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 – October 31, 2022

Ferrari Unveils Its New 499P Le Mans Hypercar

Ferrari’s important racing return is closer than ever. It was nearly 50 years ago in 1973 when Ferrari retired from top-class endurance racing, ending a legendary presence at one of the racing world’s most hallowed stages: Le Mans. However, the upcoming endurance racing season is more anticipated than ever, because Ferrari plans on bringing a new car to top-class endurance racing, the new Ferrari 499P. MUST READ: Ferrari Of Central Florida Earns Ferrari’s 2022 Top Dealer Award The car has been in development for some time now, as only months remain before the racing season begins, but now the livery of the new racing machine has finally been unveiled. Unlike many of the LMDh cars that we have seen unveiled, Ferrari's new LMH car was designed from the ground up completely by Ferrari, as for LMDh cars, the FIA required manufacturers to work with chassis suppliers. With a hybrid powertrain featuring a mid-rear mounted engine and an electric motor powering the front wheels, Ferrari’s racing legacy will enter a whole new chapter next year starring the 499P, and the brand hopes to recapture the splendor, success, and legend of its racing glory days at Le Mans and throughout the endurance racing world. View All Ferraris For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferrari USA (@ferrariusa) Source: Ferrari

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 28, 2022

Ferrari Of Central Florida Earns Ferrari's 2022 Top Deale...

Nothing beats being the best at selling the best. There simply aren’t cars like Ferraris in the world. They’ve become synonymous with success and excellence after building a decades-long reputation for luxury, performance, and incomparable beauty, and now when someone thinks about what a dream car might be, “Ferrari” is undoubtedly one of the first names to come to mind. With such a standard of excellence, it’s no small task for a Ferrari dealership to stand out for its own excellence, which is why earning the honor of being Ferrari’s annual Top Dealer is such a high distinction. MUST READ: Ferrari of Austin Celebrated The Purosangue’s Launch With Charles Leclerc In fact, it’s the highest honor globally that Ferrari can give its dealers, and this year, that honor was given to Ferrari of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. When it comes to new and used Ferrari for sale, Ferrari of Central Florida has experienced a year of great success, and as a trophy, the dealership was given a Ferrari F1 car to proudly be displayed in the showroom. When you specialize in one of the world’s greatest automotive legends, excellence is a requirement. View All Cars For Sale From Ferrari Of Central Florida View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferrari of Central FL (@ferraricentralflorida) Source: Instagram/Ferrari of Central Florida

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 24, 2022

Ferrari of Austin Celebrated The Purosangue's Launch With...

Whether on the track or at the dealership, Ferrari’s presence is impressive. This past weekend, the Formula 1 season stopped by the Circuit of the Americas for the United States Grand Prix, and at the race, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc managed to clinch a strong third-place finish. The Austin, Texas venue’s local Ferrari dealership, Ferrari of Austin, held a reception with two special guests, one of them being Leclerc. The other guest was Ferrari’s newest model, the Purosangue. MUST READ: This Tailor Made 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale For Sale Is A True Dream Car Ferrari’s first four-door four-seater, the Purosangue is a one-of-a-kind vehicle in its space with V12 power and signature Ferrari style. The car marks the beginning of a new era for Ferrari, and in a rare opportunity, the brand’s F1 driver got to celebrate the launch of a groundbreaking new model from Ferrari at a dealership in the same city as the track. As Ferrari looks forward to a new F1 season and another United States Grand Prix, the brand also looks forward to the upcoming era of the Purosangue. View All Ferraris For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by @ferrariofaustin Source: Instagram/Ferrari of Austin

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 24, 2022

This Tailor Made 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale For Sale Is A...

