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 – June 26, 2023

DJ Khaled Takes His Mercedes-Maybach Virgil Abloh Edition...

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From world-renowned musicians to some of our favorite YouTubers, the list of Virgil Abloh Mercedes-Maybach S680 owners grow.

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By Jordan Aquistapace – March 29, 2022

Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Enjoy A Couples Drive In Their ...

The celebrity couple that also enjoy high-performance supercars. With exclusive supercars and hypercars in high demand, the lengthy lists of qualified owners include prominent collectors, celebrities, and other influential individuals. Sharing a passion for anything automotive, the true beauty lies on the open road with the enjoyment of a one-of-a-kind driving experience. In a recent Instagram post uploaded to Alicia Keys' profile, the American singer-songwriter enjoys a highway cruise in her Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series Project One. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series Project One Edition features a head-turning Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 livery that showcases the track-inspired design of the supercar. MUST-READ: Leh Keen’s New 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 In Paint-to-Sample Gold Bronze Metallic The video is taken during a couples drive with her husband and American record producer/rapper Swiss Beatz, who is behind the wheel of his 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Swizz Beats comments on the post that the keys to the Black Series are Alicia’s, even teasing her possible upcoming delivery of the highly-anticipated Mercedes-AMG Project One. Needless to say, we are excited to see more car cameos from the growing garage of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. View all of the current Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming celebrity car news. View All Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) Source: @aliciakeys IG

By Edward Jones – September 02, 2021

will.i.am Reveals the New 831 HP Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E P...

Introducing Mercedes-AMG's most powerful vehicle to date. Out of nowhere, will.i.am has introduced the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance to the world and it's a new hybrid model that's honestly shocked us all. This new AMG sedan is powered by a hybrid powertrain that is out of this world. Consisting of a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine and an electric motor, the entire powertrain's output is a whopping 831 horsepower and 1,033 lb-ft of torque. Those figures make the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance the most powerful production car from Affalterbach. Mercedes-AMG notes that the sedan can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 196 mph. As mentioned before, will.i.am was the one behind the unveiling of the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance and there's a reason behind it. Going forward, will.i.am will be Mercedes-AMG's brand ambassador for all electrified models or their "Future of Driving Performance" vehicles. So, be sure to keep an eye out for him because every time he appears with a Mercedes, it will be with an exciting electrified one. It should be mentioned that the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance that was unveiled was for Europe only and a model adapted for the U.S. market will be announced in the future. See All Mercedes-AMG GT 63 For Sale Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Andrew Nabors – March 24, 2021

will.i.am is Driven by Dreams in AMG Uncovered

It's a long way to the top in the entertainment industry, and the story of William Adams involves amazing cars along the way. This is the premiere of a new series by Mercedes-AMG where they will look at the dynamic personalities of their customers. As a founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, he could certainly afford to drive anything. But aside from his AMG GT, he has built several wild customs. Perhaps my most favorite so far has been a 2016 Tesla Model S Widebody, and you can see many of the others on his social media accounts. Tell us your favorite part of his collection in the comments and stay with us for all your celebrity car news. Shop Mercedes-Benz Image (C) Daimler A.G.

By Edward Jones – January 14, 2021

Zion Williamson's New Mercedes-AMG G 63

Zion Williamson is celebrating his spot as the New Orleans Pelicans star with a new ride. Mercedes-Benz's Instagram posted a photo of Zion with his new 2021 Mercedes-AMG G 63 while sporting a pair of Jordan 11 Retros (Concords?). This mighty SUV packs a powerful punch of 577 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power for a 0 to 60 mph time of just 4.5 seconds, which is quite the feat for an SUV. As for his specific example, it looks like it's finished in Polar White with the 21-inch AMG twin 5-spoke wheels in matte black and a black interior. All-in-all, it's a fantastic two-tone spec. Dwayne Wade also got a Mercedes, but his is a bit more classic. See G 63s For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ-CU_qIGsJ/ Source: @mercedesbenz/Instagram

By Edward Jones – January 13, 2021

Dwayne Wade's New Classic Mercedes

Birthdays are a time for celebrating and nobody is celebrating better than Dwayne Wade on his 39th birthday. Gabrielle Union-Wade surprised Dwayne with an absolutely beautiful 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL. To say he was surprised with the gift is an understatement and you can see his excitement in the video he posted on Instagram down below. Gabrielle also posted an album of the entire family together with the new gift and that can also be found down as well. As for the car itself, the 1988 560SL is powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine that produces 227 horsepower. That may not be a lot of power, but this car is all about a luxurious cruise as opposed to quick launches off of a line. I can easily say that a car like this would be a dream to take a Sunday drive in with the top down. If this car is to your liking, be sure to check out all of the Mercedes-Benz 560SLs for sale. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4kWuMnB4D/?igshid=1sni8amsj0g7h https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6-EJypBTr/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4lHahHTVp/?igshid=uusc3vdgxpyz Source: @dwaynewade/Instagram

By Andrew Nabors – January 06, 2021

Roger Federer Finds Relief In His 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

One of the perks of being the greatest Tennis Player of all time is being a Brand Ambassador. In a quick glimpse into his daily routine, we see that Roger Federer finds relief in his 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. If you thought it was impossible, the brand that invented the car has reinvented the notion of luxury. 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Price & Specs It is an order of magnitude stronger, more relaxing, and more insulated to the world outside. A new 429-horsepower straight-six is thrifty thanks to hybrid assistance, and the rear wheels have 10 degrees of steering to cut the turning radius in half. Click the button to find one of your own and stay with us for all your S-Class updates. Browse Mercedes-Benz S-Class For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – September 02, 2020

Lewis Hamilton and Alicia Keys Team Up for 2021 Mercedes-...

Now that the new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been unveiled in full, it's time for the German automaker to start pushing it out into the world. To do this, they're starting with the new ‘Cares for what matters’ campaign. Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for Marketing and Sale, described the campaign thusly: "The ‘Cares for what matters’ campaign goes to the heart of what truly matters in life. And that’s the people around us - who should always be safe and for whom we would like to have more time. In the new S-Class, we offer our customers the perfect place for that. It creates a safe space of contemporary luxury that can be enjoyed with all the senses, and where we are free to focus on the important things in life. That is ourdefinition of the new S-Class." In this campaign, Alicia Keys an Lewis Hamilton will be playing important roles. Their active participation and excellence in social activism made them perfect for this campaign. You will be able to see them in the 360-degree 'Cares for what matter' campaign starting in December 2020 on social media, online, and in print publications. There will also be TV ads and even more celebrity appearances. See All S-Class for Sale

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