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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 Khris Bharath – July 17, 2026

Euro-Spec 1991 Ferrari Testarossa Enters Final Hours on duPont REGISTRY Live

A pristine 1991 Ferrari Testarossa finished in Rosso Corsa over Nero Connolly leather will close later today on duPont REGISTRY Live. Offered as a French-market example, the car features several factory details rarely seen on the US-market cars, making it a particularly compelling example of Ferrari's iconic flat-twelve grand tourer. The Testarossa name traces back to 1957, when Ferrari first used it on the 250 Testa Rossa sports racer, named for its distinctive red-painted cam covers. The name returned in 1984 on what would become one of the defining automotive icons of the decade. Its starring role in Miami Vice cemented the Testarossa as a symbol of 1980s performance and excess, while its Pininfarina styling, pop-up headlights, and dramatic side strakes made it one of the most recognizable Ferraris ever built, with the nameplate returning more recently on the 849 Testarossa. French-market examples like the one seen here have several distinctions that set them apart from the US-market cars most collectors encounter. Slimmer bumpers, unique lighting, Ferrari badges on the front fenders, and the yellow fog lights once mandated by French road regulations give this example a cleaner, distinctly European appearance. <- Gallery -> Crucially, its Euro-specification 4.9-liter flat-twelve produces 385 horsepower, free from the additional emissions equipment fitted to US-market cars. Power goes to the rear wheels through Ferrari's iconic five-speed gated manual transaxle, whose open-gate shifter remains one of the marque's most celebrated driver interfaces. This Testarossa is fitted with 512 TR wheels, protected by front-end paint protection film, and accompanied by its original owner's booklets and extensive French registration documentation. Click the link below for more on mileage, specification, documented service history, and to place your bids. View Listing If you're interested in financing this car or another exotic car, be sure to get pre-qualified.

By duPont REGISTRY – June 19, 2026

duPont REGISTRY Live Sets All-Time Online Auction Record with $13M Ferrari Enzo

June 17 - MIAMI, FL – duPont REGISTRY Live has established a new benchmark for the collector car market with the hammer price of the world's only Ferrari Enzo finished in Rosso Dino. The vehicle crossed the digital auction block at $13,018,950 ($12.399 million plus Buyer’s Premium) with no reserve, making it the most expensive automobile ever processed through an online auction platform. The result eclipses the previous online auction record of $5.36 million – set by a LaFerrari Aperta in 2022 – and marks a defining moment for digital collector car transactions, demonstrating that the world's most significant automobiles no longer require a physical auction room to achieve extraordinary results. The milestone underscores the power of the duPont REGISTRY Group ecosystem and its mission to transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences. Through its unique combination of content, commerce, community, events, proprietary data, and AI-powered technology, the company is building the foundation for the next generation of collector experiences, creating new ways for enthusiasts to buy, sell, celebrate, and live the luxury automotive lifestyle. This comes just seven months after the launch of duPont REGISTRY Live and further solidifies the platform as a serious competitor to established auction houses. "This was an incredible result for the seller and an important milestone for our auction business," said Chad Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of duPont REGISTRY Live. "It reinforces the trust our clients place in the platform and shows that the collector car market is continuing to evolve. We're excited about what lies ahead." This transaction represents far more than a record-setting number. It validates the vision for the future of the collector car market and demonstrates that trust, transparency, technology, and audience can deliver extraordinary results. duPont REGISTRY Group is building an ecosystem that is redefining how our clients buy, sell, and engage. The landmark result also reinforces the growing importance of the duPont REGISTRY Index (dRi), the company's proprietary market intelligence platform. Earlier this year, dRi valued the Ferrari Enzo at $11,110,000, further demonstrating the role that trusted data, artificial intelligence and analytics play in the evolving collector car landscape. Having tracked this specific Enzo chassis since 2017, duPont REGISTRY recognized the significance of the one-of-one Rosso Dino example long before the market caught up. With only 400 Enzos produced worldwide, the sale highlights the enduring importance of provenance, rarity, and factory specification at the highest levels of the collector market. The record-setting online result demonstrates the strength of the broader duPont REGISTRY platform – including media, marketplace, auctions, technology, experiences, and analytics – and further establishes the company as a leading innovator in the global luxury automotive market. About duPont REGISTRY Group duPont REGISTRY Group (dRG) is the world’s premier luxury automotive ecosystem, encapsulating the culture, community and commerce of the high-end automotive lifestyle. For more than 40 years, dRG has served as a trusted source for the vibrant global community of collectors and enthusiasts looking to buy and sell luxury vehicles. Using data insights and advanced technology to build a seamless and scalable digital marketplace, dRG facilitates billions of dollars in transactions and redefines how enthusiasts and collectors engage within the luxury automotive world. Its portfolio includes Canossa Events, Cars on 5th, Cavallino, duPont REGISTRY, Elferspot, FerrariChat, LLP Exotic Auto Finance, Petrolicious, Retromobile USA, Sotheby's Motorsport and Supercar Owners Circle. For more information, visit www.duPontREGISTRYGroup.com. Media Contact duPont REGISTRY GroupCristina CheeverChief Marketing Officercristina.cheever@dupontregistrygroup.com