This Tailor Made Ferrari is the ultimate automotive statement. There are few things more desirable than the opportunity to own a Ferrari. With the brand’s incredible legacy, iconic style, and incomparable performance, it’s no wonder why Ferrari is at the top of most people’s minds when they think of the best cars that money can buy. However, there’s something better than simply owning a Ferrari, and that’s owning a Tailor Made Ferrari, with a stunning custom configuration that is just about guaranteed to be completely unique compared to anything else on the road. MUST READ: 111-Mile 1996 Ferrari F50 Listed for Sale This Tailor Made Ferrari SF90 Stradale, available for sale at Ferrari of Washington in Sterling, Virginia is finished in beautiful Verde Francesca paintwork, and that paintwork is complemented by wheels in Grigio Corsa Diamond with silver brake calipers. Once you open the doors, the interior reveals even more unique beauty. The Tailor Made interior features special green carbon fiber seat frames, with a configuration that pairs white leather seats with more green accents throughout on the dashboard and doors. At the corner of high performance and high fashion, this Tailor Made Ferrari SF90 Stradale is stunning to look at, let alone to own. Check out the price and listing by clicking below. View Price And Listing

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 18, 2022

Why Ferrari's New Interior Colors Make Customization Bett...

Ferrari configuration just got more colorful. The Prancing horse brand is introducing an incredible 12 new colors to an already wide palette of interior leathers available for its incredible cars. Much of Ferrari’s legacy, beauty, and history is symbolized by color, and for Ferrari clients, personalization is one of the most important aspects of Ferrari ownership, making the introduction of these new colors great news for Ferrari collectors worldwide. Why is customization important for Ferrari owners? The world of car collecting, especially when it comes to Ferrari, involves carefully curating pieces of automotive excellence that speak to the owner’s personality, life, and passion for cars. One of the most luxurious parts of owning a Ferrari is getting that Ferrari to be made to your specifications and your vision of what you want that car to look like, and when your Ferrari is a personal statement, it really shines in a car collection. What are the new colors that Ferrari has introduced? Of course, since it’s Ferrari we are talking about, red takes part in the color addition. Rosso Bologna and Rosso Ducale respectively take inspiration from the Italian city of Bologna and the walls of villas in Tuscany. Also obvious in most things Ferrari is Italy, which continues to serve as inspiration for the new Terra Antica color, a brown that echoes Italian landscapes. Verde Venaria, a green that takes inspiration from the gardens in Italy’s numerous palaces and villas and the famously blue sea near Lipari joins a spectrum of colors that make the beauty of personalizing a Ferrari better and more passionate than ever. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: Ferrari

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 12, 2022

The Little Car Company Has Begun Deliveries For The 299-E...

Great things are happening at the intersection of old and new. The legendary Ferrari Testa Rossa race car of old is known for its prestigious status as a Le Mans winner, and the incredible design and legacy of the car are things that will never fade from the automotive world’s collective memory. The Little Car Company’s Ferrari Testa Rossa J recaptures its glory in a unique way. It’s built using many techniques that are similar to the original to properly evoke its character, while also having a convenient electric drivetrain, and bespoke craftsmanship to make it something truly special. At 75% scale, the car is smaller than the original but officially licensed by Ferrari, created with the help of original design drawings from Ferrari Classiche. MUST READ: Kith Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of BMW’s M Division With A New Capsule Collection, Available Now Only 299 of these incredible machines will be made, and two have already been delivered to a Norwegian collector. One is finished in bare aluminum, showing off the performance and engineering dedication of the original car, and how it pushed boundaries in its time. The other is finished in an elegant Rosso Mugello with Giallo Modena stripes, with an interior finished in Cioccolato Frau. With four driving modes, easy charging from where the fuel cap would have been on the original, and other luxurious, convenient features make the Ferrari Testa Rossa J from The Little Car Company a beautiful classic that’s just as competent in the modern world. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: The Little Car Company

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 10, 2022

New NOVITEC Upgrades For The Ferrari SF90 Spider Deliver ...

