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

Jaguar News

Jaguar news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks. We cover the brand's electric relaunch alongside the models that established its name, from the F-TYPE to the I-PACE. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, design developments and the auction results that shape collector values. Jaguar is midway through a complete reinvention, and we follow each decision as it is confirmed. The marketplace adds something most publications cannot offer. Jaguars covered here are frequently listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, so the reporting and a genuine asking price appear together. For Jaguar news today, and the luxury car news and sports car news around it, begin below.

By Caitlin Duffy – June 18, 2015

Jaguar Rapid Response Vehicles to Debut at Goodwood Festi...

The latest creations from Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations are preparing to assist in an attempt to break the land speed record, but before they fulfill their role as a rapid response vehicle, an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is in order.A press release from Jaguar Land Rover today tells us that the custom-built XJR Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) and F-TYPE R AWD RRV will both be in attendance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, June 25-28. These were developed with a noble cause - to support the Bloodhound SSC's attempt to reach a speed of 1,000 mph. Full details can be found in our Nov. 6, 2014 article covering their plans.Two XJR RRVs were created to assist in the run for the record, though only one will appear at Goodwood. But accompanying the XJR RRV is Andy Green, the current holder of the land speed record and the driver of the Bloodhound SSC. He will be driving this Jaguar in the First Glance hill run June 27.Though the XJR's top speed of 174 mph is significantly slower than 1,000 mph, its 5.0-liter V8 is powerful enough to keep crucial rescue equipment and communications radios close enough to the Bloodhound SSC for easy access. But what else makes it perfectly suited to the job is the fact that Jaguar's SVO division crafted this XJR specifically for this task.The rear seats have been removed and a roll cage placed in the car instead. Specially-made housings on the roll cage carry the tools necessary for the Bloodhound's success, including a bespoke foam misting cylinder and hydraulic pump.Take a few moments to see these specially crafted Jaguars in the gallery below, and learn more about how they were created in the YouTube video above, added today by Jaguar.Jaguars For Sale Gallery (Source: Jaguar Land Rover) See More Jaguar News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 18, 2015

Jaguar Introduces Brain-Wave Monitoring Driver Assist Pro...

The world of science fiction moves closer and closer to reality each day, and automotive manufacturers seem to be leading the charge.Jaguar's latest tech development projects stay very true to Clarke's third law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." A press release from Jaguar Land Rover today introduces their "Mind Sense" research project. Developing new brain wave monitoring software is now part of their safety research aimed at diminishing the number of accidents caused by driver distraction and fatigue.So, yes, your car will literally be reading your mind in the near future. Or, at least, your brain waves, heart rate and respiration rate to detect stress, fatigue and lack of concentration.Also referred to as their "Sixth Sense" project, this new technology comes from advancements in the fields of sports, medicine and aerospace, and now enters the roadways. Other parts of the program include gesture-control infotainment systems and haptic accelerator pedals that communicate with the driver through vibrations."If brain activity indicates a daydream or poor concentration, then the steering wheel or pedals could vibrate to raise the driver's awareness and re-engage them with driving," states Dr. Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover Director of Research and Technology, in the release. "If Mind Sense does not detect a surge in brain activity following the car displaying a warning icon or sound, then it could display it again, or communicate with the driver in a different way, to ensure the driver is made aware of a potential hazard."A medical-grade sensor in the seat of a Jaguar XJ can detect heartbeat and breathing. If the driver is stressed, the car can then automatically adjust climate, mood lighting and audio settings. Or, when combined with autonomous driving tech, the car can now literally detect whether the driver is capable of over-riding the self-driving option.When combined with the remote control technologies introduced by Land Rover June 16, Jaguar Land Rover is poising themselves to be at the forefront of what seems like 22nd century innovation. Or, to some, magic.(See Also: Experience Historic Land Rover Models First Hand)Check out some of Jaguar's classic models that can't tell what you're thinking from our exclusive listings below, and stay with us for more updates. How do you feel about a car that can read your brain waves and heart rate? Let us know in the comments!Jaguars For Sale Gallery (Source: Jaguar Land Rover) See More Jaguar News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 05, 2015

Experience Historic Land Rover Models First Hand

If your travels should lead you through Warwickshire, England, sometime between now and the end of October, and while there, you find yourself with free time on a weekend and an urge to do some off-road driving, you may want to consider the Heritage Driving Experience from Jaguar Land Rover.Whether you're interested in experiencing just one classic model from either Jaguar or Land Rover, one from each, an old model with its new counterpart or experience the full evolution, from first to last, the Heritage Driving center has an option for you. A video posted to the official Jaguar Land Rover YouTube channel June 4 introduces the Land Rover side of the experience, while their website describes every detail.Though the Land Rover Experience already provided an opportunity to test out their vehicles in tough terrain, the Heritage Experience features exact reconstructions of their historic models, from the 1950s, to today. Experience a Series 1 on an off-road course and an XK150 on a track for the 1950s sampler, which takes an hour total. Or, jump to the '70s with 30 minutes on a track in the XJS and 30 minutes off-road in a Range Rover Classic.Prices for the programs range from £40 to £2,000, or approximately $60 to $3,050 at the time of publication, depending on which experience you select for your day. Visit their website at HeritageDriving.co.uk.(See Also: Flying Huntsman 105 Defender Pick Up Prototype by Kahn Design)After you have a chance to participate in the experience and you've decided on which classic or new model you liked best, take a moment to look through our listings of Jaguars and Land Rovers for sale, and keep the feeling alive for much, much longer.Land Rovers For Sale (Source: YouTube, Jaguar Land Rover) See More Land Rover News

By Caitlin Duffy – May 29, 2015

Jaguar Heritage Team at Mille Miglia 2015

The 30th reenactment of the Mille Miglia race through Italy came to a close on May 17, when hundreds of stunning classic cars from the world's most recognized marques rolled up in Brescia after three days of touring the countryside from there, to Rome, then back again.Jaguar was present for the adventure, celebrating not just the history of the race but their own 80th anniversary. As a release from the marque today tells us, the official Jaguar Heritage team brought three C-types, three D-types, two XK120s and an XK140, along with some of the most impressive faces from the world of racing.(See Also: Bloodhound SSC Rapid Response Jaguar F-Type Set to Debut) A video included in the release and posted to their official YouTube channel gives us a closer look at their participation in the event, sharing the drivers' perspectives and vantage points from inside these remarkable cars. Be sure to give it a watch above, then take a moment to browse our exclusive listings of Jaguars for sale to find the perfect heritage model for your collection. Jaguars For Sale Gallery (Source: Jaguar Land Rover) See More Jaguar News

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