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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 Caitlin Duffy – November 06, 2015

Gordon Ramsay on Ferrari: Many Similarities Between Fine ...

Gordon Ramsay is an unabashed fan of Ferrari, clearly demonstrated by his ownership of their flagship supercar, the Ferrari LaFerrari.The celebrity chef recently took a trip to Maranello to visit the marque's headquarters, and while there drew quite a few similarities between his passion for fine foods and the incredible cars produced by Ferrari. As a Nov. 5 press release shared, he focused first on the fact that both he and Ferrari "focus on continual innovation or 'being the market leader, becoming creative and not sitting down on your laurels'."Ramsay was recently spotted in London taking his LaFerrari out for a drive, and a video of him testing out the new 488 GTB was shared by Ferrari on Oct. 16. But in his latest show of love for the prancing horse, he's posing with a stunning blue California T.As for the other ways Ramsay sees himself and Ferrari as being similar, he sees versatility in both parties, as well as "the ability to see what no one else can see and to deliver excellence."See the photos of his trip and video of his 488 GTB test drive below, then find your own Ferrari for your collection from our exclusive listings.Ferraris For Sale Gallery (via Ferrari, YouTube) See More Ferrari News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 20, 2015

Gordon Ramsay Enjoys His LaFerrari in London

It's no secret that spotting a supercar is easy in London. What's a little harder is finding a supercar with a driver that's as recognizable as the marque.But as YouTuber TFJJ proved, if you hang around on the right streets for the right amount of time, you just might see such a pairing.On Knightsbridge's Sloane Street, just a few blocks over from the famous Harrods department store, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was seen with his Grigio LaFerrari, the hybrid monster from Ferrari capable of creating a total of 949 hp. An Oct. 17 upload from TFJJ gives us a look at the crowded street and unique cars sitting along its sides.As the LaFerrari sits on the side of the street, we get a chance to see a few of the other supercars London is notorious for hosting, including multiple Lamborghini Huracans and a Ferrari 458. Ramsay then pops in to the driver's seat as a crowd of people snap pictures, and heads out.Of course, it should come as no surprise that Ramsay enjoys such a fine Ferrari. On Oct. 16, the Italian luxury manufacturer shared a press release and video of the chef's recent visit to Maranello, where he took the 488 GTB out for a few laps around the track. While he may be known for being difficult to please, the smile on his face behind the wheel of the 488 is unmistakably massive.(See Also: Chris Harris Tears Up Track in Renault Sport R.S. 01)Check out the videos of Ramsay enjoying a few Ferraris above, and find your own Italian prancing horse for your collection from our exclusive listings.Ferraris For Sale (Source: Ferrari, YouTube) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 09, 2015

Ferrari Gets Visit from Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti

She's a Captain in the Italian Air Force, the first Italian woman in space, the record holder for longest single mission on the International Space Station (ISS) of any European astronaut and now she's experienced the LaFerrari first hand.In a recent trip to Maranello, Samantha Cristoforetti, better known as "AstroSamantha," took a tour of Ferrari's headquarters with two fellow crewmates from the Futura Mission to the ISS, American Terry Virts and Russian Anton Skaplerov, as well as representatives from the Italian Air Force, Italian Space Agency and European Space Agency.Sergio Marchionne, Chairman of Ferrari, acted as their guide, taking them through the Classiche Department, 12-cylinder assembly line and New Mechanical Machining Department. The leaders of rocket-powered exploration were treated to ground-based engineering excellence, and as an Oct. 8 press release from Ferrari shares, they were impressed; "Terry Virts probably said it best in a single word: 'Wow!'."Cristoferetti returned from a 200-day stay at the ISS on June 15, when it was confirmed that she "set a new duration record for a single mission for ESA astronauts, Italian astronauts and all female astronauts."Considering the fact that the ISS travels at an average speed of 17,150 mph, she'd become accustomed to high velocity action. So, of course, enjoying Dario Benuzzi taking the LaFerrari around the Fiorano Circuit was like being back on familiar ground.(See Also: 4 FXX Ks at New Orleans' Motorsport Park Ferrari Racing Days)Check out the video, added to YouTube today, and photos of their visit above and below, and find your own Ferrari from our exclusive listings.Ferraris For SaleGallery (Source: Ferrari, YouTube) See More Ferrari News

