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 Edward Jones – July 21, 2021

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale Just Set a New Record at Indian...

“It was a great moment to witness, seeing how the impressive performance of the Ferrari SF90 Stradale put down this lap record on July 15,” says Mark Raffauf, Senior Director of Race Operations at International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), which oversaw the test. On July 15, a Ferrari SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano set a new record for fastest lap by a production car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The lap was finished in just 1:29.625 seconds with a maximum speed of 174.6 mph. Being the Assetto Fiorano spec, the record-breaking SF90 features a list of upgrades like the Multimatic shock absorbers, weight reduction, and carbon fiber rear spoiler. You can view the record-breaking lap up above. “The SF90 Stradale derives its name from 90 years of the Scuderia Ferrari, underscoring the vital importance of motor sports in the development of our road cars,” says Matteo Torre, President, Ferrari North America, “so running the SF90 Stradale here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Ferrari Racing Days, where we also had the Ferrari Challenge, XX and F1 Clienti programmes on-track this weekend, was fitting indeed.” See All Ferraris For Sale " width="680"> Source: Ferrari

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 19, 2021

NOVITEC Unveils Its All-New Ferrari SF90 Stradale

The new Ferrari SF90 Stradale just got upgraded by NOVITEC. While all Ferrari models that leave the factory from Modena are fully prepped for any road or track, the professionals at NOVITEC push the limits adding performance and visual upgrades. The new Ferrari SF90 Stradale is the newest Italian supercar to receive 5-star treatment from German automotive upgrade specialists. Starting from the exterior, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale takes on a more aggressive stance using the NOVITEC sport lowering springs, which enhances its center of gravity and stiffens the ride quality for cornering. Complimenting the more aggressive look is a set of bronze 9.5Jx20 Vossen wheels. Ferrari is known for its distinctive sound, especially in the SF90 Stradale’s twin-turbocharged 8-cylinder hybrid system. The NOVITEC system optimizes the exhaust flow, which is offered various versions of the exhaust system with and without electronic sound management by means of actively controlled exhaust flaps. However, even more, impressive is the optimized performance. With the NOVITEC system, the turbocharged V8 produces even more superior 813 hp at 7,750 rpm instead of the stock 780 hp. Peak torque of the internal combustion engine increases from 590 to 632ft-lb of torque at 6,100 rpm. The range of colors for an exclusive NOVITEC interior is just as varied as the selection of colors for the NOVITEC wheels. The interiors can be created from leather and Alcantara in virtually any desired color. The all-new Ferrari SF90 Stradale upgrades by NOVITEC are currently available. Click on the link below to view all NOVITEC cars for sale on duPont REGISTRY. View All NOVITEC Vehicles For Sale Media/Information Source: NOVITEC Group For more Ferrari news, Check out Insane Ferrari F40 Drifts Around Dirt Course

By Andrew Nabors – May 03, 2021

Jay Leno Drives A New Ferrari SF90 Stradale

The latest Ferrari flagship doesn't disappoint! When their F1 team began toying with hybrid energy storage, it led to the amazing LaFerrari. This hybrid hypercar led to the FXX Evo, and even more electric power. Now using the latest in battery technology, you can have almost 16 miles of silent cruising from the SF90 Stradale. They also handle reverse, so that freed up room inside the transmission for more cooling capacity. Let's see if it's worthy of Jay Leno's collection. Mine will hopefully arrive with the Fiorano Performance Package that rockets you to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Because it is an EV, its the first Ferrari to not have a Gas Guzzler tax. And since it is electric, the IRS will take $4,126 off of your Income Tax liabilities. Not bad for a base price of only $512,800. For that, you will have 986 horsepower and an 8 kWh battery. Running silent errands or sneaking in after a late night are now much easier thanks to clever engineering and amazing style. Click the button to order yours! Shop Ferrari

By Andrew Nabors – March 22, 2021

Ferrari SF90 Spider vs Stradale With Carlos & Charles at ...

What happens when F1 superstars are given the keys to Ferrari's latest hypercar. Choosing between coupe and convertible is always a tough decision, so let's watch the Ferrari SF90 Spider vs Stradale with Carlos and Charles at Imola. This dynamic duo can be seen pushing the SF21 around the world's toughest tracks, so they undoubtedly cherish time with such a potent machine. Our friends at Ferrari Tampa Bay allowed us to experience one at our Cars & Coffee last weekend, and it did not disappoint. Starting with the latest in hybrid technology, it can travel 16 miles on battery power. Having 217 silent horsepower is fun for most, but you can awaken the 4-liter beast in "Qualify" mode. This unlocks 986 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. It rides on a chassis that is more carbon fiber than aluminum to offer a dry weight of 3,461 lbs. The coupe is loaded with their Assetto Fiorano package that drops active suspension for MultiMatic shocks and includes a full-titanium exhaust to save 66 lbs compared to a regular-production coupe. If you missed an opportunity to add a LaFerrari to your collection, the SF90 is just as capable and production is not going to be limited. Click the button to find yours and prepare for an experience unlike any other. Sell My Ferrari SF90 Spider: Get a Cash Offer Browse Ferrari For Sale Image (C) Ferrari

