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 – March 28, 2024

Watch Jay Leno's $20M McLaren F1 Get The Ultimate Detail ...

$20 million has never looked so good! While its claim to fame has been historically documented through time spent competing on racing circuits around the world, the legendary McLaren F1 quickly evolved from a track weapon to an eight-figure collector car almost overnight. Although most owners choose to protect their high-dollar investment behind closed doors, away from the outside world, Jay Leno flexes his muscles as the ultimate collector by enjoying the open road behind the wheel of his $20M McLaren F1 whenever he desires. And with all that glorious road time over 25 years of ownership, there comes a day when the automotive icon needs a full head-to-toe detail to keep it in museum-worthy condition. On the newest episode of Jay Leno's Garage, in-house specialists Chris Walters and Jeremy Porazzo get to work on thoroughly detailing Jay's $20M McLaren F1 using Jay Leno's Car Care products. Using a next-to-priceless factory crate of tools that originally came with the purchase of an F1, the team lifts the McLaren to remove its wheels in order to clean every inch. A paint correction had been decided after discovering a series of surface swirl marks in the paint, which uses polish and polishing pads to break down the contaminated top layer to get to a fresh base. After spending almost the entire day working on both the paint and the wheels, the McLaren F1 is transformed into contemporary, showroom condition. Whether it's a million-dollar hypercar or your daily driver, it goes to show that any car's appearance can come back to life with good cleaning products and some elbow grease. Shop all of the Jay Leno Car Care products used on his $20M McLaren F1 by clicking the link below. Shop All Jay Leno's Car Care Products " width="680"> Source: Jay Leno's Garage YouTube

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 – November 17, 2023

Watch Jay Leno Drive The New McLaren 750S Spider

Jay Leno gets a taste of McLaren’s latest supercar. Besides his entertainment career, Jay Leno is known all over the world for his incredible car collection and automotive expertise. However, one particular favorite manufacturer of Leno’s is McLaren, and he owns the first three roadgoing supercars the brand made: the legendary F1, the MP4-12C, and the P1, famous for being a member of the “Holy Trinity” of hybrid hypercars. Being introduced to the new 750S, Jay Leno remarks on the excellence of its predecessor, the McLaren 720S, and the fact that both supercars offered hypercar performance in a supercar package, comparable to the legendary P1. Once behind the wheel, Leno remarks on the fact that the 750S Spider, with its 740 horsepower, is the latest and greatest evolution of what McLaren does best: creating an exhilarating driver-focused supercar. With its lightweight construction and powerful engine, the McLaren 750S Spider delivers the best in responsiveness and winding road performance. Carving through mountain passes in the new McLaren 750S Spider with the top down is an irresistible and incredible experience. Pair that with the exotic exhaust note of the 750S’s twin-turbocharged V8 engine, and McLaren’s latest supercar is the driving experience of a lifetime. View All McLarens For Sale

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 25, 2023

Tennis Star Hubi Hurkacz Takes A Dream Drive In A McLaren...

ATP tennis star Hubert Hurkacz drives his dream car, the McLaren 765LT Spider, experiencing the thrill of speed.

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By Jordan Aquistapace – June 02, 2023

Scott Disick Reveals His New 1,100HP Widebody McLaren 720...

Upgrading his McLaren with looks and performance, Scott Disick's 720S is ready for any road or track.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 01, 2022

Jay Leno And Alfonso Ribeiro Race McLaren 765LT Spiders A...

Jay Leno and a celebrity car enthusiast take to the track. Jay Leno’s Garage shows the famed comedian living out a car enthusiast’s dream, with his extensive collection of incredible cars and time on the race track putting some of the best cars to the test. What makes the whole experience even better is when Leno invites fellow celebrities to join in on the fun, and actor and television personality Alfonso Ribeiro made for a particularly special addition to the show. MUST READ: Watch Ken Block Drift His Audi S1 Hoonitron In Hoonigan’s Electrickhana Las Vegas Video A car enthusiast and racer himself, Alfonso Ribeiro won the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race four times, in 1994, 1995, 2015, and 2016, most recently in the Scion FR-S Prototype. Jay Leno also participated in the race in the 1987 Toyota Celica GTS. This time, however, Alfonso and professional McLaren test driver Edward Sandstrom duke it out in two very special British supercars: McLaren 765LT Spiders. The “LT” designation is important for McLaren as it indicates both McLaren history and innovation, honoring the Longtail race cars with high power, light weight, and advanced aerodynamics. With a time of 1:26.9 around Willow Springs Raceway in California, Ribeiro managed to beat the McLaren test driver by less than a second. While he’s been known for decades for his comedy on television, Alfonso Ribeiro’s racing ability on the track is no joke. View All McLaren 765LT Spiders For Sale Source: YouTube/Jay Leno's Garage

By Edward Jones – July 22, 2021

IndyCar Driver JR Hildebrand Drives the McLaren Elva

JR Hildebrand: "It's the ultimate driver's car." IndyCar driver and star JR Hildebrand recently took out the exciting McLaren Elva for a spin and was thoroughly impressed. The drive he embarked on took him through the streets of San Francisco and along the Pacific Coast highway. The Elva itself is a truly unique model in McLaren's lineup, giving customers the ability to order it with or without a windshield. It also packs plenty of power, 804 bhp to be exact, thanks to its twin-turbo V8 engine. You can see the drive for yourself in the video up above. "The Elva is the newest car in the growing stable of McLaren Ultimate Series machines, with not only hyper-car performance but a hyper-specific use case," said Hildebrand. "Where the McLaren Senna and McLaren Senna GTR exist to be the ultimate in track weapons, the Elva is designed for the ultimate immersive experience on your favorite roads, and to be completely unhidden from your environment - whether that be a coastal sea breeze or the paparazzi flash pulling up on Rodeo Drive." See McLarens For Sale Source: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – July 16, 2021

RM Sotheby's To Offer First-Ever Lewis Hamilton GP-Winnin...

