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 – December 10, 2015

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder at Gullwing Mot...

Available at Gullwing Motor Cars of Long Island City, New York is a stunning 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder. This example is unrestored and comes with its preserved original interior. The chassis number is #1425 GT, as is the engine number.This is one of only 50 LWB California Spiders ever built and comes with cold-air box and velocity stacks. The buyer of this car will also receive its extensive record, the tool roll and sales literature.For more information, including price, be sure to click the button below.View Price and Listing Gallery

By Edward Jones – December 08, 2015

What Ferraris Will Look Like in 2040

To help them decide what they're cars will look like in 2040, Ferrari put on Ferrari Top Design School Challenge. This challenge includes four of the most prestigious design schools around the world and their students.Beginning on October 2014, students began on their designs for the Ferrari of the future. Now, a little over a year later, 12 finalist models have been chosen, three from each school.Instead of picking the cars themselves, they are letting us, the public, pick the winner by voting on the official Ferrari Facebook page. To vote, click the button below the cars below.Ferraris For Sale ViventerossaVote Now

By Andrew Nabors – December 07, 2015

Italian Battle: Ferrari 458 Speciale vs F430 Scuderia Race

Having these two powerful and rare Ferrari models next to each other is a sight to behold, but to have them in action against one another is something you will never see again.In a video uploaded to YouTube December 4th by GTBOARD.com, it's easy to see how the 458 Speciale surpasses its predecessor. The 4K clarity of the video makes it possible to see every inch of these gorgeous cars.We love the 458 Speciale almost as much as ice cream, but the F430 Scuderia is a bargain in the Ferrari world. We have quite a few listed on our website, from dealers around the nation. You can view them by clicking the corresponding button below.If you're in need of more power and want the prestige that comes from owning one of the presumed last 458 models, behind the Speciale A, the Speciale is what you're looking for. But, you better bite on them quickly because they're in extremely low production, as the new 488 GTB is making its way to streets...For more wild drag races, stay tuned to Autofluence.F430 For Sale 458 Speciale For Sale (Source: YouTube)

By Andrew Nabors – December 01, 2015

Ferrari 288 GTO vs F40 vs F50 vs Enzo vs LaFerrari: Part 1

One of the perks of our job is to watch a ton of car videos in order to provide you with the best content on the internet. That being said, Alejandro Salomon has raised the bar for supercar footage, starting with his "Hyper 5" series and now with the "Ferrari's Big 5" series. In this series, he and his team pit the Italian company's big five cars against each other: the 288 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari.After a thorough series of legal disclaimers, the evolution of the modern Ferrari is shown in exquisite detail, as this video was meant to serve as an introduction to what's to come. You see, this is only part one of a new three-part series, and we can barely wait for the next installment.We’re not sure how he was able to gather these cars together in one place because this is the automotive equivalent of dividing by zero. Either way, we should all be thankful that he created this series.Check out the first video below and stay with us for Part 2. And, if you want, pick your favorite and put it in the comments below.Ferrari For Sale (Source: Ferrari)

By Caitlin Duffy – November 12, 2015

Koenigsegg CCR Evo vs. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano in Rolling...

Which can take on the track more deftly than the other, a supercar from a boutique Swedish manufacturer or a production beast from one of Italy's most storied marques?After a rolling start, your guess is as good as mine.The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is a beautiful creation from Italy, capable of a 0-62 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. Ferrari's famous V12 is housed under the hood, creating an aggressive 620 hp for drivers to play with. Its dry weight is just 3,482 pounds, and which moves quickly with 448 lb-ft of torque on tap.As for the Koenigsegg CCR Evolution, a run from 0 to 62 mph will take just 3.2 seconds. As an upgraded version of the CCR's 4.7-liter V8, the CCR Evo was tuned to create 891 bhp and 750 lb-ft of torque, all with a dry weight of 3,086 pounds.From a comparison of the numbers, one might deduce who the winner could be, but it's always important to remember the driver's abilities when making such a call. Luckily for us, we don't have to just wonder; GTBoard.com shared a video to YouTube Nov. 11 of these two taking each other on from a rolling start in two races.Check out the comparison below, then find yourself a Koenigsegg or Ferrari from our exclusive listings.Koenigseggs For Sale 599 GTB Fioranos For Sale (via YouTube) See More Koenigsegg News

