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 Tyler Rampersaud – December 19, 2023

Watch Hennessey's Deep Dive On The New Dodge SRT Demon 170

John Hennessey’s pursuit of ultimate American performance continues. John Hennessey, and even more so his eponymous Hennessey Performance, is known for an insatiable desire for and incredible ability to achieve amazing levels of automotive performance, whether it be through upgrading trucks or SUVs, tweaking the performance of America’s favorite performance cars, or by creating an unfathomable hypercar from the ground up. However, with the introduction of its celebratory SRT Demon 170, Dodge and SRT showed off its approach to American performance to the very best of its ability before the industry’s transition to electrification spells the end of muscle cars like this one as we know them. At long last, John Hennessey’s new SRT Demon 170 has been delivered, finished in the iconic Plum Crazy Purple paint color, and that’s just the beginning of what makes it special. It’s the most powerful SRT creation yet at 1,035 horsepower with 925 lb/ft of torque, and it broke records with a 1.66-second 0-60 time, all while being a supercharged V8-powered rear-wheel drive vehicle, unlike the electric vehicles that have been putting up similar acceleration times. As the swan song and grand finale of supercharged V8 SRT muscle cars, Hennessey is excited to put the new Dodge SRT Demon 170 to the test on its Pennzoil Proving Grounds in its Sealy, Texas headquarters facility. However, with the car in stunning delivery condition, what needs to come first is a close look at everything that makes the car what it is. With the incredible SRT muscle car ending and the Demon 170 being the finale, Hennessey celebrates one of the greatest achievements in American automotive performance yet. View All Dodge SRT Demons For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 04, 2023

Watch Hennessey Race The MAMMOTH 1000 TRX Against The For...

Hennessey matches up two performance pickup legends. As the automotive world transitions to electrification and perfects its approach to combustion engineering, electric and gasoline-powered performance vehicles make for interesting matchups. In the pickup truck world, two of the best in their respective realms are the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, and the Ram TRX equipped with Hennessey’s MAMMOTH 1000 upgrade package. With Hennessey’s upgrade package, the Ram TRX truck’s power is increased to an incredible 1,000 horsepower from a supercharged V8 engine. However, with its electric power, the Ford F-150 Lightning quietly delivers instant torque for a futuristically powerful drive when the accelerator is pressed to the floor. Hennessey put the two together to duke it out in a drag race at its Pennzoil Proving Grounds at its Sealy, Texas headquarters to see which would reign supreme. In the first run, despite being closely matched at the beginning, the 1,000 horsepower Hennessey masterpiece came out in front. A rolling race yielded similar results, with the F-150 Lightning delivering incredibly impressive performance, with the MAMMOTH 1000 TRX eventually pulling out ahead to finish the race. While both electric and gasoline-powered performance trucks are impressive, Hennessey’s engineering expertise managed to come out ahead of the Ford F-150 Lightning’s futuristic approach. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 07, 2023

Hennessey Performance Debuts The 'Last Stand' Series To C...

In a thrilling tribute to the celebrated 6.2-liter Hellcat HEMI V8. engine platform, Hennessey Performance has announced a limited edition 'Last Stand' for Dodge SRT Challenger and Charger enthusiasts. This commemorative series pays homage to the nine-year reign of the supercharged engine that has powered some of Dodge’s fiercest models. The 'Last Stand' not only commemorates the end of an era but also elevates the Hellcat legacy to new heights with an output of a whopping 1,000 horsepower. Hennessey, known for its mantra of 'making fast cars faster,' has masterfully upgraded the Hellcat engine with enhancements like a larger supercharger, high-performance fuel injectors, and meticulous engine tuning. This power pack of upgrades boosts the power output to near-Demon levels, enabling the H1000 'Last Stand' editions to blaze from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.8 seconds. These road and track beasts sport a distinct aesthetic, featuring lightweight carbon-fiber components and special 'Last Stand' heritage graphics, setting them apart as truly collectible examples. With a limited run of only 50 vehicles, each with a unique serial number, exclusivity is guaranteed. Hennessey's craftsmanship extends beyond performance to peace of mind, with a comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile warranty on all upgrades. Future buyers will be delighted to know that these rare models are already rolling out of the Sealy, Texas facility, with global shipping options available. This 'Last Stand' is a celebration of the Hellcat's legendary status and a final roar of the engine that redefined power. With Hennessey's expert touch, these Dodge SRT Challenger and Charger models are set to leave a legacy as enduring and electrifying as the Hellcat engine itself. View all Hennessey Performance inventory currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Hennessey Performance Inventory Source: Hennessey Performance

By Andrew Nabors – May 10, 2021

Hennessey Performance Unleashes The 2021 HPE1000 Dodge Ch...

