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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 – April 10, 2018

Gucci Mane & His New Ferrari 812 Superfast

If you want the latest in Supercars, Ferrari is beginning to deliver the 812 Superfast. As the Heir Apparent to the F12tdf, it is priced well above $500,000. It arrives with 789 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque- along with a 3-year waiting list. You could wait in line to order yours, or have it delivered factory-fresh if your name is Gucci Mane. Ferrari 812 Superfast Reveal – Ferrari of Newport Beach He wanted the best, so he knew who to call. Our friend Obe Okeke, who is known professionally as Dr. Bugatti to the Rich & Famous, has a knack for cutting through red tape. As corroborated by TMZ, he used his patented methods to allow Gucci's new Ferrari 812 Superfast reach the customer ahead of many others. If this comes down to loading the car on an overnight flight from Maranello, he is the king of beating the industry to keep his celebrity clients coming back. Gucci Mane's New Daily Driver This is the same level of service he offers to Floyd Mayweather among other noteworthy celebs. There is a price to be paid to jump over every other collector and dealer waiting in line. If it is to be paid in scorn from Ferrari aficionados or from auction bidders is something we will address in a decade or two. As the next evolution of the F12berlinetta, it packs a 6.5 liter V12 along with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. As for now, we hope your Ferrari 812 Superfast arrives soon because ours is on the way! Until then, take a look at our F12tdf selection for a great deal! Guwop copped the #GuRRarri #812SuperFast if I don’t get it first I don’t want it??‍♂️#EvilGenius A post shared by Gucci Mane (@laflare1017) on Apr 8, 2018 at 9:15am PDT

By Edward Jones – March 30, 2018

Valentino Rossi Mashes a Ferrari 488 Pista Around a Track

Moto GP champion Valentino Rossi may be a master of the two-wheeled vehicle, but how does he fare in a four-wheeled Italian supercar? Ferrari asked Rossi to be their special test driver for the new 488 Pista.During his visit to Maranello, Ferrari took the champion out to the Fiorano track for some hot laps. With the 488 Pista's unveiling being relatively recent, he's one of the very few that's driven the car so far.Ferrari 458 Italias for SaleInstead of the smaller engine of his motorcycle, the Ferrari Rossi was driving has the heart of a twin-turbo 3.9-Liter V8. This engine has had its inner workings adjusted to create more power than the 488 GTB. The result is 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque that's at the ready when the pedal meets the floor.Check out Rossi's test driving skills in the video below from Ferrari.

By Edward Jones – February 26, 2018

Travis Scott Gifts Kylie Jenner a LaFerrari

In the world of pregnancy, there's something called a "push present." These gifts are typically given to the mother of a child after birth by the father. For Travis Scott, his push present for Kylie Jenner was a LaFerrari hypercar.Kylie revealed the purchase on her Snapchat, prompting many to capture the snaps and upload them online.Drake Just Bought Himself a LaFerrari Hypercarhttps://instagram.com/p/BfmlHzSHFPp/?utm_source=ig_embedNot only is the Ferrari LaFerrari one of the highest performance road cars Ferrari has ever produced, but it couples its 6.3-liter V12 with a 161 horsepower hybrid system. With a combined 949 horsepower and over 663 pound-feet of torque, the LaFerrari tops its cutting-edge engineering with efficiency, power, and stunning designs to make this loaded gun of a car very comfortable to drive. A machine designed to take the tarmac wherever it goes and at whatever particular pace, the batteries even recharge under braking, making track day all the more tempting.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfmr5lkDP7b/?taken-by=honeygerman

By Edward Jones – February 26, 2018

Drake Just Bought Himself a LaFerrari from Fusion Luxury ...

Drake. Drizzy. Champagne Papi. 6God. OVO. He's got a lot of nicknames, hit songs and a lot of horsepower in his garage thanks to his new Ferrari purchase. In an Instagram post, Drake showed off his brand-new car: Check out Drakes LaFerrari! This specific car, purchased from Fusion Luxury Motors, 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. Other options found on Drake's new Ferrari include the iconic Scuderia Ferrari Shields, yellow brake calipers, and carbon fiber body trim. All signs point to this being a car with as much sauce as Drake himself. Official Ferrari LaFerrari Specs https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfong13DYXZ/ The best part about Drake showing off his new LaFerrari is the massive smile on his face in the Instagram pic. I mean, just look at that grin! That's a guy who's happy with his new purchase. Congrats on the new addition to your garage, Drizzy. Drake Buys a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren https://www.instagram.com/p/BfD3EedlGwa/ Source: Instagram

By Edward Jones – September 01, 2017

Graham Rahal's Ferrari F12tdf for Sale

Graham Rahal is known for driving fast cars, considering the man is a race car driver in the IndyCar Series. Aside from racing those fast cars, he's owned quite a few. We've covered his new Acura NSX and his exciting green Porsche 918 Spyder.Now, Rahal has revealed that his Ferrari F12tdf is up for sale at Ferrari of Newport Beach. His example is finished in a red paint with contrasting black trim and wheels. This car comes with superior aerodynamics, agility and power, all of which makes the car a race-worthy supercar.Ferrari F40 Fixed Up by Gas Monkey GarageIt's powered by a massive 6.3-liter V12 engine capable of 770 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of just 2.9 seconds. And Rahal's example is one of just 799 examples that were produced worldwide. For more information, be sure to contact Ferrari of Newport Beach.View Price and Listinghttps://www.instagram.com/p/BYeVw61llrw/

