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 Andrew Nabors – April 01, 2019

McLaren Senna HPE1000 from Hennessey Performance

The first of April is normally associated with false & humorous press releases. After sorting through the superfluous stuff we found something downright scary. The new McLaren Senna HPE1000 from Hennessey Performance will make a stock McLaren look like as exciting as a McChicken. Following the same recipe used in their HPE900 McLaren 720S, it all starts with new intakes. From there the turbos are programmed to make use of more flow on both sides. That's because they are treated to larger intercoolers and a free-flowing exhaust. With all the increased flow, each car is dyno tuned to optimize the Air/Fuel ratio. Since the Senna weighs in at only 3,029 lbs, it will have a power-to-weight ratio equal to many race cars. If you prefer a more subtle experience, the same upgrades are also available for the 600LT. Click the link below to find your new McLaren and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance news. View McLaren SENNA For Sale Related: Ferrari F12berlinetta HPE800 Validation Testing The Rock's New Hennessey VelociRaptor V8

By Andrew Nabors – March 14, 2019

Hennessey HPE 1000 Corvette Grand Sport is a Supercharged...

If you like the looks and performance of the Corvette Z06, the Grand Sport has all of its features without the big engine. It bridges the gap between the base model Stingray and the Z06, and the LT1 engine offers 460 horsepower. If that is not enough for you, the Hennessey HPE1000 Corvette Grand Sport is a supercharged beast. While most superchargers have moved into the intake valley, centrifugal blowers have made incredible advances in recent years. Starting with a new 416 ci (6.8L) short block, HPE adds cnc ported heads, stainless headers, and several internal upgrades to the 8-speed automatic. The engine and transmission computers are tuned on the dyno before a shakedown at the Pennzoil Proving Grounds next door. This comprehensive upgrade makes 1,008 horsepower at the crank and it is available for manual transmission cars also. Faster and more affordable than a ZR1, the HPE1000 is waiting for you. Click Here For Price & Specs Related: Hennessey Camaro Exorcist Dyno Tuning Watch Hennessey's V8 Raptor Destroy A Stock Raptor

By Edward Jones – February 05, 2019

Hennessey Performance McLaren 600LT Upgrade: Hypercar-lik...

Right when we learned that Hennessey Performance received the very first McLaren 600LT customer delivery in the U.S., we knew they were going to push the limits of the supercar. Now, I can say that they have pushed the limits of the new McLaren through their new HPE1000 Performance Upgrade Program for the 2018-2019 600LT. Announced today, this program will take the power of the car up to 1,001 bhp @ 7,500 rpm and 865 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm. That's quite the upgrade from the stock power of 592 bhp and 457 lb-ft. Hennessey Performance notes that this kind of power will result in a 0 to 60 mph time of just 2.1 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 9.6 seconds @ 156 mph. How is Hennessey Performance accomplishing this? Through a long list of upgrades: • High-flow air filters• Motec engine management system• Hennessey stainless steel turbo headers• Twin turbo system upgrade• High-flow wastegate system upgrade• Transmission system upgrade• Hennessey stainless steel exhaust upgrade• Intercooler system upgrade• Professional installation• All necessary gaskets and fluids• Exterior Hennessey emblem• Exterior HPE1000 emblems• Serial numbered dash plaque• Serial numbered plaque in engine compartment The Texas-based tuner also notes that power upgrades can range from 700 to 1,000 horsepower, so expect more than just the HPE1000. For more information regarding Hennessey Performance's McLaren 600LT HPE1000 Performance Upgrade Program, be sure to click the button below. learn more about this upgrade

