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

Ferrari News

Ferrari news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily with model reveals, first drives, auction results and current market prices. Our coverage runs across the whole line-up, from the 296 and 296 Speciale to the SF90 XX, the 12Cilindri and the F80. We also follow the earlier cars that built the reputation of the Prancing Horse over seven decades. Reporting comes from the Monterey and Pebble Beach auction floors, and from first drives of new models as they arrive. One thing separates this from other supercar news: many of the Ferraris covered here are listed for sale on the duPont REGISTRY marketplace. Read the story, then see what an example is genuinely worth. For Ferrari news today, and the exotic car news around it, start here.

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 18, 2022

Ferrari Teases A New Car In A Mysterious Video

Ferrari has a big reveal coming soon. The Cavallino Rampante brand has an exciting new announcement to make, as they have said on Instagram that a new mid-rear-engined berlinetta from Ferrari will be revealed on April 19 at 2:00 PM CEST. The teaser video shows close-up shots of a blue Ferrari and the tarmac of a racetrack, but with most discernible details obscured. However, the hint that was given could be somewhat of a clue as to what the car might be. MUST READ: The GearBox: Italian Icon The “mid-rear-engine” provides a clue. This is an engine layout Ferrari has been using for decades, dating all the way back to the 328 and making it to models that we know today like the 430, 458, 488, and most recently, the F8 Tributo and the newest Ferrari 296 GTB. While this could be an entirely new car from the brand, the “mid-rear-engine” hint suggests that it may be a new version of either of those models, like the 458 Speciale or 488 Pista that breathed new life into those models well into their production cycle. Whatever this new Ferrari may be, we know it’s going to be a thrilling reveal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferrari (@ferrari) Source: Instagram/Ferrari

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 18, 2022

Shop The New Ferrari Spring/Summer '22 Drop 2 Fashion Col...

Style your wardrobe to match the look and feel of Ferrari. The Ferrari brand incorporates the same luxury Italian craftsmanship from its lineup of supercars into a dedicated fashion collection that turns heads on the runway. Since its 2021 debut in the fashion world, Ferrari is now proud to unveil its second drop of the Spring/Summer 2022 Collection. The all-new apparel and accessories release portrays a unique style that pays homage to the earliest days of supercar innovation for the Italian supercar manufacturer, featuring production and Motorsport icons that help shape the prancing horse. A portion of the line presents vibrant designs that include historic images of vehicles like the Ferrari 250 GTO and Ferrari 330 P4 Le Mans race car. MUST-READ: RHUDE Preps For Its ‘Monaco With God’s Help’ Spring/Summer ’22 Drop 3 Today Alongside using premium Italian materials to achieve a luxury look and feel, Ferrari prides itself on making a portion of the clothing line from recycled materials. The Ferrari Spring/Summer ’22 Drop 2 includes coats, jackets, sweatshirts, shirts, pants, shorts, luggage, small leather goods, and accessories to pair perfectly with the Ferrari SF90 Stradale sitting in the garage. Made for any Ferrari owner or enthusiast, Ferrari’s fashion line brings the interior design of modern-day supercars to the catwalk of the fashion runway. The al-new Ferrari Spring/Summer 2022 Drop 2 is currently available starting at $140 by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and supercar news. Shop Ferrari Style Source: Ferrari Store

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 14, 2022

The New Ferrari 296 GT3 Completed Testing At Fiorano

The future of Ferrari racing is about to be here. The Fiorano race track has hosted two days of testing for the Ferrari 296 GT3, Ferrari’s newest GT racing car which is based on the revolutionary new Ferrari 296 GTB. The car, once testing is fully complete and the car is finalized, is going to represent Ferrari on the racetrack in competitions around the world, showing what Ferrari’s innovation, power, and Italian supercar spirit are capable of. MUST READ: Cauley Ferrari Dedicates Two Ferraris To West Bloomfield’s First Responders Thus far, Ferrari had highly satisfactory testing results for this round of testing, with the car proving reliability and sound driving systems. Because of its status as Ferrari’s next GT car, expectations are quite high, and even at this early stage of development, excitement around the 296 GT3 and its career as a race car for Ferrari teams and gentleman drivers is brewing quickly. As testing has already begun for the car, hopefully we get to see the 296 GT3 in action soon. Source: Ferrari

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 13, 2022

Cauley Ferrari Dedicates Two Ferraris To West Bloomfield'...

