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 – February 04, 2020

Ferrari Sold Over 10,000 Cars Last Year

For the first time in their history, Maranello worked overtime to sell 10,131 cars. Almost 10% over 2018, it represents unprecedented growth for the brand. In a press release moments ago, we also see an ajusted EBITDA of $1,269 Million Euros, a 14% gain. With sales up by 880 cars, it was the first model year to surpass 10,000 cars. Demand for the new 812 Superfast for sale increased by 4.6%, and V8 cars by 11.2%. The press release also states that the 488 GTB and 488 Spider production has concluded, being replaced by the 488 Pista and Pista Spider. The Monza SP1 and SP2 were very profitable, and a few lucky VIPs received the first deliveries of the F8 Tributo. Congratulations to everyone who made this possible. Click the button below to find your Ferrari, and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Browse All Ferrari For Sale " width="680"> Related: Ferrari F12tdf Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – January 29, 2020

Ferrari Monza SP1 Ripped Around Maranello by Nico Rosberg

Winning a Formula 1 championship entitles you to a few perks. It also means you can control the fastest & most expensive cars ever built. Throw in a soundtrack by Pavarotti and you have a recipe for an amazing film. So sit back and enjoy a Ferrari Monza SP1 driven by Nico Rosberg. Inspired by the racing Barchettas of the mid-50s, the SP1 is a single-seater, topless version of the 812 Superfast. If the factory offers you an allocation, be prepared to shell out $1.9 Million for this masterpiece. Thanks, Nico for driving it as intended, and click the link below to find an 812 Superfast near you. Browse All Ferrari 812 Superfast For Sale " width="680"> Related: Ferrari Unveils the Monza SP1 & SP2 in new "Icona Series"

By Edward Jones – January 24, 2020

The Evolution of Ferrari from 1947 to Now

Ferrari has come a long way since the 1947 125 S, which was powered by a 1.49-liter V12 engine. Now, we have the 6.3-liter V12 LaFerrari that has a hint of hybrid technology. The difference in horsepower between these two cars is over 800. However, from then and now there were a lot of Ferraris that were unveiled, with some selling for millions nowadays. Below, we have put together a quick infographic on the evolution of some of the more popular Ferraris from 1947 up until the LaFerrari. Ferraris For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 24, 2020

Brand Finance Names Ferrari as World's Strongest Brand Se...

This week the Brand Finance Global 500 2020 report was announced and Ferrari has claimed the title of the world's stronger brand for the second year in a row. Brand Finance calculated the value of the Ferrari brand at 9.1 billion with year-on-year growth at an impressive 9 percent. Ferrari had a Brand Strength Index (BSI) of 94.1 out of 100. Ferrari was actually one of 12 brands that had the highest AAA+ rating in Brand Finance's report. To calculate all of this, Brand Finance takes a lot of data into consideration. This includes an estimated "net economic benefit to the brand owner of licensing the trademark on the open market." For more information, be sure to click here. SEE ALL FERRARIS FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – January 03, 2020

Snowboarder Jumps Over One of the Rarest Ferraris

The new Ferrari Monza SP2 joined the Italian automaker's Icona Series as a truly magnificent creation. It's said to embody the soul of the 750 Monza 860 Monza cars, resulting in a stylish and unmistakable design. Instagram user @powerslidelover recently uploaded a video (found below) of snowboarder Matteo de Fanti absolutely sending it over his Ferrari Monza SP2. What's more, while he's airing it out over the road, the SP2 is taking a deep slide around a corner. Hence the name "powerslidelover." Props go out to GF Williams for capturing this event. If you want more crazy stuff like this, you should definitely give his account a follow. https://www.instagram.com/p/B60H625ouRY/ Featured Image via Screenshot of Video

By Andrew Nabors – December 17, 2019

2017 LaFerrari Aperta & 2016 F60 America For Sale

Presented by Private Seller - If you are looking for a high-voltage convertible, nothing beats this 2017 LaFerrari Aperta. Driven only 46 miles, you will be shocked by 950 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque. The V12 engine by itself makes 789 horsepower and 516 lb-ft, and the rest comes from two motor-generators and battery power. Only 200 examples were assembled, each with a removable carbon-fiber roof and a cloth soft top should the weather turn foul. The Aperta also benefits from faster computers and more potent programming than the LaFerrari coupe. It can reach 60 mph in under 3 seconds, and cruise at 220 mph. Silent mode is offered when the battery is above 80%, and it is a clandestine way to leave or sneak into the garage running on battery power alone. View Price & Listing Something special was needed to celebrate 6 decades of Ferrari North America. Their gift to the U.S. was the Ferrari F60. Only 10 examples were built and only offered to Ferrari's most-valued customers. With only 80 miles since new, it has no signs of wear inside or out. Based on the F12 Berlinetta, this 2016 Ferrari F60 America has distinctive looks thanks to a new nose, wings, doors, bespoke interior, and convertible top. Limited to ten cars in the world, this special edition vehicle was built to celebrate Ferrari’s 60th anniversary in America. Designed to combine the delights of a V-12 engine and open-top driving, which Ferrari says are its U.S. clientele’s “two great passions”. View Price & Listing The interior is handsomely done in an asymmetric coloring, the driver’s seat in red and the passenger’s seat contrasted in black. Power comes from the F12's mighty 6.3-liter V12, which confidently pumps out 730 horsepower to the rear wheels. The zero to 60 mph time is a blistering 3.1 seconds. If you purchase either car, you will receive a 1-year supply of Wolf Men's Products ( www.wolfgrooming.com) Both cars are located in Toronto, California, so click the buttons for all the info.

