Celebrity Cars

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 Jordan Aquistapace – July 26, 2021

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Legend Cale Yarborough's 1977 Oldsmob...

A chance at owning a key piece of NASCAR winning history driven by Cale Yarborough. Presented by the Owner - This 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass is likely to be the most historically significant NASCAR chassis in existence today. Driven by NASCAR multi-time champion Cale Yarborough, the Oldsmobile was raced during his third championship season of 1978, verified by a former crew chief. The 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass sponsored by First National City Travelers Check was chosen as 1 of the 18 race cars displayed at the ‘Dale Jr.: Glory Road Champions’ exhibit in Charlotte, NC at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The Cutlass was race-ready up until it going on display in 2019, presented in its original condition. As a piece of automotive history, this 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass is an easy invite to any worldwide race or historic event, including Monterey, Goodwood, etc. Click the link below to view the duPont REGISTRY listing on this iconic 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass NASCAR driven by Cale Yarborough. View The 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Listing Media/Info Source: NASCAR Hall Of Fame

By Andrew Nabors – August 20, 2020

NBA Superstar's 1998 Ferrari F355 Spider for Sale

Ok Basketball fans here is an opportunity of a lifetime. This particular player emblazons every car with the "Superman" logo, and he is so tall the convertible top was omitted. With only 7,300 miles, it will make a perfect centerpiece for your collection. The previous owner also has an affinity for big wheels, so it rides on 19" Giovannas with rubber that is like-new. Behind them are the largest Brembo brakes offered for the F355, so stopping is quick and consistent. It was built by our friends at West Coast Customs to have Alpine audio along with the Superman logos in several locations. Equipped with the F1 single-clutch automatic, it is begging for a weekend cruise. The leather is immaculate, and there are no signs of wear inside or out. I would submit it for the Ferrari Classiche certification due to the celebrity status. You know the man and how much he loves his cars, so this opportunity won't happen again. Click the button below for all the details and stay with us for more amazing inventory from Chicago Motor Cars. View Listing

By Edward Jones – August 10, 2020

Sylvester Stallone's Insane Stretched Cadillac Escalade i...

Becker Automotive Design has made custom vehicles for many celebrities and one of their creations is now for sale. This specific vehicle is a 2019 20-inch stretched Cadillac Escalade that was made for none other than Sylvester Stallone. This is Stallone's reason as to why it's up for sale: “I ordered my Becker ESV for a specific purpose, however my requirement for it has recently changed and I no longer have a need for this beautiful vehicle." This stretched Cadillac is loaded of custom features that make it comparable to a mansion on wheels. Passengers will be greeted with full electric rear VIP bucket seats with electric leg rests, while a rear-facing three-person bench seat sits across from them. For entertainment, there's a 43-inch UHD LCD smart TV and two 12-inch LVD TVs for rear-facing passengers. Connected to these TVs is a 7.1 digital audio system with a custom-tuned Crestron digital audio processor. With just 1,000 miles and a price of $350,000 (obo), this Cadillac is ready to cruise. There's a lot more custom features, which you can see on BeckerAutoDesign.com by clicking the button below. Learn More Source: BeckerAutoDesign.com

By Andrew Nabors – May 14, 2020

Red Skelton's 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E For Sale

One of the most famous comedians of the 20th century was Red Skelton. Writing this makes me feel old, but he put a smile on millions of faces. The Red Skelton Show ran from 1937 and 1971, and he frequently appeared in celebrity roasts, HBO comedy specials, and cameo appearances. Needless to say, he was a wealthy entertainer who liked fast cars and this 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E became his around 1997. What you see here is an incredibly rare car. Only 1,505 were built for the U.S. because it was a unique collaboration between Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. While development of the S-Class was taking up all the engineering efforts, a small team decided the 500 needed the massive new 5-liter. Porsche was in a bit of a slump, as the 911 had not changed much in three decades. So, Porsche took over the work on the model and assembled them after Mercedes-Benz did the initial design. As with all Canepa cars, everything from the floor mats to the tailpipes is clean enough to eat your dinner on. Take this one to an auction and make some money, or keep it as a perfect investment. Click the button below for all the details and stay with us for more amazing Canepa inventory. View Listing

By Edward Jones – October 25, 2019

Buy YouTube Star Edmond Mondi's Lamborghini Murcielago

YouTube star Edmond Mondi is selling his incredible 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago coupe at iLusso located in California. However, this Murcielago is unlike any you've seen before. In fact, it's one-of-a-kind. This specific Murcielago is the only red (Rosso Andromeda) gated-manual LP640 coupe in existence. It's also one of just 18 6-speed manual LP640 coupes produced during the car's 2007-2009 production run. On top of this paint is a custom wrap that Mondi had installed before it went to Europe for the Summer. iLusso notes that this Murcielago has recently been served and comes with a new clutch that was installed in later Summer 2019. For more information, be sure to click the button below. view price and more info