By Khris Bharath – June 16, 2026

New Record: 1-of-1 Rosso Dino Ferrari Enzo Closes on duPont REGISTRY Live at $13.01 million

The world’s only Ferrari Enzo finished in Rosso Dino has just hammered on duPont REGISTRY Live at $12,399,000 with no reserve ($13,018,950 including Buyer's Premium), setting a new world record. Eclipsing the previous online auction record of $5.36 million – set by a LaFerrari Aperta on Bring a Trailer in 2022 – this eight-figure result is the most expensive car ever to cross a digital-only auction block. It is a defining moment for the online auction format, signaling that the collector car market's most significant transactions no longer require a physical saleroom to carry weight. As duPont REGISTRY continues its mission to transform how the luxury and exotic automotive sector buys, sells, and engages, this landmark sale proves that clients are fully ready to embrace the shift. Of the 400 examples produced between 2002 and 2004, and one of the 127 units that were delivered to the U.S., chassis ZFFCW56A230134278 is the only one finished in this historically significant shade. Rosso Dino is named after Alfredo 'DINO' Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari's eldest son, who passed away in 1956 at 24 from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The color that honors him first appeared in the 1960s on the Ferrari 250 GTO, spent 7 decades outside the active paint catalog, and returned in 2002 at the request of a single client. That client was Gerald Barnes, a major collector and owner of Ferrari Maserati of Newport Beach. Barnes was a clothing importer whose AUTO collection became well known in Ferrari circles, specifically for its recurring commitment to Rosso Dino across multiple cars. The Enzo was a crown jewel of a collection built around a single color made possible through Ferrari’s Tailor Made program, which made several Enzo colors possible outside the three standard shades: Rosso Corsa, Giallo Modena, and Nero. Ferrari's own factory window sticker, which accompanied the car through its auction on duPont REGISTRY Live, records the exterior as an out-of-range paint color. To really drive the point home about paying attention to factory options during the configuration phase, on this V12 exotic that carried an original sticker price of $662,694, the aforementioned out-of-range paint color that makes this Enzo one-off among all 400 examples ever built, originally cost just $2,364. That figure amounts to less than four-tenths of one percent of the car's original purchase price. It serves as a reminder that on halo cars of this order, the decisions made at the point of configuration can define the car's place in history for decades to come. Barnes made one such decision, and the market has spent over 20 years catching up to it. <- Gallery -> The precedent for unique provenance commanding a premium within this production run is long established. When the Vatican-owned Enzo crossed the block at a charity auction in 2005, it achieved approximately $1 million above prevailing market value, an early signal of how singular stories within this production run can move pricing beyond what the standard market can fully anticipate. duPont REGISTRY has followed this specific chassis (#134278) since 2017, when it was available on our marketplace. That the market has now caught up to what we identified nine years ago speaks volumes about the car's enduring pedigree. The chassis arrived on duPont REGISTRY Live this month, showing just 3,758 miles from new, with a comprehensive major service completed in December 2024. The volume of bidding activity that we witnessed at this price level is itself significant. Over 725 bids, 115+ active watchers, and over 9,500 views with a fierce bidding battle in the final hour. Traditional auction houses handling a lot of this magnitude typically see a handful of paddle raises in the room. Online, the depth of participation across hundreds of bids is visible in a way the saleroom never allows, and the no-reserve decision amplifies everything. At this price point, offering a car without a floor beneath it is an extraordinary act of confidence in both the asset and the platform. The consignor trusted the market completely, and the market responded accordingly. To frame the significance in the broadest possible context: the most expensive car ever sold at auction remains the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which achieved $143 million at a special on-site RM Sotheby's sale at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in 2022. That car is a 1-of-2 1955 racing prototype with a provenance that spans seven decades. This Enzo is a street-legal hypercar from 2003, and it now holds the equivalent record for the online-only auction world. The broader Enzo market context is well established. The car had previously hammered at Mecum Kissimmee in January 2026 for $11,110,000 before coming to market on duPont REGISTRY Live, where it has now closed at $12,399,000 with no reserve. That January result was itself part of a first quarter that saw multiple Enzos cross the block for over $9 million this year, across auction houses, including Mecum Indy, RM Sotheby's Monaco, and Broad Arrow Amelia Island. This result is in line with the current duPont REGISTRY Index (dRi) value of $11,110,000. This landmark result positions duPont REGISTRY Live, which only came online 7 months ago in Mid-November 2025, as a serious competitor to the established physical auction houses for the most coveted consignments in the collector car world, and no online platform has ever closed a car that made a case quite like this one. The Enzo, of course, belongs to the Ferrari Big Six alongside the 288 GTO, F40, F50, the LaFerrari, F80, and shares its platform and drivetrain with the Maserati MC12. Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher also played a key role during the development testing at Ferrari's Fiorano test track, and the body was styled under Ken Okuyama at Pininfarina. A full market spotlight on the Ferrari Enzo, its 2026 price trajectory, and what this result means for the broader modern Ferrari collector market will follow later this week on duPont REGISTRY. View All Ferraris For Sale Images: duPont REGISTRY Live