By Edward Jones – August 28, 2017

Dwayne Wade Teaches Son to Drive in Ferrari

Dwayne Wade of the Chicago Bulls is enjoying his off-season with his son by teaching him one of life's biggest lessons: how to drive.In a series of Snapchat clips, uploaded to the Basketball Hoops YouTube channel, Wade is seeing teaching his son how to drive in his new Ferrari GTC4Lusso. Learning to drive in a car at a young age is scary enough, but learning in a Ferrari is on another level. At the learning driver's foot is the ability to tap into the GTC4Lusso's massive V12 engine, capable of a hearty 680 horsepower and 514 lb-ft of torque. If he wanted to, he could rocket from a standstill to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds. Thankfully, he didn'. He actually drove well enough for his pops to hop out and let him drive up the driveway by himself. Not bad.The Rock Buys His Dad a New Ford Explorer for Christmas

By Edward Jones – August 23, 2017

Kylie Jenner's New Ferrari 488 GTB on Lexani Wheels

Kyle Jenner, from reality television, has added a new car to her stable and it's quite the looker. The car i=she purchased is a new Ferrari 488 GTB that was wrapped in Gloss White by West Coast Customs.Tyga Gets Kylie Jenner a 458 Spider for Her BirthdayAs for its shoes, Jenner's Ferrari is rocking a set of Lexani's LF Sport Series wheels (LZ-105: Front - 21x9, R - 22x11.5). These wheels are just one model of wheels that Lexani offers, all of which can be customized to the customer's liking. Their range of customization is on full display with Jenner's car, having matched the wheels perfectly with the wrap that was chosen. Of course, if she wanted to do a neon color two-tone finish, or just about anything else, Lexani could've done that as well. But, I'm glad she kept it simple because this 488 looks as clean as can be.

By Edward Jones – August 09, 2017

John Cena Shows Off One of Ferrari's Last Manual Cars

John Cena, one of my favorite people to come out of the wrestling world, has been pushing out some awesome videos under The Bella Twins YouTube channel based around cars. The series is called John Cena : Auto Geek, and on his latest episode he talks about his 2007 Ferrari F430 Spider.Ferrari F355 For SaleNow, in the video he notes that this is the last manual Ferrari ever made, but the automaker did have a manual option for both the 599 and California. Ferrari decided to call it quits on the manual transmission after the amount of people that ordered a standard California could be counted on one hand.The Ferrari F430 - Owners PerspectiveAt the end of the video, Cena teases the car for the next video. Sure looks like a Lamborghini Huracan! But we'll have to wait to find out the real answer.

By Edward Jones – July 14, 2017

Floyd Mayweather Says He Just Bought Two LaFerraris

The hype surrounding the upcoming Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor fight is off the charts. The two recently met for a face-to-face appearance where they traded insults, resulting in cheering and chanting from the crowd. After said meeting, I can personally say that many people in our offices couldn't stop talking about how excited they are for the upcoming fight.After the confrontation, Mayweather took to a private jet where he flashed a $100 million check and some serious time pieces in a video. During the video, uploaded by FightHype.com, he also mentioned that he had just purchased two LaFerraris, a white one and a red one.Mayweather is no stranger to hypercars, having bought a Bugatti Veyron, Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, and reportedly a Bugatti Chiron. Stay with us to learn more about Mayweather's latest hypercar purchases.

By Andrew Nabors – July 07, 2017

Sir Elton John's Ferrari Daytona Being Auctioned

Success rarely happens immediately. Enzo Ferrari's street cars were originally built to fund the race team, and sales were slow at first. Reginald Dwight recorded six albums under his stage name "Elton John", and lucky number 7 is one of the greatest albums of all time. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was released in 1973 and it gave Sir Elton the ability to afford the nicer things in life. To celebrate the achievement, nothing beats a new Ferrari. The Daytona saw many advancements that added luxury to the brand. Power brakes along with a rear-mounted 5-speed transmission put it ahead of many competitors. A big V12 offered 352 horsepower, which made for a 1-2-3 finish at Daytona in '67.The "Rocketman" purchased a new 1972 365 GTB/4 in Rosso Chiaro with factory A/C. A complete history includes ownership by Ferrari Club members, and the most recent having owned it for 16 years. Only 158 right-hand drive Daytonas were produced, and only a handful are still matching numbers. It could possibly be a candidate for Ferrari Classiche because every service record and registration is accounted for. If you are interested in this piece of Rock history, it will be crossing the block at Silverstone on Saturday, July 29th. An estimated hammer price of $676,000 to $740,000 doesn't include the buyer's premium. For more information click here, and stay with us for more Ferrari news.

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