Ferrari News

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

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 28, 2022

Ferrari Unveils The New 1,337-HP Ferrari Vision Gran Turi...

Ferrari shows off its racing future in the virtual world. The Vision Gran Turismo project has resulted in incredible concepts and experimental designs, but what makes Vision Gran Turismo concept cars different than other concept cars is the fact that the engineering and performance they boast can be proven through the cutting-edge Gran Turismo video game. Known for its racing realism, Gran Turismo and the Vision Gran Turismo project have served as a venue for manufacturers to show off incredible futuristic engineering and design, and let players experience their future visions of the automotive and motorsport industries by taking them virtually onto the track. Through Vision Gran Turismo, automotive brands across the globe have been able to preview and influence their future products as well. Now, Ferrari has finally joined the Vision Gran Turismo project with an incredible new racing model. MUST READ: The Best Ferraris You Can Buy Today The new Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo is a single-seat race car with a powertrain inspired by the new Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar, whose racing debut will mark Ferrari’s return to top-class endurance racing after 50 long years away. With a more extreme version of the 499P’s V6 engine and 3 electric motors for a total of a whopping 1,337 horsepower, as well as all-wheel drive, advanced active aerodynamics, and lightweight carbon fiber construction make the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo the ultimate racing machine, Also featuring a design that is both stunningly futuristic and reminiscent of past Ferrari racers, the car is as beautiful as any Maranello masterpiece should be. The car will be available to all Gran Turismo players on December 23rd, with an in-game quiz surrounding the Gran Turismo World Finals making the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo a gift to winning participants on December 15, which is also when the full-scale design study of the car will be revealed at Ferrari’s Museum in Maranello, Italy, where it will remain on display until March of next year. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: Ferrari

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 10, 2022

Sotheby's Sells Michael Schumacher-Driven 2003 Ferrari F1...

The ex-racecar now holds the record as the most valuable modern F1 car in history. With Luxury Week in full effect, prestigious auction houses are proud to showcase and facilitate the sales of the world's most precious art and luxury objects. Crossing the stage as part of Sotheby’s renowned Geneva event is the most successful Ferrari F2003-GA Grand Prix car. The five-time race-winning car was driven by Michael Schumacher, powering the legendary Ferrari driver to his sixth World Championship title. Presenting itself as one of the most significant and historic cars from a golden period in the Scuderia’s history, chassis 229 has been awarded Ferrari Classiche’s “Red Book” Certification and was recently overhauled in 2022 at the Maranello factory. MUST-READ: Watch Jay Leno Drive The Rare 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Making its debut as one of the most anticipated sales of the event, the Schumacher-driven Ferrari F1 car received an initial sale estimate between $7.8 and $9.8 million. After intense bidding between anxious collectors, the Ferrari F2003-GA Grand Prix racecar sold for an astonishing $14,873,327. The mind-blowing result nearly doubles the previous record of a modern F1 car sold at auction, an Ex-Schumacher F2001 sold by Sotheby's in 2017. View all current Ferrari examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Ferrari For Sale Source: Sotheby's

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 08, 2022

Watch Jay Leno Drive The Rare 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta

A Ferrari modern classic hosts a celebrity driver. Jay Leno is one of Hollywood’s most well-known and prolific car enthusiasts, with an extensive collection and knowledge of some of the world’s greatest cars, and with his excellent taste, he got to experience and give his two cents on a stunning example of automotive excellence: a Ferrari from 21 years ago. The Ferarri 550 Barchetta employed a classic formula, with an open-top, front-engined, V12-powered setup, and it took the irresistible ingredients of a classic sports car and made them excellent, with acceleration that remains impressive and a top speed above 200 mph. MUST READ: Verde Zeltweg 2022 Ferrari SF90 Spider Listed for Sale The car represents a recent past for Ferrari that automotive purists look back on with nostalgia, especially with the iconic Ferrari gated shifter used to operate the car’s manual transmission. The car, limited to just 448 examples, was built to celebrate the design house Pininfarina’s 70th anniversary. It’s owned by collector Doug Cohen, who wanted specifically to buy an example with miles already on it so that he could experience its driving pleasure without worrying about driving a like-new car. With that in mind, Leno and Cohen took the car for a spin in California, where the perfect weather for an open-top car like the 550 Barchetta was readily available. On Jay Leno’s Garage, the 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta showed off the elegance and splendor of classics from even our recent memory. View All Ferrari 550 Barchettas For Sale Source: YouTube/Jay Leno's Garage

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 04, 2022

The Ferrari Finali Mondiali At Imola Held An Epic Race An...