By Andrew Nabors – December 10, 2019

How Curated Imported the Last Ferrari Enzo

Our friends at VINwiki have a knack for finding stories that will keep you glued to the screen. As such, John Temerian sat down to tell about the trials and tribulations our Federal Government imposes on car culture. Because the EPA and DOT have nothing better to do, it took John and his investors over a year and $200,000 to federalize an Italian Ferrari for sale. So sit back and watch how Curated imported the last Ferrari Enzo. Browse Curated Inventory Here Related: VINwiki Confirms New Cannonball Record VINwiki: How To Import Your Dream Car

By Andrew Nabors – December 04, 2019

Ferrari 812 GTS Behind the Scenes

Building the world's most powerful production convertible is not easy. You can't simply remove the roof and expect the car to stay together. That's why it took years to develop a folding hardtop for the Ferrari 812 Superfast. It started with chassis reinforcements, simulations, and relentless testing. It has culminated in the upcoming official launch film, so until then, here is the Ferrari 812 GTS behind the scenes. Browse All Ferrari 812 For Sale P.S. Rumors abound that a certain American 2-seater might evolve into the world's most powerful convertible, but that's all we are allowed to tell you for now! Related: Ferrari 812 GTS Unveiled in Maranello Ferrari 812 Superfast Specs, Price, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – December 03, 2019

Ferrari F8 Spider Scorches Sicily

Separated from Italy by the Strait of Messina, the largest island in the Mediterranean offers incredible food, a unique dialect, and La Cosa Nostra. This makes it the perfect setting to show off the latest convertible from Maranello, so watch the Ferrari F8 Spider scorch Sicily. This footage shows what it takes to lead the 2nd fastest force on the island. For the record, the fastest time across Sicily was set by General Patton's 7th Army in 1943. Browse All Ferrari For Sale Regardless, the Ferrari F8 is a 710 horsepower hardtop convertible capable of being the perfect daily driver. Click the button above to find yours, and stay with us for all Ferrari updates. " width="680"> Related: Ferrari F8 Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – November 19, 2019

2010-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia: Price, Specs & Photos

Not everyone needs or wants a V12 engine. Some of us are content with a V8, as long as the car is extraordinary. The Ferrari 458 is one such machine. It proudly wore the Scuderia Shield from 2010 to 2015 with a 4.5 liter V8 between the cockpit and the rear wheels. It was the evolution of a concept that began with the 360 Modena. Ferrari 458 Challenge: Not Civilized A partnership between Maranello and engineers at Aloca developed a revolutionary aluminum space frame. If you are considering a pre-owned Ferrari, here is why the 458 Italia should be your first consideration. The 360 and F430 series proved the worthiness of the frame, with improvements on each model before the Ferrari 458 Italia specs appeared. Both of those cars use timing belts that must be changed at regular intervals. Reliability is a major reason why you should buy a 458. 458 Italia Engine: 4.5 liters Dual Overhead Cams 4 Valves Per Cylinder 562 Horsepower & 398 lb-ft of torque The 458 Italia represents the swan song for Ferrari's naturally aspirated V8. Cars like the 488 GTB have smaller engines with twin turbos, but nothing beats the sound of 9,000 rpm a few inches behind your ears. The 4.5 liter V8 uses timing chains, and it has proven to be incredibly reliable. Once buyers got their hands on them, their friends must have been jealous. That's because Ferrari built no less than 18,000 examples. 458 Italia Specs: 2 Seat Coupe or Convertible (Spider) 3,274 lbs 0-60: 3.9 seconds 13 mpg city/17 mpg highway Top Speed: 199 mph A Ferrari 458 Italia is an ideal way to own an Italian car. It was the last Ferrari to be styled by Pininfarina, and they chose to walk away at the top of their game. It looks, sounds, and performs like nothing else on the road. If you are still on the fence, check out these 458 Italia facts. As with all great Ferraris, the recipe was proven on race tracks around the world. Factory teams allowed the world's best drivers to compete in the 458 Challenge cars, Lessons learned allowed for the 458 Speciale to be a proper farewell to the series. If you would like to inquire about a Ferrari 458 Italia price, click the link below to find our dealer nearest you and get ready for automotive perfection. Stay with us for all your Ferrari news & reviews. Browse Ferrari 458 For Sale 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia 2014 Ferrari 458 Italia 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia

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