This might be the greatest misunderstanding of “police horse” we’ve seen yet. Detroit’s Cauley Ferrari has decided to extend a gesture of thanks to West Bloomfield’s first responders with two police horses… of a different kind. These Italian, Prancing Horses are actually two Ferraris, an F8 Tributo for the Police department, and a 488 Pista for the Fire department, complete with special liveries that match each. MUST READ: The GearBox: Italian Icon The F8 Tributo is black, with a white leather interior and West Bloomfield Police graphics, while the 488 Pista is finished in a classic Ferrari red, which, of course, matches the fire trucks that it is dedicated to. For a limited time, both of these incredible Ferraris will be on display in the Cauley Ferrari showroom for public viewing. Both these cars go to show that while Ferraris are world-class supercars, they can be local heroes, too. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: Cauley Ferrari

By Edward Jones – April 13, 2022

Ferrari is Teasing a New Model

And it will be revealed soon. Ferrari has caught us all off guard as the automaker has decided to tease a new model. Making this even more surprising is the fact that the model being teased will be unveiled soon, on April 19th. As for what the model will be, it's speculated that it will be the Ferrari 296 GTS or the convertible version of the 296 GTB. From the teaser image, seen up above, the body lines are similar to that of the 296 GTB but the appears to be no roof in the silhouette. There have also been sightings of the 296 GTS out in the wild with a folding hardtop. If this is the case, then expect this new Ferrari to be powered by the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 hybrid powertrain found in the coupe. That means this mighty hybrid coupe will be able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 2.9 seconds, which are lightning-quick numbers for a convertible. Be sure to check back with us for more information on the Ferrari 296 GTS reveal, especially on April 19th when this reveal takes place. View All Ferraris For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 06, 2022

Here Is The Final Ferrari Monza To Ever Be Built

This Ferrari marks the end of a beloved model. First unveiled back in 2018, the Ferrari Monza SP1 debuted alongside its counterpart, the Monza SP2. Since then, a total of 499 examples Monza examples have been created and what you're seeing in this article is the very last example to roll off of the assembly line in Maranello. Delivered by Cauley Ferrari of Detroit, this Monza SP1 also boasts one other extraordinary accolade. If you look at this Monza SP1's exterior, you'll notice the beautiful bare carbon body. This is, in fact, the only Monza example to feature the Tailor Made bare carbon fiber exterior. Frankly, I'm surprised it's the only one because the bare carbon fiber looks absolutely wonderful on the Monza SP1. It took over three years for this specific Ferrari Monza SP1 to come to life but it appears that it was most certainly worth the wait. I want to congratulate the new owner and Cauley Ferrari of Detroit on this momentous occasion. View Inventory Source: Instagram/@cauleyferrari

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 01, 2022

The Ferrari Daytona SP3 Wins Red Dot: Best of The Best Aw...

Ferrari’s iconic design continues to get recognized for its beauty and innovation. The new Ferrari Daytona SP3 is a supercar that is inspired by Ferrari’s past, but also a part of the brand’s future, with incredible looks, Formula 1 technology, and a 0-60 time of less than 2.85 seconds, thanks to a V12 engine that can rev to an amazing 9500 rpm. The car won the prestigious Red Dot: Best of The Best award for 2022 at the Red Dot: Product Design awards. MUST READ: What are the world's best supercars? FIND OUT The Daytona SP3 won for its incredibly unique styling that both authentically pays homage to the 1960s Ferrari race cars that dominated in Daytona, and pushes Ferrari’s design language forward as the brand continues to grow, innovate, and maintain its standing as one of the world’s most important, prestigious, and sought after automotive brands. The large, dramatic curves and striking rear light bar are just a couple of the Daytona SP3’s aspects that can only be seen on cars like Ferraris, which are able to completely dedicate themselves to performance, passion, and style. That’s why Ferrari has won the prestigious Red Dot award 7 times, previously with the FFX-K, the 488 GTB, the J50, Portofino, Monza SP1, the Daytona SP3’s “Icona'' series predecessor, and the SF90 Stradale. All of these cars, like most Ferraris, are aspired to for a great many reasons, and design is just one. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: Ferrari

By Edward Jones – March 28, 2022

Jaw-Droppingly Beautiful GTO Engineering 250 SWB Revival ...

