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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 Edward Jones – February 01, 2019

"Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" Trailer is Finall...

Finally, the trailer for the upcoming film "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" has been released. In the trailer (seen above), we get a chance to see just how far along the Fast and Furious franchise has come. Well, after watching the trailer you will see that the franchise we once knew for racing cars for pink slips now includes a supervillain, thanks to Idris Elba. I'm not saying that's a bad thing in any way, just that it looks very different when compared to the first film in the franchise. Then again, this is a spin-off film. See the Cars of Fast and Furious 6 The chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham looks to be phenomenal and it will surely result in some great banter between the two. If you're a fan of action films with fast cars, this will definitely be a film to check out. There's even a shot of a McLaren 720S sliding under a truck in the trailer. Not bad. I know I'll be seeing it in theaters. Also Check Out: Howard Panes’ Vibrant McLaren Senna is a Must-See Own an Original Piece of Movie History: The Original Eleanor Marshmello Just Got a New 6×6 Truck From Diesel Brothers

By Edward Jones – January 14, 2019

Howard Panes' Vibrant McLaren Senna is a Must-See

There are plenty of automotive Instagram accounts out there, but Howard Panes' (@howardpanes) is one that you should definitely be following. Panes is the founder of one of the most popular e-cigarettes, Logic, and Stealth Body Fitness. With his success, he's afforded himself some of the world's wildest cars. His garage has seen cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren P1, Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder, 1,000 horsepower Hennessey Performance Hellcat, the first Hennessey Venom F5 (coming soon), McLaren 675LT Spider, Ferrari 458 Spider, Mercedes-Benz G 550 4x4 Squared, Ferrari 812 Superfast, Tesla Model X P100D and now the McLaren Senna. Panes' new Senna has to be the most vibrant example of the supercar, yet. It's blue/orange color scheme was accomplished through a litany of MSO options. Basically, every bit of orange that you see was chosen by Panes to complete the color scheme he sought out. Why did he pick these colors? Because he loved the way it looked. It's as simple as that. He told me that the color scheme he went for had no purpose other than to look "badass" and energize everyone when he drives by. "These colors just give off so much energy," said Panes. I'd definitely agree with him. The energy provided by the exterior can also be found in the cabin. It's inside that car that you're presented with a pair of seats that match the exterior trim accents. He even had the gear shift paddles, floor mats, door struts, steering wheel center band, and seatbelts colored in orange to finish the color scheme. Panes' wild Senna is one for the ages. It will be easily recognizable for years to come and will be the highlight of any show it attends. Cheers to you Panes for bringing this energetic McLaren into the world. shop for your own exotic car https://www.instagram.com/p/BrtX5s2nC2i/

By Edward Jones – December 18, 2018

Deadmau5 Takes Delivery of New McLaren Senna

Deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) is no stranger to melodic tunes, video games or cars. In fact, a quick look at his Instagram will show you that he's constantly posting about those three things, with cats peppered in between. One of his latest automotive purchases that will surely be shared on his Instagram is a McLaren Senna. The news of his purchase comes from George Farquhar's Instagram. Farquhar is actually the VIP Relations Manager over at McLaren Automotive. Zimmerman actually revealed earlier in 2018 at E3 that he had ordered a Senna. https://www.instagram.com/p/Brf8eB6gCUH/ The new McLaren that Zimmerman ordered is a truly wicked one. It has a black exterior with green trim found on the centerlock wheels, sides of the massive rear wing and on the front active aero. As for the car itself, it's powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 789 bhp and 590 lb-ft of torque. That power will launch the Senna from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and will go on until it hits a top speed of 211 mph. Congratulations are in order for Deadmau5/Zimmerman in regards to his latest acquisition. It's a beauty! Also Check Out: Deadmau5 Buys a New McLaren 720S Supercar Deadmau5 Unveils the Purracan Deadmau5 Reveals New McLaren P1 Wrap Featured Image via Instagram

By Edward Jones – November 07, 2018

Swizz Beatz Posts Up With McLaren P1 for New Album

Swizz Beatz just dropped his new album, POISON, and he's celebrating in a most epic way. Posted up on his Instagram feed are pictures of a McLaren P1 being parked in a room with a roof made of lights. Why? For a "sonic installation" that provided guests with a new way to experience his brand-new album. Plenty of celebrities showed up to the event, where Swizz Beatz was performing his songs and some artists featured in the album were there to play their part of the song. Swizz Beatz is no stranger to the McLaren brand, having purchased a 720S not too long ago. Now that his latest album is out, maybe he'll pick out a new car to celebrate. In fact, he did post a picture of the Speedtail and told everyone to "Stay tuned" in the description. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp00GAWAoUG/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp0dFLYAmBA/

By Edward Jones – November 05, 2018

McLaren Spins Out for Fast and Furious Spin-Off

Shooting for the upcoming film "Hobbs & Shaw" has begun... quite literally. A video on YouTube by Aidan Farren-Hart shows some of the film's action as it's being filmed (see above). In the scene that Farren-Hart captured, we see a McLaren 720S spinning out as it's being chased by a motorcyclist. Naturally, the motorcyclist is shooting at the McLaren as it tries to drive away. "Hobbs & Shaw" is a spin-off film based on The Fast and The Furious franchise. The lead roles in the film are Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw, who are played by The Rock and Jason Statham respectively. Statham actually posted a photo of him and the film's director, David M. Leitch, standing in front of the McLaren 720S (see below). The film will be releasing on July 26, 2019. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bni3iSoHtmh/ Related: Why You Should Buy A McLaren 720S McLaren 720S Receives New Track Pack Specification Bugatti Chiron Destroys McLaren 720S in Rolling Race

