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 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 Andrew Nabors – July 10, 2018

Ken Block's New Raptor Powered Boat

Everyone loves the Ford Raptor because it combines an economical V6 with twin turbos to make great 4WD power. But what happened to the 6.2L V8 from the first generation Raptors? Ford essentially scaled up their modular V8 to build the 6.2L Boss, and it is still an option for Super Duty trucks. While it won't fit in the Mustang, the boat industry has picked up on its durability.Ken Block Drifts Pikes Peak in 1,400 Horsepower MustangWhen he is not destroying tires in World Rally Cross, Ken Block enjoys wakeboarding. So he turned to Marine Products to build a custom Supra to his specifications. For power, Jack Roush strapped one of his patented RoushCharger on to a marinized 6.2L Raptor V8. Getting a wakeboarder up and keeping them there require massive torque, so this brutal inboard delivers 575 horsepower and 580 lb-ft to a custom designed propeller. It has closed loop cooling for long life and wideband O2 sensors for fuel efficiency. If you need Raptor power on land, click the link below and stay with us for all your Hoonigan updates.Browse Ford Raptor For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 02, 2018

Justin Bieber Has Lamborghini Aventador S Delivered

Justin Bieber has been changing lately and is starting to look more and more like his friend Post Malone-- just check out his 'stache and outfit. His music has been evolving, too. Even with his transformation, his love for cars remains and it shows with his recent delivery of a custom Lamborghini Aventador S.X17onlineVideo recently captured a truck dropping off the supercar during his stay at Montage Resort in Laguna Beach. This Lamborghini joins his collection that has included the likes of a Liberty Walk Ferrari 458, Bugatti Veyron and more.The Lamborghini Aventador S has a massive V12 engine that's capable of producing 740 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque. With this power, thanks to a multitude of engine enhancements, Bieber's new Aventador S can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 217 mph. Furthermore, its handling is better than the base Aventador due to the implementation of four-wheel steering.

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 27, 2018

Jon Olson Reveals Topless Mercedes G500 4x4²

The madman Jon Olsson received his Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² just about seven months ago. Shortly after that, he cut the roof off of it and planned on turning it into a one-of-a-kind topless G-Class. Now, he's finished his project and has revealed what the SUV looks like now and it doesn't disappoint.The revamped G-Wagon comes with a small front windshield and absolutely no roof. Seriously, sitting in this thing puts you directly out into the open. It's mental. So far, we only have these Instagram posts of the car but he's going to be dropping a vlog any moment now so stay tuned.https://www.instagram.com/p/BkiNlBFgwS8/https://www.instagram.com/jonolsson1/

By Edward Jones – June 27, 2018

Gordon Ramsay Takes Delivery of New Ferrari

Gordon Ramsay is a huge Ferrari fan, having purchased many different models from the famous Italian automaker. He's purchased an F12tdf, California T, and even a LaFerrari. Now, he's added yet another Ferrari to his collection, a gorgeous 812 Superfast.Ramsay has always spec'd out his own cars, but for his most recent purchase, he had H.R. Owen configure his new supercar. The result is what Ramsay calls a "stealth bomber" Ferrari 812 Superfast.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkf7UtSHyeC/?taken-by=hrowenferrariThe exterior of Ramsay's new 812 Superfast has a dark green finish that's accentuated by a black stripe that runs up the center of the car. I've never seen an 812 Superfast look like this just yet, but I'm sure glad it exists.https://www.instagram.com/p/BkhzOInHeCa/?taken-by=hrowenferrariGood on you, H.R. Owen, for creating such a marvelous looking Ferrari. Also, thanks are in order for Ramsay for being a Ferrari fan and making this possible.

By Edward Jones – June 26, 2018

Kevin Hart Gets Ferrari 488 Spider for Birthday

Kevin Hart's birthday is on July 6. On that day he'll turn 39-years-old, making it his last year in his thirties. To celebrate the occasion, he's decided to gift himself a new Ferrari 488 Spider. A pic of Hart resting against his new Italian supercar was posted on his Instagram account. He notes in the post description that thanks were due for getting his birthday present to him on time. This new supercar joins his other recent purchase, a resto-mod Bronco. Ferrari has said that the 488 Spider is the “most aerodynamically-efficient Ferrari Spider ever built.” This was made possible through several new devices, including a blown spoiler and an underbody featuring vortex generators. It comes packing a turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine that produces 660 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque. Kevin Hart Has a Crazy Car Collection https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdYkmMA0Qs/?taken-by=kevinhart4real

By Edward Jones – June 25, 2018

Kurt Busch Shows Off His Ford GT

When Kurt Busch isn't racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, he seems to be spending time driving more cars. He recently uploaded some shots of his new Ford GT that had been wrapped and ready for the goldRushRally GRX event onto his Instagram account.His GT is covered in a black and green wrap that highlights one of his main NASCAR sponsors, Monster Energy. It's a pretty mean looking GT that blends rally and NASCAR styling.View 2018 Ford GT Specs As for his car of choice, it makes sense when you consider Ford is one of his sponsors. The GT itself is powered by an Ecoboost 3.5-liter 6 engine that produces 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. That's a solid amount from a six-cylinder engine, and I'm sure Busch will use all of that power during the rally.Ford GTs for Sale

By Edward Jones – June 20, 2018

John Cena Settles Ford GT Lawsuit

In December 2017 we covered Ford suing John Cena over the resale of his new Ford GT. The American automaker said that this sale was unauthorized and went against the original contract signed when purchasing the car. Cena then rebutted saying he did nothing wrong.Now, thanks to a statement from Cena's law firm sent to Jalopnik, the case seems to have been settled out of court. According to this statement, the resale restriction put in place was indeed part of the contract. The restriction says all original owners need to keep their GT for 24 months before reselling the vehicle. Cena recognizes this in the statement and apologizes to Ford and says others should respect the contract.Ford GTs for SaleThe resolution of the settlement is actually a pretty good one, with the proceeds from the settlement being donated to charity. However, the amount of money handed over in the settlement was undisclosed.View Ford GT Specs and Review Here

By Edward Jones – June 19, 2018

Nick Mason's LaFerrari Makes an Appearance

The drummer of Pink Floyd, Nick Mason, not only likes banging drums on stage but also banging through gears in cars. For decades, Mason has been a true automotive enthusiast. His passion for cars has led to racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and collecting some of the world's rarest cars.In his collection are some wild cars, including a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, McLaren F1 GTR, Bugatti Type 35 and a very unique LaFerrari. Recently, Mason's LaFerrari was spotted on the streets of Central London by YouTube Channel "TheTFJJ."His LaFerrari is finished in Blu Pozzi, a dark blue paint that holds historic significance. Ferrari is said to have created this color in order to honor Charles Pozzi, a French racing driver and famous Ferrari importer. Pozzi used to race his cars in a dark blue paint, similar to what you see on this LaFerrari.

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