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 – September 24, 2020

Classiche Certified 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO For Sale

The most popular motorsport of the early 80's was Group B rally racing. Manufacturers were finally embracing turbos as the perfect way to develop incredible power. Enzo Ferrari was never happy to sit idle while his competitors were getting recognized around the world. That's why he pushed his engineers to cut apart the Group B rulebook and build a car to dominate everyone else. In order to be able to race, the sanctioning body required Ferrari to sell a few street-legal examples to the public, and this resulted in their first supercar. While many will tell you it is a 308 GTB with impressive power, the only part they shared was the Scuderia Shield. Only 272 examples were built, and only a handful remain. This one being in showroom condition is a Blue Chip investment. The featherweight body panels were designed to race, so the curb weight hovers around 2,550 lbs depending on driver and fuel. Don't be fooled by the 2.8-liter V8, as it uses water-cooled turbos to make 400 horsepower and 366 lb-ft of torque. While these numbers were advertised to keep competitors happy, the car delivers much more. If you have been looking for the first Ferrari Supercar, this Classiche Certified example has under 30,000 miles. It is located in Europe, where it has been shown at the factory for several events. Of course, it comes with the Classiche Certification Red Book, owners manual, and service history. Our friend Marcel Massini researched every event since new, and his report is included. Copely Motors specializes in Concours-Quality cars, and they will help you get it back to the U.S. This is a spot-on price for a significant part of automotive history. Click the button below to learn more and stay with us for more amazing Ferraris for sale. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – September 18, 2020

Stunning Tailor Made 2019 Ferrari 488 Spider For Sale

Dihydrogen monoxide is nothing to be feared. The name might scare you, but humans are capable of drinking it without any side effects. Commonly known as water, it has inspired artists from cavemen to car builders. Such is the case with Ferrari's Tailor Made department with "Forces Of Nature". Designed to evoke the most powerful and enchanting aspects of the ocean, "Water Theme" is your escape voyage. That is why you should allow this stunning Tailor Made 2019 Ferrari 488 Spider for sale to be part of your collection. There will never be another 488 Spider like this. As 1 of 1, the discerning first owner only drove it 59 miles. Sold new and serviced by Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale, the factory warranty continues to 3/22/22 with included maintenance out to 3/22/26. While those are well and good, here is what makes it so enchanting. Blue Metallic, Peccary Beige and Blue Sterling combine to evoke the perfect day at the beach. The livery and dreamlines are in white, and all the carbon fiber accents (including the steering wheel) are Blue Lucido. The 4-layer paint is just the beginning of the unique options from Tailor Made, as they also crafted a dedication plate from silver. The gauges have machined aluminum faces and the headrests are embroidered in Blue Medio. Showing only delivery mileage, this certified pre-owned Spider deserves to be the centerpiece of your collection. The asking price is a fraction of what it cost to build, so this opportunity won't last long. This is just one example of what Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale is capable of, so click the button for all the details and stay with us for all of their impressive inventory. View Price and Listing

By Andrew Nabors – July 01, 2020

Classiche Bianco Avus LaFerrari Aperta For Sale

Ferrari's hybrid hypercar was introduced at the Geneva Auto Show in 2013, and limited to 499 examples. Because the LaFerrari coupe sold out before their big 70th Anniversary, the decision was made to remove the roof. The last time such a car was offered, the F50 required a storage case larger than a piano box to safely store the carbon fiber roof. A removable hardtop would change the car's weight distribution and handling, so Ferrari chose the most difficult solution. You can't simply reinforce a few parts of the chassis and expect a roadster to have the same torsional response and cornering abilities of a coupe. Therefore, the LaFerrari Aperta shares similar lines, but it is essentially a different car. The cloth roof required a new windshield structure, door sills, and suspension tuning. Creating a niche to store the roof required the radiator and fans to offer the same heat rejection while creating a slipstream that doesn't cause cockpit turbulence. After all this, production was limited to 210 cars. " width="680"> With such limited production, Ferrari didn't make a profit on the program. What they did was to allow their most valued customers to personalize their most powerful roadster. This is one such example that was delivered to a prominent Denver collector on October 7th of 2017. Instead of the regular-production Bianco Avus white, he opted for triple-layer "Extracampionario" Bianco Italia with Giallo (Yellow) accents throughout the black interior. From here, he proceeded to order everything under the sun. From the Personalization Pack, Track Inner Cams, all optional carbon fiber, yellow calipers, sport exhaust, stripes, paint protection film, suspension lift, telemetry, car cover, and the Classiche Program. With only 675 miles, it shows no signs of wear inside or out, and that is why chassis #225883 would look great in your collection. Click the button below for all the details and stay with us for more amazing inventory at Ferrari of Denver. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2020

