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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 Jordan Aquistapace – September 14, 2020

Hublot Celebrates 40th Anniversary With A Classic Fusion ...

Since 1980, Hublot has been defying the odds against traditional watchmaking. The most iconic being the Classic Original that featured a rubber strap paired with a gold case. The celebration of Hublot’s 40th anniversary will pay tribute to the once drastic decision by releasing a special edition Classic Fusion collection. The new addition blends the historic design with modern materials and functionality. The Hublot Classic Fusion 40TH Anniversary is available in yellow gold, satin titanium, and black ceramic. The yellow gold reference will be limited to 100 pieces with the titanium and ceramic limited to 200 each. Each example will be equipped with Hublot’s HUB 1112 self-winding movement that has a power reserve of 42 hours. The skeleton backing of the watch is presented as a limited-edition example with the specific numeric engraved. Sapphire glass will protect the date only dial if submerged at the 100-meter water-resistant depth. The strap is made from a comfortable black rubber with the buckle clasp matching the desired case material. The Hublot Classic Fusion 40th Anniversary is the perfect collector watch that holds a story of the company’s bold and successful decision to be different. Enquire about the new Hublot Classic Fusion 40th Anniversary by clicking the link below. Enquire Now

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 02, 2020

Hublot's Special Edition Classic Fusion Limited to 50 Pieces

Hublot has announced the limited release of a classic fusion model that pays homage to the city of Rome. The Italian watch company celebrates one year since the inauguration of their boutique located in the heart of Rome, and what better way than to create a timepiece solely around the anniversary. The piece is named the Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Special Edition Boutique Rome and will be limited to 50 examples sold specifically in boutique located on the Piazza di Spagna. The timepiece features a 45mm created in brushed black titanium driven by Hublot’s HUB1143 chronograph movement that has a 42-hour power reserve. Engraved on the back of the case is “Special Edition / Boutique Roma xx/50” to signify the meaning behind the milestone. The strap is made from a combination of rubber and genuine leather with grey contrast stitching. The worn look of both the case and strap is meant to show honor to the old history of Rome. The inspiration behind this project shows great appreciation by Hublot which we believe will result in the 50 examples finding new owners as soon as they are released. Learn More

By Edward Jones – August 19, 2020

Hublot Debuts the new Spirit of Big Bang Green Saxem

Hublot's ever-popular Spirit of Big Bang now has a new model that will leave you green with envy when you spot someone else wearing it. Why? because it's green, of course, and it's magnificent. Introducing, the new Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Green Saxem. To achieve the green color for the case, Hublot mixed aluminum oxide with rare-earth element. Matching the green of the case is the rubber strap, indexes, hands and logo at the 12 o'clock. At the heart of this watch is the HUB4700 caliber. This chronograph has a completely skeletonized movement and is incredibly precise. If you're interested, it comes with a price tag of $116,000. For more information, be sure to click the button below to visit Hublot.com. Learn More " width="680">

By Edward Jones – July 21, 2020

New Hublot Big Bang Sky Blue is a Breath of Fresh Air

A new Hublot Big Bang is here and it's like having a Greek vacation on your wrist. Introducing the new Big Bang Sky Blue. The light blue color of the case and white accents on the dial and strap mimic the blue waters of the Aegean Sea against the lime-washed houses. If you've been looking for a new watch for summer, this is a perfect fit. The bezel and case of this watch are made of ceramic that's been polished and satin-finished. This material allows both of these components to be scratch-proof, so they won't get scuffed up during your summer adventures. If you happen to find yourself in the water during these hot months, the Big Bang Sky Blue is rated for 100m of water resistance. And let's face it, this watch would look fantastic in crystal clear waters. The Hublot Big Bang Sky Blue is limited to just 100 examples, so click the button below to contact Hublot if you'd like this stunning watch for yourself. Visit Hublot.com

By Edward Jones – July 08, 2020

Introducing the Hublot Big Bang Millennial Pink

Hublot has teamed up with Lapo Elkann, the founder and creative director of Garage Italia to create the new Big Bang Millennial Pink. The idea behind this watch was to create something that's gender-neutral. To accomplish this, they went with the Millenial Pink color which Hublot says can be described as powder pink, pastel, or even a blend of beige and salmon, apricot and grapefruit. "Millennial Pink takes its place today as a pink which is not in the exclusive realm of women, nor that of men, but truly a symbol of a completely new generation," notes Hublot. " width="680"> The 42 mm case is made of lightweight aluminum that's been anodized, satin-finished and through-tinted with the the Millennial Pink color-- Hublot's engineers actually achieve the pink color through anodization. Within this case is the Unico chronograph movement that boasts a 72-hour power reserve. As for straps, the Big Bang Millennial Pink comes with two: one made of rubber with a titanium-covered deployant buckle and one that's a mix of Velcro and knitted PES fabric with a sporty buckle. Only 200 pieces of the Hublot Big Bang Millennial Pink will be produced, each coming with a price of $20,900. Learn More at Hublot.com

By Edward Jones – June 30, 2020

Hublot Launches New Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph...

