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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 Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 08, 2016

Antonio Brown Sports Rolls-Royce Ghost Wrapped in Gold

If you were in and around the San Francisco area during Super Bowl 50, you might have noticed a less-than-conspicuous Rolls-Royce Ghost wrapped in gold traipsing through the streets. As it turns out, the luxury car brand created this custom wrap for Antonio Brown, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown is known for his affinity for the Rolls-Royce brand, as seen last year when he attended training camp in Steelers-inspired Rolls-Royce Phantom.The semi-gloss matte gold wrap includes the receiver's well-known catch phrase, "Business is Boomin" painted across the doors and the football player's number and initials are inked on the front fenders. On his Instagram, Brown posted a photo of him sitting on top of the Ghost seemingly in prayer. What do you think of this wrap job? Tacky or in good taste? Let us know in the comments below.Rolls-Royce Ghosts For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BBeEjJ7qfli/ SourceRelated Video

By Edward Jones – February 04, 2016

Matt LeBlanc New Top Gear Co-Host

This morning, Top Gear announced on it's website that its newest host will be none other than Matt LeBlanc. You may know him from his role as "Joey" on the hit show "Friends", but I know him as the fastest Star in a Reasonably Priced Car (this record lap of 1'42.1" was done in a hot Kia cee'd - seen below). He's also driven The Stig in a McLaren 12C (seen below) and was the star of the "Top Gear: The Races" spin-off.“As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter,” said LeBlanc in Top Gear's article unveiling the new host. “What a thrill!”Chris Evans, the host that LeBlanc will be joining, said: “Matt’s a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I’m thrilled he’s joining Top Gear. Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we’ll both be debating some epic road trip ideas."To keep us even more excited, the article states that they'll be announcing more Top Gear cast members shortly. Who will it be? Could we still have hope for Chris Evans or Sabine Schmitz? And what do you think about LeBlanc being a host? Let us know in the comments below.Exotic Cars For Sale His Fastest Lap LeBlanc Drives The Stig in a McLaren 12C

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 02, 2016

Pink Floyd's Nick Mason Gives Inside Look at his LaFerrari

Nick Mason, 72-year-old drummer of British band Pink Floyd, showed off his LaFerrari for the team at Goodwood Road & Racing. Though most well-known for his musical skills and chart-topping hits with Pink Floyd, Mason is also an avid car collector and racing driver.In the video, Mason begins by telling the view just how difficult it is to obtain a LaFerrari, stating that one essentially must be invited by Ferrari to purchase one. (We're thinking being the drummer of one of the most iconic bands in history might have done the trick). Mason then details the electric and petrol engines and how much power is received from the electric engine. He also gives insight into the launch control feature, which gives the driver more precise control based on weather and road conditions. The driver that hops in the front seat is none other than Emanuele Pirro, and Italian racer famed as a five-time winner in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.What's interesting about the drummer's LaFerrari is the license plate, which is labeled "F150 OK". Ferrari fans are probably aware that "F150" has multiple meanings for the company. What do you think it means? Check out the video and then let us know in the comments below.Ferrari Laferrari For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – November 06, 2015

Gordon Ramsay on Ferrari: Many Similarities Between Fine ...

Gordon Ramsay is an unabashed fan of Ferrari, clearly demonstrated by his ownership of their flagship supercar, the Ferrari LaFerrari.The celebrity chef recently took a trip to Maranello to visit the marque's headquarters, and while there drew quite a few similarities between his passion for fine foods and the incredible cars produced by Ferrari. As a Nov. 5 press release shared, he focused first on the fact that both he and Ferrari "focus on continual innovation or 'being the market leader, becoming creative and not sitting down on your laurels'."Ramsay was recently spotted in London taking his LaFerrari out for a drive, and a video of him testing out the new 488 GTB was shared by Ferrari on Oct. 16. But in his latest show of love for the prancing horse, he's posing with a stunning blue California T.As for the other ways Ramsay sees himself and Ferrari as being similar, he sees versatility in both parties, as well as "the ability to see what no one else can see and to deliver excellence."See the photos of his trip and video of his 488 GTB test drive below, then find your own Ferrari for your collection from our exclusive listings.Ferraris For Sale Gallery (via Ferrari, YouTube) See More Ferrari News