By Andrew Nabors – November 12, 2020

2021 Ferrari SF90 Spider Is A Convertible Masterpiece

Before automakers had access to supercomputers it was difficult to build a decent drop-top. Those who swear by hardtop dominance might be a dying breed now that the 2021 Ferrari SF90 Spider is a convertible masterpiece. The new flagship to wear a Prancing Horse has been years in the making. 2021 Ferrari SF90Stradale Test Drive Starting with their newest retractable hardtop, incredible attention was paid to aerodynamics in order to offer incredible downforce and low drag. Behind the cockpit, the engine cover is tucked down very close to the intake manifold. This draws the slipstream into an elegant "Shut-Off Gurney". Inside, the controls are mostly capacitive touch panels and all instrumentation is through HD displays. Also borrowed from the coupe is the option for more performance. Those who choose the Assetto Fiorano specification will enjoy a lighter curb weight and Multimatic suspension The roof can be opened or closed in 14 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. Under the sleek body is the same 1,000 horsepower drivetrain that incorporates three electric motors and a battery pack. You will reach 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and 124 mph in only 7 ticks. The electric range is rated at 16 miles given a fully charged battery. With deliveries of the coupe starting soon, this Spider is ready to bite you. Click the button below for all the details from our dealers and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Browse Ferrari For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – July 27, 2020

2021 Ferrari SF90Stradale Test Drive

Hybrids are nothing new to Ferrari. The LaFerrari will still reign supreme as their high voltage hypercar, but now they are about to unleash something for the rest of us. You won't need to be on their VIP list for their first Series-Production hybrid. That is why over 30 journalists were invited to Italy in June. Pushing the cars to their limits, we get to watch the ultimate Ferrari SF90Stradale test drive. Until it arrives, we have several 2015 LaFerrari for sale. Click the button below and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Browse Ferrari LaFerrari For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 15, 2020

Ferrari Releases 'Le Grand Rendez-Vous' Film With Charles...

Since Formula 1 has been canceled, Charles Leclerc has had his hands full with streaming his racing and even wearing a " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>-- it's been incredibly entertaining. Aside from his virtual racing, Leclerc also took part in the filming of the new 'Le Grand Rendez-Vous' short film directed by Claude Lelouch. In this film, Leclerc gets behind the wheel of the new Ferrari SF90 Stradale and rips it around Monaco where he should have been racing his Formula 1 race car. We've been waiting for the full film to be released and it's finally here. If you're unfamiliar with this short film, it actually references the classic “C’était un Rendez-Vous” short film that Lelouch filmed on the streets of Paris back in 1976. Click play below to see the Formula 1 star take to the empty streets of Monaco and race around like we all want to. Browse All Ferraris for Sale Source: Ferrari

By Edward Jones – June 08, 2020

See Charles Leclerc Rip the Ferrari SF90 Stradale Behind-...

Charles Leclerc is the man behind the wheel in the new 'Le Grand Rende Vouz' short-film by Claude Lelouch. What he's behind the wheel of is none other than the Ferrari SF90 Stradale supercar. These two ingredients, a Formula 1 driver and a Ferrari supercar, are what's needed in the recipe of something incredible. While we wait to see the full short film, Ferrari has released a behind-the-scenes video to YouTube. In the video, down below, you can get a glimpse of the intense rigging they used to film it all and even some sights of Leclerc ripping the SF90 Stradale through the streets of Monaco. Be sure to check back with us on June 13, 2020 to see the short film when its released. Are you excited? You ought to be! See All Ferrris for Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – May 26, 2020

Claude Lelouch's “Le Grand Rendez-vous” Filmed With Charl...

The highly anticipated short film “Le Grand Rendez-vous” has been filmed by French director Claude Lelouch. This new film stars the Ferrari SF90 Stradale with none other than Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc behind the wheel. Taking place in the Principality of Monaco, Leclerc took the Ferrari supercar through the Formula 1 street circuit, reaching speeds of up to 149 mph. Traffic was stopped for the filming, so nobody was put in harm's way. However, thanks to the lifting of the lockdown in France and Monaco, there were onlookers. Making a special appearance in the film was HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, while Ferrari Chairman John Elkann, the Princes Andrea Casiraghi and Pierre Casiraghi with his wife, Princess Beatrice Borromeo took time to visit the set. Be sure to check back with us on June 13 when “Le Grand Rendez-vous” premieres. See All Ferraris for Sale Source: Ferrari

By Andrew Nabors – July 17, 2019

Ferrari SF90 Stradale First Look by Top Gear

What if you could own a hypercar for an affordable price? Ferrari is betting that their first series-production hybrid has your name on it. To explain this incredible creation, here is the Ferrari SF90 Stradale first look by Top Gear. It is on display at HR Owen in London, and it looks spectacular. Their first foray into hybrids was the LaFerrari, and it used a naturally aspirated V12 along with two electric motors. To surpass it, the new car has a 4.0L V8, twin turbos and three electric motors. You will have 986 horsepower when fully charged, along with 15 miles of electric range. It becomes front-wheel drive when running on the battery, with each front wheel having its own motor. To save space and weight, reverse gear was removed from the transmission. Going backward is also handled by the electric front end. Ferrari SF90 Stradale Powertrain in Detail One comment we need to correct is the Top Gear host mentions the LaFerrari doesn't have an electric mode. He is dead wrong. If your LaFerrari is fully charged, it will display "Silent Start Available". I was intrigued by this and did a double-tap of the starter button. The LaFerrari will run on battery at slow speeds with the A/C off. The SF90 will undoubtedly be more capable, but the LaFerrari still wins in the looks department and in its exclusivity. Click the link below to find one near you and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Find Your LaFerrari Here Related: Ferrari SF90: The Most Powerful Ferrari Ever Ferrari LaFerrari Price, Specs, Photos & Review

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