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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 – April 14, 2020

Bala Blue & Passion Pink Rolls-Royce Cullinans at O'Gara ...

Rolls-Royce Beverly Hills, part of the O'Gara Coach family, has two very special ultra-luxury SUVs up for sale. Both of these vehicles are Rolls-Royce Cullinans, but they come in two very different colors. One is finished in Bala Blue while the other is in Passion Pink. Both examples are striking in their own right and were featured in an Instagram Live video by O'Gara Coach. Check them out in the video up above and be sure to follow O'Gara Coach on Instagram for more incredible live videos. Passion Pink Cullinan This Cullinan comes in a fantastic Passion Pink finish with a Seashell interior. The color combination of the pink and light-tan interior is absolutely perfect. Just imagine how lovely it would look by the beach. It's a brand-new example that's looking for the right owner. View Listing Bala Blue Cullinan The other Cullinan that O'Gara Coach featured was the example in Bala Blue. Inside is a Navy Blue and Charles Blue interior with contrasting wood trim. If you're a fan of the color blue, then this is the perfect luxury SUV for you. Be sure to click the button below to learn more. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – February 06, 2020

2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Arrives in L.A.

To celebrate the newest addition to the Black Badge series, the esteemed English Automaker commissioned a unique photoshoot. Photographer Mark Riccioni wanted to juxtapose the new SUV against a backdrop of SoCal Car Culture. Captured on a perfect winter evening, he shot the new 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge arriving in L.A. To give him the proper equipment, the House of Rolls-Royce included a bespoke set of tools. Known internally as "Urban Photography", a recreation module was built into the cargo area. Trimmed in Forge Yellow, it contains a DJI Mavic Mini drone, 12.9" iPad Pro, 16" MacBook Pro, and Sennheiser PXC550 MkII noise-canceling headphones. It will be on display throughout March at Rolls-Royce Beverly Hills, so click the button below to browse their latest pre-owned trade-ins for a great deal. Browse Pre-Owned Models at Rolls-Royce Beverly Hills " width="680"> Related: Rolls-Royce Cullinan Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – October 07, 2019

Braman Miami Delivers Bespoke Rolls-Royce Cullinan to Mic...

This year at The Quail, A Motorsports Gather, Michael Fux's new Rolls-Royce Cullinan was unveiled. If you're familiar with Fux and his cars, you know that it's common for him to order bespoke vehicles with bespoke colors. While the car was over in California, it's been brought to the East Coast as Braman Rolls-Royce Miami finally delivered the car to Fux. The car was presented on the showroom floor as guests looked on with amazement as the sheet was pulled back on the luxury SUV. Fux's inspiration for this color came from a women's scarf he found while shopping in South Florida. He then sent this scarf to Rolls-Royce who created a paint that matched the color of the scarf perfectly. If you want to learn more about Michael Fux's Rolls-Royce Cullinan, click here. view braman miami's inventory https://www.instagram.com/p/B3VBIX2gOAW

By Edward Jones – April 09, 2019

Rolls-Royce Cullinan Powers Through the Snow of Sun Valley

Rolls-Royces are not known to go off-road. Well, we can't recall many Rolls-Royces going out for adventure before the Cullinan was revealed. Now that there is an SUV in the English luxury automaker's lineup, all of that has changed. Our friends at Rolls-Royce of Beverly Hills recently took a Cullinan out for a trip, taking it across terrain that all the other Rolls-Royce models would not dare cross. Check out the full story and beautiful images below! Article and Photos by Robert Grubbs of O'Gara Coach Sun Valley, Idaho, made famous by the Iconic American author, is home to some of the most beautiful and rugged landscape in the country. Famous for not only its residents past and present, but for its world-class skiing. Rolls-Royce Beverly Hills recently took over the quiet mountain town with a pair of the most luxurious and capable SUV’s ever created: The Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The purpose of our journey was to sponsor the Janss Pro-Am Ski competition with help from Rolls-Royce North America. The fun weekend of competition raises money for over 700 kids who participate in the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Our presence gave locals and visitors alike the ability to drive the Cullinan in locations they would never think possible for a brand like Rolls-Royce. It also gave our photographer the chance to capture content not normally available in Southern California. Below are the highlights of our beautiful journey. Sun Valley, specifically the Lodge, is a well-known residence for celebrities during the peak winter months. For this reason, the locals have seen their fair share of luxury cars, including Rolls-Royces. This vehicle, however, seemed to have quite the effect on the town. During our adventures shooting the Cullinan in and around downtown, every pedestrian and passerby gave the off-road Luxury Vehicle a long stare. For our first two days, we wanted to photograph the Cullinan in a more lifestyle and luxury setting. To help with this we partnered with local Luxury Real Estate professionals, Katherine Rixon and Rob Cronin. The first home felt like a modern mountain hideaway. The stone and rusted accents played as a perfect Backdrop for the Jubilee Silver high bodied vehicle. Once the rain and subsequent snow started it was time to call it a night and get an early start the next morning. For day two, we would focus on the gorgeous Emerald Green Cullinan. For that, we decided to utilize one of the largest estates in all of Sun Valley. Off Greenhorn Road sits a truly unique yet classic estate. Designed to resemble something out of the Old West, this beautiful home gave the Dark Green vehicle the elegant look we were looking for. At over 19,000 square feet, there was no shortage of incredible angles to shoot the car from. We were even lucky enough for the sun to come out as the morning shoot wrapped. That afternoon we decided to bring a bit of Beverly Hills Style and Panache to the snow, and do a lifestyle shoot with our very own Events Director, Nacole Gray. Day three consisted of a late afternoon field trip to the famed Silver Spring Ranch. The picturesque land thirty miles south of Sun Valley where Hemingway was known to hunt, gave us the perfect opportunity to take the capable vehicle off road. Dirt, rock, mud, and snow; we drove through it all in the name of getting the perfect shot. As the sun got lower the drama went up. We finished the day with the Cullinan blasting through knee deep snow to achieve that elusive action shot we had yet to capture. As the stage was set for the championship, the Cullinan greeted the competitors as they crossed the finish line. With its undeniable presence, it was an incredible sight at the base of the famed Warm Springs Mountain. Sun Valley is a very special place and while the end had to come, the journey was something we will never forget. view Rolls-royce beverly hills' inventory

By Edward Jones – August 08, 2018

Lamborghini Urus and Rolls-Royce Cullinan Compared

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus are two completely different beasts, but they are both SUVs from companies you wouldn't expect them from. On one hand, you have the ultra-luxury Cullinan that's full of the amenities that a Rolls-Royce should have. Then you have the super-SUV Urus that has the sporty design and power a Lamborghini should have. These two models are perfect representations of each marque's ability to evolve without losing sight of their brand's ethos. Doug DeMuro recently visited O'Gara Coach La Jolla where both the Cullinan and Urus were parked next to each other. This gave him a great chance to compare the two powerhouses that have been revealed in this exclusive SUV sector. "We now live in a world where Rolls-Royce, the pinnacle of luxury and class, and Lamborghini, the creators of some of the fastest and most aggressive cars ever, have SUV’s about to hit the market, at the same time." - O'Gara Coach La Jolla Check out the video below to see what DeMuro thinks about each of these capable models.

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