Hennessey

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 Edward Jones – December 22, 2021

Audi RS 6 Hits 183 MPH With a Christmas Tree On the Roof

The world's fastest station wagon carrying a Christmas tree. After Hennessey Performance brought out a Porsche 911 Turbo S carrying a Christmas tree and took it to 175 mph, they're doing it again but this time are looking for a faster top speed. For the Christmas tree carrier, the team went with an Audi RS 6 that actually belongs to John Hennessey's wife. This specific RS 6 has also undergone some tuning at the hands of Hennessey Performance, which has brought its power output up to 800 bhp. Also, it sounds meaner than a fire-breathing dragon. Driving the RS 6 to its top speed was Ford Performance Driving School Senior Instructor, Spencer Geswin. How did he manage? Take it from John Hennessey himself. John Hennessey, company Founder and CEO: “We wanted to see what my wife’s Audi station wagon would run without the tree and we managed 205 mph. Then, the real holiday fun began when we mounted a real Christmas tree on the roof. To our surprise, her wagon ran a very respectable 183 mph.” You can see the top speed run up above. See All Audi RS 6 For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 30, 2021

Hennessey's Six-Wheeled All-Electric "Project Deep Space"...

Hennessey is on a roll. And with six wheels at that. Hennessey is already making big waves with the Venom F5, a car with outlandish capabilities and mesmerizing innovation. But Hennessey is not the type of company to rest on its laurels. Today, they’ve announced “Project Deep Space,” a six-wheel-drive, all-electric, ultra-luxe grand tourer that is supposed to begin production in 2026. With this new car, Hennessey plans to push the boundaries of what is possible, but as we know, Hennessey has done that with every car it makes. Some of what we can expect is insane amounts of power and performance, the quickest accelerating four-seater from 0-200 mph, “private jet luxury,” dramatic gullwing doors, and room for four sets of carry-on luggage in the front and four sets of golf clubs in the back. MUST READ: The First Hennessey Venom F5 Has Been Delivered By nature, the two extra wheels increase surface contact by 50% compared to cars with four wheels, increasing grip and acceleration by incredible amounts, and combined with the fact that each of those six wheels will have a dedicated electric motor, Project Deep Space will be an incredibly performing car, to say the least. Of course, this all comes at a price, and the price Hennessey is asking for is quite high at $3 million. This would make Project Deep Space the most expensive electric car in the world, but we aren’t that surprised. Hennessey is no stranger to breaking records. Image Source - Hennessey

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 23, 2021

Hennessey Venom F5 in "Lausanne Silver" Is Coming To The ...

From Vector to Mosler to Saleen, the role of purveying the premier American supercar has been passed down for decades. For the past decade, it’s been Hennessey’s turn, and they have made the biggest waves yet. And now, the Venom F5, capable of 301 mph, and capable of getting to 249 mph in less than 30 seconds, is finally fully realized and being delivered. One special example is this “Lausanne Silver” Venom F5 with a red, white, and blue livery across the entire body. It’s a beautiful and appropriate color scheme for celebrating such an incredible domestic success. Even beyond the pride of knowing that an American road car is capable of 300 miles per hour, the innovation behind the Venom F5 is something that every car enthusiast can be proud of, celebrate, and admire. And if you want to admire this Venom F5 and you are in the Los Angeles area, it will be on display at the Petersen Museum hypercar exhibition, starting December 2nd. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Source: Hennessey Performance/Facebook

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 23, 2021

The First Hennessey Venom F5 Has Been Delivered

It’s time to get excited again because the dream is real. It’s been a long time coming, and the first Hennessey Venom F5 has finally been delivered to its owner. After years of anticipation, it’s finally time to witness the incredible capability of the Venom F5 for ourselves, and it will be a sight to see. Hennessey tells us that the Venom F5 has a curb weight of just 2,950 pounds, and combined with a drag coefficient of just 0.33, and a specially built twin-turbo V8 capable of a whopping 1600 horsepower, what we are looking at is a car that is capable of getting from 0 to 186 mph less than 10 seconds, to 249 mph in less than 30, and onward to a mind-blowing top speed of 301 miles per hour. Who would’ve thought that the word “three hundred” would have ever been mentioned when talking about the top speed of a road car? A vehicle this special isn’t going to come easily. Hennessey Performance plans to make just 24 of them, and since one has already been delivered, that means there are at most just 23 left for the taking, and $1.6 million is the price that it’ll take to get your hands on one. If you want a Venom F5 for yourself, we hate to break it to you but they're all already sold out. View All Hypercars For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hennessey Performance (@hennesseyperformance)

By Edward Jones – October 13, 2021

Hennessey MAMMOTH 1000 Walkaround: The 1000 Horsepower TRX

A close look at the absolutely insane The Hennessey Performance MAMMOTH 1000 is what you would consider a super truck. Starting with a 2021 RAM TRX, Hennessey Performance then upgrades the engine and brings the power all the way up to 1,000 horsepower from 702 hp. Now, the MAMMOTH 1000 is more than just a power upgrade and also features modifications to its exterior and interior. There are a lot of options to pick from and thankfully Hennessey Performance has uploaded a new video that gives us a good walkaround of the brutal American super truck with the Stage 1 Off-Road package. Click play on the video up above to learn more about the MAMMOTH 1000 and what Hennessey is capable of. View Hennesseys For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 06, 2021

