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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 – January 10, 2018

A Bugatti Chiron and Pagani Huayra Sold via Bitcoin

Do you need proof that cryptocurrency has gone to the moon, and even past it? How about this: Pagani Newport Beach just sold two hypercars via Bitcoin. The first car sold was a Bugatti Chiron with an all-black exterior and a grey/black interior. Next up is a 2016 Pagani Huayra Americano with the Tempesta Package. That's over $6 million worth of cars that were purchased with Bitcoin.He Bought a Lamborghini With $115 in Bitcoin MoneySo, for all of those friends that you're getting annoyed with because cryptocurrencies are all they talk about, they may just be the next ones to purchase a hypercar of their own. I have a few friends of my own that better be makin' a few bucks off of it considering how much I hear about it. I'm looking at you, James.Thanks to our friends at Pagani Newport Beach for sharing this incredible info with us!View Dealer Inventory

By Edward Jones – January 10, 2018

San Diego GT: O'Gara La Jolla Reinvents the Cars and Coffee

In California O'Gara La Jolla is reinventing how epic Cars and Coffee events can be. Dubbed the "San Diego GT," this new event is aiming to be the shining star in a sky full of exotic car shows. Their inaugural event proves that their aim is true and the future shows will not disappoint.For the first San Diego GT, O'Gara La Jolla worked around the clock for weeks to ensure the show was a smash hit. After figuring out the logistics and vendors, they went looking for a collection that would knock the socks off of every guest. Thanks to their extensive and remarkable list of customers, it only took a couple of calls before they locked down a collection that they knew would be talked about at shows across the country.On the morning of the show, their parking lot was filled with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and McLarens. Then, surprise guests in the form of a Lamborghini Centenario and a Bugatti Chiron nicknamed "HellBee."Then, it was time to reveal the showstopping collection. Behind five paddock doors were five incredible hypercars that were literally revving to be released. One-by-one the doors opened to reveal a blue Porsche 918 Spyder, street-legal McLaren P1 GTR, Rosso Fuoco Ferrari LaFerrari, full-carbon fiber Pagani Huayra and a never-before-seen Bugatti Chiron. The crowd's socks were officially knocked off.An estimated 1,200-1,500 guests showed up to the inaugural San Diego GT event, making it a smashing success. Now, O'Gara La Jolla is looking to their next show in January, and I'm sure there'll be a few surprises for those that show up. For more information click here.

By Edward Jones – December 07, 2017

McLaren Beverly Hills Now Part of O'Gara Family

The O'Gara family has announced that the McLaren Beverly Hills franchise is now under their wing. This dealership will be part of O'Gara Beverly Hills and is located on Wilshire Blvd. As part of the new acquisition, McLaren Beverly Hills is getting a brand-new showroom.Why You Should Buy A McLaren 720SO'Gara will be celebrating the new addition to their family at their Sunset GT Cars and Coffee on Sunday, December 10th at 9am. This event takes place at Sunset Plaza, where some of the country's finest cars will be on display. Additionally, all McLaren drivers will have dedicated parking spots in what O'Gara is calling a "prime location."

By Edward Jones – November 28, 2017

Pagani Huayra Roadster Delivered in United States

The new Pagani Huayra Roadster was unveiled to the world back in February of this year, but it's been a rare sighting since then. Now, that's all changed with the delivery of a Huayra Roadster to our friends over at Prestige Imports Miami. This precise model looks very similar to the one that was used to showcase the new Roadster earlier this year. Down the road, I'm sure we'll be seeing some heavily personalized examples of the Huayra Roadster. While the Huayra Roadster can be customized to the owner's content, the underpinnings of the car remain the same across each model, more or less. The chassis made of a new composite called Carbo-Triax. This material allows the roadster to be lighter and stronger than the coupe version of the Huayra. A Mercedes-AMG V12 rated at 764 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque powers the lightweight hypercar, just like its brethren. Stay with us for more images of this hypercar as they're released. View All Paganis for Sale