Ferrari’s open-top flagship just got even better. The Ferrari SF90 Spider represents the Prancing Horse brand’s commitment to innovative engineering, incredible performance, and classic driving pleasure. With a V8-hybrid powertrain and racing-derived engineering, the open-top driving experience of the Ferrari SF90 Spider is nothing short of amazing, but as the house always does, NOVITEC decided to up the ante. For the Ferrari SF90 Spider, NOVITEC offers an upgrade that brings power up to 1,109 horsepower with exhaust and electronic management system upgrades. MUST READ: Hennessey Performance Debuts The New VelociRaptor 500 Bronco What this results in for the iconic supercar is a 0-60 time that comes down to less than 2.4 seconds, and a top speed that reaches heights above 211 mph. The car also receives visual upgrades, with 21-inch wheels created in collaboration between NOVITEC and Vossen, as well as bodywork made of exposed carbon fiber for a look that is even more edgy and sporty than the factory Ferrari SF90 Spider. With NOVITEC’s improvements, the Ferrari SF90 Spider realized even more potential than we thought it could. View All Ferrari SF90 Spiders For Sale Source: NOVITEC

By Edward Jones – October 07, 2022

Mysterious V12 Ferrari Spotted Testing in Maranello

We'll never say no to Ferrari using their V12 engine in another car. One of the great things about being around Maranello, Italy is that there's a chance that you'll see Ferrari testing one of their upcoming models. For YouTuber Varryx, this is a common occurrence as they have captured many of Ferrari's test mules out on the street. Varryx's latest Ferrari spy shots are of what looks like a Roma in camouflage but there's a secret under the hood. According to the commentary in their video found up above, this Ferrar test mule is powered by a V12 engine. While it may not sound ferocious like any other V12 engine, that's because it's supposedly being muffled. Additionally, the front of the car appears to have been extended so that the V12 engine could fit. As for what this car will eventually end up being, Varryx notes that it will more than likely be the 812 Superfast's successor and will come out in 2024. That means we not only have a lot of time to wait for the unveiling, but also plenty of time to speculate. Be sure to check back in with us for more information as it's revealed. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: YouTube/Varryx

By Edward Jones – October 06, 2022

Ferrari Announces Le Mans Hypercar Reveal Date

A great way to end the month. It's been a couple of months since we've had any substantial news regarding Ferrari's upcoming Le Mans Hypercar (LMH), but that's coming to an end. During an interview with Motorsport.com, Ferrari's Antonello Coletta divulged some juicy details regarding the new race car. Coletta noted that the LMH has already put in 6,213 miles of testing and that the team takes it to track every 10 days so that the fine-tuning will be in place for the 2023 WEC season opener in March. Regarding who will be driving the race car, that news will come later in the year after its debut, which brings up another point. According to Motorsport.com, the new Ferrari hypercar will be revealed on October 30 during the final day of the Ferrari World Finals at Imola. That means we only have a couple of weeks left of speculation and renders until we see the final design for the race car. "The car is very complicated because we have chosen the Hypercar , while the LMDh regulations call for a slightly simpler car," Coletta said during the interview. "This choice brings with it some non-trivial complications to solve. That's why I say that the more we drive, the better." Be sure to check back with us on that day to see the car for yourself and read all about its specifications. Source: Motorsport.com

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 29, 2022

The New 1-Of-1 Ferrari SP51 Is A Unique 812-GTS-Based Roa...

This one-off Ferrari celebrates open-air driving joy. The Ferrari 812 GTS is a car that both captures and evolves the driving pleasure of a front-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car with an open top. The formula is one that has excited drivers around the world for countless decades, and it remains one of the most desirable kinds of cars to own today, and in the form of an immensely powerful Ferrari, it’s a true winner. One special Ferrari client, however, found just about the only way to make the 812 GTS even better, and that’s to make a specially-created car based on the 812 GTS as a glorious one-off. MUST READ: Tour De France Blu 2022 Ferrari 812 GTS For Sale Designed at the Ferrari Styling Centre, the new Ferrari SP51 is completely roofless, which evokes vintage racing roadster charm while also being engineered with careful attention to structural rigidity and aerodynamic efficiency despite the lack of a roof. The extensive use of exposed carbon fiber modernizes the car’s classic ethos. Rosso Passionale is the color that adorns the car, while a blue and white racing stripe echoes the 1955 Ferrari 410 S, and the interior does as well. With bright red throughout the interior, the Ferrari spirit runs deep in this special one-off car, built for a Taiwanese collector who is one of Ferrari’s leading clients, and even in an extensive Ferrari collection, this new, one off Ferrari SP51 is undoubtedly a crown jewel. View All Ferrari 812 GTS For Sale

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