Shaq. THE Shaq. What a time to be alive.View All Challenger Hellcats For Salehttps://www.facebook.com/sheriff.hill/posts/1234676973275534

By Andrew Nabors – August 24, 2016

Chris Harris Drives and Reviews the Dodge Viper ACR

If you have never had the pleasure of driving a Dodge Viper, you are truly missing out. Although the poisonous snake will be retired after the 2017 Model Year, the ACR edition is going out on top. It took 25 years to refine this American GT car into a wold class performer, so Chris Harris decided to see how it handles Top Gear's test track. The audio for Viper's swan song comes from an 8.4L V10 making 645 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. Another era is coming to a close, as the V10 can trace its heritage back to the LA series V8 engines which debuted in 1964.Search Vipers For SaleArriving ready for the track, the ACR stands for American Club Racer. The most obvious upgrades over the lesser models are the carbon fiber aerodynamic spoilers. In the quest for the ultimate in downforce engineers traded top speed for traction. Dodge says the 2016 model creates 3 times the downforce of the Viper T/A 2.0, which limits the top speed to 177 mph. Tell us where you think it would land on the Lap Times board, and stay with us as the final Vipers drift into the sunset. Head over to the BBC to view the video:View Video

By Edward Jones – July 28, 2016

Dom's Insane Dodge Ice Charger for Fast 8 Sounds Menacing

In the Fast and Furious series, Vin Diesel's character, known as Dom, has been known to be found behind of a Dodge Charger. And, for the latest entry into the series, Fast 8, Dom will be driving his most bizarre Charger yet. Known as the "Ice Charger," this new modified muscle car is powered by an unknown engine up in the front. But in the back of the car is a power source that I can't say I've ever seen before. To me, it looks like Dom had his car modified by Doc Brown, complete with a Flux Capacitor. (Related: Perrelet and "Fast and Furious" Star, Sung Kang, Launch New Timepiece) https://www.instagram.com/p/BHtPRxHh7h5/ While the specifics of the car aren't known, what we do know is that the Ice Charger sounds incredible. In videos from Jada Toys' Instagram page, the sound of the car can be heard as it's being unloaded for the Dub Show. What do you guys think of this new Charger? Is it too much, or just right for Dom? Let me know in the comments below! View All Chargers For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/BHp2glNh9c1/

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