Classiche 2015 LaFerrari For Sale

To have any Ferrari Classiche Certified is no easy task. But receiving the coveted book is not only a life goal for many, it is an endorsement by the factory that the car and its provenance are an outstanding representation of the brand. Only 499 examples of the LaFerrari were offered, so it took a small miracle for them to consider the certification. Thankfully, the owner selected all the correct options when the order was placed. Every piece of exterior carbon fiber is on the list, as are the clear vinyl paint protectors. The blacked-out interior includes leather seats, Alcantara dash, and headliner, even the steering wheel. Matte carbon inside and out along with matte black wheels are a majority of the options. "Special Features" account for $8,865, for almost $63,400 in added content. By far, the most intriguing LaFerrari option is a 1:12 scale replica of the car. Built by the die-cast masters at Amalgam Models, it is exact-even down to the matte center caps. The model is mounted in a display case of acrylic and wood to remind you of what's in the garage. Given the prices of recent LaFerrari sales, this car is the best investment on the market. Because Marshall Goldman owns every car in his inventory, there is no consignment BS or title headaches. Click the link below for all the details and prepare to be amazed. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – June 22, 2020

1961 Ferrari 250 GTE RHD Barn Find For Sale

Even though I quarantined my race car until our local track reopens, that doesn't mean I hide it away from the world. Life happens, and sometimes even the most coveted cars on Earth are forgotten. Ferrari's first family model was the 250 GTE. Pininfarina sculpted a gorgeous 2+2 without sacrificing the lines of the iconic GT. Once the body was complete, the suspension was re-tuned to preserve an ideal weight distribution. Offering more space and practicality, the GTE was assigned to the Track Mashall of LeMans in 1960. Only 55 examples were built in RHD, and this example was ordered by Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. in Surrey, England. Originally painted in Shell Gray & Orange, it was featured in Autosport magazine in October of '61. Recently discovered, it has not seen daylight since 1983. Aside from a later-model 275 steering wheel, all numbers are matching. The first series of 250 GTE production consisted of 299 cars, easily distinguished by grille-mounted driving lights. As only 55 were built for Right-Hand markets, this may be the last surviving example. Our friends at Gullwing Motor Cars have all the details, so click the button for an amazing deal on this unmolested classic. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – June 18, 2020

Pristine Bianco Italia 2015 LaFerrari For Sale

Last week we gave you an example of the best automotive investment. If you could have bought a Ferrari Enzo and stored it for two decades, the rate of return would make you wealthy. Such is the case with the F40 and the 288 GTO, along with their most recent supercar. Not only is the LaFerrari a timeless statement to the world, it offers performance, efficiency, and style that will be unsurpassed in our lifetimes. Special options set normal Ferrari models apart from regular production, and they are worth more than gold on the LaFerrari. Because only 499 cars were produced, options are the name of the game. This one was special ordered in Bianco Italia with "Blu" leather. It has all the exposed carbon fiber one could ask for along with audio by Harman/Kardon. Between the dash vents is an American flag, and the seats are 2-tone leather with embroidery and contrast stitching. With only 780 miles on the odometer, you have two choices: drive it knowing you have 664 lb-ft of torque and 949 horsepower. With a fully charged battery, you will also have Silent Start for electric cruising. Or...you could make it the centerpiece of your collection and resist the temptation to rack up the miles. You probably couldn't go wrong in either case, so click the link below for all the details and stay with us for more amazing inventory from iLusso. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – April 27, 2020

