INEOS

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 – July 11, 2024

INEOS Launches Arcane Works With New 1-of-200 Grenadier '...

INEOS begins a legacy of bespoke 4x4 creations. INEOS Automotive previously announced the creation of Arcane Works, the manufacturer's bespoke department responsible for creating unique, head-turning iterations of its go-anywhere models. It also announced that the first model from Arcane Works would be revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the time has come. The new bespoke model, the first Arcane Works creation from INEOS Automotive, is the INEOS Grenadier ‘Detour.’ ‘Detour’ is a limited edition that will only see 200 examples made, with bespoke design elements that set it apart from the standard INEOS Grenadier. These elements include a unique exhaust, its 18-inch wheels, four dedicated paint colors: Magma Red, Whiteout Blue, Squall Green, Storm Force Silver, Bridge of Weir leather upholstery, and Johnstons of Elgin cashmere headliners. Adding even more bespoke elegance to the Detour is the option to opt for an Arcane Works bespoke paint color, which will be color-matched to a sample provided by the client and hand-sprayed in the one-off color. With its luxurious appointments, limited numbers, and unique touches throughout, the new INEOS Grenadier ‘Detour’ begins a new era of stunning bespoke adventure-ready vehicles from INEOS Automotive from its new Arcane Works department. View All INEOS Grenadiers For Sale Image Source: INEOS Automotive

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 04, 2024

INEOS Announces New Arcane Works Bespoke Department

INEOS Automotive sets out to make bespoke magic. Bespoke personalization has taken the automotive industry by storm, especially at the luxury level. Whether you enlist Bugatti’s Sur Mesure to create a stunning hypercar with meticulously crafted personal details or Rolls-Royce Bespoke to commission an artistic and opulent masterpiece, manufacturers with bespoke departments have taken automotive luxury and design to the next level, and now, off-roader manufacturer INEOS Automotive is joining in. With its highly capable Grenadier, the new Arcane Works department from INEOS Automotive is set to create exclusive limited editions and custom iterations of the celebrated body-on-frame model. Through Arcane Works, INEOS Automotive also hopes to test new technologies like powertrain upgrades, new materials, and more. The official launch of INEOS Automotive Arcane Works won’t come long after this announcement, with the first limited edition vehicle from Arcane Works set to be revealed at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is set to take place in July. With hand-finished details and production in small, exclusive batches, INEOS Automotive’s Arcane Works department is set to combine bespoke luxury and rugged off-road capability. View All INEOS Grenadiers For Sale

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 23, 2024

An INEOS Grenadier 4X4 Tackles Extreme Underground Trial ...

An INEOS Grenadier 4X4 has been put to the test underground at the K+S potash plant in Zielitz, central Germany, as part of an extended test trial program. The test aims to highlight the Grenadier's durability and capabilities in an especially challenging industrial environment, where the salt-rich conditions add an extra layer of difficulty. The plant mines around 45,000 tons of raw salt daily, with some sections reaching 4,265 feet below the surface. To withstand these harsh conditions, the Grenadier is equipped with standard underbody protection, including front and rear guards and a fuel tank guard. It also offers exceptional corrosion protection, complete with electrocoating, wax sealing in the cavities, and powder coating on the exterior. INEOS is confident in the Grenadier's capabilities, having subjected the 4X4 to over 1.1 million miles of testing during its development phase. This included extreme conditions such as minus 31-degree temperatures, altitudes over 8,202 feet, and the notorious Schöckl mountain in Austria. The INEOS Grenadier combines rugged British spirit and design with German engineering precision. The Grenadier features a full box-section ladder frame chassis, heavy-duty solid beam axles, a two-speed transfer case, and up to three locking differentials. It is powered by a BMW 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, available in both gas or diesel. The Grenadier Station Wagon, Quartermaster pick-up, and Quartermaster Chassis Cab are all built at the state-of-the-art Hambach factory in Moselle, which INEOS Automotive acquired in January 2021. The factory employs 1,700 people and represents a significant investment in the future of rugged, durable 4X4s. Whether on-road, off-road, or deep underground, the INEOS Grenadier 4X4 is built to deliver. View all INEOS Grenadiers for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All INEOS Grenadiers For Sale Source: INEOS

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 15, 2024

INEOS Launches The New Grenadier 1924 As Its First Limite...

INEOS gets exclusive with its new fashion-inspired Grenadier. Established by car enthusiast and experienced adventurer Jim Ratcliffe in 2017, the INEOS Automotive aims to preserve the classic look and feel of a classic British 4x4 while enhancing functionality and reliability through modern upgrades. And since dealers around the world have started unloading new inventory, it's hard not to spot an INEOS Grenadier out in the wild while on your daily commute. With a promising and successful entry into the luxury automotive space, INEOS is excited to launch its first limited edition model, the Grenadier 1924, as a nod to the 100th anniversary of the iconic clothing brand Belstaff. The modern British heritage brand was founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1924, making its partnership with INEOS the perfect collaboration. Scheduled for global release on June 26, 2024, the exclusive Grenadier 1924, limited to just 1,924 units, promises unique production numbers and distinct Belstaff centenary badging. Building on the Grenadier's existing collaborations with Belstaff, including the Trialmaster and Fieldmaster feature packages, the Grenadier 1924 elevates the fashion-inspired partnership to new heights. The exclusive model sports a Magic Mushroom and Inky Black color scheme, gloss black diamond-cut alloy wheels, and de-chromed black grille trim. Drawing inspiration from Belstaff's timeless designs, the Grenadier 1924 offers interior elements reminiscent of the iconic Fieldmaster package. From the dark green dashboard to the black saddle leather trim, every detail reflects INEOS' attention to style and craftsmanship. The Grenadier 1924 will make its public debut at a special centenary event in Stoke-on-Trent from May 24 to 28, offering guests an immersive brand experience and a glimpse into Belstaff's history. Following the event, orders for the Grenadier 1924 can be placed through ineosgrenadier.com and authorized INEOS retailers worldwide. View all INEOS Grenadiers for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All INEOS Grenadiers For Sale " width="680"> Source: INEOS Automotive

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