Walkaround of the $2.1 Million Hennessey Venom F5

A chance to really appreciate the beautiful Hennessey Venom F5. It goes without saying that the Hennessey Venom F5 is a fantastic looking car. In fact, it was our October 2021 cover car. Whether you've seen it in pictures or in person, the Venom F5 is breathtaking. To dive further into what makes the Venom F5 not only look fantastic, but also perform at incredibly high speeds, Hennessey uploaded a new video for us all to enjoy. In the video, Hennessey Directory of Design, Nathan Malinick, takes viewers around the American hypercar and shows off details you may have missed before or weren't close enough to notice. One detail that I found very impressive was the badge, something that is often overlooked. On the front of the car is an aluminum badge that is 8 microns thin, which is actually thinner than a piece of hair. Hennessey made it this thin to ensure that it would not impact the airflow over the hood of the car. Now that's pretty awesome. Check it all out for yourself by clicking play up above. Shop Issue

By Edward Jones – September 30, 2021

Hennessey Unveils the VelociRaptor 600 for the 3rd Genera...

A perfect upgrade for the insanely popular Raptor. The Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 has become the brand's best-selling performance truck and now it's back for the 3rd generation Ford F-150 Raptor. This new package adds 150 horsepower for a total power output of 600 hp and 622 lb-ft of torque. Aiming for a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a 12.9-second quarter-mile, Hennessey's engineers have put in work to ensure that the new VelociRaptor 600 delivers. Well, it most certainly looks like they are delivering a monster of a truck. On top of the performance upgrades, Hennesey will give customers the ability to choose from a long list of optional upgrades. These include items like upgraded front and rear bumpers, 20-inch Hennessey wheels, a suspension leveling kit, and more. Hennessey will be limiting the production of the VelociRaptor 600 to just 250 examples per year. An example of the Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 with the most popular upgrades (bumpers, wheels, and off-road tires) ends up with a price tag of around $110,000 with that price including the stock Ford F-150 Raptor. See All F-150 Raptors For Sale Source: Hennessey Performance

By Edward Jones – September 24, 2021

Hennessey Gives Mammoth 1000 Owner a Fright in His New Truck

It's easy to scare people when the truck packs an insane amount of power. Hennessey Performance's Mammoth 1000 is regarded as the world's fastest and most powerful truck. It claims this title by being capable of producing 1,012 horsepower and a 0 to 60 mph time of just 3.2 seconds. Those are straight-up supercar numbers. To make the Mammoth 1000 possible, Hennessey takes a new Ram 1500 TRX and upgrades the pants off of the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, as well as a multitude of other modifications. Naturally, this truck is quite popular and the list of more than 100 orders for the truck proves it. Recently, one of the first customers got the chance to go to Hennessey's headquarters in Texas and was given a test drive in his truck. It seems he was impressed and quite frightened by the truck, but in a good way. In his own words: "I freakin' love it." Check it out for yourself in the video up above.

By Edward Jones – September 15, 2021

New Hennessey Venom 775 F-150 Is the TRX's New Rival

Watch out TRX, there's a new truck in town. The RAM 1500 TRX has been a hot ticket in the truck world as of recent, and for good reason (power). Now, the new Hennessey Venom 775 F-150 has just been unveiled and it packs power and specs that should excite truck fans. To begin, Hennessey takes the F-150's 5.0-liter V8 engine and almost doubles the 400 horsepower output up to 775 hp. They accomplish this through the implementation of a 3.0-liter twin-scroll supercharger, a new intercooler system and more. Additionally, torque is increased by 275 lb-ft up to 685 lb-ft. While those are already impressive numbers, it's the weight that seals the deal for the Venom F-150. Being around 2,000 lbs lighter than the TRX, this new truck from Hennessey easily wins the power-to-weight argument. The price for the new Hennessey Venom F-150 will end up being around $90,000 to $110,000 (including the stock V8 Ford F-150), depending on options. It comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty. Just 100 examples are planned for production. See F-150 Raptors For Sale Source: Hennessey Performance

By Edward Jones – September 13, 2021

Reservations for the 2022 Mammoth TRX by Hennessey Are No...

When a standard TRX won't do, Hennessey steps in with the insane Mammoth. The 2022 Mammoth TRX by Hennessey Performance is a truly wild creation. In order for this truck to happen, Hennessey had to look at the already powerful RAM 1500 TRX and say: "This needs to be better and more powerful." Then again, that is exactly what Hennessey has been doing for years. After upgrading the TRX with a slew of modifications and upgrades, the Mammoth TRX was born. Packing up to 1,012 horsepower and 969 lb-ft of torque, the Mammoth TRX can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. That kind of acceleration allows the Mammoth TRX to not only line up against many supercars but also dominate them. And while orders for the 2021 Mammoth TRX have been closed, Hennessey Performance has announced that reservations for the 2022 model are now open. For more information, be sure to click the button below. Learn More " width="680">

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