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 Edward Jones – June 01, 2020

Ferrari Enters Three Cars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual

The world of virtual racing is getting more intense as there is now going to be a virtual version of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Aptly called the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual, this race will feature over 50 different crews from all over the motorsports world. This includes championship participants, Formula 1 drivers, sim drivers and more. As for Ferrari, they will have three cars entered into the race. The crews include the following teams: Nicklas Nielsen, Federico Leo, Kasper Stoltze, Amos Laurito; Miguel Molina, David Perel, Danilo Santoro, Jordy Zwiers; Charles Leclerc, Antonio Giovinazzi, David Tonizza, Enzo Bonito. You will be able to watch this race when it starts on June 13 at 9 AM EST. There will also be free practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Be sure to check back with us for more information on this exciting race as it's released. See All Ferraris for Sale

By Edward Jones – May 26, 2020

Claude Lelouch's “Le Grand Rendez-vous” Filmed With Charl...

The highly anticipated short film “Le Grand Rendez-vous” has been filmed by French director Claude Lelouch. This new film stars the Ferrari SF90 Stradale with none other than Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc behind the wheel. Taking place in the Principality of Monaco, Leclerc took the Ferrari supercar through the Formula 1 street circuit, reaching speeds of up to 149 mph. Traffic was stopped for the filming, so nobody was put in harm's way. However, thanks to the lifting of the lockdown in France and Monaco, there were onlookers. Making a special appearance in the film was HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, while Ferrari Chairman John Elkann, the Princes Andrea Casiraghi and Pierre Casiraghi with his wife, Princess Beatrice Borromeo took time to visit the set. Be sure to check back with us on June 13 when “Le Grand Rendez-vous” premieres. See All Ferraris for Sale Source: Ferrari

By Edward Jones – May 22, 2020

Ferrari and Claude Lelouch to Recreate Famous Film with C...

In case you didn't realize, the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix was supposed to happen this Sunday. Yeah... that's a sad realization. The last time a Monaco Grand Prix didn't happen was all the way back in 1954. However, Ferrari is still heading to Monaco but this time they're bringing Charles Leclerc and Claude Lelouch with them. Lelouch is a French film director, writer and producer. Together, they will be shooting a new short film called "Le Grand Rendez-Vous," inspired by his famous short film from 1976 “C’était Un Rendez-Vous”. Many see this film as the original street racing film. You can view this film, starring the Ferrari 275 GTB down below. Acting as the protagonist for this new film will be the Ferrari SF90 Stradale assumedly being driven by Leclerc. We're excited to see Ferrari and Leclerc return to Monaco, even though it may be for a short film. Be sure to check back with us for the short film when it's inevitably released in the near future! See All Ferraris for Sale

By Edward Jones – May 18, 2020

Ferrari Museums Open Back Up

Things are starting to look up around the world as businesses are opening up and people are getting back to work. Because of this, Ferrari has opened up their museums in Maranello and Modena after closing on February 24. With the opening of the museums, Ferrari has put in place new measures that protect the health staff and visitors. For instance, staff will be taking the temperatures of all visitors as they enter via a thermal scanner and masks are provided free of charge. They have also made it so visitors book visit time slots in order to not go over the limited visitor amount. These tickets can be purchased online. As for the exhibits visitors can expect, they include “Ferrari at 24 Heures du Mans”, “Hypercars” and “Grand Tour”. See All Ferraris for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 14, 2020

David Letterman's 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Heading to Mecum Indy

We are glad Dana Mecum and his team chose to move Indianapolis back. Not only does this make it safer for bidders and sellers, it has also allowed cars of amazing pedigree to be added. Such is the case with this black beauty. David Letterman's collection will knock your socks off, but he needs to make room every so often. Therefore you will have a chance to bid on this stunning '65 Ferrari 275 GTS. To add to the provenance, it was also owned by Jon Shirley, the former president, COO and director of Microsoft. Sporting a red interior and its original engine, this Classiche-Certified GTS also comes with several 1st place trophies. Not many buyers opted for the auxiliary hard top, so you are unlikely to see a GTS like this ever again. Click the button below to learn more and stay with us for all your Mecum updates. View Listing

Daniel Ricciardo, A-Game, melin Family, Beach, San Clemente

By Edward Jones – May 14, 2020

Carlos Sainz to Race for Ferrari, Daniel Ricciardo to McL...