By Andrew Nabors – November 27, 2018

See How the Ford GT Stands Up Against the McLaren 720S

What matters in this modern age of social media is Content Creation. Everyone has access to upload automotive insights, but it takes a true industry leader to show you how it's done. So our friends in Sealy, Texas have quite a collection of the world's most powerful cars. What better to do when Winter arrives than upload a series of drag races. Luxury Cars For Sale John Hennessey owns the adjacent Lonestar Motorsports Park, and it has a road course and an NHRA 1/4 mile. Today's contestants hail from Ford and McLaren, two brands that have been competing against each other for decades. America is represented by a 2018 Ford GT Heritage Edition. It offers 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5-liter V6. Flying the Union Jack is a new McLaren 720S. Also using twin turbos, its 4.0-liter V8 is rated at 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Dynos don't lie, and many McLaren owners have reported more power at the wheels than the factory claims at the engine. There is also a difference in the curb weight, with Ford coming in 224 lbs heavier than the McLaren. Tell us which one would win in a 1/2 mile in the comments below and stay with us for more great Hennessey Performance updates. Related: World's Fastest 1/4 Mile Cars View All McLaren 720S For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 30, 2018

Hennessey and Post Malone Collab in the Works?

Post Malone and Hennessey Performance (HPE) seem to have something in the works, according to a recent Instagram post from the Texas tuner (see below). The post features a picture of both John Hennessey, the main man behind HPE, and Post Malone. What's interesting is the description, which reads: "There’s only one HPE build big enough for these two weekend warriors.. ? @postmalone and @johnhennesseytexas collaboration coming soon."I honestly have no idea which HPE they could possibly be talking about, but it could mean many things. If they're talking about "big enough" in terms of power, maybe they're referencing the upcoming Venom F5 hypercar. The Venom F5 packs 1600 bhp and suggested top speed of over 300 mph. If they're talking about "big enough" in terms of size, then it could mean the massive VelociRaptor 6x6 (pictured above) or Goliath 6x6.Who knows what it means, but I'm sure we will be learning about it very soon.View Hennessey Vehicles For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bpf4cEBDudq/

By Andrew Nabors – September 04, 2018

How Does the Hennessey Venom F5 Make 1,600 Horsepower?

The Hennessey Venom F5 is the successor to the Venom GT, but it is not limited by a Lotus chassis. Hennessey is touting that this engine creates over 1,600 horsepower and 1,300 lb-ft of torque, but many are wondering how they do it. Some have tried to explain it, but I'm here to give a quick breakdown of this wild engine.Hennessey is building this engine using the best parts in the industry. Of course, this architecture is based on the Chevrolet LS series, but only in appearance. Their specifications for a bespoke engine block could only be met by one supplier. Noonan Racing is based in Australia, and they specialize in big LS engines. Their tall-deck block is cut from a single block on billet aluminum. It was designed to Hennessey's specifications, with priority oiling and a raised cam tunnel. These Oil Ports Supply The Turbos With The Same Priority As The CamshaftWhile the block is capable of being machined for 8-liters, Hennessey scaled back to allow for long-term reliability. Since the cam sits higher in the block, it has a better angle to the rocker arms. This makes the valvetrain more efficient since the timing chain will be easier to spin. Also incorrect are the assumptions that these are LS7 heads. No GM production vehicle has 6 head bolts per cylinder. The extra row of bolts below the exhaust ports is mirrored by another row in the intake valley.Noonan's heads have a different valve cover design, so the Venom F5 is something unprecedented. Therein lies Hennessey's secret sauce. The valve size, along with their angles are proprietary. The camshaft has unique ramp rates and duration to take advantage of both turbos, and the headers won't be easily duplicated.They also say the water pump was missing and replaced with a cover? No, that is a 2-piece timing chain cover with some amazing machine work.If this was something off-the-shelf, it wouldn't be capable of 1,600 horsepower and 1,300 lb-ft of torque.

By Andrew Nabors – August 24, 2018

Hennessey Venom F5 Premiere: Over 1,600 Horsepower!

We've been waiting to see what was behind the cockpit of the new Hennessey Venom F5. The first generation Venom GT used a 7.0-liter Chevrolet LS engine and twin turbos to make 1,244 horsepower and 1,155 lb-ft of torque. It pushed the car to 270 mph at the Shuttle Landing Runway, but they were at the limits of the cast aluminum block and heads.Watch Hennessey Take Delivery of His New Ford GTNever satisfied, they have stunned the world today with the 7.6-liter (464 ci) V8 that was unveiled at The Quail. While still based on the Chevrolet's 4th Generation small block, this monster and its heads are milled from a billet of hardened alloy. Something about CNC machine work this precise...it takes our breath away. Backed by Shell and Pennzoil, Hennessey Performance has dropped 1,600 horsepower into a 2,900-pound car.The 9.3 compression ratio is able to run on 93 octane while still offering 1,300 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Only 24 examples of the Venom F5 will be produced, each one with a starting price of $1.6 million dollars. The first 15 orders are confirmed, so don't miss out!