A time capsule to another automotive era built in modern times. GTO Engineering has put in serious miles and hours both behind the wheel of Ferraris and under the hood. The company has been an authority on Ferrari servicing, restoration, repairs and more for years. In total, the team at GTO Engineering has over 200 years of combined experience working with classic Ferraris. It's these facts that have allowed them to create what you see here, the 250 SWB Revival that's for sale at O'Gara's The Reserve. This example of the 250 SWB Revival by GTO Engineering is highlighted in the video up above by the dealership. Called "Inside The Reserve," the video is hosted by Beau Rogers, a Sales Specialist at the dealership. He goes over the entirety of the beautiful period-correct creation by GTO Engineering and even takes it out for a drive, allowing us all to hear the beautiful sound of its 3.0-liter V12 engine. While this specific and beautiful example of the GTO Engineering 250 SWB Revival is up for sale, Rogers also notes that O'Gara Coach represents the brand. This means that you can contact O'Gara Coach regarding building your own example of the 250 SWB Revival. When customizing a GTO Engineering Revival car, here are a long list of options available, including different engine options, interior finishes and materials, exterior paint and so much more. If you click the button below, you can view this specific car's listing. If you would like to contact O'Gara Coach for more information regarding their GTO Engineering offerings, click here. View Listing Image Source: O'Gara Coach

By Edward Jones – March 25, 2022

New Rosso Ferrari F1-75 Color Pulled Straight From F1

Finish your Ferrari in the same paint as the Bahrain GP-winning machines. Ferrari has just announced a new exterior color for their models and it's pulled directly from their Formula 1 cars. Called Rosso Ferrari F1-75, it's the same deep red found on the Scuderia Ferrari F1 cars and includes a nice matte finish. Ferrari also notes that this finish is now available for all of their current models, like the 296 GTB, Roma, SF90 Stradale and even the Daytona SP3 (seen above). If there's one thing to know about Ferrari paint finishes, it's that gracing your car in the right one can add sincere value down the road. Some examples include Rosso Dino, Giallo Triplo Strato, and plenty of the "Verde" variants. That being said, this could very well be one of those finishes that add value down the road as it mimics a specific color for a specific F1 car for a specific year. See All Ferraris For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferrari (@ferrari)

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 24, 2022

Watch Ferrari Collector David Lee Present His New Yellow ...

David Lee adds a rare Ferrari Enzo to his growing collection. As a dedicated collector and brand ambassador for Ferrari, Ferrari Collector David Lee aspires to continue building his fleet of prancing horses with iconic examples. David Lee is back with an all-new YouTube video unveiling the newest addition to his garage, the Ferrari Enzo in Giallo Modena. In the video, David expresses his love for the brand and his commitment to match his red ‘Big Five’ collection with a yellow fleet of its own. The highly-desirable Ferrari ‘Big Five’ includes the 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari, all of which incorporate a small taste of Ferrari’s performance-focused lineage. The task of locating and acquiring the remaining yellow vehicles seems to be a challenge that David Lee is not only excited about but also determined to complete. MUST-READ: Watch Ferrari Collector David Lee Unveil His New LaFerrari Aperta As Chairman and CEO of Hing Wa Lee Group, David holds a strong passion for luxury watches that pair perfectly with his supercar-filled garage. The watch of choice to pair with the yellow Ferrari Enzo is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41mm in yellow, a piece that continues to skyrocket in value on the secondary market alongside the other vibrant variations. Needless to say, we are excited to see more Ferrari Enzo content and collection updates from Ferrari Collector David Lee. View all of the current Ferrari examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear releases and celebrity car news. View All Ferrari For Sale Source: Ferrari Collector David Lee YouTube

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