By Caitlin Duffy – November 09, 2015

Ferrari F12tdf Fully Introduced at Finali Mondiali

Ferrari has introduced a new beast to its stable in the form of the F12tdf, a limited edition variant of the F12berlinetta, and it was unveiled to the world this past weekend in a most fitting fashion.The Ferrari Finali Mondiali took place this past weekend, from Nov. 6-8, with the marque pulling out the best of the best for a three day show in Mugello, Italy. An average of 4 press releases and videos a day were issued by the marque during this event, and among all the photos and footage of the 50,000 person crowd were shots of the F12tdf in action.The V12-powered F12berlinetta variant is capable of creating an impressive 780 hp, and as one Nov. 8 release describes, it pays tribute to the Tour de France Automobile. A limited run of 799 examples will be created, three of which were present in Mugello that day. Two in classic Ferrari red and one in a bright yellow tore around the track and showed off their engine notes, with one stopping for a few donuts before continuing on its way.Not surprisingly, all of the performance numbers for the F12berlinetta are improved upon with this new model. A run from 0 to 62 mph takes just 2.9 seconds now, while 0-124 mph is down to 7.9 seconds. A full lap around the Fiorano track is 1 minute 21 seconds, a 2 second cut from the F12berlinetta's time.On Nov. 9, Ferrari shared a video of the three F12tdfs at the Finali Mondiali event, while Marchettino shared his capture of the day on Nov. 8. Check out these two videos above and below to see and hear this beast. If the redesigned exterior isn't quite your style, find one of the original F12berlinettas for your collection from our exclusive listings.F12berlinettas For Sale Gallery (via Ferrari, YouTube) See More Ferrari News

By Edward Jones – November 06, 2015

Porsche Carrera GT vs Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Race

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano began its production run right before Porsche ended their Carrera GT supercar. The two cars vary in many ways, including their engines, country of origin, design and more.Even with a mass amount of differences, GTBoard.com pitted the two against each other in a surprisingly exciting rolling drag race. The V12 of the 599 and the V10 of the Carrera GT worked as hard as they could to keep the race as tight as possible. Power from the 599's V10 is rated at 612 hp, while the Carrera GT has 558 hp on tap.You can watch the video of the race just below, uploaded to YouTube today. Who do you think would have won if the race was held from a standstill? Let us know in the comments below.599s For SaleCarrera GTs For Sale (via YouTube)

By Caitlin Duffy – November 04, 2015

Ferrari FXX With Unique Wrap Enjoys Some Track Time

If you want to hear an engine note that will literally give you goosebumps and set your heart racing, listen to one of Ferrari's XX models.If you really want to hear something that'll send you running to your nearest track, listen to that XX model take on a few laps and really put its engine to the test.A video shared to YouTube today by 19Bozzy92 shows us the FXX, Ferrari's second XX model, starting up and taking a few laps around the track, treating everyone within a mile to the sounds of its fine Italian tuning.At a few different points in the video, the FXX isn't even visible as it goes around Italy's Autodromo di Monza, but it sounds as though the camera is just a few feet away. It genuinely induced goosebumps to hear it, and Road & Track's Kristen Lee could only describe her excitement with an appropriate "Gahhhhhhhhhhh."After you take a few minutes to listen to the FXX in the video below, check out our July article about that one time an FXX, 599XX and FXX-K all got into a revving battle. You'll want to make sure your volume is turned up for both.Ferraris For Sale (YouTube via Road & Track) See More Ferrari News

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By Caitlin Duffy – October 29, 2015

