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 – September 26, 2023

Watch Hennessey Race The Ford Mustang Dark Horse & Shelby...

Two thoroughbred pony cars duke it out. For decades, the pinnacle of Ford Mustang performance was shown through Shelby Mustangs, which have offered increased power, racing-inspired engineering, and dialed-in performance focus. However, with the introduction of the newest generation of the Ford Mustang, Ford has decided to up the ante on the Mustang without the Shelby name, and has introduced the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse. With up to 500 horsepower coming from its 5.0-liter V8 engine, it’s one of the most powerful Ford Mustangs yet, and now that it’s out and on the road, one of the premier specialists in American performance simply had to put it to the test. Of course, that specialist is Hennessey, based in Texas and responsible for some of the most incredible performance upgrades for American cars, as well as some of the world’s most incredible hypercars. To test the mettle of the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Hennessey decided to race it against the reigning poster performance Mustang: the Shelby GT350R. Both cars are stock, with the Dark Horse boasting a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 with 500 horsepower paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and the Shelby sporting a 526-horsepower 5.2-liter V8, with a six-speed manual instead. The two cars took to Hennessey’s Pennzoil Proving Grounds to see which is faster. In a short drag race with a rolling start, both cars proved that they were quick and highly capable of delivering immense power and reaching high speeds, but due to the increased power of the Shelby, as well as its weight savings by roughly 140 pounds compared to the Dark Horse, it was able to come out on top. Both of these cars are incredibly powerful and quick, and prove that American performance is not to be underestimated, but in this race, the Shelby GT350R was the winner. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 18, 2023

Hennessey Delivers A Venom F5 Coupe To A Customer In Mont...

Its delivery day for Hennessey Performance at Monterey Car Week.

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 17, 2023

Hennessey Brings 8 Venom F5 Builds To Monterey Car Week

Hennessey brings its “Revolution” to Monterey Car Week.

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 08, 2023

Hennessey Reveals The New Venom F5 'Revolution Roadster' ...

Priced from $3 million, the Venom F5 Revolution Roadster is limited to just 12 units worldwide, of which production is sold out!

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 26, 2023

Watch This Hennessey Venom 1000 Shelby GT500 Mustang Unle...

Putting its best work to the test, Hennessey Performance unleashes all 1,000 horsepower from the Venom 1000 GT500 Mustang.

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 05, 2023

Rafa Martinez's 2nd Hennessey Venom F5 Is The 16th Delivered

Hennessey Special Vehicles celebrated its 'Sweet 16' milestone, delivering its 16th Venom F5 hypercar to Rafa Martinez.

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 31, 2023

Watch Hennessey's Dodge Durango Race A Lamborghini Aventador

Leave it to Hennessey to combine supercar speed with room for cargo. When it comes to imbuing cars with an exciting dose of pure, undeniable American performance, Hennessey seems to leave no stone unturned, and the HPE1000 upgrade that’s offered for the Dodge Durango is proof. As a canvas for improvement, the Durango is already formidable, with its all-wheel drive, and 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 engine. By all means, it’s a ludicrous performance SUV on its own. However, Hennessey found a level even further to take the Durango to, bringing its power to 1,000 horsepower, and to prove its incredible performance, Hennessey put it against a Lamborghini Aventador at the drag strip. MUST READ: Hennessey’s New $205K VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ Comes With Two Race Dirt Bikes With its all-wheel drive, V12 engine, and engineering from bumper to bumper dedicated to pure performance, the Aventador is a tough opponent. However, in two separate drag races, the incredible power that Hennessey gave the Durango proved to be greater than the Aventador’s thoroughbred Italian performance. Done as an added bonus to a series of tests to ensure the build quality of the SUV, after that incredible victory, the 1,000-horsepower Durango will go on to its client, who will be able to enjoy its supercar-superior performance. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey Source: Hennessey

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 25, 2023

Hennessey's New $205K VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ C...

