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 – August 13, 2026

T-Pain Brought His Koenigsegg Regera to Monterey Car Week

Monterey Car Week is in full swing, once again proving why it remains one of the most anticipated weeks on the automotive calendar. Whether it’s a carefully curated auction lineup, a luxury event at one of the manufacturer houses, or simply spotting cars while making your way around the peninsula, rare classics and exclusive hypercars seem to be waiting around every corner. Along with all the cars come the owners and collectors who bring out some of their best for the week, and one of them is music icon, avid car enthusiast, and drifter T-Pain. After going viral earlier this year with the delivery of his exposed carbon Koenigsegg Regera, he’s joining in on the fun this year, taking part in rallies and events throughout the week.T-Pain and Nappy Boy Automotive kicked off Monterey Car Week with Koenigsegg’s Ghost Squadron Tour, joining Christian von Koenigsegg and around 30 other owners for the drive from Lake Tahoe to Monterey. In addition to his Regera, the priceless group of hypercars featured the entire lineage of Koenigsegg’s greatest creations, including multiple examples of the Agera, Jesko, Gemera, CC850, CCX, and more. Having completed nearly 300 miles of driving, with scenic stops, planned events, and even an impromptu run-in with the Nevada Highway Patrol, T-Pain most definitely enjoyed his time behind the wheel, captioning an Instagram post saying, “What an adventure putting millions of dollars of hypercars on the street and soaking in every mile. Let’s do it again!” Last night, T-Pain and the Nappy Boy Automotive team headed to Motorlux at the Monterey Jet Center, where the aircraft hangars were transformed into one of the week’s biggest nights. Supercars, hypercars, private jets, and plenty of other luxury toys filled the space, making for a pretty fitting Monterey Car Week setting. And with plenty more to come throughout the week, keep your eyes peeled for T-Pain and the Nappy Boy Automotive crew out on the Monterey Peninsula. With rallies, events, and plenty of cars still on the agenda, there’s a good chance you’ll spot them somewhere along the way. Source: Nappy Boy Automotive Instagram

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 30, 2024

Yiannimize x Divine Savages x Urban Automotive Reveal New...

This hypercar becomes even more bespoke. Koenigsegg is known for its unmatched engineering and design. Its hypercar and “megacar” lineage dates back more than 25 years. Throughout that time, the Swedish manufacturer has been at the cutting edge of high performance, breaking records and introducing unprecedented approaches to speed and power. One of the milestones in Koenigsegg’s heritage is the Agera, introduced at the beginning of the 2010s as the next chapter of Koenigsegg’s hypercar legacy. Until its discontinuation in 2018, the Koenigsegg Agera represented the pinnacle of hypercar performance with its unimaginably powerful twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 engine and dual-clutch transmission. One of the most unique examples of Koenigsegg Agera is Koenigsegg Agera N, a unique, ultra-rare iteration of the incredible hypercar. In a new collaboration between famous customization specialist Yiannimize, Urban Automotive, and luxury wallpaper brand Divine Savages, the Koenigsegg Agera N achieves a new level of bespoke customization. The Agera N has been unveiled with a new custom blue and white floral wrap, which is inspired by the Divine Savages signature wallpaper collection. Boasting bold patterns and eclectic aesthetics, Divine Savages brought its luxurious interior design solutions to the automotive world. The floral pattern is an unusual and head-turning way to highlight the unmistakable silhouette of the Koenigsegg Agera, and it takes one of the world’s rarest, most powerful, and most coveted hypercars, and makes it even more unique. View All Koenigseggs For Sale Image Source: Urban Automotive

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 25, 2023

Watch The Hamilton Collection Spec Their Gemera Hypercar ...

Steve Hamilton and Tommy head to Koenigsegg's factory to design the multi-million dollar Gemera hypercar. Since its initial debut into the automotive world all the way back in March 2020, Koenigsegg's new Gemera mega GT continues to grow in popularity as production starts for the first few examples. With only 300 Gemera chassis allocated worldwide, it's safe to say that the anticipation of delivery grows by the day for each future Koenigsegg owner. The Hamilton Collection is proud to be one of those 300 lucky owners, having put in an order for both the four-seater Gemera as well as the track-focused Jesko hypercar. As part of the newest upload to The Hamilton Collection's YouTube channel, Steve Hamilton and Tommy fly to Sweden to personally spec out the upcoming Gemera at Koenigsegg's factory with Christian Von Koenigsegg himself. Being one of the first to use the all-new innovative Koenigsegg Gemera virtual configurator, Steve and Tommy sit down to explore the infinite list of colors, materials, and other additional options. The chosen exterior finish for Steve's car is a head-turning dark metallic blue that also beautifully accentuates the curvatures of the Gemera's elongated body design. With a wide variety of wheel styles and colors, carbon fiber multi-spoke wheels and vibrant orange carbon ceramic calipers are selected to stand out in the perfect way. Christian also showcases the desirable Ghost Package on the Gemera, adding a huge fixed carbon rear wing and diffuser for upgraded aerodynamics. Inside, Steve decides to style the spacious interior layout in black Alcantara with blue highlights to match the exterior. The last option chosen by The Hamilton Collection is a carbon fiber luggage set hand-crafted to make packing up the Koenigsegg Gemera for road trips a breeze. Now with the final stamp of approval from Christian Von Koenigsegg, The Hamilton Collection's Koenigsegg Gemera is headed to production for a highly anticipated 2024 delivery. View all Koenigsegg hypercars currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Koenigsegg For Sale Source: The Hamilton Collection YouTube