Hublot has debuted their new Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph ‘Watches of Switzerland Group’ Special Edition timepiece to celebrate their partnership with The Watches of Switzerland Group. It was unveiled during a digital event hosted by Brian Duffy, CEO of The Watches of Switzerland Group, and Craig Bolton, Executive Director of The Watches of Switzerland Group. This new timepiece has a 45mm black ceramic case with a black skeleton dial. Red details can also be found in the dial, as well as on the alligator and rubber strap. The movement of this watch is carried out by the HUB1155 self-winding chronograph movement that boasts a 42-hour power reserve. If you're interested, this watch will be available exclusively from The Watches of Switzerland Group's showrooms in the United Kingdom and the United States. You can learn more about The Watches of Switzerland Group and find a showroom nearby by clicking the button below. Visit TheWOSGroupPPLC.com

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By Edward Jones – April 30, 2020

Only 100 Examples of the Hublot Big Bang One Click Marc F...

Hublot has collaborated with Marc Ferrero, the master of storytelling art, for a second time and the result is the magnificent Big Bang One Click Marc Ferrero watch. This new watch comes in either a white or black styling, a design that was chosen with a very specific reason. "I love the power of black and white. Shade and light. Yin and Yang. One is profound, unclassifiable, eternal. The other is subtle, ethereal, timeless. They symbolise antitheses and complementarity. Choosing black and white means getting straight to the point without an excess of tonalities. The black and white make ‘Lipstick’ even more graphic and its red lipstick—more magnetic." - Marc Ferrero The white watch comes with satin-finished steel and resin, with a lacquered dial and calf and rubber strap. As for the black watch, it's black ceramic with a lacquered dial and calf and rubber strap. Both watches, no matter the shade, have one point of color: red lipstick. The woman wearing the lipstick on the dial pays tribute to the woman of the 21st century. Only 100 examples of the Hublot Big Bang One Click Marc Ferrero will be created. For more information, be sure to click the button below. View on Hublot.com Technical Specs BIG BANG ONE CLICK 39 MM MARC FERREROCERAMIC BLACK & WHITE REFERENCE465.CX.1120.VR.1204.LIP20Limited to 100 pieces CASESatin-finished and polished black CeramicDiameter: 39mmThickness: 12.55mmWater resistance: 10 ATM (100m) CASE-BACKPolished black CeramicEngraved “LIMITED EDITION”XXX/100 BEZELPolished black plated CeramicSet with 42 diamonds for ~1.00ct DIALBlack and white lacquered dial designed by “Marc Ferrero” MOVEMENTHUB1710Self-winding movementFrequency: 4Hz (28’800 A/h)Power reserve: ~ 50 hoursNo. of Components: 166Jewels: 27 STRAP & BUCKLEBlack and white Calf leather and black Rubber strap, designed by “Marc Ferrero”Black Alligator and black Rubber strap with black stitchingStainless Steel deployant buckle clasp BIG BANG ONE CLICK 39 MM MARC FERREROSTEEL WHITE REFERENCE465.SX.2020.VR.1204.LIP20Limited to 100 pieces CASESatin-finished and polished stainless SteelDiameter: 39mmThickness: 12.55mmWater resistance: 10 ATM (100m) CASE-BACKSatin-finished stainless SteelEngraved “LIMITED EDITION”XXX/100 BEZELPolished stainless SteelSet with 42 diamonds for ~1.00ct DIALWhite lacquered dial designed by “Marc Ferrero” MOVEMENTHUB1710Self-winding movementFrequency: 4Hz (28’800 A/h)Power reserve: ~ 50 hoursNo. of Components: 166Jewels: 27 STRAP & BUCKLEWhite Calf leather and white Rubber strap, designed by “Marc Ferrero”White Alligator and white Rubber strap with white stitchingStainless Steel deployant buckle clasp " width="680"> Source: Hublot

By Edward Jones – February 19, 2020

Hublot Announces New Watch for 2020 UEFA Champions League

Hey soccer (or football) fans, are you excited for Round 16 of the UEFA Champions League? Well, you should be if your team happened to make it in. Hublot is also excited for the release of their new Classic Fusion AeroFusion Chronograph UEFA Champions League watch to celebrate the occasion. This watch continues Hublot's involvement in soccer, which started in 2006. In fact, they were the first luxury brand and switch watch brand to ever get involved with soccer. This new watch is limited to just 100 examples and celebrates the European competition. It features a dial with a three-dimensional appearance thanks to the blackened bridges of the HUB1155 skeleton movement. As for the dial, its made of transparent sapphire. New Exotic Cars Touches of the watches inspiration, the UEFA Champions League, can be found on the front and back of the watch. under the running seconds counter you can see the repeating star motif from the UEFA Champions League logo. On the back, the sapphire crystal insert also bears the entire UEFA Champions League logo. LEARN MORE

By Edward Jones – December 13, 2019

New Hublot Watch Has Ever-Evolving Colors

Hublot and Franco-Venezuelan artist and color theorist Carlos Cruz-Diez have collaborated to create a new watch that is a true piece of art for the wrist. Called the Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez, this watch benefits from Cruz-Diez's analysis of what color is. He says color represents "an ephemeral, autonomous and ever evolving reality." The fast of the Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez consists of parallel discs that rotate in sequence-- the hour hand is connected to the first level and the minute hand to the second. These discs have been treated in Pantone colors, allowing the color palette of the watch to evolve with time. As the discs rotate, the colors change in a truly vibrant fashion. The Hublot Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez will be available in three materials, titanium, King Gold and black ceramic. They will also be available in both 45 mm and 38 mm sizes. Production count is as follows for the 45 mm and 38 mm watches: 100 and 25 titanium pieces, 30 and 20 King Gold pieces and 100 and 25 black ceramic pieces respectively. More Watch News:

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