Presented by RM Sotheby's - Formula 1®️ together with RM Sotheby’s have announced a very special, single lot auction of the 2010 McLaren Mercedes MP4-25 Formula 1 Race Car, (estimate: $5,000,000 - $7,000,000) to take place at the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2021. The auction will take place on the Saturday afternoon of the race weekend immediately prior to F1’s first-ever Sprint Qualifying Race. In keeping with the series of firsts, this sale marks the first time any Lewis Hamilton F1 Race Car, let alone a Lewis Hamilton Grand Prix winning car has ever been offered for public sale. To mark this unique event and the return of fans to F1’s first-ever venue, Formula 1 and RM Sotheby’s have created the ground-breaking concept to sell this incredible car live while it is being driven around the historic Silverstone circuit at speeds in excess of 150 mph; a unique auction set-up at one of the most iconic tracks in motorsport. Being held on Hamilton’s home track and with a live audience planned for the Silverstone GP, race fans and registered bidders will be able to witness MP4- 25 take to the circuit at speed in all its former glory. AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE NO OTHER A man who has eclipsed all major records with no sign of slowing, Lewis Hamilton has become a Global Icon that transcends the automotive world – currently the most dominant and talked about driver in Formula 1, but yet a gentleman competitor always, showing great deference to the giants that preceded him and who’s shoulders he stands upon as the face of the world’s biggest annual sporting series. The McLaren MP4-25, powered by the Mercedes-Benz FO 108X 2.4-liter V-8 engine, proved to be a major improvement on its predecessor, in part due to the innovative "F-duct" incorporated into the design; the system’s effect being controlled by the driver covering up a small hole in the cockpit with his left leg. The design innovation along with a host of other improvements helped reduce aerodynamic drag and allowed the car as much as an extra 6 mph (9.7 km/h) on straights. In the 14 years since his F1 baptism in Melbourne in 2007, Lewis Hamilton has competed in 270 Grands Prix, winning 98 and enjoying a further 71 podium finishes, he has amassed an incredible 100 pole positions, 3,872 points and led for over 5,170 laps; each milestone reinforcing his reputation at the very pinnacle of the sport and each achieved with recognition and thanks to his team and respect to his rivals. Now a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion and 2021 Laureus Athlete Advocate of the Year Lewis has become a global force across multiple arenas – a talented fashion designer, skilled musician, Hollywood tastemaker, social activist, champion for environmental change as well as the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time. Lewis Hamilton is a global icon whose dynamism and passion for initiating change commands as much attention and respect crossing the finish line as he does as on the red carpet of the MET Gala. The availability of this example, chassis number 25A-01, is an unrepeatable opportunity given the model’s scarcity. While client confidentiality precludes disclosing exactly how many cars exist in private ownership, it's believed to be only a scarce few. As such these examples remain highly coveted and largely in private hands, unlikely to be sold in the near future. Furthermore, the McLaren-Mercedes represents a car that can still be track-driven and supported by the original factory teams as part of individual Heritage departments. Learn more about this unique auction, set to take place 17 July, 2021 at the Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix in Silverstone, United Kingdom. Contact an RM Sotheby’s representative for more details. View Listing For More Info

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 29, 2021

Watch The New Daniel Ricciardo x GoPro Partnership Video

Daniel trades the racing seat for a director's chair The life of Team McLaren F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is action-pack, to say the least, which is why the Australian has partnered with GoPro to capture all of the crazy day-to-day content. Although you would believe that there is a team of high-skill professionals with Daniel to help create the perfect edit, it's actually the complete opposite. In the caption section of the video posted to the Daniel Ricciardo YouTube channel, Daniel recognizes his rather new love for filming and editing, promising to improve his skills soon enough. We here are definitely looking forward to more days in the life of Daniel Ricciardo videos to come soon. Check back in for more Daniel Ricciardo content, and click below to shop all GoPro products and accessories. Shop GoPro For more Lifestyle news, Check out The New Porsche x Martini Racing Collection Is Available Now

By Edward Jones – March 18, 2021

Lando Norris Meets An Insane Gulf x McLaren Collection

Tucked away in Hampshire, England is the exquisite ROFGO x Gulf collection. Within this collection are some historic, iconic and straight-up jaw-dropping automobiles that sport the Gulf Oil livery. Lando Norris recently met up with motorsport expert Natalie Pinkham to talk about McLarens, racing at McLaren, the past season and even the upcoming season. While talking, he does note that he would love to drive Gulf McLaren f1 GTR Longtail but says his chances of driving it are "slim to none." Check out the video up above to see the interview and the cars within the collection as well. Which of the cars shown would you drive the most? Let us know in the comments below! Personally, I'd have to go with Lando's choice of the F1 GTR Longtail. See All McLarens For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/CMjeX87HhOl/

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