By Edward Jones – November 06, 2015

Willian and "Driverless" Drifting BMW M3 from Need for Speed

Willian Borges da Silva, known simply as Willian, has been a star of the Chelsea Football Club, especially after his stunning free kick against Dynamo Kyiv. Now, he's taking his skills to the road with the team at Yiannimize, an English automotive aftermarket shop.After the new "Need for Speed" video was released Nov. 3, people have been customizing their virtual cars and racing against competitors across the world. Instead of customizing their car virtually, Willian and Yannimize chose to take a car straight from the video game and create a real-life version of it.The car is a BMW M3 that has been heavily customized, even where you can't see. The exterior is very similar to an M3 featured in "Need for Speed," complete with a massive rear wing.A neat addition that they made for the car is that you can drive it with a controller. In the video included, uploaded to YouTube Nov. 5, you can see Willian drifting the car with just a Playstation 4 controller.Okay, not really, but there is a driver in the back seat, with a separator between him and the front seats. This illusion makes it look like there isn't a driver in the car. And, I must say, Willian does a good job at playing the part of remote remote-control driver.Think you could drive a car from its rear seat? Let us know in the comments below! But don't try it at home. (via YouTube) More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – November 04, 2015

Acura Restores Ludacris' 1993 Legend to Former Glory

Ludacris might be a famous celebrity, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still drive his old 1993 Acura Legend. The reason why this car is so special is because, as he said in a video uploaded by Acura to YouTube on Nov. 3, "this was my first car where I really felt like I had accomplished something in life." Ludacris LegendAs a car that's been on the road for over two decades, accidents happen; the car was damaged when it had 283,000 miles clocked. This is when Acura stepped in and restored the 1993 "Ludacris Legend" to its former glory."Besides being a really cool project for our team, this is a great way to express Acura's passion for performance," said Acura global creative director Dave Marek in a Nov. 3 press release. "Acura has incredibly loyal customers, and this has been a unique opportunity to celebrate their passion and affinity for Acura, and that same love for the brand that Ludacris has showed over the past dozen years."Acura was hard at work for two months restoring the car, updating it with 18-inch Rays wheels, new Bridgestone Potenza High-Performance 215/40R/18 tires, a custom Warm Cashmere and Ice Pearl paint theme, a Pioneer ACIC 8/ONEX sound system, two Alpine Type-12 subwoofers in the trunk and more. Acura also dropped the Legend by two inches to show how low the Legend can go.Talking about his reaction to his Legend restored, Ludacris said, "Seeing the car that has been such a big part of my life brought back to beyond its original condition was a real gift."You can see the car for yourself at SEMA 2015, running from November 3-6.(via Acura) More Acura News

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2015

Floyd Mayweather's Ferrari Enzo to be Auctioned

Floyd Mayweather has been hitting the headlines recently thanks to his multiple multi-million dollar automotive acquirements, including his $3.5 million Bugatti Veyron. Now, his name is in the headlines because of his Ferrari Enzo, which will be auctioned at the RM Sotheby's New York - Driven By Disruption auction Dec. 10.This specific Italian supercar is chassis number 135440 and was the 295th example of the Enzo built. It was purchased by the famous boxer just last year and has only gained an additional 200 miles on its odometer, giving it a total of 560 miles from new. With such a low amount of road use, this is what RM Sotheby's calls in the vehicle's description, "one of the lowest-mileage Enzos known."To keep the car in tip-top shape, it was given its 5,000 miles service this year, where its fluids, oil and air filters were all changed. It comes with service invoices from Ferrari of Beverly Hills, the original seat covers, steering wheel cover, car cover, bags, owner's manuals and tool kit.RM Sotheby's hasn't given an exact estimate yet, but they did happen to auction off the last Enzo ever created for $6,050,000 during their Monterey event. And, we currently have an Enzo listed for $3.85 million by Ferrari Maserati of Newport Beach.Stay with us for more information on this auction as we draw closer to its date.Gallery (via RM Sotheby's) More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 03, 2015

Don Draper's 1965 Cadillac Coupe deVille Up for Auction

How do you know that you've made it in the advertising business?According to Roger Sterling, played by John Slattery, and Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm, you know when you can afford yourself a brand new Cadillac. The premise of episode seven, "The Gold Violin," during the second season of "Mad Men" was that Don has finally arrived at the level of partner, and it's time for him to act the part.He had the beautiful wife, darling children, a stunning home in the suburbs outside of New York City, and now, Roger tells him, it's time to buy that 1965 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Stunning blue with a white top, it's the perfect symbol of his success, and now it can be a symbol of yours.From now until August 6, you can place your bid on Screenbid.com to own the very Cadillac that Hamm's character purchased in the show. There are currently 55 bids placed, with the current bid sitting at $25,250. A certificate of authenticity will be provided by Lions Gate Entertainment upon purchase, guaranteeing this will forever be a collector's car.(See Also: Clarkson and Top Gear Team Sign with Amazon for Show)There's still time for the price to be driven up quite a bit, so keep an eye on this auction and place your bid before it's too late. Or, find your own Cadillac, perhaps one a few decades newer, from our exclusive listings below.Cadillacs For Sale (Source: Screenbid via Autoweek) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – July 30, 2015