The end of this season marks the beginning of an amazing future. Ferrari’s Corse Clienti racing year has come to a close for the Europe, North America, and UK Ferrari Challenge, and this year, the Finali Mondiali Ferrari was hosted at the famed Imola course. Not only did the intense final race take place at the track, but other celebrations of Ferrari’s incredible racing history and heritage, and its future, did as well. The unveiling of cars and celebration of important milestones made the time at Imola an unforgettable experience for everyone. MUST READ: The GearBox: Italian Icon German driver Franz Engstler clinched a victory in his first Ferrari Challenge season, winning the European Championship with 196 points from the 14 races, and winning the Imola Finali Mondiali with pole, fastest lap, and race victory all to his name. The end of this racing year marked the end of the Ferrari Challenge’s 30th-anniversary celebrations. Celebrating the long history of the racing series were cars that competed in it across its 3 decades of existence: the 348 Challenge, F355 Challenge, the 360 Challenge, 458 Challenge Evo, and the 488 Challenge Evo. Two 488 GT3s were on display as well: one with a livery that celebrated the 500+ victories and another that celebrated the 30th anniversary. The gala evening at the Imola paddock featured an incredible unveiling: that of Ferrari’s new 499P LMH race car, a hypercar that marks Ferrari’s much-anticipated return to top-class endurance racing after a massive 50-year hiatus. Also present for the celebrations was the new Ferrari 296 GT3, Ferrari’s newest GT3 car, which is also set to begin its racing career very soon. Next year’s Ferrari Finali Mondiali will take place at Mugello for the sixteenth time, which builds upon the track’s record for holding the event the most times. When it does, there’s no telling what Ferrari might have to celebrate as a brand at the event. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: Ferrari

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By Tyler Rampersaud – October 31, 2022

Ferrari Unveils Its New 499P Le Mans Hypercar

Ferrari’s important racing return is closer than ever. It was nearly 50 years ago in 1973 when Ferrari retired from top-class endurance racing, ending a legendary presence at one of the racing world’s most hallowed stages: Le Mans. However, the upcoming endurance racing season is more anticipated than ever, because Ferrari plans on bringing a new car to top-class endurance racing, the new Ferrari 499P. MUST READ: Ferrari Of Central Florida Earns Ferrari’s 2022 Top Dealer Award The car has been in development for some time now, as only months remain before the racing season begins, but now the livery of the new racing machine has finally been unveiled. Unlike many of the LMDh cars that we have seen unveiled, Ferrari's new LMH car was designed from the ground up completely by Ferrari, as for LMDh cars, the FIA required manufacturers to work with chassis suppliers. With a hybrid powertrain featuring a mid-rear mounted engine and an electric motor powering the front wheels, Ferrari’s racing legacy will enter a whole new chapter next year starring the 499P, and the brand hopes to recapture the splendor, success, and legend of its racing glory days at Le Mans and throughout the endurance racing world. View All Ferraris For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferrari USA (@ferrariusa) Source: Ferrari

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By Tyler Rampersaud – October 28, 2022

Ferrari Of Central Florida Earns Ferrari's 2022 Top Deale...

Nothing beats being the best at selling the best. There simply aren’t cars like Ferraris in the world. They’ve become synonymous with success and excellence after building a decades-long reputation for luxury, performance, and incomparable beauty, and now when someone thinks about what a dream car might be, “Ferrari” is undoubtedly one of the first names to come to mind. With such a standard of excellence, it’s no small task for a Ferrari dealership to stand out for its own excellence, which is why earning the honor of being Ferrari’s annual Top Dealer is such a high distinction. MUST READ: Ferrari of Austin Celebrated The Purosangue’s Launch With Charles Leclerc In fact, it’s the highest honor globally that Ferrari can give its dealers, and this year, that honor was given to Ferrari of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. When it comes to new and used Ferrari for sale, Ferrari of Central Florida has experienced a year of great success, and as a trophy, the dealership was given a Ferrari F1 car to proudly be displayed in the showroom. When you specialize in one of the world’s greatest automotive legends, excellence is a requirement. View All Cars For Sale From Ferrari Of Central Florida View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferrari of Central FL (@ferraricentralflorida) Source: Instagram/Ferrari of Central Florida

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By Tyler Rampersaud – October 24, 2022

Ferrari of Austin Celebrated The Purosangue's Launch With...