By Andrew Nabors – October 02, 2019

Jerry Weintraub's 2008 Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe For Sale

Sponsored Content - The Hollywood Hitmaker responsible for The Karate Kid, Ocean's Eleven also made his mark on the music industry. The late Jerry Weintraub managed tours for Sintatra, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan and Elvis. The man responsible for saving United Artists from bankruptcy had cameos in Vegas Vacation and all three Oceans' films. If you want a piece of Hollywood history, Jerry Weintraub's 2008 Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe is for sale. The car is in excellent condition with under 16k miles. Manufactured in April 2007 and purchased prior to 2008. Car was primarily driven by Mr. Weintraub (one owner) to & from Bighorn Country Club to Madison Country Club. Looking to sell privately to a collector who can appreciate its value. The car is “Ocean Blue” in honor of the Ocean’s 11 movie trilogy. The car was featured on the front of his book entitled “His Way” as well as featured documentaries. The car was purchased in 2008 for 575K from Desert European Motors in Rancho Mirage, California The car was recently serviced at Desert European Motors. (Service records available) One of three made in this specification. One of the three was sold at auction at Bonhams in Ft Lauderdale for $225K More pictures available upon request. View Price & Listing

By Edward Jones – April 01, 2019

Rare Celebrity Classic Cars for Sale- Owned by Enzo Ferra...

Celebrity owned cars are a hot ticket in the world of automotive auctions. Being owned by a person of high-status can not only raise the prestige of the car, but also its value. Daniel Schmitt & Co. Classic Car Gallery knows just how desired celebrity cars are and have an inventory full of some extraordinary examples. I'm not talking about cars owned by current celebrities either, I'm talking about automotive legends. Their inventory has cars owned by the likes of Enzo Ferrari, Carroll Shelby, Steve McQueen and more. The history of these classic cars for sale is just as incredible as the cars themselves. Check some of them out by scrolling below. 1962 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 by Pininfarina (Enzo Ferrari's Personal Car) This Ferrari was held by the factory for two years and used by Enzo Ferrari as one of his personal cars. It was also the 330GT that was used in Ferrari press material, including the factory brochure. view price and listing 1983 De Tomaso Pantera GTS Owned by Carroll Shelby Carroll Shelby was the one and only owner of this Pantera. It was originally gifted to Shelby by DeTomaso. It was recently released from Carroll Shelby's personal collection, allowing it to be on sale at Daniel Schmitt & Co. View Price and Listing 1950 Hudson Custom Commodore Six Brougham Convertible Owned by Steve McQueen According to Daniel Schmitt & Co., this was one of Steve McQueen's favorite cars and he drove it on a daily basis. What's more, it only has 22,647 miles clocked on its odometer and is one of only 700 built. view price and listing 1954 Cadillac Series 60 Special Fleetwood Used by Marilyn Monroe In 1955, this Cadillac was purchased by the Yellow Cab and Limousine Co. in Twin Falls, Idaho. It was then assigned to be Marilyn Monroe's personal transportation during the filming of "Bus Stop" in 1956. Daniel Schmitt & Co. also note that it was used by Bing Crosby later on. view price and listing

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 – April 27, 2018

2018 Aston Martin Tom Brady Edition Vanquish S Volante fo...

The 2018-2019 NFL Season is set to start in just a couple of months and the draft just happened, so football fever is in full effect. If you happen to be looking for a new sports car right now and are a fan of the New England Patriots, we have the perfect car for you. For sale at Cleveland Motorsports is a new 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante 'Tom Brady Edition.' This car is one of 12 to be created and was designed by Q by Aston Martin and Tom Brady himself. Each of the cars in the collection, including this one, is handpainted in Ultramarine Black and has an equally deep-shaded Dark Knight leather interior that's been stitched by hand. Being a special edition, there are a few extras found throughout the car, all of them point out that this is indeed a car built to honor Tom Brady. For example, the headrests and fender badges feature a "TB12" logo, with the "TB" standing for Tom Brady (duh) and 12 signifying his jersey number.This bespoke car is available now at Cleveland Motorsports. Click the button below to learn more about this rare opportunity.View Price and Listing

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2017

BMW Tupac was Shot in For Sale

After watching a fight at the MGM in Las Vegas, Tupac Shakur was shot in this very 1996 BMW 750iL that was leased by Death Row Records. Behind the wheel of the car at the time of the shooting was Suge Knight. When he was shot, Tupac had sold over 75 million records worldwide and was a central rapper in the West Coast vs East Coast feud between Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records.Steve Jobs' BMW Z8 Heading to Auction Now, Celebrity Cars Las Vegas is selling this very BMW and include all documentation with the sale. The car has had several owners since that tragic night, but the most recent owner had the car go through a full restoration. During this restoration, the wheels that were equipped during the shooting were installed. It runs great and is in fantastic condition. For more info and it's price, click the button below.View Listing and Price

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