By Edward Jones – August 10, 2018

2019 Corvette ZR1 Arrives at Hennessey, Gets Dyno Tested

The new 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has finally landed at Hennessey Performance. Now, the company will get to work so they can start pushing more power out of the 6.2-liter LT5 supercharged engine. As a stock vehicle, Chevrolet says the ZR1 will lay down 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. But Hennessey's version will definitely be more powerful, but they've got a few things to do. For starters, the workers needed to get behind the wheel so they could take the ZR1 out for some high-speed runs. I'd be wrong if I said I wasn't jealous of them.4,000 Horsepower Corvette Takes Flight, Sticks the LandingNext up was the dyno test. This is where the team was able to mash the pedal down and get a read of what they're working with. Interestingly enough, their dyno results showed max power at 654.64 hp and 645.20 lb-ft of torque. Hennessey says their HPE1000 supercharged engine upgrade will bring the ZR1's power all the way up to 1000 bhp and 966 lb-ft of torque. For more information on what they're working on at Hennessey for the ZR1 can be found here.

By Andrew Nabors – June 20, 2018

Loud Dyno Tests of Hennessey HPE800 Mustang

If you happen to be traveling west of Houston on Interstate 10, don't challenge anyone to a race. That's because John Hennessey and his talented team rule the road. Their latest achievement is a comprehensive upgrade package for 2018 & 2019 Ford Mustang GT called the HPE800.The latest version of Ford's 5.0 liter V8 arrives with 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. But the GT comes fully loaded, with a dry weight of 3,700 lbs. If you don't want to get smoked by a Fox Body or an SN95, Hennessey has your prescription. It starts with a heaping helping of boost. A 3.0-liter supercharger of their own design is paired with larger fuel injectors and a new pump.For what it's worth, the stock exhaust system flows well, so it is left alone to keep state inspectors happy. A full stainless system is available as an option. Each car is dyno tuned and road tested at their adjacent Lonestar motorsports park. This ensures your car will arrive with a perfect air/fuel ratio and ignition timing. It all adds up to 808 horsepower at the crank. It is offered on manual or automatic cars, and comes with a 3 year/36,000 mile limited warranty. Turn up the volume, because this supercharged symphony is a true delight. Click the link below for more details, and stay with us for all your HPE updates.Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – June 04, 2018

Hennessey Performance Goes 0-180 mph in Ford GT

We should all be lucky enough to have our own motorsports part. Located next to Hennessey Performance is Lonestar track & drag strip. Our friend John received his 2018 Ford GT a few weeks ago, and we've been wondering what's in store for this fast Ford. If you think it would be sacrilege to modify such a rare car, you must consider the outcome. He let me drive his 2005 Ford GT which was loaded with the HPE 1200 twin turbo kit. I was never a Ford Fan until then.Watch Hennessey Take Delivery of His New Ford GTIf you can double a car's output without sacrificing drivability, then go for it. Much like the land speed record Venom GT, some cars are meant to push performance into uncharted territory. With an HD camera aimed at the instrument panel, this YouTube upload shows us that the latest Ford GT reaches 180 in 6th-gear, then 7th is for high-speed cruising. Sure it can go faster, Ford claims a top speed of 216 mph. However, the straightaway at Lonestar needs to be a little longer to get there. The gear ratios appear to be perfectly spaced to keep the turbos spinning, and it looks like boost is progressive, topping out at 26 lbs. The 3.5 liter V6 is rated at 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque, but is it capable of more? Turn up your audio, and tell us what you think in the comments below!Find Your Ford GT For Sale!View the 2018 Ford GT Price, Specs & Horsepower

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