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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 Edward Jones – July 05, 2017

Josh Cartu Does LaFerrari Aperta Donuts in Traffic

Being a Ferrari race driver and a Ferrari club president, Josh Cartu is very well versed when it comes to driving a Ferrari. He put some of his skills on display during the 2017 Budapest Gumball 3000 Rally while behind the wheel of a new LaFerrari Aperta.In the middle of traffic, with Afrojack in the passenger seat, Cartu spun up some donuts for the nearby crowds. Now is the point of the article where I say that we do not encourage any of our readers to either do donuts in traffic, or do donuts this close to crowds. Always follow local traffic laws!Blue LaFerrari Delivered at Miller MotorcarsThat being said, the sound that this LaFerrari puts off is incredible. Immediately after the donuts, the crowd surrounded the Italian hypercar and Cartu let out some extra revs for them. The scene was pure chaos. Click play below to see the donuts for yourself and see just how close the crowd was to the new Ferrari!

By Edward Jones – May 24, 2017

John Cena Shows Off His Dream Car: Manual Ferrari 360 Spider

John Cena is a mastermind in the ring, but also knows how to stand in front of a camera and show off his cars in his new Auto Geek series. We recently covered Cena's previous video where he talked about his rare Ford GT and now he's showing off his Ferrari 360 Spider.This Italian supercar was his poster car as a teenager. His example is finished in what looks like Rosso Corsa, has a tan leather interior with Daytona seats, red piping, Scuderia shields and, best of all, a manual transmission. Cena makes sure to point out just how fantastic it is to shift gears in a car, like a Ferrari supercar, that has a gated shifter. I'd like to agree.At the end of the video below, he points out a car behind him that's under wraps. He notes that it's a one-of-one car, which may point to his 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo finished in Verde Scandal.

By Edward Jones – March 31, 2017

Michael Fux Gets His LaFerrari Aperta

Michael Fux is most definitely one of the "must follow" people on Instagram. Why? Well, that's because he has one of the craziest car collections out there and shows it off on a daily basis. What I'm trying to say is if you want insanely awesome cars to pop up on your Instagram feed, follow him.A perfect example of his knack for buying these cars is his latest purchase, a LaFerrari Aperta. This Italian hypercar has a total of 963 horsepower on tap, thanks to the V12 engine and electric motor. This allows the open-top car to run 0-60 mph in less than three seconds and 0-124 mph in less than seven seconds. Yeah, he bought a winner.https://www.instagram.com/p/BSSUqUkF6bw/In a series of Instagram posts, he showed off his new LaFerrari to the world. Check it out in the images below and be sure to follow him at @fuxwithmichael.Ferrari For Sale - duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – March 24, 2017

David Beckham's 2001 Ferrari 360 Spider To Be Acutioned

Get ready soccer fans, because your David Beckham is selling his Ferrari 360 Spider. He didn't have much time to drive it, so it only has 7,800 miles on the odometer. It has no signs of wear inside or out, and it received a new timing belt in a recent service. Powered by a 3.6 liter V8, horsepower is rated at 400 with 276 lb-ft of torque. The 360 was Ferrari's first convertible to use an aluminum space frame from Alcoa. Nearly twice as strong as the steel tube frame used on the predecessor F355. The transmission was revolutionary at the time, being an automated F1. In modern terms, it is a single clutch automatic which was in production until the launch of the 488 GTB. Liberty Walk Ferrari 360 and F430 Body KitsA tasteful assortment of options includes a rear grille from the 360 Challenge series, forged BBS wheels, carbon fiber seats, Scuderia Shields, and a full Tubi exhaust system. The interior is tan and black leather, and the convertible top is ready for summer. If you have been looking for a right-hand drive Ferrari, this one is Lot 120 for next week's H&H auction at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. If you are heading to the auction, be sure to check out the SR-71 Blackbird on display. Unfortunately, it won't be rolling across the block but stay with us for more celebrity owned supercars.View LotView All Ferrari 360 News, Articles and Videos

By Edward Jones – March 13, 2017

Hugh Jackman to Play Enzo Ferrari in Biopic

Hugh Jackman recently returned to the big screen as Wolverine in the incredibly successful "Wolverine" film. Now, it looks like he will be returning shortly thereafter as Enzo Ferrari in Michael Mann's upcoming biopic, reports Deadline.This news comes over one year after it was reported that Christian Bale backed out of this film. Noomi Rapace is also in talks to play Ferrari's estranged wife, Linda.Mann started working on this film 17 years ago with the late Sydney Pollack, and it was supposed to start filming in Spring of 2016. The film takes a look at the rivalry between Ferrari and Maserati, back in 1957. It was during this year that a horrific crash involving a Ferrari race car driven by Alfonso de Portago in the Mille Miglia crashed into a crowd. This accident claimed the lives of the driver and nine spectators, five of which were children.All Ferrari For Sale Related Video:

