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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 – May 11, 2023

Ford Reveals The New 405-HP 2024 Ranger Raptor

Ford’s diverse lineup gets a new beast.

By Sponsored Article – March 02, 2023

Agaso Outdoor Modernizes Vintage Ford Broncos With Bespok...

With a design and prototyping background, Agaso can handle all aspects of building or modifying your vintage vehicle.

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 27, 2023

912-Mile Liquid Red Tri-Coat 2019 Ford GT For Sale

While most Ford GTs feature similar factory finishes, this example showcases the true potential behind its styling and performance.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 09, 2023

Ford CEO & Daniel Ricciardo Tease A Performance-Oriented ...

Ford’s partnership with Red Bull includes high-octane shenanigans. Red Bull is known for its incredible stunts: whether behind the wheel of a car, or on a snowboard or in any other sport, Red Bull is all about doing the extreme. Ford announced its 2026 return to Formula 1, and chose Red Bull as its partner, and that passion for the extreme seems to be part of that partnership, with motorsport stunts going beyond F1 already showing up in spades as a result of Ford and Red Bull joining forces. One of those is a new electric vehicle performance demonstrator, a performance-oriented version of the new all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, and Ford CEO Jim Farley gave a sneak peek of this incredible new truck with driver Daniel Ricciardo. MUST READ: Ford Is Returning To F1 In 2026 Ford fans will notice that the new performance truck is something of an homage to the original Ford F-150 Lightning, as it was originally a performance version of the iconic F-150 truck. While the truck is mostly under a car cover, Jim Farley promises that more details on this already-exciting machine are going to be coming soon. As the countdown begins before Ford and Red Bull make their 2026 F1 debut, more details on this project and more projects are sure to come. View All Ford F-150 Lightnings For Sale Source: Twitter/Jim Farley

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 03, 2023

Watch Cleetus McFarland's F-150 Raptor R On The Dyno With...

Watch to see what this anticipated performance truck can really do. Exciting news for fans of the Ford F-150 Raptor came when Ford announced the reintroduction of a V8 engine to the performance truck in the form of its more powerful iteration: the Ford Raptor R. Ford Performance took the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, derived from the unit in the famed Shelby GT500 Mustang, and as a result says the truck makes an incredible 700 horsepower and 640 lb/ft of torque. However, now that the powerhouse pickup is in his hands, YouTuber Cleetus McFarland is ready to take the new Ford F-150 Raptor R to the dyno and test those claims. MUST READ: Ford Is Returning To F1 In 2026 Once it was on the dyno, it wasn’t able to quite reach the power figures that Ford Performance claims, as is often the case due to weather conditions and the numerous other factors that can change how an engine performs, but to give it an extra dose of power, a spray of the notorious nitrous oxide was enlisted. With the nitrous sprayed on the second dyno run, the truck was able to put out 645 horsepower, an increase of almost 100 over the 557-horsepower run without the nitrous. While the 700-horsepower number wasn’t able to be reached, with its V8 sound and plenty of power, the Ford F-150 Raptor R is still quite a spectacular truck. View All Ford F-150 Raptors For Sale Source: YouTube/Cleetus McFarland

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 03, 2023

Ford Is Returning To F1 In 2026

A familiar Blue Oval is returning to racing’s premier stage. It’s just about impossible to think about racing and not let your mind travel to the loud, intense, and uncompromising cars of Formula 1. With their incredible performance and the intense rivalry both on and off the track, the sport is one of the world’s most entertaining spectacles, and as a result, its exclusive number of teams garner quite a lot of attention and cachet from their participation. However, 2026 is a year that will mark a crucial turning point for Formula 1, as the sport has promised a radically different approach to sustainability by then, and that promise has sparked the interest of new contenders. MUST READ: The GearBox: Ford Performance Recently, Audi announced its arrival to the Formula 1 stage with racing mainstay Sauber as its partner in crime, and 2026 is the year when Audi will make said entrance. However, Ford has now also decided to throw its hat into the ring and announce a return to Formula 1 after what will then be a 22-year hiatus. When last Ford participated in the series, it departed in 2004, but as sustainability has become an increased focus for F1 as a whole, many brands are highly interested in participating come 2026. Even in the 19 years that Ford has not had an F1 presence, the legendary brand still celebrates being the third most successful engine manufacturer in F1, with 10 Constructors’ championships and 13 Drivers’ championships. When it comes to us roadgoing auto enthusiasts, even ahead of this radical change, we have seen brand with F1 teams use innovation from the highly competitive sport to then innovate the brands’ roadgoing cars, and the hope that this will be the case for new brands joining the sport is an added bonus to an already exciting announcement. View All Fords For Sale Source: Ford

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 23, 2023

The First New Ford Mustang GT Will be Auctioned At Barret...

