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

Hennessey Celebrates 35 Years With Ultra-Exclusive Mustang

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 08, 2026

New 1-of-35 Hennessey ‘Super Venom’ Mustang Revealed

Based in Sealy, Texas, Hennessey is responsible for manufacturing groundbreaking hypercars, along with high-performance customizations of trucks, SUVs, and sports cars, all with American performance excellence at the heart of its efforts. It was 35 years ago in 1991 when John Hennessey first founded the performance firm, and a new, ultra-rare custom Ford Mustang from Hennessey has been created to mark the milestone anniversary. Since its inception, Hennessey quickly made a mark on the performance world at hallowed automotive venues like the Bonneville Salt Flats and Pikes Peak, and entered a new realm of performance in the 2000s when the record-breaking Hennessey Venom GT hypercar was unveiled. Since then, Hennessey has also unveiled the Venom GT’s successor, the Venom F5, which is still setting new standards for performance and redefining the potential of American automotive engineering. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the brand, Hennessey has now unveiled a new ‘Super Venom’ Mustang. With several upgrades made to the 5.0-liter V8 under the Mustang’s hood, the power increased by 70 percent, going from 500 horsepower to a massive 850 horsepower. In addition, the car features a ‘VenomAero’ carbon‑fiber performance kit, enhancing the cooling and handling capabilities of the car while imparting signature Hennessey style. <- Gallery -> The new 35th anniversary Super Venom Mustang will only see 35 examples made, and each will feature a “91” hood graphic, in reference to the year when Hennessey was founded. As Hennessey continues to grow, its dedication to American performance excellence will continue to result in incredible custom vehicles and hypercars, including the new ultra-exclusive Super Venom Mustang. View All Ford Mustang For Sale Image Source: Hennessey

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 Tyler Rampersaud – April 25, 2022

Hennessey's Supercharged Mach 1 Mustang Makes 800 Horsepower

In true Hennessey fashion, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 gets supercharged for some serious muscle. Mach 1 is quite the famous name in the Mustang world. Originally meant to replace the GT designation we know many modern Mustangs for today, the Mach 1 name was a way of telling customers that a Mustang took performance seriously. Through the late 60s and 70s, and briefly in 2003 and 2004, the Mach 1 Mustang was an edition that was serious about speed. Now, it’s returned, with all the power, performance, and retro appeal that made the Mustang as desirable of a car as it always has been, and then some. However, as we’ve come to know, Hennessey muscle cars are all about power and performance, which is why they decided to see what the Mach 1 would be capable of with a little help, in the name of a Hennessey supercharger. MUST READ: Custom 2009 Ford Mustang “AV8R” For Sale What happens is that the Mach 1 Mustang ends up with an incredible 800 horsepower, which makes for speed and power that the Mach 1 has never known before. And speaking of the speed of sound, there’s nothing quite like the sound of a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine, and the supercharged Mach 1 delivers quite the chorus once it’s opened up, roaring and burbling as you put the foot on the pedal. When it comes to giving your Mustang a serious performance injection, Hennessey provides an effortless one-way ticket. Source: Hennessey

By Andrew Nabors – January 21, 2021

2020 Hennessey Performance Mustang HPE800 For Sale At Eld...

When it comes to superchargers, bigger is always better. If you haven't experienced a 3-liter blower on a 5-liter Coyote, this 2020 Hennessey Performance Mustang HPE800 is for sale at Elder Ford. Because they sell more fast Fords than anyone in the Southeast, this Heritage Edition was ordered to be the centerpiece of the showroom. In terms of unbridled power, the Hennessey 3-liter supercharger is nearly 14 cubic inches larger than any other production car (The Dodge Demon can only handle 2.7 liters). This allows 808 horsepower and and 677 lb-ft of torque to reach the massive Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tires. Elder also made sure it has all the bells and whisles. From voice control to 15.1" Brembo brakes, this car is a bargain at only $79,995. It can stay above 200 mph for as long as you dare, so get ready for the ride of a lifetime. View Listing https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUNl4sHP9B/

By Andrew Nabors – June 04, 2020

Hennessey HPE850 vs Stock Shelby GT500

In the normal world a new Shelby Mustang GT500 is much faster than the GT350. Normal is not allowed at Hennessey Performance. Intended to appeal to different buyers, the GT 500 arrived from Ford with 760 horsepower and a dual clutch automatic. The GT350 packs America's first production flat-plane crank and a six-speed manual. Although both engines share the same engine block and similar heads, naturally-aspirated model comes into its own above 7,000 RPM. Hennessey Performance C8 Corvette Exhaust Screams on the Dyno To be honest, a stock GT350 or GT350 R doesn't have much power below 5,000 rpm, so you are forced to wind each gear out near 8,000 rpm to reach peak torque. That is why the team at Hennessey Performance decided to add a supercharger. How does one supercharged Mustang compare to another? Click the button below to learn more and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance updates. View Hennessey Cars & Trucks For Sale " width="680">

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

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