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2017

Jamiroquai Singer's Green LaFerrari is a Beauty on Wheels

Through Ferrari Tailor Made, customers can have their Prancing Pony customized to their own personal liking. Just the other day I posted a video of a purple LaFerrari that was presumably made through Ferrari's customization branch. Today, I'm giving everyone a close look at yet another personalized LaFerrari, thanks to Marchettino.We first saw this car when it made an appearance at Goodwood back in 2014. Since then, it hasn't been spotted all too often. Marchettino recently spotted the car sitting in a Ferrari museum, right in the center. When Goodwood Road & Racing interviewed Jay Kay on his cars (you can view the full interview below), he said: "It gives the car a personality and uniqueness, and it deserves that."View LaFerrari Price & SpecsCheck out the videos below to see what might be one of the coolest looking Ferraris ever.Ferrari For SaleRelated Video - Jay Kay Talks About His Green LaFerrari

By Edward Jones – February 20, 2017

President Trump's Ferrari F430 Could Be Yours

In 2007, Donald Trump purchased a new Ferrari F430 and titled it as a personal car. Now, the car once owned by our current President is heading up for auction at Auctions America's Fort Lauderdale event.This 4.3-liter V8-engine is finished in Rosso Corsa and has the iconic Scuderia Ferrari shield on its fenders. Inside is a Beige leather interior with Daytona-style seats, as well as a leather headliner and Castoro (light brown) carpet.Related - The Trump Lamborghini Aventador: TrumpventadorAlong with the car comes the title, which states President Trump's Trump Tower address and his distinctive signature. Trump owned the car for around four years and put just a bit more than 2,400 miles on its odometer.If you're interested in the car, it will be hitting the auction block on April 1 at the event. Currently, the estimated hammer price is $250,000-$350,000.Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – February 20, 2017

Mike Tyson's Ferrari F50 Heading to Amelia Island

Normally we would advise against buying an exotic car from someone with face tattoos, but this one is well documented. Ferrari's F50 was a 90's supercar in every way. Only 50 examples were sold in the US, so many enthusiasts jump at the opportunity to own one. Seeing one in person is a rarity altogether, so pack your bags for the Amelia Island Concours. Every March cars from around the world converge around the Ritz-Carlton for RM Sotheby's auction. This year's main event will be a Battle Royale among Ferrari collectors because this F50 was ordered by none other than Mike Tyson. "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth". And you should have a plan to stop by our hospitality suite at the Concours.With only 5,694 miles the condition of the car speaks for itself. An engine out service addressed all the issues associated with long-term storage and also allowed this F50 to be Classiche Certified. So in addition to the hardtop storage crate, the winning bidder will also receive the "Red Book" detailing the provenance of the car. Essentially the F50 was a detuned Formula 1 car, making 520 hp and revving to 10,000 rpm. In order to hear the incredible engine at full power, the current owner swapped the factory exhaust for a Tubi high flow system. When the engine was out, new fuel tanks were installed and technicians rebuilt the water and oil pumps. It is being listed between 2.2 and 2.4 Million Dollars, so contact RM to place your bid and stay with us for complete coverage from Amelia Island.

By Edward Jones – January 23, 2017

Update (Sold): Justin Bieber's Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 U...

At the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2017 event, Justin Bieber's Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 Italia sold for $434,500. According to the vehicle's listing, it was put up for auction with a reserve, which seems to have been met.I don't know if you guys know this, but at one point in time I was quoted by Yahoo Celebrity for my vast knowledge of Justin Bieber's cars. I'm not exactly sure how this happened, but it did and I'm known as the "Bieber Guy" to some people. It also didn't help that my hair was a bit longer at the time.All Ferrari 458 For SaleBut, being the Bieber Guy at duPont REGISTRY (Purpose was a good album, alright?), it's my duty to report that his custom Ferrari 458 is going up for auction at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale event.The car was custom built by West Coast Customs, who wrapped the car in Frozen Blue chrome, installed a Liberty Walk wide-body kit and did much more to the car. It comes with the 458's 4.5-liter V* engine, a 7-speed automatic transmission, custom 20-inch Forgiato wheels and a 10-inch subwoofer. For more information, be sure to click the link below.Learn MoreExotic Cars For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 13, 2016

Jay Kay's LaFerrari in Mysterious Pure Electric Mode

You wanted proof and we have found it. The LaFerrari is capable of cruising around without awakening the V12 engine. McLaren and Porsche are clear to state their hybrid hypercars have EV mode, but Maranello has been mum on the subject. Officially the 163 hp electric motor is not programmed to operate independently, but many enthusiasts believe dealers have updated the software for certain owners. Musician Jay Kay has obtained the cheat code for electric mode as it was spotted by TheTTFJ being loaded at Joe Macari Performance Cars.McLaren's P1 has an electric range of 19 miles and the Porsche 918 is rated at 18 miles. The primary motor/generator is connected to one of the main shafts of the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, and the smaller secondary unit is on the front of the engine in line with the accessory drive. We're not sure how far the lithium-ion batteries could take you, so if anyone would like to loan me their LaFerrari, I will bring it back with a full tank of Florida's finest ethanol diluted 87 octane.If you find yourself near London, Joe Macari has an inventory that will take your breath away.All LaFerrari For Sale

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