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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 Edward Jones – November 26, 2019

McLaren 720S vs 1200 HP Hennessey Trackhawk

Do you all want to see a heavily modified Jeep Trackhawk SUV take on a Mclaren 720S supercar? Well, boy, do we have a video for you. This latest SUV vs. supercar video comes to us from Hennessey Performance, the Texas tuners that enjoy tearing down supercars with their insane creations. Their latest video is of a Hennessey Trackhawk taking on a 720S. This Trackhawk is more than stock and has the HPE1200 package installed. The result of the package is a beast of a Jeep that packs 1200 horsepower. See it in action down below. If you want to learn more about this package, click here. SEE ALL MCLAREN 720S FOR SALE

By Edward Jones – October 21, 2019

Hear the Extreme Growl of a Hennessey 2020 Camaro ZL1 1LE

Hennessey's HPE850 upgrade for the 2020 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE takes the muscle car's power up to 735 rear-wheel horsepower and 706 rear-wheel lb-ft of torque. This upgrade includes a long list of components, including high-flow cylinder heads, upgraded intake and exhaust valves, high-flow air induction system and a whole lot more. So what does this upgrade get you, aside from a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.7 seconds? An insanely brutal-sounding Camaro, that's for sure. Putting the enhanced Camaro's sound front and center is a new video from Hennessey Performance where you can hear it in action. No voiceover or talking in general, just the raw sound of the car. Check it out up above and learn more about this upgrade by clicking here. see all camaro zl1's for sale

By Edward Jones – October 01, 2019

Hennessey Venom F5's Engine Has a Name: Fury

The upcoming Hennessey Venom F5 is expected to hit speeds of up to 300 mph. To accomplish this, Hennessey will be installing a monstrous engine that has a menacing name: Fury. That name is quite fitting considering the engine produces 1817 horsepower and 1193 lb-ft of torque. “We exceeded our target horsepower number. Actually, we blew our target number out of the water by delivering over 1,800 horsepower,” said company founder and CEO, John Hennessey. “The F5 engine has a very broad power band with over 1,000 lb-ft of torque available from 2,000 to 8,000 rpm. Give it the full throttle and it’s the most furious engine that we have ever built. Thus, we gave our F5 engine a special name: “Fury.” If you want to see everything that goes into this extreme engine, be sure to click here to read it all for yourself. exotic cars for sale Also Check Out: Hennessey Porsche Taycan Announced Hennessey GT500 Venom 1200: A 1200 hp Monster Hennessey HPE1200 Corvette ZR1 Lays Down Incredible Numbers

By Andrew Nabors – August 07, 2019

Hennessey HPE1200 Corvette ZR1 Lays Down Incredible Numbers

As gorgeous and potent as the new 2020 Corvette is, the mid-engine layout is not for everyone. That is why the 2019 Corvette ZR1 will shine in the history books as a proper end to an era. It is still available as a coupe or convertible, with a 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. In stock form, the supercharged LT5 engine offers 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. Known internally by Corvette Engineers as BAS (Big @SS Supercharger), Chevrolet was able to make this power mostly with the larger blower. That is where John Hennessey and his team realized the car's potential. After working their magic, the Hennessey HPE1200 Corvette ZR1 lays down incredible numbers. After removing the supercharger, it is ported by hand. It is then treated to a larger throttle body and two new pulleys. The heads are replaced by a pair of ported ones loaded with bigger valves and stronger springs. Toss in a custom ground camshaft and you have incredible power. Automatic owners are forced to upgrade the internals to handle the power, but the 7-speed stick can take the abuse. The final step is a full tank of E85 and tuning on the dyno. This allows it to make 1,200 horsepower and 1,066 lb-ft of torque. If you choose to run this car on 93 octane pump gas, power is limited to only 1,100 hp. So what does this mean in the quarter-mile? Tell us what you think of this car in the comments below. For more information email sales@hennesseyperformance.com or call 979-885-1300 " width="680"> Check out the wheelie @23 seconds! Related: John Hennessey Explains the Chevy Goliath in Detail

By Andrew Nabors – July 25, 2019

Hennessey HPE1000 Corvette ZR1 vs Ferrari 488 GTB

When validating your latest build, it is nice to have a twin-turbo Ferrari for comparison. Previously at Hennessey Performance, their HPE800 Escalade went head to head against a worthy opponent. Now they have upped the ante with a Hennessey HPE1000 Corvette ZR1 versus a Ferrari 488 GTB. We don't know if the Italian is the same car as last time, but it doesn't matter. The Ferrari 488 GTB offers 661 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque. The opponent is the most powerful Corvette that Chevrolet has ever sold. In stock form, the Corvette ZR1 has 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. Known internally by Corvette engineers as BAS or "Big @SS Supercharger", it was a proper farewell to the front-engine chassis. Those are good numbers for a production car, but we all know Hennessey can deliver more. Ferrari 488 GTB vs Hennessey HPE800 Escalade Starting with ported heads, the car receives a new cam, supercharger pulley, and a full stainless exhaust. Automatic cars need new internals for the 8-speed, so the 7-speed manual is a more affordable conversion. Measured on their dyno, the power at the crankshaft is 1,000 horsepower with 966 lb-ft of torque. If you want more, the car HPE1200 is tuned to run exclusively on 110 octane race fuel to unlock 1,200 horsepower and 1,066 lb-ft of torque. If you want your ZR1 to break the sound barrier, our dealers have a few 2019 examples still available. Click the link below to find yours and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance updates. Find Your Corvette Here! Related: Jeep Trackhawk vs Hennessey HPE800 Escalade

