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 – October 17, 2017

2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso: Price, Specs, & Review

A new Italian four-seater has been unveiled - the 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? It’s 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.Keanu Reeves Drives A Ferrari 488 GTBAnd, like the GTC4Lusso’s predecessors, it comes with a V12 engine. This time, however, its power is rated at a worthy 680 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 514 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm, with 80 percent 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 horsepower and 504 lb-ft).Specs:Price: .............................................................................................................................$304,750Engine: ...........................................................................................................................6.3-liter V12Horsepower: ...................................................................................................................660Torque: ...........................................................................................................................514 lb-ft0-62: ..............................................................................................................................3.4 secondsTop Speed: .....................................................................................................................208 mphTransmission: ..................................................................................................................7-speed automaticSearch Ferrari GTC4Lusso For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 09, 2017

Top 10 Options for the New Ferrari GTC4Lusso

In the old days, you went to the dealer and gave them a deposit. You then had an opportunity to order a car exactly as you want it. Somewhere along the way, the major automakers conspired to eliminate almost all customizations in order to cut manufacturing costs. But Ferrari rejects the building of boring identical boxes. If you can stand to wait in line, your Ferrari will arrive with every conceivable item tailor-made for you. Not only does it allow the car to be an expression of your personal tastes, it also shows what the artisans are capable of when not rushed down an assembly line. Maranello has teased us with the new GTC4Lusso for almost a year, and now it has arrived. Since its predecessor, the FF, had an almost unlimited array of options, we decided to use the new configurator to see how wild it will be. Here are our top 10 options to consider.10. Full-Size Spare TireIf you happen to be the only Ferrari on the block with All Wheel Drive, you might be tempted to take a road trip or hit the dusty trails. If you venture away from civilization, a can of tire sealant isn't reassuring. And since a full-size spare is so uncommon these days, the rarity alone is worth the price. 9. Yellow TachometerBy contrasting the bright yellow against a Bordeaux leather interior, it will be easier to keep an eye on RPM during spirited driving. The passenger tach display is also mandatory for proper drifting. Nothing is better than looking out of the windows in a four wheel drift! 8. InfotainmentIf the sound of V12 power through the sports exhaust isn't enough, you need world-class audio. The details of the "HiFi" system are undisclosed so far, but the optional iPad connector and 128GB storage are necessities these days. 7. Daytona SeatsThe base model buckets are ventilated, but they are severely lacking in the style department. As a native Floridian, nothing can be wrong with a Daytona option. Several choices exist for contrast leather and stitching so the possibilities are bewildering. 6. Door PanelsIn an area that can be easily abused, leather takes more abuse and is easier to clean than metal or wood. The carbon fiber sill plate are also less prone to scratches from heels or loafers 5. Center ConsoleBourdeaux Alcantara and leather to match the seats and dash. 4. Interior LeatherThe interior is comprised of hand-sewn hides in almost any color imaginable. We could have gone with a two-tone motif, but Bourdeaux upper and lower with silver stitching won the majority vote. Three type of stitching range from standard, colored and special, but we chose a basic silver to give more definition to the leather's curves and match the brushed aluminum of the dash & shift plate. 3. Body ComponentsThe exterior options have several mutually exclusive options in that black exhaust tips are not available with sports exhaust, and the grille can have bright edges or dark. If the mufflers are any different we would choose more performance, and the black grille is more sinister. It's hard to believe a panoramic roof is an option, but it seems like a no-brainer to us. Scuderia shields and the Italian flag should also be standard equipment for the true Ferrari Fan. 2. WheelsThe base model cast wheels are nice to look at, but the 20" forged examples are lighter and stronger. Instead of being poured into a mold, forged wheels are cut from a block of alloy in a giant machine tool. Less weight makes for a comfortable ride and nimble handling. 1. ColorNo other feature on any car is as prominent as the body color. We know that Ferrari will color match to your heart's content, but nothing spurs the senses better than a dark red. They offer paint in 4 palettes. Ranging from Solid, Metallic, Historical and Special, you won't find orange peel or fish eyes on these works of art. In summary, our perfect GTC4Lusso would be as follows:Obviously, the prices of each option are not listed. This is because a majority of the number crunching is done by the salesperson and the dealer. So if you feel inspired to price one for yourself, our dealers stand ready to help you.

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

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