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 Jordan Aquistapace – February 25, 2022

Ferrari Unveils Its 5th And Final Cavalcade Configuration...

Ferrari celebrates historic rally events with a custom design. As part of the Ferrari brand, the Italian supercar lifestyle highlights its perks well after the initial sale. The Ferrari Cavalcade is just one of the exclusive events open to its community of owners, consisting of an annual rally that takes all kinds of Ferrari models on a trip of a lifetime. The monumental event is continuing its celebration with an exclusive vehicle series that features unique factory configurations that derive inspiration from the destinations visited on each journey. Ferrari is proud to unveil its fifth and last spec that commemorates the 10-year anniversary of Ferrari Cavalcade. MUST-READ: Ferrari Unveils 3rd Cavalcade Special Edition Configuration The new Ferrari 296 GTB presents itself as the launch model of the final series, with the 2014 Sicilian destination of Argento Siracusa being the vision behind its design. The exterior styling of the silver and gold finish represents the way the sunlight falls on the marble architecture of the artistic Italian cities. The Argento Siracusa configuration is available on five Ferrari models that receive their custom treatment through the specialists at Ferrari Tailor Made. Click the link below to view all the current Ferrari models for sale on duPont REGISTRY. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more Ferrari news and releases. View All Ferrari For Sale Source: @ferrari IG

By Edward Jones – November 22, 2021

Ferrari Finali Mondiali 2021: New and Classic Icons Gathe...

If you attended this event, you won't be forgetting it any time soon. Every year, Ferrari puts on the Finali Mondiali event to wrap up the 2021 racing season. For this year, Ferrari went all out to make the event a truly special one at the Mugello Circuit. The mixture of vehicles in attendance gave spectators the chance to see an almost dizzying amount of Ferraris. There were iconic models, race cars, modern hypercars, supercars, Formula 1 cars, and even a brand-new model, all of which were Ferraris. Source: Motor 1 Italia To start off the event, there were three Ferrari Formula 1 race cars that took to the track, driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, Olivier Beretta, and Andrea Bertolini. After their series of sprints, burnouts, and pit stops, the GT Competition cars came out in a parade of speed and overtaking. For the finale of the action at the Finali Mondiali, Ferrari brought out the new Daytona SP3 that was flanked by the 330 P3/4, the 330 P4, and 412P. Source: Motor 1 Italia Seeing these cars altogether in one place was quite the experience, but it was also very special for Luka Nurmi who became the youngest winner in Ferrari Challenge history and also became the youngest to ever win the world championship. As for the AM class world title, that went to Christian Brunsborg. “It’s so exciting to hold this trophy in my hands”, said Nurmi after the race has concluded. “I have no words to describe my mood. I’m simply thrilled!” To wrap the event up, awards were handed out during the evening to winners of the European and North American Ferrari Challenge series winners. This also gave everyone a chance to celebrate Ferrari's 2021 season in the world of motorsport, including the victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Spa. Speakers during the evening event included Chairman John Elkann, Chief Executive Officer Benedetto Vigna, Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari, and Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Enrico Galliera. While those who attended the Ferrari Finali Mondiali 2021 are still going through the pictures they took at the event and reminiscing, Ferrari has already announced that the next event will take place at The Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari in Imola. This event will run from October 26 to 31, 2022. All Ferraris For Sale Image Source: Motor 1 Italia

By Andrew Nabors – April 15, 2021

2021 Passione Ferrari Club Challenge Is Heating Up

Being able to race your Ferrari amongst other owners is a treat especial. Now with Summer on the horizon, the 2021 2021 Passione Ferrari Club Challenge is heating up. The first event took place last weekend at Monza. This 3-day shootout was offered to 488 Challenge and Challenge Evo in order to allow owners to set new personal lap records for Challenge Cars at the historic track. Owners are treated to 1-on-1 schooling from the F1 team along with full telemetry of each lap. Because the ultimate 488 only weighs 2,822 lbs, they can literally out-corner the abilities of the driver. The Italian translation for what this takes is "Stugots". The program runs through September, stopping at Europe's famous tracks, ending up at Ferrari Mondiali at Mugello on November 4th. The 488 Challenge cars are a great way to hone your skills, so click the button to find yours. Browse Ferrari 488 Challenge For Sale Images (C) Ferrari

By Andrew Nabors – February 25, 2021

Countdown To Ferrari Owners' Day UK

The place is Northamptonshire and the time is 100 days from now. The countdown to Ferrari Owners' Day UK is ticking away. Presented by the Ferrari Owners' Club Great Britain, their first goal is to have the most diverse gathering of models and model years. Spectators can compete for a Pride of Ownership Trophy offered by Meguiar's for the cleanest car. Ferrari owners are invited by Superformance runway shootout at the Sywell Aerodrome. Since it is also the anniversary of D-Day, the airshow will feature Mustangs, Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and possibly an outnumbered Messerschmitt. The event is free to club members and spectator tickets are only £25 per car. Here's to the end of lockdown and a return to fun events. If you find yourself on this side of the pond, join us for Cars & Coffee, March 20th in Tampa, so click the button for more upcoming automotive events. duPont Registry Directory