By Andrew Nabors – July 18, 2018

First McLaren Senna Delivery In Detail

Yesterday our friend Michael Fux received his new McLaren Senna. Magnus Walker took a nice video and several spectators uploaded it to their social media pages. And now we get to see the process from McLaren's point of view. In a press release this morning. Michael Fux Delivered First McLaren Senna All McLarens enter the US through Baltimore, and from there this green machine was given white glove treatment in its travel to NYC. The color was chosen by Mr. Fux and McLaren Special Operations appropriately named it Fux Green. The color was applied to the 67 pieces of visible carbon fiber, inside and out. Even the door struts and the rearview mirror were included. It took 1,000 hours to build, and the car has other subtle touches like green contrast stitching and white leather. The Senna is just as spectacular as his 720S, which has every panel finished in Fux Fuchsia. Except in terms of power. The Senna offers 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque with less weight and more downforce. The result is 0-60 in 2.7 seconds with 124 mph arriving in only 6.8. President of McLaren North America Tony Joseph said: “We’re pleased to be here to officially deliver the first McLaren Senna in the North American market,” said Tony Joseph, President, McLaren North America. “This is such a special car – designed and engineered to be the ultimate road-legal track car ever produced by McLaren. We know that owners can’t wait to get their cars on the circuit, and we’re eager for them to get behind the wheel.” If you would like to get on the waiting list, check out these great offers from our dealers and stay with us for all your McLaren updates. Browse McLaren 720S For Sale Cool Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 17, 2018

Michael Fux Delivered First McLaren Senna

On March 24, 2018, Michael Fux posted an image of his green McLaren P1 on his Instagram account. The description read: "I miss my @mclarenauto P1 but I got something real special coming." Well, it looks like we may know what he was talking about. Michael Fux's New McLaren 720S is a Gem https://www.instagram.com/p/BlVgNVvFtkR/ Magnus Walker, the Urban Outlaw, recently posted a video of a green McLaren Senna being driven into a private circle drive in the middle of New York, New York. When the car parked, the unmistakable Michael Fux appeared and gave the car a walkaround. Additionally, Hannah Elliott posted a photo on her Instagram story with a picture of the Senna and captioned it with: "First @mclaren Senna delivered now to Michael Fux at Bloomberg." And Fux has also uploaded a video of the car saying it's the "1st McLaren Senna delivered to US." https://www.instagram.com/p/BlVpWVEAA_1/ 2018 McLaren Senna Specs 0-62 mph: 2.8 seconds 0-124 mph: 6.8 seconds 1/4-mile: 9.9 seconds Top speed: 211 mph View All McLarens for Sale Worlds Coolest Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 28, 2018

Donated McLaren Sells Big for Elton John AIDS Foundation

The Argento Ball held for the Eltron John AIDS Foundation was recently held. This event not only raised money for a great cause but also celebrated the Silver Anniversary of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (25 years). Since its inception, the foundation has spread HIV awareness, support and care across 26 countries. In fact, the foundation notes that they've prevented around one million babies from being born with the HIV virus. That's quite the accomplishment that should be celebrated by all.A Talk With a Real-Life, Dream-Making Batman During the ball, celebrities including Graham Norton, Ed Sheeran and, of course, Elton John, were on hand. There was also a very high-power guest in attendance, a McLaren 570S Spider that was donated for the cause. After the bidding on the car was settled, an anonymous bidder put down £725,000 (~$947,000 USD) for the car. Every cent that was bid for this car will go directly to the foundation. Sure, that's way more than what the MSRP of the car is, but you can't put a price on helping save the lives of so many across the globe.https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkMQ25lNMb/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1bncydq77lf6v

By Edward Jones – June 14, 2018

Deadmau5 is Getting a McLaren Senna

Famous DJ and music producer Deadmau5 is going to add a new McLaren Senna supercar to his ever-growing car collection, according to his Instagram account. Deadmau5 is a huge fan of automobiles. In fact, we had a chance to talk to him about his P1 hypercar when he ordered it back in 2014. Since then, he's added a few vehicles to his collection, including a McLaren 650S, custom Jeep, BAC Mono, Tesla Model S, Lamborghini Huracan "Purracan" and 720S. He's definitely amassed a fine list of exotic cars, but he's just announced his latest procurement. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj--wL-nkYS/ During his trip to E3, Electronic Entertainment Expo, Deadmau5 managed to spend some time with the Senna. Why was the Senna at a video game expo? Because it's one of the two cover cars on the new "Forza Horizon 4" video game. Also, peep that PUBG hat. After getting a chance to sit in the car and take it all in, he posted a picture of the car saying: "Yep. I cannot wait to get mine." That statement definitely makes it look like he's already ordered his Senna and is just waiting on its delivery. Now, I'm just wondering what color he ordered his Senna in and if it's going to be wrapped in a fashion similar to the Purracan or Purrari. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj_aQYRHhh3/

By Edward Jones – January 09, 2018

Conor McGregor Shows Off His McLaren in Dublin

Conor McGregor has been out of the fighting scene since his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but he's definitely more than alive. The Notorious was recently spotted in the town of Dublin, Ireland driving his McLaren 650S. A couple of fans spotted him at a red light and gave him praise, while he laughed and returned the favor with a thumbs up. When the light turned green, however, Mystic Mac took off in his English supercar like a rocket. This McLaren is just one of the many cars that have been a part of McGregor's car collection and I'm sure we'll see many more in the coming years. Now I've got to ask the question: are we going to see Conor McGregor fight again? Only time will tell! https://www.instagram.com/p/B_i2PagpcD7/

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