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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 Andrew Nabors – January 04, 2019

Jason Statham's 2014 Ferrari F12berlinetta For Sale

Being one of the most popular actors on the big screen has its perks, and fancy Ferraris are certainly at the top of the list. Jason Statham and his Girlfriend Rosie Huntington-Whiteley became parents in 2017, so 2-seat cars became unpractical. Even though Jason Statham's Ferrari F12berlinetta was ordered with $130,626 in custom options, a baby seat is not among them. So our friends at West Coast Exotic Cars are offering this gorgeous & unique 2014 Ferrari F12berlinetta for sale. It might look like normal Grigio paint at a distance, but Tailor-Made upped the metal flake to develop Grigio Titano Metallizato. The body was blessed with several stages of base & clear and color sanded to perfection. We would usually list the options if it was a normal F12berlinetta. But being a savvy buyer, Mr. Statham's ride has everything. This car has AFS lighting to an Alcantara trunk with every possible customization. It has a window sticker of $446,514, which makes it among the most expensive F12berlinettas ever produced. With only 20,929 miles on the clock, it is a bargain at $229,990, West Coast Exotic Cars is located in Murieta, California, so click the link below for all the information. Click Here To Learn More

By Edward Jones – November 09, 2018

Conor McGregor Launches New Sneaker by Stepping Out of Fe...

Conor McGregor is back in the spotlight (as if he ever left) with the launch of the new 2018 Reebok Sole Fury sneakers. As an ambassador for the brand, he posted up with a white Ferrari 458 for a photo shoot while donning the new sneakers. The new Sole Fury's have also been endorsed by a number of other celebrities, including Cardi B, Lil Baby, Brandin Cooks and Nathalie Emmanuel. As for the sneaker itself, Reebok says they were built with a "distinctive split-tooling outsole that pay homage to '90s running shoes." They have a neoprene and mesh upper construction, as well as Reebok's Split Cushioning technology for maximum comfort and lightest weight. Their price tag is set for $90 in both men's and women's. shop these sneakers now https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7ehRuDsvd/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=u866z073hucq

By Andrew Nabors – November 05, 2018

Justin Verlander's New Ferrari 488 Pista

If you were the 4th highest-paid MLB player, what would you drive? Houston Astros Pitcher Justin Verlander has a fine taste in cars, which make him easy to spot when heading to work. A quick glance of his Instagram (@justinverlander) will show you a gorgeous Eleanor Mustang from our friends at Fusion Luxury Motors. Parked next to it is a new Ford GT, not a bad way to display Blue Oval loyalty. But his newest ride will be coming soon, and it it will be a custom Italian creation. Ferrari's Tailor Made Program allows the factory to build a car exactly to your liking. Regardless of the interior and exterior customizations, it will arrive with a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 making 720 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Capable of reaching 124 mph in 7.6 seconds, it will give his fastball a run for the money. Click on the links below for all your Ferrari 488 info, and stay with us for all your celebrity car updates. https://www.instagram.com/p/BpryDVugTce/ Related: Find Your Ferrari 488 Here Ferrari 488 Pista Spider at Pebble Beach Ferrari 488 Pista 0-60 Run!

By Edward Jones – September 27, 2018

Eric Clapton's $4 Million Ferrari SP12 EC Spotted

Eric Clapton is known to be quite the collector of cars, having amassed a collection that includes many Ferraris. For one of his latest acquisitions, he went straight to Ferrari to create a one-off sports car. The result is the SP12 EC, a bespoke car that was inspired by the 512 BB. It has many features that mirror the 512, and TheTFJJ's latest video gives us a chance to see the two cars next to each other for comparison's sake. The car was spotted by the YouTuber at HR Owen Ferrari, where it was surrounded by other incredible cars like an F40, LaFerrari, F12tdf and many others. Ferrari 458 Italia Specs, Price, Photos & Review Going back to the SP12 EC, it's based around on a 458, which is noticeable when you look at the wheels and exhaust. It's finished in the beautiful Rosso Fiorano paint, giving the car a nice deep shade of red. As for the name of the car, it's quite interesting. The name "SP12" may be a bit misleading to some because it's actually the eleventh Ferrari Special Project Car, according to TheTFJJ. He says that the reason for this is because Clapton's lucky number is three and 1+2=3, hence the use of the number "12" instead of "11." Check it all out in the video below.

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – September 05, 2018

Tour David Lee's $50 Million Ferrari Collection

We've covered David Lee and his incredible collection before. There was the time he put five generations out on display in front of his jewelry store in California. And then there was the time he gave us a little preview of his Ferrari Collection on YouTube. Now, we bring you YouTuber, Furious Pete, who gives us the full walk-around of Lee's $50 million collection.Check out the LaFerrari in all it's glory, followed by the various other models Lee owns. Pete is even joined by Lee as he goes over some of the rare Ferraris he owns. The Pete asks which Ferrari model is worth the most, there's some deliberation before Lee steps in and points out the iconic 1964 250 Lusso Competizione. This, he says, because of its rarity (only four were produced, according to Lee) and history, will probably garner the most dollars should he sell it. An avid and serious collector though, Lee probably won't be getting rid of the one-of-a-kind example anytime soon.Ferrari F430 For SaleCheck out the video below for over 10 minutes of touring Lee's amazing collection.Ferrari for Sale