Whether on the track or at the dealership, Ferrari’s presence is impressive. This past weekend, the Formula 1 season stopped by the Circuit of the Americas for the United States Grand Prix, and at the race, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc managed to clinch a strong third-place finish. The Austin, Texas venue’s local Ferrari dealership, Ferrari of Austin, held a reception with two special guests, one of them being Leclerc. The other guest was Ferrari’s newest model, the Purosangue. MUST READ: This Tailor Made 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale For Sale Is A True Dream Car Ferrari’s first four-door four-seater, the Purosangue is a one-of-a-kind vehicle in its space with V12 power and signature Ferrari style. The car marks the beginning of a new era for Ferrari, and in a rare opportunity, the brand’s F1 driver got to celebrate the launch of a groundbreaking new model from Ferrari at a dealership in the same city as the track. As Ferrari looks forward to a new F1 season and another United States Grand Prix, the brand also looks forward to the upcoming era of the Purosangue. View All Ferraris For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by @ferrariofaustin Source: Instagram/Ferrari of Austin

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 24, 2022

This Tailor Made 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale For Sale Is A...

This Tailor Made Ferrari is the ultimate automotive statement. There are few things more desirable than the opportunity to own a Ferrari. With the brand’s incredible legacy, iconic style, and incomparable performance, it’s no wonder why Ferrari is at the top of most people’s minds when they think of the best cars that money can buy. However, there’s something better than simply owning a Ferrari, and that’s owning a Tailor Made Ferrari, with a stunning custom configuration that is just about guaranteed to be completely unique compared to anything else on the road. MUST READ: 111-Mile 1996 Ferrari F50 Listed for Sale This Tailor Made Ferrari SF90 Stradale, available for sale at Ferrari of Washington in Sterling, Virginia is finished in beautiful Verde Francesca paintwork, and that paintwork is complemented by wheels in Grigio Corsa Diamond with silver brake calipers. Once you open the doors, the interior reveals even more unique beauty. The Tailor Made interior features special green carbon fiber seat frames, with a configuration that pairs white leather seats with more green accents throughout on the dashboard and doors. At the corner of high performance and high fashion, this Tailor Made Ferrari SF90 Stradale is stunning to look at, let alone to own. Check out the price and listing by clicking below. View Price And Listing

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 18, 2022

Why Ferrari's New Interior Colors Make Customization Bett...

Ferrari configuration just got more colorful. The Prancing horse brand is introducing an incredible 12 new colors to an already wide palette of interior leathers available for its incredible cars. Much of Ferrari’s legacy, beauty, and history is symbolized by color, and for Ferrari clients, personalization is one of the most important aspects of Ferrari ownership, making the introduction of these new colors great news for Ferrari collectors worldwide. Why is customization important for Ferrari owners? The world of car collecting, especially when it comes to Ferrari, involves carefully curating pieces of automotive excellence that speak to the owner’s personality, life, and passion for cars. One of the most luxurious parts of owning a Ferrari is getting that Ferrari to be made to your specifications and your vision of what you want that car to look like, and when your Ferrari is a personal statement, it really shines in a car collection. What are the new colors that Ferrari has introduced? Of course, since it’s Ferrari we are talking about, red takes part in the color addition. Rosso Bologna and Rosso Ducale respectively take inspiration from the Italian city of Bologna and the walls of villas in Tuscany. Also obvious in most things Ferrari is Italy, which continues to serve as inspiration for the new Terra Antica color, a brown that echoes Italian landscapes. Verde Venaria, a green that takes inspiration from the gardens in Italy’s numerous palaces and villas and the famously blue sea near Lipari joins a spectrum of colors that make the beauty of personalizing a Ferrari better and more passionate than ever. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: Ferrari

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By Tyler Rampersaud – October 12, 2022

The Little Car Company Has Begun Deliveries For The 299-E...

Great things are happening at the intersection of old and new. The legendary Ferrari Testa Rossa race car of old is known for its prestigious status as a Le Mans winner, and the incredible design and legacy of the car are things that will never fade from the automotive world’s collective memory. The Little Car Company’s Ferrari Testa Rossa J recaptures its glory in a unique way. It’s built using many techniques that are similar to the original to properly evoke its character, while also having a convenient electric drivetrain, and bespoke craftsmanship to make it something truly special. At 75% scale, the car is smaller than the original but officially licensed by Ferrari, created with the help of original design drawings from Ferrari Classiche. MUST READ: Kith Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of BMW’s M Division With A New Capsule Collection, Available Now Only 299 of these incredible machines will be made, and two have already been delivered to a Norwegian collector. One is finished in bare aluminum, showing off the performance and engineering dedication of the original car, and how it pushed boundaries in its time. The other is finished in an elegant Rosso Mugello with Giallo Modena stripes, with an interior finished in Cioccolato Frau. With four driving modes, easy charging from where the fuel cap would have been on the original, and other luxurious, convenient features make the Ferrari Testa Rossa J from The Little Car Company a beautiful classic that’s just as competent in the modern world. View All Ferraris For Sale Source: The Little Car Company

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