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 Andrew Nabors – June 15, 2018

Ferrari Unveils Piloti Edition 488 Pista

Because the biggest race of the year is tomorrow, Ferrari's Tailor Made program has released a new version of the 488 Pista. The "Piloti Ferrari" 488 Pista was built to recognize the dedication of their client's race teams. The cover was removed this morning at LeMans, next to the car that inspired it. The #51 car of AF Corse is driven by Alessandro Guidi and James Calado, and they won last year's World Endurance Championship Drivers' and Manufacturers' trophies.That is why this new Piloti Ferrari can only be ordered by factory-supported drivers. Four color choices are Argento Nurburgring, Nero Daytona, Blu Tour de France, and of course, Rosso Corsa. Inside you are treated to black Alcantara with perforated seats to keep you cool. The Italian flag can be seen in several spots, and the Tailor Made artists will emblazon your car's number on the dash and on the exterior if so desired.Behind the cockpit is the latest 709 horsepower twin-turbo V8. The 3.9 liter has been voted best turbo V8 for the 3rd consecutive year. The finishing touches are graphics from the 488 GTE and PRO. Natural finish carbon fiber makes up many of the aerodynamic bits. If you think you might be on the list, click the link below to find our dealer nearest you, and take the 488 GTB for a spin.Find Your Ferrari 488 GTB Here

By Andrew Nabors – May 23, 2018

Ferrari SP38 Unveiled at Fiorano

If your Ferrari was delivered at their historic test track, could you resist doing a few laps? That is exactly what happened when their latest Special Project was delivered. In a press release this morning, we've learned this gorgeous Italian Stallion is a one-off build for one of their best customers. Underneath is the chassis and drivetrain of a 2019 Ferrari 488 GTB. To give you an idea of their abilities here is SP12 EC. It is a 458 Italia commissioned by a guitarist named Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton's Ferrari SP12 ECThe new body was inspired by the legendary F40, which was also a twin turbo mid-mounted V8. It wears a unique shade of red, created by several layers of base & tinted clear coats. The headlights were made as small as possible, and the rising rear quarter panels are a nod to the F40. Instead of the gaping vents found on the 488 GTB, the intercoolers are fed by inlets at the base of the quarter glass.Top 10 Fastest Quarter Mile TimesFerrari's Special Projects department has no limits to their abilities, we only wish they would build a few production examples for us! Many are kept in seclusion because the owners would not want to disclose they have more money than many small countries. Tell us what you think of SP38 in the comments below, and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. if you need something just as powerful, click the link to find your 488 GTB.Find Your Ferrari 488 GTB HereP.S. The car was delivered at the Fiorano race track, and the house behind the car is actually inside the track. Enzo's modest home allowed him to hear and see his creations in action.

By Edward Jones – October 30, 2017

The Most Extreme Ferrari is Now a Reality

If you thought you Ferrari FXX-K was a track-monster, wait until you see its EVO counterpart.After Ferrari introduced the FXX and 599 XX, an Evo version of each car was released. When the FXX-K was released, we knew it would only be a matter of time until the FXX-K Evo was unveiled. And now, it's finally here.LaFerrari Specs, Review and Photos Ferrari focused primarily on improving the FXX-K Evo's aerodynamics over its FXX-K brethren. To do this, Ferrari introduced a myriad of new aero component all across the race car's body. Most notably, the rear wing is now a twin-profile fixed wing that works in harmony with two side fins and a central fin. That central fin also includes three vortex generators that increase the efficiency of the rear systems by 10% on their own.Luxury Cars for SaleFerrari has also added to the FXX-K' Evos interior a new steering wheel, 6.5-inch display for the rearview camera, that can display telemetry data, and a lot more.Pricing and exact specs have not been released yet. Also, don't expect to see it on the road as it's not street legal and will only be used in the XX Programme in the 2018/2019 season.