The ultimate high-performance package for adventurous individuals who enjoy pushing two- and four-wheeled vehicles to the limit. Designed to tackle any and all terrain with a slew of performance upgrades, the Hennessey Performance VelociRaptor 600 takes shape as the ultimate off-road truck for any adventurist. Hennessey is proud to further solidify its extreme capabilities with the French motorbike professionals at Sherco. The Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ combines the off-road power of a 558 horsepower 4×4 VelociRaptor 600 pickup with the agility and exploration of high-performance Sherco enduro motorcycles. The special edition VelociRaptor 600 features a distinctive Sherco racing livery that blends vibrant shades of blue and yellow to represent the brand’s colors. MUST-READ: The New Hennessey Performance ‘H650’ Package Upgrades The Cadillac Escalade To 650 Horsepower Along with a new look, Hennessey equips the Ford Raptor with six-piston Brembo brakes, a bed rack from Risk Racing for securely transporting two bikes, a five-gallon fuel jug and mount, plus a bed extender that doubles as a bike loading ramp. Customers who order a Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ will also receive two Sherco race bikes, choosing between the two-stroke 300 SE or four-stroke 300 SEF. Both bikes include upgraded radiator and rear rotor guards from BulletProof Designs, skid plate with linkage protection from AXP Racing, enduro grips, and S3 perch clamps, alongside several other enhancements. The all-new Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 ‘Sherco Edition’ (with both Sherco motorcycles) is currently available through Hennessey Performance for $205,000. View all Hennessey Performance inventory available on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View Hennessey Performance Inventory Source: Hennessey Performance

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 20, 2023

Watch Rafa Martinez Take Delivery Of His 1-of-1 Bespoke H...

Watch the ultimate American hypercar meet its owner for the first time. Few of us will live the incredible experience of taking delivery of a Hennessey Venom F5, with its unfathomable engineering and mind-blowing performance, but Rafael Martinez, founder of the RAFA Racing Club and RAFA Collection is one of those few. Based in Houston, Martinez is a fellow Texan with Hennessey, and the configuration of his Venom F5 Coupe, which is one of just 24 that will be made, is a 1-of-1 bespoke version that is brimming with pride for American performance and Hennessey’s unthinkable performance. MUST READ: 1,150HP Underground Racing 2018 Lamborghini Huracán Spyder For Sale That’s because this one-off “Legacy Edition” Hennessey Venom F5 Coupe features blue paintwork with white racing stripes to match John Hennessey’s Dodge Viper that put Hennessey on the map with its incredible tuning. The special delivery experience shows Rafael Martinez talking to Hennessey’s design director about his inspiration for the car, which was his love for the Hennessey brand and what it has been bringing to the performance world for decades. In addition, the delivery served as a up-close and personal look at the Hennessey factory where the magic happens and where the entire production run of Venom F5 is currently being made. While the delivery experience of the Hennessey Venom F5 is incredibly exclusive, watching this video of it happening is almost as amazing. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey Source: YouTube/Rafa Martinez

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 09, 2023

The New $2.7M Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Is A Track-Fo...

Hennessey is taking its unfathomable performance to the track. Hennessey is well known around the world for its incredible ability to imbue cars with amazing acceleration and speed, and the Venom hypercar, and now the even more explosive Venom F5 hypercar are the greatest iterations of that, with sights set on a top-speed above 300 mph. However, Hennessey’s newest hypercar sets out to prove that the mind-blowing performance of the Venom can dominate in more than just a long, straight piece of asphalt. With reworked, track-focused engineering, the new Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Coupe promises to be a time-attack tour de force. MUST READ: Watch A Hennessey Venom 1000 Go 192 MPH With A Christmas Tree On Top What separates the Revolution from the original Hennessey Venom F5 is reworked aerodynamics, suspension, engine cooling, digital telemetry, and additional weight savings. Those weight savings allow the Hennessey Venom F5 to come in at under 3,000 pounds. With 1,817 horsepower coming from the 6.6-liter “Fury” V8 engine, the car is undoubtedly very fast. However, when approaching tight corners on the track, that speed needs to be reduced at a moment’s notice, which happens courtesy of carbon-ceramic brakes. The carbon fiber rear wing on the car is responsible for producing 800 pounds of downforce at 186 mph, as well as optimizing other aerodynamics for minimal drag. The new hypercar will be fully revealed on January 15 at the Miami Motorcar Cavalcade Concours d’Elegance, and only 24 will be available at a price of $2.7 million. Most are already accounted for, but a handful of them are still available. However, they’re likely to be allocated as fast as the car can drive. View All Vehicles For Sale From Hennessey Source: Hennessey

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