Industry Reports

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 – April 27, 2022

McLaren Hires Former Ferrari CTO as CEO

McLaren’s new CEO brings even more engineering and technology expertise to the brand. British supercar manufacturer McLaren has announced the appointment of a new CEO, Michael Leiters. He is a German-born doctor of Engineering, and his previous experience includes senior positions at Porsche and a time as the Chief Technology Officer of Ferrari. He comes to McLaren taking the helm of a 3,000-person workforce with over 100 retailers, and the brand is set to begin deliveries on the hybrid McLaren Artura soon. MUST READ: The Best McLarens You Can Buy Today McLaren has thus far seen great success. Despite the pandemic and global issues, it has managed to sell out of the popular limited-production 765LT Coupe and Spider, as well as the Ulitmate Series McLaren Elva. Lieters says that he is “excited to be joining McLaren Automotive as CEO at this important moment in its journey” and promises a McLaren that continues to build its reputation as a supercar brand and create a beautiful, lasting legacy. View All McLarens For Sale Source: McLaren

By Andrew Nabors – July 12, 2018

McLaren to Create 18 Cars and All Hybrids by 2025

Some press releases are not exciting at all, but this one took everyone by surprise. We've mentioned McLaren's Track 22 plan several times which laid out their goal was and is to release a host of new cars before 2022. With the recent launch of the 600LT, they are still on target to meet that plan. In a shocking release this morning we've learned the details of the new Track 25 plan.McLaren 720S vs 675LT on the AutobahnFirst off, they are going to spend $1.58 billion on developing new models. By 2025, all McLaren cars will have hybrid technology. No less than 18 new cars are on the way, and that includes a new "Ultimate Series" successor to the P1. While autonomous technology was not mentioned, they are considering "augmentation" to possibly change the driving experience.A production goal of 6,000 cars annually is a bold claim. Even more is that each one will have a battery and regenerative braking. This plan is riding on the $66 Million investment to composite technology. The new McLaren Composites Technology Centre is almost ready to open. This will allow 57% of their parts to be built inside the UK. The dealer network of 86 locations is projected to grow beyond 100 dealers in the next seven years. The first time I drove a 12C I knew the resurrection of McLaren's street legal supercars was poised for greatness.View All McLarens for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 31, 2017

McLaren Announces New Director of Design

You can't deny the appeal of the McLaren Sports Series, so the man responsible for them has been appointed as Director of Design. Rob Melville has also overseen the 2nd generation of the Super Series with the introduction of the McLaren 720S. Reporting directly to COO Dr. Jens Ludmann, Rob will be responsible for the overall design strategies and philosophy. This will also involve working with engineers and the assembly line workers to make them a reality. McLaren's Track 22 plan has 14 new models planned before 2022, so Mr. Melville has a long road ahead. But his expertise in transforming the 12C into the 650S speaks for itself.Rob's previous work at Jaguar/Land Rover was the basis for the Evoque, and his tenure at Cadillac was highlighted by the Converj concept. The press release also states that Frank Stephenson has decided to leave McLaren after a decade of design. Rob is quoted as saying: “I am thrilled to be given the title of Design Director for McLaren Automotive. I remember when I got the call to come and join McLaren back in 2009 and the joy I felt then is the same today. We have developed a fantastic design team and have integrated a design philosophy that I feel passionately about. I have always believed that great design tells a great story and that is what we do here at McLaren. I’m incredibly proud". We're excited to see what lies in store for the brand, so stay with us for all your McLaren updates.

By Andrew Nabors – January 05, 2017

McLaren Sales Almost Double in 2016

The final 2016 sales numbers are in, and McLaren had a very good year. In a press release last night, CEO Mike Flewitt wrote: ‘2016 was a remarkable year for McLaren Automotive. We’d planned it to be a year of considerable growth, thanks to the first full year of Sports Series production, but it’s surpassed even our own optimistic expectations, having seen development in all regions. We’ve also invested significantly in our future. The launch of the second shift at the McLaren Production Centre this time last year gives us the capacity for future volume increase and in March, we launched Track22, our six-year business plan, that demonstrates the longer-term future for the company, with 15 all new cars or derivatives planned between now and 2022. I look forward to showing the world the first of those 15 new cars in Geneva: the second-generation McLaren Super Series.’ (Also Check Out - McLaren Previews 2nd Generation Super Series)For comparison, only 1,654 cars were delivered in 2015, and last year had sales of 3,286 carbon fiber masterpieces. The press release did not break down the numbers between the Sports and Super Series models, but we think the potent 570S and 570GT had something to do with it. While still capable of dominating your local track day, the 570S offers adjustable suspension for a smooth ride and the 570GT is aimed a long distance driving. The unique side-opening rear hatch offers ample room for groceries or luggage in addition to the front cargo compartment. Our dealers are offering great deals on 2016 models, so click the link below and stay with us for all your McLaren news.Search McLaren For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 15, 2016

McLaren Builds Their 10,000th Car

Remember when McLaren was just selling the F1 and it was the coolest car in the magazines? Times have changed, because the English automaker has hit a major milestone regarding their production numbers. In a press release issued today, McLaren announced that they have built their 10,000th car, a 570S finished in Ceramic Grey.(Also Read - How to Design Your Own McLaren 570S)McLaren Automotive Chief Executive Officer, Mike Flewitt, said: “The production of the 10,000th McLaren is a significant milestone in the short history of the company. The fact that it took us 42 months to build our 5,000th car and just 22 months to build the next 5,000 speaks volumes about the pace of development of the company. Much of that development is thanks to the introduction of the Sports Series family of cars and it’s therefore fitting that the 10,000th car is a McLaren 570S.”After McLaren's move to make more vehicles, they have introduced multiple models into their lineup, mostly in the Sports Series. In the Sports Series family, there is the 540C, 570S and 570GT. At the McLaren Production Centre, 10-20 cars are created each day, and now McLaren is expecting to create a total of over 3,000 cars at the end of 2016.McLaren is planning on keeping the 10,000th car in their Heritage Collection.All McLaren For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 21, 2016

Report: Apple in Talks with McLaren, Considering Full Tak...

Update 9/21/2016 2:25 PM: Jalopnik recently spoke with McLaren officials who say that Apple is not in talks with them when it comes to a potential investment.Well, this was a surprise. According to Financial Times, Apple is currently in talks with McLaren Technology Group. They note in an article recently published that Apple is considering either a "full takeover of McLaren or a strategic investment." Three people who were briefed on the negotiations between the brands say that these talks have been happening for several months.(Shop Apple Products Now)An acquisition like this would most definitely shake up the automotive world. Apple has been eyeing the car industry for quite some time, mostly in the autonomous sector. If Apple were to acquire McLaren, I doubt that we'd see autonomous supercars driving around. However, we could see a new company under McLaren that would implement the automaker's engineering prowess with Apple's self-driving tech. Of course, this is all speculation and nothing is official, yet.Be sure to stay with us for more news as this story develops. View All McLaren For Sale

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