By Andrew Nabors – August 05, 2020

Jon Olsson Compares Koenigsegg Regera, Gemera, Jesko, & A...

I might have a driveway with four cars, but they aren't worth $10 Million dollars. Jon Olsson is no stranger to supercars so he was able to gather the latest from Koenigsegg for a heads-up comparison. The Jesko Absolut is the top-speed version that is capable of 310 mph. Named for Christian's father, it is a fitting homage to his old man. The street-legal Jesko is also capable of 1,600 horsepower on E85 ethanol. It has more downforce which keeps it under 300 mph, and both cars utilize a 9-speed transmission with 7 individual clutches. The Gemera is their first 2+2 Grand Tourer, and it is even more unique. The "Tiny Friendly Giant" uses Freevalve technology. The intake and exhaust valves are pneumatic, offering an infinite combination overlap, lift, and duration. The 2.0-liter inline-3 cylinder acts as a generator for an 800v hybrid system. With launch crontrol eneabled you have 8,113 lb-ft of torque and 1,700 horsepower at the wheels. Browse Koenigsegg For Sale Finally, the Regera is the first production car so powerful that it needs no transmission. Instead of a small generator, it uses a twin-turbo 5-liter V8 and 3 electric motor generators. Below 80 mph the engine generates high-voltage for electric motors at each rear wheel. Above 80, the torque converter locks the crankshaft to a 3.73 differential to send 1,500 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft of torque to the ground. Koenigsegg Direct Drive is the most efficient propulsion system on the market, and no transmission is one less thing to worry about. Tell us which one you prefer in the comments below and stay with us for all your Koenigsegg news. " width="680">

By Edward Jones – August 16, 2016

Carina Lima Boasts Rare Koenigsegg One:1

While it hasn't been officially confirmed, it looks like racing driver Carina Lima may be the owner of one of the seven Koenigsegg One:1 models. On her Instagram she has posted several photos of a One:1 and even a video of her driving said car. In fact, we wrote about her driving an Agera A in Monaco quite a while back, so she doesn't seem to be a stranger to the Swedish brand.https://www.instagram.com/p/BI7jJJMD3-d/Creating power for the One:1 is a 5.0-liter V8 engine fixed with two turbochargers. This engine creates one megawatt of power, which equates to 1,341 hp, while torque is rated at 1,011 lb-ft. I’ll skip its 0-60 mph time and just tell you it can go from 0-186-0 mph in 17.95 seconds. To sum this short paragraph up: the Koenigsegg One:1 is one of the most insane vehicles ever produced.https://www.instagram.com/p/BJAmjQ_jl83/In an Instagram video of her driving the car, she notes that the One:1 is a car that you "have to handle with passion, love,all" and that the "road around it's not enough for this machine".View All Koenigsegg For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2015

Floyd Mayweather Reveals $4.8 Million Koenigsegg Purchase

After winning the fight against Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has undoubtedly seen an increase in his personal wealth. And with this money, Mayweather has gone out and purchased an incredibly rare Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, which was actually listed on duPontREGISTRY.com (View Listing).The purchase was unveiled by the famous boxer in an Instagram post from his official account yesterday, August 23, where he claims ownership by saying, "My new 4.8 Million dollar car." There have been rumors that he was going to acquire the car, being sold by Fusion Luxury Motors, but this post seems to prove the rumors to be true.https://instagram.com/p/6ta0ARx3W2/In the post's description, he states that he purchased the car for a staggering $4.8 million and also gives us some facts about the car itself. As for the image in the post, he can be seen sitting on the car, engine bay and doors ajar.What's next for Mayweather? Let us know what you think he's going to buy next in the comments section and check out his already substantial car collection in the video also found below.Gallery (Source: Instagram) See More Celebrity Car News, Pics and Videos

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