By Andrew Nabors – February 24, 2020

Ferrari Museum Debuts new Exhibit "Grand Tour"

Beautiful weather is in the forecast for Modena. Aside from the gorgeous scenery and some of the world's best driving roads, the Ferrari Museum has debuted a new exhibit: "Grand Tour". The theme is a trip around the world in new & classic examples of their Grand Touring models. Each city is represented by a car that tells a story of moments and characters that define its history. Starting with New York, visitors travel to Asia, the Middle East, famous European Race Tracks, and ending with Ferrari's latest models in Rome. This is the ultimate adult version of It's A Small World", and it will run through February of next year. Click the link below to see what separates Ferrari from all lesser automakers, and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Browse All Ferrari For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – September 26, 2019

Ferrari Cavalcade Classiche Concludes in Rome

A big red book. You either have one or you don't. It means everything to Ferrari aficionados, as it is a badge of honor. If your car has gone through the rigorous Classiche Certification you might be scared to drive it on public roads. Enzo would be ashamed because his cars were meant to be driven. That is why this year's Ferrari Cavalcade Classiche concluded in Rome. Browse all Ferrari For Sale Working with the city government, Ferrari carved a new route over ancient roads. Starting at the Appian Way, stops were made at Lake Salto, Mount Terminillo, and Marmore Falls. After passing Castel Gandolfo over 80 historic Ferraris made their way through the streets of Rome. Notable attendees were the 1954 Monza 750, 1957 TRC 500, and a 257 GTB from 1964. Don't feel bad if you weren't invited, as Ferrari Classiche only restores a handful of cars annually. Our dealers can walk you through the process, so click the button above to get the ball rolling.

By Andrew Nabors – September 18, 2019

Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Hosts Rally to Homestead Speedway

If you want to compare your driving skills to other Ferrari owners, the Ferrari Challenge Series is the safest (and legal) way to do it. Last weekend, teams from around the world converged in South Florida for the penultimate race of the season. To keep the action on the track and off of the interstate, Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale hosted a rally to Homestead Speedway. Browse New & Used Inventory at Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Spectators and racers formed an Italian onslaught with help from the Florida Highway Patrol. The 66-mile trip can take hours on a weekday, so it would be nice to travel without gridlocked traffic. Dealer teams brought their best technicians and Pirelli supplied sticky rubber. Points were awarded for the Coppa Shell Championship along with Trofeo Pirelli Professional and Pro-Am classes. The final race will of the season will be a nail-biter in Mugello on October 28th. Stay with us for complete coverage of the event, and good luck to our friends in Fort Lauderdale! " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – July 01, 2019

Universo Ferrari Starts This September in Modena

Car shows are nothing rare in Italy. Given the history of racing and manufacturing, the average Italian automotive display makes any other event look insignificant. To show the world how far they've come, the most recognizable brands on earth is preparing for a party in their hometown. Universo Ferrari starts this September in Modena, and it will be the first Ferrari-only show in the city's history. Modena owes everything to Enzo, but they are not the only local manufacturer. That's why Universo is planned to outshine everything else in the automotive world. In a press release earlier today, Ferrari announced the construction of a new venue for the event. Displays will range from early models to the current lineup, and the history of Scuderia Ferrari. Big news involves the private viewings of future models for their most exclusive customers. It will also be the European debut of the SF90 Stradale, so stay with us for complete coverage of the event. In the meantime, check out these great offers on new 488 Spiders. Our dealers have great incentives on the fast & fuel efficient hardtop roadsters. Browse Ferrari 488 Spiders For Sale " width="680"> Related: Ferrari Cavalcade 2019 What Is The Fastest Ferrari?

