Jaguar News

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

A Le Mans Blue Jaguar XJ220 sports car is parked in a white studio, viewed from the front left corner.

By Charles Bradley – May 28, 2025

1993 Jaguar XJ220 for Sale: Rare Le Mans Blue Supercar Li...

Developed after hours by Jaguar engineers known as the “Saturday Club,” the XJ220 was never supposed to happen—yet it became the fastest production car in the world. Born from the XJR racing program and built in collaboration with Jaguar Sport and Tom Walkinshaw Racing, the final production version featured a 542-horsepower twin-turbocharged JV6 derived from the XJR-11, wrapped in aluminum bodywork styled by Keith Helfet. With a 0–60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a Nürburgring production lap record to its name, the XJ220 was a true rival to the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959. The 1993 example offered here is a late-production car—finished in rare Le Mans Blue over Smoke Grey leather, built in March 1994 and officially delivered in 1998. Imported to the U.S. in 2004 by collector Tim Hoiles, it has since been cared for by two additional owners and was displayed at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Today, it shows just 2,890 kilometers (~1,796 miles) and is offered through Graham Rahal Performance in Zionsville, Indiana. View Listing & Bid Now What truly sets this car apart is its exceptional mechanical condition. It has just completed a comprehensive restoration by Don Law Racing—renowned worldwide for XJ220 expertise—including a full six-year service with new timing belts, clutch, upgraded stainless fuel lines, refreshed cooling and ignition systems, decoked cylinder heads and pistons, new tires, and an emissions-compliant fuel tank system. A new OEM windscreen and gaskets were also installed. The transmission was removed and dry-ice blasted before reinstallation, and the braking system has been completely overhauled with rebuilt calipers, new rotors, pads, and servos—bringing this icon to modern mechanical standards. Offered with a clean CARFAX, Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate (in transit), and detailed service documentation, this is one of the most thoroughly prepared XJ220s available—an elite opportunity for collectors of rare Jaguars, landmark supercars, and investment-grade icons. View the full listing now at sothebysmotorsport.com.

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 19, 2023

This Jaguar XJ220 For Sale Was Once The World's Fastest P...

Own one of the most notorious pieces of automotive industry. The Jaguar XJ220 is one of the most interesting supercars ever made. Anticipated to be powered by a V12 engine and sport four-wheel drive, its rear-wheel drive and V6 powerplant were quite controversial and would turn out to be arguably ahead of its time. Derived from Tom Walkinshaw Racing, the 3.5-liter engine was actually Jaguar's first V6. The twin-turbocharged V6 now powers some of the world’s greatest performance cars, and the Jaguar XJ220 briefly held the records of the fastest production car and fastest production car lap time on the legendary Nürburgring. It was a piece of automotive industry that is infamous yet revered, and if you want to own this rare retro icon, one is available for sale from Canepa in Scotts Valley, California through duPont REGISTRY. It’s finished the iconic and rare Silverstone Green color, and is number 223 of the approximate 281 cars made. Originally owned by a Swiss collector, the car eventually was brought to Germany before being sold to Bruce Canepa in 2021. A beautifully kept example of a car with severely underrated innovation, engineering, and performance technology, this car can be a stunning piece in any collection, whether as a beautifully kept classic or as a reminder of the pioneer of some of today’s performance technology. If you're interested in owning this incredible niche piece of automotive history, view the listing by clicking below. View Listing Image Source: Canepa

By Andrew Nabors – May 22, 2020

Three Jaguar XE SV Project 8 For Sale Near D.C.

If you live and work anywhere around Washington D.C., you deserve a 592 horsepower sedan. Jaguar chose to drop their biggest V8 in their smallest sedan, and only build 300 for the world. Of those, our friends in the D.C. area have three to choose from. If you are tired of getting smoked by CTS-Vs and the occasional M3, here is a rare opportunity at Jaguar's most powerful production car. Rosenthal Jaguar Land Rover Tysons Corner View Listing Jaguar Land Rover Chantilly View Listing Jaguar Land Rover Chantilly View Listing These cars are selling well over sticker due to their rarity, so tell us which one you want in the comments below and stay with us for all your Jaguar news.

By Edward Jones – August 25, 2015

1972 Jaguar E-Type Roadster is an Automotive Time Capsule

We have quite a few Jaguar E-Types listed on dupontREGISTRY.com, but this particular example has an incredible story that transforms it into a piece automotive history, frozen in time. We recently had the chance to talk with the seller, John Temerian, about the car and its history. It also started seven months ago when the Temerian received a text message from a friend saying, "Didn't your father fix old Jaguars?" Apparently, her father was liquidating his prized possession: a 1972 Jaguar E-Type Roadster. Because Temerian receives so many inquiries about mysterious vintage cars for sale, he was skeptical. This reaction was reasonable considering how many E-Types are out in the world. During its heyday, the E-Type was considered one of the most beautiful cars on the road. Its English styling is something that, even to this day, is simply iconic. And, unlike most motorists in the 1960s and ‘70s, Jaguar owners drove their cars, racking up miles. These cars are hard to find with low mileage. In fact, Temerian told us that finding a "no-mileage, unrestored, brand-new Ferrari is not that hard" to find. But finding a similar Jaguar E-Type Roadster is "unheard of." Well, after meeting with the owner, the car in question was exactly that: an unrestored, brand-new 1972 Jaguar E-Type Roadster with only 2,000 miles on its odometer. View Price and Listing How did this happen? Back on November 29, 1972, the "owner" visited Foreign Cars of North East to purchase his dream car: a silver on red E-Type. After parting with $7,000, he welcomes the car into his garage. Unfortunately, he was not aware of the dealership's impending closing. After the dealership closed, he was left without a license for his new Jaguar and no way to register it. He was forced to stow away his dream in his garage while he filed a lawsuit against the dealership and importer. During the next two years, he purchased a British Racing Green 1974 E-Type V12 Roadster that he used for hill climbs, rallies and cruises. He did all of this while his original purchase was still holed up in his garage, collecting dust. Eventually, he won his battle, received his money back and was able to purchase the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, commonly known as an "MSO," for a mere $2,500. Still, the car didn't see much time on the road, which is why it's now being offered for sale with an unbelievably low amount of miles clocked. It comes with its original interior, paint, tires and documents, making it basically untouched for its 40 years of existence. It is also being sold by John Temerian, someone who comes from a family that has owned 50 E-Types over the years and is very passionate about the model. This may very well be the very last "brand-new" 1972 Jaguar E-Type in existence, and it's looking for a new home. Find out how to make it yours at the button below. View Price and Listing Gallery (Sponsored Post) See More Remarkable Cars For Sale

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