By Andrew Nabors – August 23, 2017

Say Hello to the Ferrari Portofino, Goodbye California T

Maranello has built something new, and it's heading for the Frankfurt Auto Show. The new Ferrari Portofino was released, and it looks spectacular. It seems like only yesterday that the California was unveiled, but it was a decade ago. Named for a fishing village on the Italian Riviera, it as far from California as you would imagine. That is because everything is new from the ground up. Chassis design and high strength composites have come a long way in the past years, so it has allowed the Portofino to be lighter and stronger than its predecessor. Building a convertible that doesn't get floppy when cornering also helps to provide grip for impressive launches. Ferrari says the new car can leap to 62 mph (100kph) in only 3.5 seconds. It might be the world's fastest 4 seat hardtop convertible thanks to 600 cv, or metric horsepower. Italians seem to love this standard for some reason, but the difference is minuscule. The 3.8 liter V8 delivers 591 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque. As with most flat-plane V8 engines, max horsepower is at a screaming 7,500 rpm, while torque is a broad plateau from 3,000 to 5,250 rpm. Taking a page from the 488 series, boost from the turbos is computer controlled. It allows for instant throttle response along with better fuel mileage, which is music to our ears. Attention to detail is also evident in the interior. A new 10.2" touchscreen is competitive with other luxury models, and new 18-way seats offer more comfort up front along with more leg room for back seaters. The A/C and climate control is more powerful, to provide cooling with the top down. Attention to detail is also evident in the interior. A new 10.2" touchscreen is competitive with other luxury models, and new 18-way seats offer more comfort up front along with more leg room for back seaters. The A/C and climate control is more powerful, to provide cooling with the top down. The body has influences from the F12 series, and new LED headlights are combined with air vents that feed into the front wheel wells. This takes high-pressure air off of the nose and uses it to clean up turbulence under the body. The days of Pininfarina styling are over, and the Portofino is a modern look from their own internal designers. If you have been dreaming of a fastback hardtop convertible, your wait is over. The Portofino has erupted with the ferocity of Mount Vesuvius, with an impact that will be felt for years to come. Our dealers will need to clear out the Californias to make room, so check out the great deals in the link below and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Ferrari California T For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 21, 2017

Ferrari F40 Celebrates 30th Birthday

On July 21, 1987 at the Civic Centre in Maranello, Ferrari unveiled what would become one of their most iconic cars: the F40. Today, we celebrate the car's 30th birthday and recognize it as an automotive masterpiece.Ferrari first created the supercar to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary and it was the final car to carry Enzo Ferrari's true "signature." The F40 was truly an instant icon. Sylvester Stallone and a Ferrari F40 (1990)Powering the car is a larger version of the 288 GTO's twin-turbo 2855 cc V8 engine, which had a displacement of 2936 cc. The amount of force this engine could lay down through the five-speed manual transmission was rated 471 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. Compare this to the 1988 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary's 455 hp and 369 lb-ft, and you'll see that Ferrari's F40 definitely had an edge. Also, the Porsche 959 started production in 1986, and it was capable 444 hp and 369 lb-ft. Ultimately, the F40 was the king of the late 1980's. Ferrari Club Germany (1992)If you're interested in adding an F40 to your collection for the sake of celebration, be sure to click the button below to see our inventory of Ferrari F40s for sale.View All Ferrari F40s For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 29, 2016

LaFerrari Aperta Officially Revealed

Ferrari has finally revealed their latest hypercar at the Paris Motor Show and it's officially called the LaFerrari Aperta... not Spider. But, before I go any further, I must tell you that all of the reported 209 LaFerrari Apertas to be made have already been spoken for and is completely sold out. If you're wondering how much these people had to pay to get one pre-ordered, estimates online have been ranging from $2.1 million to $3.9 million.As far as performance figures go, the LaFerrari Aperta is just as formidable as its Coupe brethren. Motor1 notes that the hypercar will run these figures: 0-60 mph in less than three seconds, 0-124 mph in less than seven seconds and 0-186 mph in 15 seconds. Its top speed is currently rated at over 217 mph.Complete LaFerrari Aperta Specs To achieve these numbers, Ferrari's engineers made sure they could get the most out of the 963 hp combination of V12 engine and electric motor. And to do this, they had to engineer the heck out of its open-top aerodynamics and its chassis. Ferrari notes that the LaFerrari Aperta has the same rigidity and drag coefficient characteristics as the LaFerrari coupe, both being huge feats.Impressive? You better believe it.View LaFerrari For Sale View the unveiling. Skip to around 15:27 for the LaFerrari Aperta.