Special Order 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista For Sale

It has been our goal to show you the rarest & most exotic cars ever made. For 35 years we have only featured the best cars on the market, and that is why you won't find anything like this anywhere else. Our Ferrari fans know that you have to special order cars in order to work your way up the ladder. If you want a spot in line for the next Ferrari supercar, you need to show them some love. That is what you see here. A 488 Pista in a stunning shade of Verde KERS Lucido three stage pearl. In addition to the PPG base coat, two distinct pearl layers were hand-painted before being bathed in clear coat. The price for such a process added $35,000 to the window sticker. The center stripes of Nero and Bianco are not vinyl, they are also under the clear. That is why the entire car is wrapped in a protective film. Inside you will find leather and Alcantara with green accents and white stitching. At just under 400 miles, you will have all carbon fiber options: inside & out. With a window sticker of $465,000, this Pista is 1 of 1 and it deserves to be the centerpiece of your collection. Click the button below for all the details and stay with us for more amazing inventory from Boch Exotics! View Listing Contact Boch Exotics Website: Boch ExoticsPhone: 888-876-4399Address: 441 Providence Hwy, Route 1, Norwood, MA 02062

By Andrew Nabors – April 23, 2020

Highly Optioned 2018 Ferrari Atelier 812 Superfast For Sale

When it comes to ordering Ferrari's flagship, options are everything. While many will choose a showroom model, checking off every box puts you on the factory's radar. It opens doors to exclusive events and allows you the opportunity to purchase low-production exclusive models not offered to the public. If you are a regular customer, and on the factory's good graces, another door will open. A Ferrari Atelier is the ultimate way to personalize your car. It takes their Tailor Made program to the next level by offering a hotline to the factory. Only a handful of dealers around the world have an Atelier showroom. This is because of strict attention to detail mandated by the factory, and a significant amount of time and training involved. That is why any Atelier-built Ferrari stands apart from all lesser models. Our friends at Ferrari of Long Island specialize in this process, and we're glad to offer their highly optioned 2018 Ferrari Atelier 812 Superfast for sale. It was ordered and sold by them to s discerning owner. It has less than 1,000 miles and the remainder of the factory warranty. Matte Gray over Red Leather is not offered to just anyone, that is why it belongs in your collection. Click the button below for all the details and stay with us for more amazing Atelier builds from Ferrari of Long Island. View Listing

By BradN – March 09, 2020

Most Beautiful Ferrari 488 Pistas For Sale: March 2020

2019 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $449,000 View listing 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista View listing 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $519,000 view listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista view listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $499,999 view listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $509,900 View listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider :: $749,900 view listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $529,900 view listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $469,900 view listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider :: $649,800 view listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $499,900 View listing 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista :: $539,800 view listing 488 Pistas for sale 488 Pista Spiders for sale

By Edward Jones – March 06, 2020

One of Enzo Ferrari's Personal Cars is for Sale

Enzo Ferrari is undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures in automotive history, so imagine owning a car that the legend himself drove. Well, now you can do that thanks to Daniel Schmitt & Co.. This classic car dealership is offering a 1962 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Prototype Coupe by Pininfarina that was actually one of Enzo Ferrari's personal cars. This was the first 330 GT 2+2 Prototype that Ferrari built back in August 1962, and it was one of the few production cars that Enzo Ferrari drove. It comes with plenty of documentation regarding the car's history, including a copy of a 1977 letter from Ferrari confirming this car as one of the 330 GT Prototypes. The car is also in astounding condition as it's undergone a very meticulous restoration-- over $285,000 invested into the car. For more information, be sure to click the button below. VIEW PRICE AND LISTING

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