You car runs 10's? That's cute! Super Stock was and is intensely competitive. Chevy's COPO Camaro, Ford's Mustang Cobra Jet and Super Stock Dodges have been fighting for showroom stock supremacy since your parents were in Middle School. Now, Hennessey muscle cars has injected their secret sauce to up the Ante. So, in order to see what the 807-horsepower Super Stock Hellcat is capable of, John Hennessey and his team took a page from their HEMI handbook. Films like these truly catch us wanting to tell you how they offer 1,000 horsepower along with a 3 year/36 warranty. But since you are reading this, you know Hennessey Performance only uses the best quality parts, most made in-house. Choosing between this and a 6x6 Ram TRX will be tough, so follow along as the Mammoth SUV is coming soon! Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – April 15, 2021

Hennessey GT500 vs Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

V8 + Boost = Excitement The roar of superchargers can be heard in downtown Houston. That's because once John Hennessey and his team get their hands under your hood, brutal power will soon appear. On Monday Dodge announced that limiting the production of the Durango Hellcat was a mistake. The 2,000 reservations evaporated within minutes, so they told the plant to keep building them. We're happy because Hennessey has proven the ability to offer 1,000 horsepower at all wheels in a reliable (and tame) daily driver. This is done without even touching the camshaft because that is the realistic limit of the Hemi's bottom end. To see it in action, a GT 500 Mustang was used as the control at the Pennzoil proving grounds. This is another potent platform they can take to 1,000 horsepower should you have a need for speed, so click the button to see what Hennessey can do to your daily driver! Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – February 09, 2021

2018 Dodge SRT Demon vs. Hennessey HPE900 Hellcat Charger

Every automaker is on an electric push while Dodge has stuffed their supercharged Hemi into the Jeep Wrangler and the Ram TRX. To see how capable it truly is, let's watch a 2018 Dodge SRT Demon vs a new Hennessey HPE900 Hellcat Charger. For a quick refresher, the Demon was the most powerful muscle car in recent history. When the fuel tank sensed race fuel, it unlocked 840 horsepower and 770 lb-ft of torque. While this package was not offered on the 4-door Charger, they share the same architecture. While John Hennessey and his team have offered 1,000 horsepower examples for a decade, one lucky customer chose the HPE900 kit because it isn't as thirsty. Removing the upper and lower supercharger pulleys, their master technicians port the intake and fabricate an all-new stainless exhaust. Without removing the blower, heads, or touching the cam, the car receives a 200-mile shakedown along with a street-tune for the highest octane you can buy at the pump. This results in having 912 horsepower and 873 lb-ft of torque without having to spend big bucks on race fuel. Should the customer ever want to reach 1,000 horsepower, most of the hard work is already done. Tell us which car you would choose in the comments below and stay with us for all your Hennessey news. Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – March 02, 2020

Hennessey HPE1000 Hellcat Redeye Dyno & Shakedown Runs

Checking every option at your local Dodge dealer will allow them to build the meanest, widest HEMI-powered Challenger Hellcat for sale. It is ok in stock form, but what if you want to chart your own path? John Hennessey and his team have proven the strength of the supercharged 6.2L. Starting with one Viper in his parent's garage, John learned how to extract every ounce of power from a stock Mopar. That is why you need to watch their latest Hennessey HPE1000 Hellcat Redeye Dyno & Shakedown runs. Visit Hennessey Performance Hera " width="680"> Images and film (C) Hennessey Performance Engineering

By Edward Jones – July 19, 2017

Hennessey 'Sets the Dodge Demon Free'

When Dodge first announced the new Challenger SRT Demon, one of their main talking points was that the car had been banned by the NHRA. While this is an impressive feat, it's an unfortunate turn of events for those that wanted to run a Demon at NHRA's 1/4 drag strips.Thankfully, there's Hennessey Performance.In a July 18, 2017 letter to Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands at FCA US LLC, John Hennessey assured the company that new Demon owners will have a place to run their cars to their full potential: Hennessey's own Lonestar Motorsports Park 1/4 mile dragstrip. Hennessey's only requirement is that Demons owners will attend one day of drag racing school with their Demon so that they can become "familiar with burnouts, setting tire pressures and safley operating their vehicles in a dragstrip environment."So, those looking to run quarter-miles in 9.65 @ 140 mph with their Demon will be able to find solace in Hennessey Performance.

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