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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 Jordan Aquistapace – February 22, 2024

Watch YouTuber Adin Ross Test His Tesla Cybertruck's Bull...

There's only one way to find out. After years of suspense and anticipation, the Tesla Cybertruck has finally hit the road, and let's just say, the wait was worth it. A lucky few have managed to get their hands on this futuristic EV pickup, either by sticking it out through the long preorder wait or by diving into the secondary market, where prices are as sky-high as the excitement. For these early drivers, the Cybertruck is an experimental opportunity to test out some of the key functions and advantages that Elon Musk first spoke about during the initial demonstration on stage more than 4 years ago. One of the lucky new Cybertruck owners is YouTube star Adin Ross (@adinross on X), who gained a massive following of millions through streaming live online while playing video games. Eager to test the capabilities of Tesla's bulletproof construction on the Cybertruck, Adin and his team took the truck to an off-site shooting range for some target practice. Adin shot more than 20 rounds of rifle ammo into the rear driver-side door, later inspecting it to find that none penetrated through the steel body. He expressed his disbelief by captioning the X post with, "Shot up my Tesla truck today It’s definitely bullet proof. I love this truck. Thanks Elon @elonmusk". Along with the newly purchased Tesla Cybertruck, Adin Ross' car collection currently features cars like a Lamborghini Urus, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, McLaren 720S, and many more. As Adin Ross continues to enjoy Tesla Cybertruck ownership, we can't wait to see what he'll do with it next. View all Tesla EVs currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Tesla EVs For Sale Shot up my Tesla truck todayIt’s definitely bullet proof. I love this truck. Thanks Elon @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/4mB7hDSpPv— adin (@adinross) February 21, 2024 Source: @adinross X

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 06, 2024

Shawn Stüssy Teases An Upcoming Custom Land Rover Collabo...

A fashion icon collaborates with an off-road legend. There’s no other vehicle on the road with the legacy that Land Rover has, and that’s because Land Rover forged its legacy off the road. With vehicles that dared to venture and thrive where most others in its time were unable to, Land Rovers quickly earned a lasting reputation as adventure-ready machines, and that’s a reputation that remains important to the manufacturer’s ethos to this day. When it comes to Shawn Stüssy’s legacy as an icon in Californian surf culture and fashion, Land Rover’s off-road reputation and unmistakable style are a perfect complement to it, which is why Shawn Stüssy appears to have teased an upcoming Land Rover collaboration in a new Instagram post. While the only image is a close-up of the logo, and the caption simply says “projects for 2024…” it appears that Shawn Stüssy, founder of the iconic and eponymous Stüssy surfboard and clothing brand, is collaborating with Land Rover specialist Commonwealth Classics on a custom Land Rover restoration. With the historic legacy of off-roading that Land Rover possesses, and the vision and icon status that Shawn Stüssy has, this collaboration is sure to be exciting. View All Land Rovers For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by shawn stüssy (@shawnstussy)

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 01, 2024

Lewis Hamilton Will Join Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team In 2025

F1’s most successful driver is making a groundbreaking move. Lewis Hamilton is one of the biggest names in Formula 1 and racing as a whole, and for good reason. With 7 world titles, the last of which he won in 2020, he’s tied with Michael Schumacher for having the most out of any driver in the prestigious and historic racing series. His move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013 was a shock at the time, but with the team, he’s built a legacy as one of the greatest racers ever, with an incredible F1 dominance that Red Bull has eclipsed in the past few years. However, things are about to change again, as Hamilton is be leaving Mercedes to join Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season. Ferrari, with a long-standing and historic presence in the sport, has renewed its contract with Charles Leclerc, but Carlos Sainz’s contract with the team is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season. Rumors of Hamilton joining the Prancing Horse have swirled for some time, but now the perfect storm has brewed for the shocking change to finally take place. With Hamilton, the most successful driver in F1 history with 103 Grand Prix wins, joining Ferrari for the 2025 season, the landscape of the Formula 1 world will see the biggest change that it has undergone in over a decade, and what happens as a result is sure to be exciting. Shop F1 Merch View this post on Instagram A post shared by Scuderia Ferrari (@scuderiaferrari)

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 22, 2024

Benji B Takes The New Lotus Eletre For A Spin

A music icon experiences the sounds of the new Lotus Eletre. As a manufacturer, Lotus has undergone what is nothing short of a radical transformation. Known by enthusiasts across the world for decades as a cult favorite for agile, thrilling, lightweight, and track-ready sports cars, Lotus’ renaissance as a manufacturer of electric luxury performance cars is in full swing. With the announcement of the incredible Evija hypercar, as well as the Emeya grand tourer, the Eletre is Lotus’ first-ever SUV, and with a modern, innovative approach to luxury, the new model is like no Lotus before. One of the Eletre’s greatest highlights is the inclusion of an advanced KEF audio system, and experiencing it in its full glory is someone who cares deeply about sound and music: Benji B. The famed radio presenter, DJ and producer is prolific in the music and fashion world, and is known for his appreciation and expertise when it comes to music and style, which makes him tough to please when it comes to an electric luxury SUV and its premium audio system. However, along with its KEF audio system, the Lotus Eletre boasts an incredible blend of style, sumptuous finishes, futuristic design, innovative technology, and of course, Lotus’ signature agile and nimble approach to automotive performance. With these aspects in tandem, the new Lotus Eletre is sure to prove itself not only to Benji B, but to the luxury performance SUV world that it’s the future of luxury, style, performance, and practicality in one. View All Lotus Eletres For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benji B (@benjib)

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 17, 2024

Magnus Walker Drives A 930 Porsche 911 With A Former McLa...