After the news broke that Sebastian Vettel was leaving Scuderia Ferrari Minnow after the 2020 season, the first thing that came to everyone's mind was: who will replace him? Well, now we know that Carlos Sainz will be leaving Mclaren Racing after the 2020 season and will be racing for Scuderia Ferrari in 2021 and 2022. “I am very happy that I will be driving for Scuderia Ferrari in 2021 and I’m excited about my future with the team," says Sainz. "I still have an important year ahead with McLaren Racing and I’m really looking forward to going racing again with them this season.” Also Check Out - melin X Daniel Ricciardo Arc Hydro Cap Revealed With Sainz joining Ferrari, that leaves an open spot with McLaren Racing. Well, it did until it was announced that Daniel Ricciardo would be leaving Renault and join McLaren Racing alongside Lando Norris. McLaren has shown massive improvement over the past couple of seasons and are looking to leave the mid-table soon. This potential for more wins obviously played a factor in Ricciardo's decision to leave Renault and head to McLaren. Hopefully, we'll be able to see some Formula 1 racing soon! https://www.instagram.com/p/CAKZk-nHXIF/

By Edward Jones – May 13, 2020

Ferrari and Italian Institute of Technology Reveal New Ve...

Scuderia Ferrari Minnow and the Italian Institute of Technology have been working together to come up with a new pulmonary ventilator for use in hospitals. More specifically, this ventilator can be used to help those dealing with the COVID-19 virus. The result of their teamwork has now been revealed, and it comes with the codename "FI5." This codename was picked because the letters are the initials of the Maranello marque while the number was picked because it took them five weeks to create a fully-functioning prototype. The best news when it comes to the FI5, however, is the fact that it's now open source. That means the drawings, technical specifications, firmware, software and list of components can be accessed by anyone. In fact, Ferrari says some Italian, Mexican and United States companies have already contacted them for more information on certifying and distributing the product. This is just one of the latest examples of how automakers are stepping up to the plate and contributing their knowledge and expertise for a greater good. All Ferraris for Sale Related Video " width="680">

G.P. AUSTRALIA F1/2020credit: © Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

By Edward Jones – May 12, 2020

Sebastian Vettel is Leaving Scuderia Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow has announced that Sebastian Vettel will not be extending his contract with the team after the 2020 Formula 1 season. This news comes to us in the form of a press release that notes this decision was made "jointly." Mattia Binotto, Managing Director Gestione Sportiva and Team Principal, said: "There was no specific reason that led to this decision, apart from the common and amicable belief that the time had come to go our separate ways in order to reach our respective objectives." As for Vettel, he had this to say: "In order to get the best possible results in this sport, it’s vital for all parties to work in perfect harmony. The team and I have realised that there is no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of this season." Now, the question remains: who will replace Vettel on the team? Racing for Scuderia Ferrari is a highly sought after position, so there will be many gunning for the seat. We do know that both Carlos Sainz (McLaren) and Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) will be out of their contracts at the end of the year, so they could be possible teammates for Charles Leclerc. However, there has been no official word on who will be Vettel's replacement. All Ferraris for Sale Source: Ferrari

By Andrew Nabors – May 08, 2020

UPDATE: Ferrari Back at Full Capacity

UPDATE: We originally broke this story earlier today. Ferrari has since issued a press release to let everyone know they are back at full capacity. The following is from Ferrari HQ in Maranello: "During this week, the Ferrari factories in Maranello and Modena gradually returned to full production, in line with the "Back on Track" program. The first car to come off the Special Series lines, after seven weeks in which processing was suspended just a few hours before its completion, was a Ferrari Monza SP2 with a black and gray livery. In the following days, an 812 GTS in Grigio GTS and a F8 Tributo in Rosso Corsa were among the first cars completed in the 12 and 8-cylinder lines. The new Ferraris are ready to be delivered to their owners - in the USA, Germany and Australia respectively - and to finally hit the road" They are still planning on releasing two new models before the end of the year, so stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Browse Ferrari For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – May 06, 2020

Ferrari is Now Worth More Than Ford or GM

Everyone has one stock they regret overlooking. For me, I should have invested in Ferrari (NYSE: RACE) last week. That's because they posted strong Q1 earnings and revised their outlook for the year. This led CNBC to report that Ferrari is now worth more than Ford or General Motors. With a Market Capitalization over $30 Billion, FCA's idea to make them public seems to have been a brilliant move. Top 50 Best Sports Cars Of All Time Despite the factory closing during March, deliveries were up 5% to 2,738 cars. Revenue only dropped by 1%, which doesn't compare to the hits taken by all other automakers. Looking forward to more SF90 Stradales on the street and the introduction of their Purosangue SUV, things are looking bright in Maranello. Click the button below to find your new Ferrari and stay with us for all your exotic car news. Browse Ferrari For Sale

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