Clarkson and Top Gear Team Sign With Amazon for Show

Update 7/31/15: According to an article published by Mirror.co.uk today, Amazon paid £160 million (approx. $250 million USD) for the Top Gear trio.It's an announcement the enthusiast community worldwide has been waiting for anxiously since the BBC cut ties with Jeremy Clarkson, and today it came: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are returning to host another show for petrolheads.The story first broke in The London Evening Standard and social media feeds this morning, as well as on Amazon Prime's website. After Amazon Instant Video shared a Tweet at 5:53 EST this morning, Clarkson was the next to hit Twitter with the announcement, then May, then Hammond. A post to the Amazon Instant Video UK's Facebook page told viewers, "Get your engines revving. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May are back on the track in 2016! #OnlyOnAmazonPrime #Drive2Prime." I'm very excited to announce that Hammond, May and I have signed a deal with .@AmazonVideo — Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 30, 2015 Set to begin production imminently and begin airing in 2016, the show will be exclusively available to Amazon Prime customers, and promises to give full creative control to the team and their long time producer Andy Wilman. I've got a job I've got a job I've got a job. Haircut, clean jeans and practice driving again. Forrrrwaaaaaaaard!! — Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) July 30, 2015 "As well as the substantial financial rewards on offer, the three are said to have been attracted by a pledge by Amazon to give them a free creative rein to make the shows they want," describes the Evening Standard's article announcing their return. While undoubtedly bound to create some amazing shows, that level of freedom could make for some more controversial statements from Clarkson. Good news! I've got a job with @AmazonVideoUK. Bad news! So have the other two. #AmazonPrime #ItSaysHere — James May (@MrJamesMay) July 30, 2015 On June 16, it was announced that radio host Chris Evans would be taking over the original BBC show after Clarkson's dismissal following a "fracas" with a producer. As an April 7 BBC article covered, the producer, Oisin Tymon, suffered a split lip after Clarkson returned from a day of filming and was reportedly upset that no hot food was available. Via Amazon Instant Video UK's Facebook pageWith two new versions of Top Gear emerging in 2016, it will be interesting to see which manages to capture more viewers - the old TV format with a new host, or the old TV hosts with a new digital format.Stay with us for more news as it is released.(Source: The London Evening Standard, Facebook, Twitter, BBC News) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – May 14, 2015

Tyler, The Creator Visits McLaren Automotive Headquarters

If there's anything you can say about recording artist Tyler, The Creator, it's that he is a unique individual, and we mean that in the truest definition of the word. There, quite literally, is not another artist in today's popular music scene quite like him.The same can be said about McLaren Automotive. But that's not where the similarities between the two end. Both got their commercial start in 2011; McLaren Automotive began production that year, and Tyler signed his contract with Sony Music Entertainment. Each creates something powerful, and each pushes to be at the forefront of their industry.So, it doesn't come as a surprise that Tyler would wind up at McLaren's headquarters at one point or another. @mclarenauto THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR TODAY. F1 OH MAN A photo posted by Tylers Auntie (@feliciathegoat) on May 14, 2015 at 1:01pm PDT He posted two photos to his Instagram profile today showing us a few sneak peeks at what he saw, and McLaren responded to his visit on their own Instagram profile. After reposting the photo above, they added their own contribution to the caption."@feliciathegoat visited us today. A real petrol head and #McLaren guy. Thanks for stopping by Tyler," read their description.(See Also: Bentley & Idris Elba Break Historic "Flying Mile" Record)This could very well mean that he'll be joining the ranks of other renowned modern musicians by becoming a McLaren owner, such as Deadmau5 and his Meowclaren P1. Which new McLaren do you think Tyler should include in his collection? Let us know in the comments!Check out the video below from CNNMoney and read our May 6 article to catch a glimpse of the headquarters Tyler took a trip to, then take a look through our exclusive McLaren listings to find the perfect one for your collection.View All McLaren Listings (Source: Instagram) See More Celebrity Car News

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