A certain future classic goes to auction. The Ford Mustang is, without a doubt, one of the most important cars to come out of the United States, and for decades on end it has proved itself as one of the greatest domestic automotive achievements and secured a place as one of the automotive world’s greatest legends. The iconic Ford Mustang GT is entering its seventh generation, and the new car has already proven itself to be a great improvement on the iconic performance staple, with the most powerful engine a Mustang GT has had yet, a 486-horsepower, 418 lb/ft of torque iteration of the 5.0-liter Coyote V8. The redesigned look adds even more homage to the 60s Mustang that cemented the legacy of the Mustang name, and with the option of a 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic, it’s a tradition-honoring driver’s car. MUST READ: The GearBox: Ford Performance At Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale, Arizona auction, the ownership of the very first seventh-generation 2024 Mustang GT will cross the auction block, and the winning bidder will have the opportunity to configure their VIN 001 car. Proceeds from the sale of the car will go towards JDRF, the leading organization researching Type 1 diabetes. With great performance, a long and respected history, and all the qualities to impress just about any car enthusiast, the 2024 Ford Mustang GT is an incredible car. However, with the collectible VIN 001, and the first car going towards a great cause, this car is all the more desirable. View All Ford Mustang GTs For Sale Source: Ford

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 20, 2022

Diplo Buys His Dad A New Ford Raptor For Christmas

The popular DJ rings in the holiday season with a new truck for his dad. With the holiday season in full effect, it means that it’s time to shop for that special someone in your life. While most scour the internet for the perfect gift, American DJ and music producer Diplo went to the Ford dealership when thinking of a Christmas gift for his dad. In a post uploaded to his Instagram page, Diplo surprised his father at work to gift him a 2023 Ford Raptor that he bought as an early Christmas gift. MUST-READ: Lionel Messi’s Car Collection Beginning as a prank when Diplo asks “You like my truck?”, his dad is in complete disbelief when the DJ reveals that the Ford Raptor is actually for him. Excitement sets in during the first drive behind the wheel, saying “I’m tickled pink!”. Explaining that he has never gotten his dad anything nice, Diplo shares a special moment with his dad as he hands over the keys to the brand-new Ford Raptor. View all current For Raptor models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Ford Raptors For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by diplo (@diplo) Source: Diplo Instagram

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 14, 2022

Watch A 2006 Ford GT Reach 310 MPH In Under 1 Minute

The performance potential of the Ford GT is unthinkable. With the new track-only Ford GT MkIV, car enthusiasts around the world are bidding the legendary modern performance hero a very sad goodbye. While we know that the performance of the current Ford GT will remain impressive for a very long time, the Ford GT of the 2000s has shown that when it comes to the performance potential of the machine, it’s certainly not to be counted out. Johnny Bohmer, owner and driver of the 2006 Ford GT “BADD GT,” took to Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility located at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to show just how much it was able to do. Owned by Bohmer since 2006, this incredible top-speed run completes a 16-year-long quest to create the ultimate street-legal performance car. MUST READ: The New 2023 Ford GT Mk IV Is The $1.7M Track-Only Final Ford GT Spoiler alert: The entirely street-legal Ford GT managed to achieve a top speed of over 310 mph, and with that record confirmed, it’s the world’s fastest street-legal car. The record was confirmed by a RaceLogic VBox Performance Box Touch, as well as multiple Garmin Ultra 30 cameras, as well as the FuelTech ECU and Racepak. Watching this incredible record being set is proof that while the Ford GT model might be leaving the assembly line soon, its long legacy in the world of performance and history of success will continue, and the incredible supercar will remain a very impressive machine for years to come. View All Ford GTs For Sale Source: YouTube/Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 09, 2022

The New 2023 Ford GT Mk IV Is The $1.7M Track-Only Final ...

Ford’s supercar legend returns to its roots. The epic story of the Ford GT started decades ago with the notorious rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at one of motorsport’s most revered stages: Le Mans. It was Ford’s victory that sealed the legacy of the Ford GT name as one of the car world’s preeminent legends. In 1967, the Ford GT40 Mk IV stood on the shoulders of the Mk III, which achieved the legendary 1-2-3 Le Mans victory, and the purpose-built endurance racer pulled all the stops when it came to the technology and engineering for track domination at the time. MUST READ: Dodge Demon Vs. Shelby GT500: Which Is Better? Over half a century later, the modern-day Ford GT has carried on the legacy of the original as a cutting-edge supercar with racing ability that few other cars in the world can match. Now, the Ford GT is bidding the automotive world farewell again, and it does so with the ultimate model. Like the unbridled Mk IV of the 1960s, the new 2023 Ford GT Mk IV is made purely for the track, and has no holds barred. The twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine makes more than 800 horsepower, the carbon fiber body is lengthened like the original Mk IV was, and the racing transmission is purely for taking on tracks around the world. The incredible send-off for the Ford GT is limited to just 67 examples in honor of the year that the first Mk IV was made. Each is priced at $1.7 million, and deliveries will begin late in the spring of next year. For the last time, Ford’s legendary supercar is doing what it does best, dominating the race track. View All Ford GTs For Sale Source: Ford

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