By Edward Jones – September 03, 2015

Google Exec.'s Wife Races Ferrari FXX K at Spa

Back on August 27, it came to our attention that Benjamin Sloss, a Google executive, purchased a Ferrari FXX K for his wife, Christine, on her birthday. He surprised her by taking her to Fiorano, where he said they would be racing this 599XX. Upon arrival, he presented her with a yellow and black FXX K. She wasted no time and took the race car onto the track, hitting lap times close to the track record.Now, the two have travelled to Belgium with their two super race cars to take on the Circuit of Spa Francorchamps. In a video uploaded to YouTube today by yd222, we get to see Christine's FXX K in action on the legendary race track. We don't get to see who is actually driving, but considering who it belongs to, we can assume it's her behind the wheel. And, needless to say, she's got the skills.As the extreme Italian race car flies through the 4.352 mile race track, you can hear the heart-stopping gear changes and F1-style roar of the engine as it goes flat-out on the straights. Check out the video below to hear and see it all for yourself.Gallery (Source: YouTube, Ferrari) See More Ferrari News, Pics and Videos

By Edward Jones – August 26, 2015

Sammy Hagar From Van Halen Gets His LaFerrari

Sammy Hagar, also known as "The Red Rocker," is a rock musician that rose to fame in the 1980s after his successful solo career and his position as the lead singer of Van Halen. And now, he is in the news, not for his music, but for the latest car to join his garage: a LaFerrari. KNOW & TELL: Here is another reason Sammy Hagar can’t drive 55! The legendary rocker just got the keys to his $1.3 million limited edition Ferrari in Mill Valley. http://abc7ne.ws/1hsQbrQPosted by ABC7 News on Thursday, August 20, 2015 The delivery was reported by ABC 7 News in California Aug. 20 in an article. According to their reports, the delivery took place Aug. 19 in Mill Valley. The LaFerrari itself is finished in a special paint that Hagar has named "Cappuccino." This light exterior is contrasted against a black interior, giving off a two-tone appearance. Images of the car seen in this article are from ABC 7's own Juan Carlos Guerrero, who posted the pictures to his Twitter profile the day of the delivery.(Related: Ian Poulter Finishes Legendary Ferrari Supercar Collection) Check Out the LaFerrari Specs Yahoo Autos LaFerraris For Sale(Source: Twitter, ABC 7 News, Yahoo Autos) See More Celebrity Car News, Pics and Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – August 26, 2015

Ian Poulter Finishes Legendary Ferrari Supercar Collection

It's been a long eight months since Ian Poulter took a trip to Maranello to design and order his newest Ferraris, but the wait for one has come to an end.On Aug. 24, Poulter shared a photo on Twitter of his collection of fine Italian prancing horses, with the newest arrival, LaFerrari, front and center. Behind are the 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo, all wearing matching Ferrari Rosso red paint. That was a dream come true. Thanks @ferrari, I chose options on LaFerrari & 458 Speciale Aperta, Very fortunate. ??? pic.twitter.com/sz1MJ19ygB — Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) January 13, 2015 Poulter ordered his LaFerrari on Jan. 13, the same day he posted another series of photos to his Twitter account of a visit to Ferrari's headquarters, with close looks at the LaFerrari and a yellow 458 Speciale. He chose options on LaFerrari and a 458 Speciale Aperta, and now it seems the delivery of the first has happened..@Ferrari Supercar 5 is complete. So lucky to be able to collect them all. Now time to win that @fedex Cup. #NoLimits pic.twitter.com/1u81gdXLiI — Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) August 25, 2015 Poulter is currently in New Jersey for the FedEx Open at Edison's Plainfield Country Club as part of The Barclays PGA Tour. We wish him the best of luck and hope that another trip to Maranello for a look at the 488 GTB is in order during some downtime in the near future.Stay with us for more updates from the world of celebrity cars, and find your own Ferrari from our exclusive listings at the button below.Ferraris For Sale (Source: Twitter) See More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2015

