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 – 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 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 – October 23, 2019

Mick Schumacher Laps Fiorano in F8 Tributo

With the eyes of the world upon him, the son of Michael Schumacher is following a family tradition. Currently active in Formula 2, there might come a day for him to join Scuderia Ferrari. To showcase his skills at their historic proving grounds, let's watch Mick Schumacher lap Fiorano in an F8 Tributo. As an evolution of the 488 Pista, it offers 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque from a 3.9L twin-turbo V8. Turn up the volume and watch history in the making. Browse Ferrari For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 23, 2019

Ferrari Pista Sets Amazing Lap Time at the 'Ring

Enzo Ferrari lived in style. His home was located in the infield of their famous Fiorano test track. That's why he didn't care much for lap times on foreign soil. To find out just how capable their latest model is, our friends at Sport Auto recorded a Ferrari Pista setting an amazing lap time at the 'Ring. Without the budget for weeks of hot laps, Editor-In-Chief Christian Gebhardt slapped on new tires and prepared to make history. He crossed the line at 7:00.03, making it one of the fastest street-legal cars in production. Click the link below to experience one for yourself and stay with us for all your Ferrari news. Browse all Ferrari Pista For Sale " width="680"> Related: Ferrari 488 Pista Price, Specs, Photos & Review Ferrari 488 Pista Aerodynamics Explained

By Andrew Nabors – October 10, 2019

Shmee Shows us an Incredible Collection

Professional Golf offers the ability to make their top players incredibly wealthy. Ian Poulter is a great example of this, spending his earnings on the best exotic cars for sale. To give you an idea of what Golf can do for you, our friend Shmee shows us an incredible collection. A theme for his collection would be famous Ferraris, so we will start with them first A Few Fine Ferraris: 550 Barchetta Testarossa 458 Speciale Aperta F12tdf 288 GTO 275 GTB Enzo LaFerrari LaFerrari Aperta Non-Ferrari (But Still Exciting): Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Ford GT If any of the cars in the film below pique your interests, the links above represent the best inventory from our dealers. Thanks to Shmee and Ian Poulter for allowing this unprecedented access, so stay with us for all your celebrity collections. " width="680"> Related: Todd Werner's Colossal Car Collection: What's Next? Michael Fux' Car Collection is on Instagram and it's Amazing

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 – 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

By Andrew Nabors – July 16, 2019

Ferrari 812 Superfast & 488 GTB vs 1,200 HP Nissan GT-R &...

If dry land were divided like a pizza, Russia gets an entire slice. That's because Putin's Playground occupies one-eighth of the Earth's land. With so much territory, our friends at DragTimesInfo organize wild 500-meter drag races. While most tracks in the U.S. are set up for a quarter-mile (1,320 feet), Russians race to 1,640 feet (0.31 miles). At these speeds, aerodynamics are more important than torque or horsepower, so let's see what happens when a Ferrari 812 Superfast & 488 GTB take on a 1,200 horsepower Nissan GT-R & McLaren 720S. We know the GT-R is heavily modified, but can its boosted V6 outmaneuver Ferrari's twin-turbo V8 or their V12 Flagship? Because all McLarens are built around a carbon fiber cockpit, the 720S is the lightest contender at 3,139 lbs. The Ferrari 488 GTB is only 113 lbs heavier, while the 812 Superfast and the GT-R hover around 3,850 lbs. It is also worth noting that (in stock form) each car has a unique differential ratio. After the 1/4 mile, a few of them shift into overdrives before the finish line. Tell us which car you prefer in the comments below, and stay with us for all your exotic racing videos. Ferrari 812 Superfast Ferrari 488 GTB McLaren 720S Nissan GT-R Related: Tesla Model 3 vs AMG C63 S vs BMW M3 vs Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

By Andrew Nabors – July 15, 2019

Ferrari 488 Spider: Why to Buy

We take pride in helping you find the car of your dreams. Not only does that involve news and reviews, we also analyze data from our dealers to spot trends in the industry. Since we've been doing this since April of '85, we've developed proprietary methods for making sense of leads and sales. After crunching the numbers for the 1st half of 2019, it is clearly evident that the Ferrari 488 Spider should be part of your collection. Armed with the numbers, the next step is to determine why this one model outshines the competition. Much like reverse-engineering, we started to investigate the finer details of the car. When it was launched in early 2017, it was clearly evident that it was not a refreshed version of the 360, F430, 458 series. Starting with a clean slate, the 488 Spider is 22 lbs lighter than the car it replaced. This is impressive because the additional weight added by the turbos, intercoolers, wastegates, and heat shielding. Adding two turbos forced the engineers to turn in late hours to get it right. Because their main Italian competitor releases innovative aerodynamics, Ferrari took inspiration from above. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was and is the fastest aircraft ever built. It did this by routing air around the jet engine as speed increased. The air was heated, cooling the engine, and injected into the afterburner. This calmed turbulence in the exhaust which allowed the plane to be very efficient at high speeds. Check out the bypass ducts below, each engine had six of them. Three Bypass Tubes of the Pratt& Whitney J58 Engine (c) Media.Defense.gov You might look at the side intakes of the 488 Spider and not think twice, but they have a horizontal partition. The small upper ducts feed the turbochargers, and the large lower ducts are bypass tubes. They are carefully sculpted to allow cool air to be heated by the powertrain and exhausted inboard of the taillights. The same principle as the Blackbird, as this hot & high-pressure air is forced into the turbulent vacuum generated by the car. And like the SR-71, it works exponentially better as your speed increases. Notice The Outlets Inboard Of THe Taillights (c)Sirpalmtree Vortex generators under the floor feed into a giant rear diffuser. It forces this boundary layer to mix with the exhaust, again working to disconnect turbulence from the rear bumper. Even the door handles were sculpted to reduce drag. Therefore, this is the first Ferrari convertible to offer 22 mpg on the highway. The tank holds 22.7 gallons, so you are also rewarded with a (highway) range of 499.4 miles if driven in a conservative manner. Therein lies the temptation. Under your right foot are 660 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque. At your command is a well-insulated hardtop. It can disappear in 14 seconds. When it is out of sight, you hear the intakes and turbos work to generate the perfect exhaust note. 0-60 takes less than 3 seconds, and 124 mph arrives in 8.3 ticks. Don't be distracted by the complex mechanical parts, Ferrari includes 7 years of complimentary maintenance. The car glides over broken pavement thanks to the 3rd generation of GM's magnetic ride control, the best suspension on the market. While new Ferrari coupes are on the horizon, the F8 Tributo and the SF90 Stradale would look ungainly as a drop-top. Efficiency, Power, and Style are how the 488 Spider is staying on top, so we want you to experience it also. Click the link below to find one near you, and take it for a spin. Numbers don't lie, so tell us what you think of this masterpiece in the comments below. Find Your Ferrari 488 Spider Here " width="680">

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