By Edward Jones – August 13, 2018

Drake Performs Song With LaFerrari Floating in Air

Do you remember when Pusha-T put out a scathing diss track all about Drake? Well, Drake doesn't seem to recall or even care, because he just keeps on showing the world he's at the top. The recent stunt involved Drake's recent purchase, a yellow LaFerrari.During his recent performance of "Yes Indeed" with Lil Baby, he was joined by his LaFerrari hypercar. However, his car wasn't parked on the ground. No, he had the stage engineers hook up his LaFerrari so it would float in the air. I'm serious. If you ever want to talk about a performer going an extra mile to show off, this is a perfect example.Drake's LaFerrari is finished in a rare Giallo Modena paint, complete with the optional black glass roof. Inside is black Alcantara with black leather seats, yellow piping and yellow deviated stitching. Powering this hypercar is a hybrid drivetrain that consists of two electric motors/generators and a 6.3-liter V12 engine. When all of the power is combined, Drake's floating Ferrari able to put out 949 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque.View the Laferrari Prices and Specs Here View Our LaFerraris for Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BmaAzfnAM6c/

By Edward Jones – June 27, 2018

Gordon Ramsay Takes Delivery of New Ferrari

Gordon Ramsay is a huge Ferrari fan, having purchased many different models from the famous Italian automaker. He's purchased an F12tdf, California T, and even a LaFerrari. Now, he's added yet another Ferrari to his collection, a gorgeous 812 Superfast.Ramsay has always spec'd out his own cars, but for his most recent purchase, he had H.R. Owen configure his new supercar. The result is what Ramsay calls a "stealth bomber" Ferrari 812 Superfast.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkf7UtSHyeC/?taken-by=hrowenferrariThe exterior of Ramsay's new 812 Superfast has a dark green finish that's accentuated by a black stripe that runs up the center of the car. I've never seen an 812 Superfast look like this just yet, but I'm sure glad it exists.https://www.instagram.com/p/BkhzOInHeCa/?taken-by=hrowenferrariGood on you, H.R. Owen, for creating such a marvelous looking Ferrari. Also, thanks are in order for Ramsay for being a Ferrari fan and making this possible.

By Edward Jones – June 26, 2018

Kevin Hart Gets Ferrari 488 Spider for Birthday

Kevin Hart's birthday is on July 6. On that day he'll turn 39-years-old, making it his last year in his thirties. To celebrate the occasion, he's decided to gift himself a new Ferrari 488 Spider. A pic of Hart resting against his new Italian supercar was posted on his Instagram account. He notes in the post description that thanks were due for getting his birthday present to him on time. This new supercar joins his other recent purchase, a resto-mod Bronco. Ferrari has said that the 488 Spider is the “most aerodynamically-efficient Ferrari Spider ever built.” This was made possible through several new devices, including a blown spoiler and an underbody featuring vortex generators. It comes packing a turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine that produces 660 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque. Kevin Hart Has a Crazy Car Collection https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdYkmMA0Qs/?taken-by=kevinhart4real

By Edward Jones – June 19, 2018

Nick Mason's LaFerrari Makes an Appearance

The drummer of Pink Floyd, Nick Mason, not only likes banging drums on stage but also banging through gears in cars. For decades, Mason has been a true automotive enthusiast. His passion for cars has led to racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and collecting some of the world's rarest cars.In his collection are some wild cars, including a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, McLaren F1 GTR, Bugatti Type 35 and a very unique LaFerrari. Recently, Mason's LaFerrari was spotted on the streets of Central London by YouTube Channel "TheTFJJ."His LaFerrari is finished in Blu Pozzi, a dark blue paint that holds historic significance. Ferrari is said to have created this color in order to honor Charles Pozzi, a French racing driver and famous Ferrari importer. Pozzi used to race his cars in a dark blue paint, similar to what you see on this LaFerrari.

By Andrew Nabors – May 30, 2018

Jay Leno Drives David Lee's Monza 3.6 Evo Dino

For the longest time, it seemed the Dino was destined to live in the shadows of the Ferrari world. Alfredo (Dino) Ferrari was Enzo's first son, and he was responsible for the 750 Monza race car. But his life was cut short by Muscular Dystrophy, and he died at only 24 years old.The V6 engine he designed deserved a lightweight car to maximize its potential, so Enzo decided to name an entire brand after him. The Dino was never badged as a Ferrari, but it included all the engineering and graceful styling of the brand.A Tour of Jay Leno's Car Collection? Think Again...Driving a stock Dino is fun, thanks to the balanced chassis and mid-mounted engine. But our friend David Lee was inspired to build a Dino worthy to keep up with a modified Porsche in the hills above Los Angeles.So once he found an unmolested 1972 Dino GTS, it was sent to a Ferrari shop in England for a few subtle upgrades. Starting with the headlights, they bolded polycarbonate covers that look like they came from the factory. Then they added flares at all corners to allow for wider tires.You might think flaring a Dino would be sacrilege, but these are original parts offered by the factory. Next, it was time for new wheels, so the original 14" design was scaled up to 17" and CNC machined from a one-piece billet. Five wheels were made so the full-size spare would match its siblings.Interview With David Lee: Ferrari Collector and Owner of the “Monza 3.6 Evo Dino”Then their attention turned to the engine. The Dino V6 and its transaxle were surgically removed along with their electronics and fuel system. There is adequate room to drop in almost any modern V8, but that would be too boring. Instead, David found a 2.9 liter V8 from the mighty F40. As you might know, the F40 was capped at 3.0 liters by FIA regulations, but the block has ample room for improvement.So it was bored & stroked to 3.6 liters and it received the latest in fuel injection. Being that the V6 was an iron block, this powerful beast has perfect weight distribution. At only 2,400 lbs, the "Monza 3.6 Evo Dino" will make your LS car look like it's standing still. Once the car was completed, we interviewed David for the Uncovered section of our June 2018 issue. Not many cars evoke this much emotion from Jay Leno, so turn up the volume and stay with us for more of David Lee's impressive collection.Browse Dinos For Sale Buy This Issue Now or Subscribe Now

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