McLaren meets Porsche in this wild restomod project. When you ask a car enthusiast to picture a sports car, the unmistakable silhouette of the Porsche 911 would appear in the imagination of many, and for purists, it would more specifically be the image of one of the most iconic generations of the 911: the 80s air-cooled 930. This iconic time in the 911’s 60-year history is one of the most important generations when it comes to cementing the Porsche 911’s legacy as one of the world’s favorite sports cars, and this specific example features not only an incredible restomod of the 930 911, but a modernized and elevated celebration of its history. Driven by famed British car collector Magnus Walker for his YouTube channel, one of the first notable things about this 911 is its art-car design, which uses white paintwork as a blank canvas for a stunningly creative and colorful livery. The next noticeable aspect of the car is the engine note, which isn’t the typical flat-six 911 note, because it’s not a flat-six that’s under the hood, rather a V6 is in its place. That specific V6 was the result of an 80s collaboration between McLaren and Porsche, in which McLaren’s F1 team and the famous British Lanzante looked to Porsche for an engine, and Porsche provided an engine that was tested, rather than in an F1 car, in a 930 911. To celebrate the legacy, Lanzante, with the help of the prestigious and prolific O'Gara Coach built 11 cars with these former F1 racing engines in 930 911s. The specific car that Walker drives in the video uses the engine from the F1 car that Stefan Johnson drove in the 1987 Austrian GP, and Stefan Johnson sat with him in the passenger seat for the ride. Johnson is also responsible for the wild art car livery. With incredible performance, retro charm, a true driver’s car philosophy, and one of the most legendary histories that a sports car can have, this drive is incredible to watch. Discover more about this incredibly special Porsche 911 by watching below. View All Vehicles For Sale From O'Gara Coach

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 10, 2024

The Ferrari Incredible Garages Series Explores Ernie Boch...

With nearly 8 acres including a garage full of Ferraris, Ernie Boch Jr. is living a car enthusiast’s dream. Norwood, Massachusetts is Ernie Boch Jr.’s hometown, and over 20 years ago, he purchased his home there, which at the time was on less than two acres of land. Over the following two decades, Ernie Boch began to purchase the 17 surrounding properties, increasing the size of the land to a total of nearly 8 acres. What to do with the last piece of land was a mystery, until Boch’s friend suggested that he create a salon for his car collection. As the former owner and CEO of a car sales and service network, as well as the former lead of a blues rock band, his passions for cars and for music simply had to collide in the project and in Ferrari’s new Incredible Garages series, the historic Italian manufacturer simply had to visit and explore this unique space. Completed in June 2020, the garage features displays of guitars, and an area to listen to Boch’s favorite records. Similarly to his love for the analog nature of classic rock, one of Boch’s favorite cars is his 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, with an analog nature of its own, as well as a 1979 512 BB. Another favorite of Ernie Boch Jr., however, is much more modern: the Ferrari Roma. While it’s one of Ferrari’s latest creations, the grand touring ethos and beautiful, timeless proportions of the Roma evoke the beauty of classic cars that inspired the Roma’s “la nuova Dolce Vita” ethos. In addition to his immense guitar collection, memorabilia of his car sales and service empire, and his Ferrari collection, Boch also has an extensive collection of art from India, with a whole room dedicated to his love for the country. With his eclecticism and impeccable taste in the Prancing Horse’s greatest creations, Ernie Boch Jr.’s Ferrari collection makes the perfect addition to Ferrari’s Incredible Garages series. Watch The Episode

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 09, 2024

Mercedes-AMG x will.i.am Launch New MBUX SOUND DRIVE Musi...