By Edward Jones – February 08, 2016

Ferrari GTC4Lusso: The New Italian Four-Seater

A new Italian four-seater has just been unveiled and it's the new Ferrari GTC4Lusso, a car that the automaker is hailing as "a major evolution of the sporting Grand Tourer concept." How is this new model such an evolution? With the addition of rear-wheel steering combined with four-wheel drive.If the GTC4Lusso looks familiar, it's because it replaces the FF, Ferrari's previous four-seater model. What also may be familiar is its name, which Ferrari says "references its illustrious predecessors," including the 330 GTC, 330 GT and 250 GT.And, like the GTC4Lusso's predecessors, it comes with a V12 engine. This time, however, its power is rated at a worthy 680 hp at 8,000 rpm and 514 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm, with 80% of its power at just 1,750 rpm., making for a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph. It's not too often that you can reach those types of speeds in a four-seater weighing in dry at 3,946 lbs. These figures have also increased over the previous FF model (650 hp and 504 lb-ft).Ferrari GTC4Lusso Specs Engine: 6.3-liter V12 Horsepower: 680 hp Torque: 514 lb-ft 0-62 mph: 3.4 seconds Top Speed: 208 mph Dry Weight: 3,946 Helping the wheels stay connected to the ground below is Ferrari's patented 4RM Evo four-wheel drive system, which now has rear-wheel steering for the first time. Ferrari also updated their Slip Slide Control (version 4.0) with an electronic differential (E-Diff) and SCN0E dampers. If you thought the FF could handle snowy and wet roads well, wait until you get behind the wheel of the GTC4Lusso.The GTC4Lusso's interior houses an array of standard Ferrari luxuries, like fine leather, a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen and what the automaker calls a Dual Cockpit architecture.Ferrari will be releasing more information on the GTC4Lusso as we get closer to the car's official world premiere at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, starting March 3.Ferraris For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 04, 2016

$1.6 Million Offered for Impounded Ferrari Enzo, Can't Ac...

Imagine having $1.6 million to throw down on a Ferrari Enzo-- which happens to just be sitting on an impound lot, collecting dust-- and being told no. This scenario isn't just hypothetical. It actually happened to one bidder looking to secure the famed car from a Dubai impound lot.Dubai is known for its high number of exotics, many of which somehow end up in similar predicaments. The impound lots usually auction off the cars, but this particular supercar is the subject of an ongoing Interpol investigation. Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Traffic Department at Dubai Police told 7DAYS, a Dubai-based news station, Source: Luxury4Play.com“The car remains in limbo as there is a legal dispute about it. Recently an American man, who is interested in buying rare cars, offered us Dhs6 million for it, but we can’t do anything with it for the moment.”Luckily, the lot will remove the car from the blistering, Dubai sun and store it in a warehouse instead. Hopefully, someone will sort this all out so this beauty can get back on the road!Ferrari Enzo For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 01, 2016

2016 Ferrari FXX K: Price, Specs, Review and Photos

2016 Ferrari FXX K Specs Price: $2.7 million (est) Engine: 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 Horsepower: 1035 hp 0–62: TBD Top Speed: TBD Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic Torque: 664 lb-ft ReviewFerrari closed out 2014 with a bang, introducing us to the successor to the Italian powerhouse’s famed FXX model: the Ferrari FXX K. Unveiled in December 2014, the FXX K is an “uncompromised” rendition of the hybrid LaFerrari, with the name’s ‘K’ derived from the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) the car employs.While the LaFerrari and the new FXX K utilize the same system, speed is the major factor separating the two. The FXX K produces 1,035 horsepower and more than 664 pound-feet of torque, an 85 horsepower increase over the LaFerrari. This is no doubt due to the new features, including updated camshafts, a modified valve train, redesigned intake mani-folds and a modified exhaust system sans silencers for an aggressive audible growl. ...the FXX K is an “uncompromised” rendition of the hybrid LaFerrari, with the name’s ‘K’ derived from the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) the car employs There are several other noticeable modifications to the FXX K, the most apparent being the twin-profile rear spoiler. Collectively with the mobile spoiler and new front splitter, these additions generate a 50 percent improvement in downforce in low drag configuration and an additional 30 percent increase in the more aggressive downforce configuration.Ferrari has also added four settings the driver can choose from to better control the car’s performance and KERS. Each setting creates a different result; the Qualify setting allows for maximum performance with limited driving time, the Long Run setting creates a more consistent performance output, the Manual Boost setting instantly boosts torque delivery and the Fast Charge setting recharges the car’s battery in a flash.Ferraris For Sale Buy Your Issue Now

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

Ferrari News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe