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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 – June 16, 2017

McLaren Philadelphia Puts on Spectacular 720S Unveiling E...

Article and Photos by Tanner Mashburn (TMashPhotos): McLaren Philadelphia hosted guests to preview the all-new McLaren 720S on the rooftop of the Cira Green Park near downtown Philadelphia. Before viewing the new car, guests were treated to live music and a great selection of food and drinks. The cover came off and everyone in attendance fell in love with the car at first site. The rest of the evening guests toured the car and were able to sit inside and get a close look at all of the different features. The car was even started up and revved several times so everyone could hear how the 720S sounded. Overall McLaren Philadelphia put on a fantastic event and I am sure it will result in several orders of the new 720S.

By Edward Jones – June 14, 2017

Baby Blue Lamborghini Centenario Delivered

Up until now, we've covered three different Lamborghini Centenarios being delivered in the United States. Now we get the honor to discuss a fourth Centenario delivery. Lamborghini North Los Angeles had the pleasure of delivering a Blue Cepheus Centenario (#4) recently. The customer who gets to call their hypercar their own is a partner of Maui Built Hawaii. Used Lamborghini For Sale Another interesting tidbit from the delivery is that the owner was given a set of Centenario chocolates. The question is: would you eat them or save them? They're almost too pretty to eat. Below are some extra videos from the delivery, so be sure to check them out! We want to congratulate the owner on his new acquisition. https://www.facebook.com/LamborghiniNLA/videos/1562265557125444/ https://www.facebook.com/LamborghiniNLA/videos/1563109360374397/

By Edward Jones – June 08, 2017

Maserati MC12 Versione Corsa Arrives at Prestige Imports ...

Prestige Imports in Miami, Florida has just taken delivery of a one-of-a-kind Maserati MC12 Versione Corsa, built by Edo Competition. This rare car is based around a 2005 Maserati MC12 that Edo Competition modified for a customer in Canada. It comes with a custom Corsa widebody, custom forged center-lock wheel, carbon wing, carbon diffuser, custom Alcantara interior package and a whole lot more.Powering the MC12 Versione Corsa is a 6.0-liter V12 engine that has been heavily modified. Edo Competition installed custom forged pistons, custom camshafts, a list of titanium components, adjustable two-stage exhaust and more. When all of these pieces work together in unison, the car created 840 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. That's a massive increase over the original's 623 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.https://www.instagram.com/p/BVFwptkgqh7/?taken-by=prestigeimportsWhat you're looking at in the pictures included in this article is a one-off Maserati that rockets 0-62 mph in just 3.2 seconds and can run to 124 mph in 9 seconds. It's a piece of automotive art that will be the star of any car show it attends.https://www.instagram.com/p/BVFrlFCghA9/?taken-by=prestigeimportshttps://www.instagram.com/p/BVFsTQLAPkC/?taken-by=prestigeimports

By Edward Jones – May 30, 2017

Yellow Lamborghini Centenario Delivered in California

Alright, world, here is the United States' third Lamborghini Centenario to be delivered. Yes, it seems as though the wave of Centenario deliveries is in full-effect as Lamborghini Beverly Hills delivers a stunning yellow example of the Italian hypercar. Photos of the delivery were taken by our friend Grubbs Photography, who was there for the entirety of the delivery.Also Check Out - Red and Black Lamborghini Centenario Delivered in New JerseyEach new Lamborghini Centenario comes with the naturally aspirated V12 engine producing 770 hp, with Lamborghini stating its the most powerful engine they’ve ever produced. It can run the 3,351 lbs car from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds and 0-186 mph in 23.5 seconds, with a top speed of over 217 mph. Aiding in the quick acceleration is the permanent four-wheel drive, which includes the new Lamborghini rear-wheel steering system.Lamborghini Centenario Delivery

By Edward Jones – May 22, 2017

Official Video of United States' First Lamborghini Centen...

The United States' first Lamborghini Centenario was recently delivered, and it seems as though every automotive enthusiast in the nation took notice. The hypercar was delivered at Lamborghini Newport Beach, who put together a momentous reception for when the own came to pick up his car. Personalized bottles of Dom Perignon, luggage, and more were included in the extravagant swag that was given to the new owner.After the reception, the owner pulled his new Centenario out of the showroom and between two rows of different Lamborghinis models that seemed to be honoring the hypercar. Granted, that would be fitting, considering that the car was created to honor Ferruccio Lamborghini's 100th birthday. We want to take this time to congratulate the new owner on his car/ We also want to applaud Lamborghini Newport Beach on their fantastic delivery reception and their stunning video of the entire event, which can be found below.

By Edward Jones – May 16, 2017

Lamborghini Newport Beach "Bull Charge" Takes Over Orange...

Lamborghini Newport Beach hosts “Bull Charge” morning cruise for clients on May 7th, 2017. The dealership invited its most recent clients on a spirited drive through Orange County canyons that eventually ended at the Pelican Hill Resort where clients were able to regather and discuss the fun drive over brunch. The wet weather was no match for the thunder of Italian V10 and V12 powered bulls. The gloomy overcast day provided a dark movie-like atmosphere which made the bright colored Lamborghini stand out even more. With over 25 cars in attendance, clients that were existing clients and clients that were new to the brand were shown what being a part of the Lamborghini Newport Beach family is all about.

By Edward Jones – May 16, 2017

Supercar Vending Machine Opens Up - Serves Up Ferraris, L...

In our break room, we have vending machines where we can buy snacks, drinks and such. This kind of machine is commonplace in the world. Heck, in Japan they have vending machines all over the place that vend all sorts of things. In Singapore, however, Autobahn Motors has opened a real-life supercar vending machine.The 15-story building displays up to 60 cars that include new and used Lamborghinis, Ferraris, McLarens, Porsches and more. The reason that the dealership went with the vending machine is because it allows them to display a lot of cars in a small amount of space in the city. "We needed to meet our requirement of storing a lot of cars. At the same time, we wanted to be creative and innovative," said Gary Hong, general manager at Autobahn Motor, in an interview with Reuters.How does this tower actually work? Customers use a touchscreen display on the ground-floor in order to see all of the cars being offered. From there, they select a car and have it delivered right in front of them in about two minutes after payment.

By Edward Jones – April 25, 2017

How the United States' First Customer Pagani Huayra BC wa...

Recently delivered to Pagani Miami was the United States' first Pagani Huayra BC. This Huayra is not like any supercar that Pagani has created before. In fact, the Italian automaker has called this car their Most technologically advanced one yet."Providing power to this new supercar is a twin-turbo V12 engine that has been exclusively developed for Pagani by Mercedes-AMG. This allows the driver to have 750 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque on tap at any given moment.In order to deliver this Huayra, it was put on a pallet, in a box and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean. Upon arrival, Brett David (CEO of Pagani Miami, Lamborghini Miami, and Prestige Imports), Emil Garcia and more showed up to unwrap it and take it back to the dealership.Once parked on the showroom floor of Pagani Miami, the dealership threw a party for the new owner of the car in order to celebrate its delivery.We want to take this time to congratulate the new owner, and thank Emil Garcia for the amazing images and video provided in this article.

By Edward Jones – April 19, 2017

duPont REGISTRY Live with Prestige Imports

We recently visited Prestige Imports in North Miami Beach, Florida for a tour of their showroom, and a look at their new showroom that's currently under development. The CEO of the dealership, Brett David, took us around and showed us some of the incredible cars they have to offer customers. This includes supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador SV, Pagani Huayra, Porsche Carrera GT and so much more. At the end of the video, Brett took us to the location of the new Prestige Imports showroom. It's in this new 19,000 sq. ft. building that they'll be selling supercars, hypercars, luxury cars, luxury boats, speed boats and much more. They'll even have a room that's dedicated to photo shoots of the cars.https://www.facebook.com/dupontregistryautos/videos/10155240360858256/Below are some highlights from the Live video found below. Lamborghini Aventador SV Revs - 1:30 Pagani Huayra Overview and Startup - 4:30 Lamborghini Aventador SV POV Drive - 11:00 New Prestige Imports Showroom Tour - 17:30 View Inventory

By Edward Jones – March 24, 2017

Lamborghini Aventador S at Lamborghini Newport Beach

The new Lamborghini Aventador S is the Italian automaker's refresh for their flagship supercar car. Lamborghini has given the car's V12 engine a boost of power, bringing it up to 740 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque. A top speed of 217 mph is capable with this power, but the Aventador S is more than just a fast car in a straight line.The Lamborghini Aventador S is the first production car from the manufacturer that has rear wheel steering. With this addition, the Aventador S will now be more nimble around the corner than ever before. Have you ever wanted to fly around the track in sharp Italian style and 740 hp? This is now your best chance.Our friends at Lamborghini Newport Beach recently had a vibrant example of the Aventador S on their showroom floor and have gifted us some incredible pictures of the car. These images can be found in this article.Interested in owning a Lamborghini Aventador S of your own? Be sure to contact Lamborghini Newport Beach to order one today.Learn More

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