By Khris Bharath – June 15, 2026

One Day Remains as 1-of-1 Rosso Dino Ferrari Enzo Chases Eight-Figure Result

A 1-of-1 2003 Ferrari Enzo finished in historically significant Rosso Dino, and closing tomorrow on duPont REGISTRY Live is currently bid to $9,010,000. This not only makes it the first automobile on the cusp of becoming the first eight-figure car to cross the digital auction block since the platform launched in mid-November last year with multiple seven-figure sales to its name, but also the most expensive car to ever cross the auction block, and that too at No Reserve. Chassis ZFFCW56A230134278 is the only Enzo ever delivered in Rosso Dino, a color named for Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari's eldest son, who passed away at 24 from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The color first appeared in the 1960s on the Ferrari 250 GTO, disappeared from the paint catalog for decades, and returned in 2002 at the request of a single client. <- Gallery -> That client was Gerald Barnes, owner of Ferrari Maserati Southern California, one of the most significant Ferrari dealer-principals in the United States. Barnes specified Rosso Dino at a moment when Ferrari had already signaled the Enzo would be offered exclusively in Rosso Corsa, Giallo, and Nero. The factory reversed that position for a small number of clients willing to request colors outside the standard Enzo catalog, and Barnes made the only request that produced this particular shade. Ferrari's own factory window sticker, which accompanies the car, documents the exterior as an out-of-range paint color. duPont REGISTRY first covered this exact chassis (s/n #134278 ) in 2017, when it was already recognized as one of the most singular Enzos in existence. The V12-powered Enzo occupies a permanent position among the Ferrari Big Five, alongside the 288 GTO, F40, F50, and LaFerrari, and serves as the basis for the Maserati MC12. At Mecum Kissimmee in January 2026, the Enzo market repriced decisively, with four examples clearing eight figures in the first quarter of the year alone. As a one-off commission, this particular chassis has the potential to become the next to break into eight figures this year. Of the 400 Enzos produced and 127 delivered to the United States, not one other carries this specification. The car shows 3,758 miles from new, received a major service in December 2024, and is currently present in Miami. The auction has drawn over 650 bids and 96 active watchers, with expected bidding wars as we enter the final 24 hours of the auction. Full provenance documentation, the factory window sticker, and complete service history are available now at duPont REGISTRY Live. Click here to place your bids Images: duPont REGISTRY Live