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2017

Ferrari's Celebrates 70 Years of Excellence in NYC

Over the weekend, New York City was host to Ferrari's 70th Anniversary celebration, an event so large it spanned across the city in four distinct locations. Ferrari automobiles from every generation were on display at each of the locations, giving New Yorkers and visitors to the city a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the rarest cars in the world.For decades Ferrari has been creating the cars the world has dreamt of driving and aspired to own. While we all may love Ferrari automobiles as a whole, we each have our own favorite. One may favor the sharp edges and turbo-charged power of the F40, someone else may want to take a crack at driving the new LaFerrari Aperta hypercar and, of course, there will always be the classic Ferrari fanatic that would love nothing more than to sink into the luxurious cabin of the 400 Superamerica. For Ferrari’s 70th Anniversary celebration in New York City, they made sure that every kind of Ferrari fan was appeased.The historic event spanned across four different locations: Rockefeller Center, the Ferrari Store of New York, the Hublot New York boutique and Sotheby’s. Each location had a specific theme with a group of cars to match. Cars featured ranged from the classic 212 Inter, all the way up to and including, the brand-new LaFerrari Aperta.Ferrari North America partnered with the duPont REGISTRY who exclusively covered the celebration. At the event, duPont REGISTRY staff traveled to each location and shared it with the world via our social media outlets. For the fans in the area, we provided them with instructions on how they could participate in the ongoing event. For those who couldn’t make it to the big city, our live coverage took them behind-the-ropes and behind-the-scenes, giving them true VIP treatment. Each time the duPont REGISTRY social media team went LIVE, our millions of fans were delighted to be able to feel part of this historic anniversary, even if they were hundreds if not thousands of miles away.The event wasn’t all just sightseeing. Ferrari created an intuitive companion web-app that was a tour of the celebration and allowed everyone at the each location to participate in an epic contest. Once arriving at one of the locations, the web-app on your mobile device gave you the ability to check in, which unlocked one of many prices along with entry to one of the grand prizes. If you connected an Instagram account to the web-app, guests could share a picture of the each location with the hashtags #Ferrari70NYC and #contest to further increase their chances of winning one of the grand prizes. What could be won? The prizes included Ferrari Ray-Ban sunglasses, a Ferrari test drive, a Ferrari Pit Crew Experience and a Ferrari F1 Club Experience. With thousands of posts under each hashtag at the locations, it was easy to see that fans were more than excited to take part in the celebration and be given a chance to win one of the wonderful prizes.Below is a quick recap of each of the four locations and the cars that were featured. Rockefeller Center Through the DecadesFerrari effectively took over Rockefeller Center with a lineup of cars that spanned over 50 years. The nine cars on display ranged from the 1949 166 MM, all the way up to the new 2017 LaFerrari Aperta. Visitors to Rockefeller Center were taken aback by the exhibit and took time to take in each car's presence. The real surprise came when the LaFerrari Aperta was started up and revved for the crowd, effectively waking up the entirety of NYC with an F1-like scream that could be heard for blocks.Cars Featured: 1949 166 LM 1963 250 California 1973 365 GTB4 Daytona 1985 288 GTO 1993 512 TR 2005 Superamerica 2001 F2001 2017 LaFerrari Aperta 2017 488 Challenge Ferrari Store Ferrari Today Occupying the space in front of the Ferrari Store of New York City were both the brand-new 812 Superfast and GTC4Lusso. This was the first chance for many to see these two cars, especially the 812 Superfast supercar. Contrasting with these new models were the 1964 GT Berlinetta Lusso and 1972 365 GTB4 (Daytona) which were parked inside the showroom. Guests were able to see these rare cars as well as enter for chances to win one of the many prizes and peruse through the amazing Ferrari merchandise. Cars Featured: 1964 GT Berlinetta Lusso 1972 365 GTB4 (Daytona) 2017 812 Superfast 2017 GTC4Lusso Hublot Motorsport & PerformanceDuring Ferrari’s historic 70 years, the Italian automaker has dominated motorsports. Whether it’s in Formula 1, IMSA, or even Ferrari Challenges, teams have utilized Ferrari’s expertise to become champions. To show just a taste of their motorsport history, there were three examples of Ferrari’s motorsport vehicles positioned in front of the Hublot Boutique. Those familiar with Formula 1 were especially delighted to see the 2010 F10, driven by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Alonso.Cars Featured: 1981 512 BB LM 2010 F10 2017 488 GTB (Safety Car) Sotheby's Iconic FerrariThe “Iconic Ferrari” display at Sotheby’s was incredibly impressive, taking over the tenth floor of the building and the street out front. Arrayed in the front were some of the most memorable automobiles, including the F40, F50 and Enzo. The yellow Enzo was a crowd pleaser that many had spotted from blocks away. Inside Sotheby’s were six cars in total: one in the lobby and five on the tenth floor. In the lobby was a flawless 1961 400 Superamerica in a stunning blue finish. On the tenth floor a wood-floored showroom was home to five cars made from 1951 to 1965. The setting was perfect for these classic Ferraris, giving guests plenty of room to appreciate the curvacious designs of each sports car.Cars Featured: 1951 212 Inter 1957 250 GT Cabriolet 1958 250 GT Berlinetta (Passo Lungo) 1961 400 Superamerica 1964 250 LM 1965 275 GTB 1976 308 GTB 1990 F40 1995 F50 2003 Enzo Ferrari Not many events can ‘wow’ New York City, but Ferrari’s 70 Anniversary celebration most definitely did just that. Each of the four locations saw thousands of people every hour, many traveling from stop to stop to enter in the contest. On top of the thousands upon thousands of people visiting the exhibits, million of duPont REGISTRY fans were interacting throughout the weekend on our social media platforms, sharing, commenting and reacting to the sights and sounds of the celebration. We want to congratulate Ferrari on 70 years of success and look forward to another 70 years of excellence.

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