By Edward Jones – November 07, 2017

Ferrari Offers New Certification for Official Dealers

Ferrari has nominated 48 official dealers in 20 different markets to be "Ferrari Classiche Authorized Workshops." Each dealer with the nomination will be known as an "Officina," allowing them to "implement the Ferrari Classiche certification process and ensure the correct maintenance and/or repair of Ferrari cars over 20 years old," according to Ferrari.The Most Extreme Ferrari is Now a RealityEach Ferrari Classiche Officina will be able to obtain support directly from the Ferrari Classiche department in Maranello, giving them access to all the necessary equipment needed for repairs. All work that's too extensive will have Officina ship the car out to the Ferrari factory. In return for having direct access to Ferrari Classiche in Maranello, the Officinas will have a dedicated workshop ramp and a trained Ferrari Classiche Service Technician that will be tasked exclusively with Ferrari Classiche duties. Below are the Ferrari Classiche Authorized Officinas located in the United States.• Continental Autosports• Ferrari South Bay• Ferrari of Atlanta• Cauley Ferrari• Ferrari of Houston• Ferrari of Austin• Lake Forest Sportscars• Miller Motorcars Inc.• Ferrari of San Antonio• Ferrari of Central Florida Inc.• Ferrari of Newport BeachUsed Ferrari FF For Sale

95072 Chiron Nocturne Spirit Blue Beluga Large (2)

By Edward Jones – November 01, 2017

Get a Bugatti Chiron Today

The Bugatti Chiron is talked about as a hypercar that's nearly impossible to obtain. St. Louis Motorcars, however, is here to make the impossible possible. The Chiron featured in this article is already sold, but yours is just a phone call to Graham Hill of St. Louis Motorcars away at 855-372-3761.Bugatti Chiron Shows Why it's a Multi-Million Dollar Hypercar

By Edward Jones – November 01, 2017

Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Delivery Made in USA (Gallery)

In 2015, Bugatti revealed their new Vision Gran Turismo, a model that they say was built "for the fans." In contrast to the Veyron that came before this concept, the Vision GT was designed with a sharpened exterior and an exhaust that's louder than thunder.A discerning collector in the United States purchased this very Vision GT and had it delivered to their residence. To document the event, Grubbs Photography was on-hand during the entire process as Bugatti Beverly Hills had the car delivered to the new owner. Check out the entire process in the galleries below.You may not be able to purchase the Vision GT for yourself, but Tim O'Hara at Bugatti Beverly Hills can help you get the Bugatti Chiron of your dreams.Picking it up at the airport.Delivery at the customer's home.

By Edward Jones – October 12, 2017

Welcome to Prestige Imports 2.0

Prestige Imports Miami has been a shining star in Miami, Florida automotive scene since 1977. With an inventory that seems fitting for an exotic car show, their showroom floor has always been a showstopper. But now, more so than ever, the Prestige Imports showroom is more exciting than ever before.Welcome to Prestige Imports 2.0. Be sure to head down to Prestige Imports' new showroom located at 14800 Biscayne Boulevard North Miami Beach, FL. To see their inventory, click the button below.View Inventoryhttps://www.facebook.com/dupontregistryautos/videos/10155791257408256/

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2017

Lamborghini Newport Beach's Supercar Show - 200 MPH Editi...

On October 7, in the parking lot of Lamborghini Newport Beach, supercars and hypercars gathered for the dealership's latest edition of their Supercar Show - 200 MPH Edition.It was in this parking lot that crowds were greeted with some of the world's rarest and fastest cars. And when I say the fastest, I mean it. The Koenigsegg Agera RS showed up to the event, which is the same car that has broken the record for the fastest car from 0-249-0 mph. That record run beat out the Bugatti Chiron's record, a hypercar that was also attending the event. A few other notable cars in attendance were the McLaren 720S, Lamborghini Huracan Performante, Lamborghini Aventador SV, McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder and so many others.Check out the video below to see all of the action for yourself.View Inventory

By Edward Jones – September 25, 2017

New Bugatti Showroom Opens Up After Successful Chiron Sales

Bugatti's sales partner in Hamburg, Kamps in Hamburg GmbH & Co., has taken 10 orders for the new Chiron since it was announced at Bugatti Hamburg. Because of the success Kamps has had, the French automaker has made them the exclusive Bugatti outlet in Hamburg and has opened up a brand new showroom.The new Bugatti Hamburg location is the 12th in Europe (four are located in Germany), with 34 dealerships spanning across 17 countries. Bugatti Hamburg's new showroom measures in just over 1,000 sq. ft and "gives customers and guests an impression of the Bugatti brand values of “Art, Forme, Technique” and the flair of the company’s headquarters in Molsheim."Bugatti Chiron Delivered by St. Louis Motorcars

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