By Khris Bharath – May 15, 2026

One-Off Ferrari 512 TR Spider With Saudi Royal Provenance Lands on duPont REGISTRY Live

A one-off Ferrari commissioned for the Saudi Royal Family is now live on duPont REGISTRY Live, offering collectors an opportunity to acquire what is believed to be one of the rarest open-top Ferrari flat-12 models ever created. This 1993 Ferrari 512 TR Spider stands apart not only for its royal provenance and singular coachbuilt configuration, but also for its recent $34,000 engine-out major service completed ahead of sale. Originally delivered new on June 1, 1993, through Red Sea Motors in Jeddah, the Ferrari was commissioned by a member of the Saudi Royal Family during an era when bespoke European exotics became increasingly sought-after among Middle Eastern collectors. Inspired by highly customized Ferrari projects created for the Brunei Royal Family, an attempt was reportedly made to secure a factory-built Spider directly through Pininfarina. When Ferrari declined the request, the project moved to German coachbuilder Lorenz & Rankl. The result was the only Ferrari 512 TR Spider conversion completed by the company. While Lorenz & Rankl had previously converted several Ferrari Testarossas into open-top configurations, this remains their sole 512 TR Spider build. That distinction carries significant weight considering Ferrari produced more than 2,250 examples of the 512 TR coupe between 1992 and 1994, while sources suggest fewer than six 512 TR Spider conversions exist worldwide in total. Finished in Rosso Corsa over Black Connolly leather upholstery, this one-off Ferrari retains hallmark Testarossa design cues, including the iconic side strakes, pop-up headlights, and silver 18-inch five-spoke wheels, while introducing a reinforced convertible structure engineered to preserve the rigidity and performance standards expected from Ferrari’s flagship grand tourer. Power comes from Ferrari’s naturally aspirated 4.9-liter flat-12 that produces 428 horsepower, paired with a gated 5-speed manual transmission and limited-slip rear differential. Ferrari also revised the 512 TR extensively compared to the original Testarossa, lowering the drivetrain approximately 1.2 inches while improving suspension geometry and gearbox operation. Inside, analog Veglia Borletti instrumentation, a polished open-gate shifter, and a three-spoke steering wheel reinforce the distinctly analog Ferrari driving experience increasingly absent from modern supercars. <- Gallery -> Following decades within the Royal collection, the car underwent restoration work completed in 2016 before eventually arriving in the United States in 2020 with approval from the Royal Family. Most recently, specialists at Prancing Horse of Nashville completed a comprehensive engine-out major service that included timing belts, tensioner bearings, water pump resealing, suspension refreshes, HVAC repairs, ignition system updates, and fluid services, totaling to $34,000. Showing approximately 14,888 miles since new, the sale also includes the original luggage set, owner’s manuals, service records, tools, three keys, and Lorenz & Rankl documentation. At the time of writing, bidding currently sits at $200,000, with just over four days remaining before the auction closes. View LIVE Listing to Place Your Bids For more insights and owner discussions on the Ferrari 512 TR Spider, visit FerrariChat.com. If you're interested in financing this car or another exotic car, be sure to get pre-qualified.

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