Ferrari LaFerrari Delivery by Tomasz Majewski

Article and photos by Tomasz Majewski, Fotograf Tomasz MajewskiSince the day Ferrari introduced the LaFerrari to the public, I fell in love with the car, and it has been my biggest dream and goal as an automotive photographer to finally get one for a photoshoot. I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to ride in one.I live in Oslo, and although I have photographed lots of supercars, hypercars are almost impossible to find, as there are only a few of these in Norway.This year, I was slowly preparing for the Oslo Motor Show, as every year, when I suddenly saw the post on Facebook - a LaFerrari was coming to the Oslo Motor Show. It´s not difficult to guess my reaction. I was super excited, and I made a new goal for the OMS - to get at least five minutes with the car before they put it inside and block access.I started to contact some of my friends from the industry, and finally I got right one a week before the event, who told me the car would be delivered Thursday evening or Friday morning, but they will confirm it on Wednesday. On Wednesday, it was confirmed - Thursday, 12:00 pm. I was super excited, and prepared all my equipment. I decided to take my Canon 5d mk3 and 3 lenses - a Canon 16-35 f 2.8, Canon 70-200 f 2.8 and Sigma 50mm f 1.4.I arrived at the Oslo Motor Show an hour early just to make sure I didn't miss anything, and I was checking in with my contact constantly for updates on the status of the car. I was informed that it would arrive in a truck delivered by a professional transportation company, so it would be impossible to recognize. However, I was also told it had to go to the front of the building for registration, and then it would be delivered to the back through a security gate for unloading.I finally got a call; the car had just registered, it had already gone to the back of the building for unloading. I took my camera bag and ran like hell through front entrance, the only way to get to the back of building on foot. I had to show my press pass to security and… I couldn't find it! I had everything ready for so many days, and I lost the most important thing. Luckily, I had a computer with me, and they let me show my press pass at the accreditation office and printed me a new press card. I was safe, but I was really afraid I had missed the moment of unloading. Luckily, I didn't.(See Also: Trip to the Viper's Den: Carl Jones Photography)When I arrived at the back of the building, I saw it immediately. At the end of parking lot, there was the truck with one door opened, and though I only saw a little part, I recognized it at once. What a surprise when I saw the car plates - "La Fiat." When the car was finally out, it was put next to the trailer in the parking lot. There was a television crew who were given priority to conduct an interview with the owner and tape the car, so I had to adjust to the situation.Depending on where the TV crew was and what they were doing, I had to quickly change lenses to either document some details or the car/interior. I was really lucky that there were only a few people around the car, so I got the chance to get few clean pictures. Since I was not sure how the situation would evolve or how much time I would have, I decided to leave the tripod in my car before I came. The car was mostly in the shadows, so I had to raise the ISO up to 1600 sometimes to get sharp images. I also used a CPL filter to get rid of reflections, but only on one lens. I did not want to waste my time changing the filter to another lens, as the car could be gone at any time.Suddenly, one of the TV guys told me that he is going to have a short ride in the LaFerrari as a passenger, and film a story with the owner behind the wheel. He expected to have a short ride on the parking lot, but I suddenly noticed they went out on public road. I quickly packed my bag and ran as fast as I could to the public road, as I was sure they would just turn around at the nearest round about and come back. I really wanted to get at least one panning shot of the car.I quickly found the most reasonable spot to do it and waited.. waited.. for about 20 minutes. They lost their way and it took them a while to come back. I had only one shot to do it, and I can say I am quite satisfied with the result. The car was driving slowly, so I had to slow down the shutter speed to 1/60 to get a better sense of the motion, and finally, it turned quite nicely.After they brought the car to where it was supposed to stand for the Oslo Motor Show, I had the opportunity to talk for a while with the owner. He has an amazing collection of 40 unique cars, and Ferrari is on top of his favorite car brands. He decided to take the car out again to wash it after the ride with the TV crew, and I asked for a chance to join him for this really short ride. He was kind enough to say yes, making my other dream come true.It was an awesome Motor Show this year in general as we had some really unique cars, including the Ferrari LaFerrari, Ferrari F12, Lamborghini Huracan, Koeningsegg CCXR, Maserati MC-12 Corsa, Lexus LFA, Bugatti Veyron, Porsche 918, Porsche 991 GT3 RS, Lamborghini Diablo Jotta SE 30 and Porsche Dauer 962 Le Mans, but the LaFerrari took most of my attention. Can´t wait to see what the organizers surprise us with next year!Gallery More Photographer's Perspectives

By Edward Jones – October 29, 2015

High-Speed Onboard Ferrari FXX K Laps Around Imola Circuit

The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, also known as the Imola Circuit, is a 3.05 mile track that has been around for over half a century. Its layout throws 17 turns at drivers and has plenty of room for them to go flat-out in.With all of this room for tarmac activities, it makes sense that NM22555 Car HD Videos attached a camera to a Ferrari FXX K as it made its way around the track. This 1,035 hp Italian race car is a perfect car to show off just how fast trips around the Imola Circuit can be.(Also Read: Ride along in the McLaren P1 GTR’s Passenger Seat)To help the FXX K perform on a track, it has four settings that alter the car's performance and Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). These include: Qualify: Maximum performance with limited driving time. Long Run: Consistent performance. Manual Boost: Instant torque delivery. Fast Charge: Faster recharging for the car’s battery. If you've ever wanted to see what it's like to fly through the Imola Circuit in one of the world's finest race cars, check out the video below, uploaded to YouTube Oct. 28.Ferraris For Sale (via YouTube) More Ferrari News

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