By Andrew Nabors – July 17, 2019

Hennessey Performance Unveils the 1st Production Goliath 6x6

Bob Berrard had a problem. He owns the largest potato farm in Wisconsin and he needed a new truck. A full load of spuds is heavy, even for a 4WD truck. So he decided to call our friend John Hennessey. Never afraid of a customer's request, the team delivered something massive. Taking inspiration from a biblical giant, Hennessey Performance has unveiled the Goliath 6x6. Starting with a Silverado High Country, the entire rear suspension is removed. In its place is their brilliant tandem axles which share a progressive leaf spring on each side. Four shock absorbers keep the ride smooth, even though it is 8" taller than stock. BF Goodrich 37" All-Terrains are wrapped on 20" Hennessey wheels. Other goodies include a roll bar, LED lights, powered running boards, massive brakes, and more performance. Adding a stainless steel side-exit exhaust and a cold air intake allow the 6.2L V8 to make 450 horsepower. Since the engine is nearly identical to the 6.2 in the Camaro and Stingray, you could always add more power if this isn't enough. Because Bob received the first example, only 24 trucks will be produced. The price of $375,000 includes a new Silverado (or GMC Sierra) and a 3 year/36,000 warranty. For more information, call 979.885.1300 or email sales@hennesseyperformance.com. Click Here to Learn More " width="680"> Related: Ferrari 488 GTB vs Hennessey HPE800 Escalade Hennessey Maximus 1000 is the Ultimate Jeep Gladiator

By Andrew Nabors – June 10, 2019

Ferrari 488 GTB vs Hennessey HPE800 Escalade

Life is too short to drive boring cars. Not only does this apply to your weekend toys, it should also provoke you to get the best from your daily driver. The Cadillac Escalade is the flagship SUV from General Motors. As such, it arrives with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Not bad for an SUV, but its Corvette V8 is capable of much more. To see how their latest build compares against the world's best, here is a Ferrari 488 GTB vs Hennessey HPE800 Escalade. Of course its an unlikely comparison, and that is how John Hennessey gets us to watch until the end. The American contender weighs in at 5,856 lbs, and makes 805 horsepower and 812 lb-ft of torque. The stock Ferrari is 3,252 lbs, with 660 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. to make supercar power, the Cadillac has been bored and stroked to 6.78 liters and topped with a 2.9L supercharger. Tell us which one you would drive in the comments below and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance updates. Find Your Ferrari 488 GTB Here! Related: Browse Ferrari 488 Pista For Sale

By Edward Jones – May 02, 2019

Hennessey Corvette ZR1 Breaks 1/4 Mile Record

Hennessey Performance truly enjoys leveling up cars through their upgrades. For the Corvette ZR1, they have the HPE1000 upgrade which most definitely levels up the American supercar. When installed, the HPE1000 package pushed the car's output all the way up to 1000 bhp and 966 lb-ft of torque. When the car is equipped with drag radials, Hennessey says a ZR1 with the HPE1000 package can run 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds. To test out their work on the ZR1, Hennessey took one with the HPE1000 upgrade package to a drag strip to see how fast it could complete a 1/4-mile sprint. When the car crossed the mark, it recorded a sprint of 9.52 seconds @ 144.8 mph. According to the Texas-based aftermarket tuner, this is a new world record for the ZR1. Check out the video of the sprint by clicking play above. see all zr1's up for sale Also Check Out: 2019 Hennessey VelociRaptor Ranger vs Stock Raptor McLaren Senna HPE1000 from Hennessey Performance The Rock’s New Hennessey VelociRaptor V8

By Andrew Nabors – April 09, 2019

Supercharged Chevy SS Dyno Tested by Hennessey Performance

If you are looking for a full-size sports sedan, don't overlook the Chevrolet SS. Although it was only sold for 4 years (2014-2017), every example had the Camaro's LS3 6.2L V8 under the hood. Offering 415 horsepower and lb-ft, it is no slouch. But one owner decided it wasn't enough and sent it to Sealy, Texas for a forced induction upgrade. To make sure it was dialed in, the supercharged Chevy SS was dyno tested by Hennessey Performance John Hennessey and his team installed a massive Whipple supercharger on top of a new camshaft. In the old days, an aftermarket cam would usually not be a good combination with a blower. This was because the overlap between intake and exhaust valves allowed much of the boost into the exhaust before it had a chance to work. But the secret is in the intake duration. Allowing more air to reach the cylinders allowed this SS to put 585 horsepower and 515 lb-ft of horsepower to the ground. The same can be done to any GM V8, so click the link below for more examples and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance updates. Contact Hennessey Performance Here P.S. Chevrolet also offered this car to Cops in a long wheelbase Caprice Police Interceptor. They have Impala front and rear bumpers and they are faster than you, ask me how I know... Related: Hennessey VelociRaptor 600: Up Close & Personal Ferrari F12berlinetta HPE800 Testing by Hennessey Performance

By Andrew Nabors – April 02, 2019

Hennessey Performance McLaren 720S Shakedown Testing

When it comes to major upgrades, the best feeling is vindication once your car is back on the road. Feeling your car respond to new parts is addictive, especially if your car is a carbon fiber masterpiece. That's why we love the latest upload by the leader in aftermarket tuning. If you like twin turbo V8 power, watch the first Hennessey Performance McLaren 720S shakedown testing. John Hennessey took delivery of the first McLaren 600LT in the US. And since then he has developed a comprehensive upgrade package for the Sports and Super Series models. In stock form, the McLaren 720S makes 710 horsepower at the crankshaft. While this is ok for some, we saw this car make 809 horsepower at the wheels last week. Turn up your audio because now its time for the track. If your car could use a serious horsepower injection, head over to http://hennesseyperformance.com/ and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance news. View All McLaren 720S For Sale Related: McLaren Senna HPE1000 from Hennessey Performance Ferrari F12berlinetta HPE800 by Hennessey Performance

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