The partnership between will.i.am and Mercedes-AMG continues. As a musician and artist known for the avant-garde, will.i.am and Mercedes-Benz have come together to create some head-turning efforts in the automotive world. Mercedes-Benz has a flair for technology, innovation, and automotive luxury, and together with will.i.am’s sense of creativity and their joint passion for futurism, their collaborations have pushed the boundaries of what can happen at the intersection of the automotive and art worlds. Revealed at the 2024 CES in Las Vegas, will.i.am and Mercedes-AMG have announced yet another high-tech addition to their collaborative portfolio of projects: the MBUX SOUND DRIVE experience. The experience will blend the experience of music and driving in an unprecedented way, allowing the music itself to react to the way the car is being driven, and turning the car into a “virtual musical instrument.” Advanced software and sensing will gather information from actions like regenerative braking, steering, and acceleration, and express them musically inside the car, making for an immersive and emotional driving experience like no other. Artists around the world will be able to create tracks and represent the MBUX SOUND DRIVE experience through any music genre. The rollout of this new feature is set to begin in mid-2024, and it will be available for Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz cars with the second-generation MBUX system. Currently at CES, the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV and Mercedes-AMG EQE Sedan are available to be test driven to give visitors a taste of the new experience, and bring together music and driving in uncanny harmony. View All Mercedes-Benz Vehicles For Sale Image Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 09, 2024

David Donohue Sets Record COTA Lap Time In John Hennessey...

The Circuit of the Americas was taken on by an American performance hero. John Hennessey is known for having an insatiable penchant for the ultimate American performance, whether that means tuning, acquiring, or building from the ground up, some of the greatest American performance cars ever seen. In the automotive world, the Hennessey name has become synonymous with speed, power, and engineering prowess, and despite not being tuned, John Hennessey’s stock C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 now has a feather in its own cap. Recently, Hennessey announced a partnership with racing legend David Donohue, with the two setting their sights together on achieving incredible records behind the wheel of Hennessey’s Venom F5 hypercar, but the new Corvette Z06 also took part in achieving racing success this past December, when Donohue took it to the Circuit of the Americas. The car is equipped with Chevrolet’s Z07 performance package, which adds to the already-formidable Z06 track ready carbon fiber aero and carbon fiber wheels. While conditions were less than ideal and prevented the lap time from being even faster, Donohue managed to clock an incredible 2 minutes and 19.18 seconds, recorded through the on-board lap time recorder in the Corvette Z06. This puts the car in the Austin, Texas circuit’s record books as the fastest Corvette Z06 at the track, and Hennessey filmed the entire lap for fans to experience both the performance prowess of the C8 Z06, and the driving skill of the legendary David Donohue, whose partnership with Hennessey has already proved fruitful. Watch the incredible lap below. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 05, 2024

Check Out Jake Paul's New Ferrari SF90 Spider Hybrid Supe...

Sporting the same vibrant finish, Jake now has a matching set of yellow Ferraris in his garage. Dominating both in and outside the professional boxing ring, it's no surprise that Jake Paul has become a household name around the world. While his passion for training and fighting competitively is known, his love for Italian supercars may be more of a well-kept secret. Shortly after purchasing and moving into his $16 million Puerto Rico mansion back in May 2023, the entrepreneur and YouTube star splurged on a head-turning yellow Ferrari 296 GTB for the new garage. The 296 GTB not only stands out as Ferrari's first-ever V6 hybrid supercar but also the most desirable and exclsuive model to get your hands on right now. Just six months later, Jake Paul is back from the dealership to take delivery of his brand new Ferrari SF90 Spider at his home. Jake took to his Instagram page to share the first few moments of the electrified supercar's arrival. Sporting the exact same Giallo Modena from Ferrari, the SF90 Spider is slowly reversed off the trailer where his 296 GTB patiently awaits to meet its new garage companion with brother Logan Paul in the front seat. Before having the chance to unleash all 986 horsepower from its hybrid-assisted 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8, Jake creates some satisfying content by removing the plastic screen protectors from all the LED screens. As we wait to see and hear how Jake Paul enjoys his new Ferrari SF90 Spider, we hope that he breaks it in with some parking lot donuts like he did in the 296 GTB. View all Ferrari SF90 Spiders and Ferrari 296 GTBs currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Ferrari SF90 Spiders For Sale View All Ferrari 296 GTBs For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jake Paul (@jakepaul) Source: @jakepaul Instagram

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 04, 2024

Kobe Bryant Tribute Techart Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet...

This custom masterpiece pays homage to a late sports legend. The Porsche 911 Turbo S is one of the greatest open-top creations from the 75-year-old performance luxury manufacturer, and that’s why it serves as the basis for a further elevated Techart customization. Created by TOYZ autoart, this 2021 Techart-customized Porsche 911 is a bespoke masterpiece with a special story, and the one-of-one cabriolet is available for sale at John Scotti Automotive in Kirkland, Canada. With a purple color and gold accents, reminiscent of the Los Angeles Lakers, the car is inspired by the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The interior is finished in black leather, and the stitching is yellow, with embroidered details throughout in both yellow and purple featuring both of Bryant’s player numbers, 8 and 24. Even the center caps of the wheels display the numbers 8 and 24. This car has plenty of factors that make it special. It’s not only a powerful and agile performance machine but one that is custom and bespoke. In addition to all of that, it’s a beautiful tribute to one of the greatest late legends in the basketball and sports worlds. If you're interested in adding this masterpiece of a car to your collection, view the price and listing by clicking below. View Price And Listing Image Source: John Scotti Automotive

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