Christian Bale to Play Enzo Ferrari in Upcoming Biopic

Christian Bale, recently known for his portrayal of Batman in The Dark Knight movie trilogy, has reportedly signed on to director Michael Mann's biopic of Enzo Ferrari, the founder, automotive genius and namesake behind the renowned Italian automaker.According to an Aug. 21 article from GQ, Mann's movie will focus on Ferrari's time in the 1950s, when "Ferrari was a key player in the rise of Formula One Racing." Road and Track also reported Aug. 20 that Mann has been working to get this production in motion for the past 15 years. They also reported that the movie will be based on Brock Yates' book "Enzo Ferrari: The Man, The Cars, The Races, The Machine."If these reports are all correct, this could be the movie Ferrari fans have been waiting for. A quick stint of internet research will show you that the 1950s were an insane time for Ferrari. During these years, Ferrari won their first Formula One championship in 1952 and also went on to win the 1953, 1956 and 1958 seasons.The film will most certainly highlight 1957, a year of devastating losses for both Enzo and the Ferrari race team. Drivers Castellotti and Alfonso de Portago were killed during the season, and, just a year before, Enzo lost his son Alfredo "Dino" to muscular dystrophy. Below is a video of archival footage from Ferrari's 1950s races.Needless to say, this film will be a rollercoaster, and Bale has his work cut out for him. If you aren't satisfied with this casting, know that Robert De Niro is also playing Enzo Ferrari in another movie that is expected soon.What do you think about the casting? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.(Sources: Road and Track, GQ, Ferrari, YouTube) See More Celebrity Automotive News

By Edward Jones – August 17, 2015

Justin Bieber's Liberty Walk Ferrari 458

Love him or hate him, Justin Bieber has pretty good taste in cars, especially knowing that he has a LaFerrari on the way, as USA Today reported March 29. Now, Bieber has taken his Ferrari 458 and customized it with a Liberty Walk kit.Included in the kit are a number of body pieces, including wheel arches to extend its width, side skirts, a front splitter and much more. His car was also wrapped in a Frozen Blue Chrome wrap, which matches the new set of wheels.Pictures of the car were posted on August 14 and 15 to Instagram by West Coast Customs, giving us a look at the car's rear and front. What do you guys think about it? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.(Source: Instagram) See More Celebrity Car News, Pics and Videos

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By Caitlin Duffy – August 05, 2015

Ferrari FXX with Guy Martin at the Wheel

Guy Martin has been in some high-speed situations, but nothing seems to have blown him away quite like a Ferrari did.Supercar Driver in the United Kingdom is known for hosting some of the most incredible gatherings of supercars and their owners this world has ever seen. The weekend of August 1, they hosted their Red Arrows Diamond 9 event, and included among the attendees was a rare creation indeed.The Ferrari FXX was the first XX creation to come from Ferrari, and the one that attended is one of the few in the world modified to be a street legal version. So, of course, British motorcycle racer Martin needed a chance to get behind the wheel. Luckily for us, we get to see his reaction to the ride in a video added by Supercar Driver today."I've been in fast things, right, I have never been in anything like that," Martin says when he's done. "I'm shaking, I'm bloody shaking."Check out his fright-inducing run in the video above, browse the images from RiadArianeMedia below and stay with us for more updates from the automotive world.Ferraris For SaleGallery (Source: RiadArianeMedia, YouTube) See More Ferrari News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 15, 2015

Floyd Mayweather's Ferrari Enzo is For Sale

Cars come and go through Floyd Mayweather's collection faster than styles go out of fashion, and even some of the finest cars produced in automotive history can't count on staying in his garage long.Case and point, his Ferrari Enzo. As we reported Jan. 26, Mayweather added the pinnacle pony to his collection, posing for a few photos with it the day it was delivered by Fusion Luxury Motors.(Related: The Rise of the Ferrari 575M Superamerica)But June 11, Fusion's Facebook page showed the Rosso powerhouse back at their showroom."HIS NAME IS 'ENZO' !" states the caption of its photo. The next day, June 12, they shared a video of the Enzo driving up to the dealership, and shortly after it appeared on their website's listed inventory.Check out the photos below to get a closer look at this piece of Ferrari's history, and hit the button to learn more about purchasing details.View Listing and PriceGallery

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