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.

Modern building with large glass windows and wooden panels, surrounded by greenery, under a clear evening sky.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 11, 2025

JLR To Invest $180M Into Portland Tech Hub

JLR announces a large investment into its West Coast tech hub. Jaguar Land Rover has been in the process of entering a new era, radically futurizing its lineup of iconic British luxury cars like the Range Rover, whose upcoming electric version has an immense waitlists, and Jaguar’s lineup, with a dramatic rebrand and a radical new concept car that reveals an entirely different approach to the legendary brand. However, the brand has also been making plenty of investments behind the scenes to prepare for its new chapter, and one of those is a recently-announced $180 million investment in Jaguar Land Rover’s United States technology hub, where it will develop next-generation connectivity and autonomous driving technology for the next generation of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. Over the next decade, a hefty $180 million will be invested into the 50,000 square-foot facility, which is in Portland, Oregon, a location chosen for its proximity to the technology capital of Silicon Valley. The engineers at the facility have already been instrumental in developing the technology of current JLR vehicles, and the new investment will help ensure that future JLR luxury vehicles will represent the cutting edge of automotive innovation. View All Land Rovers For Sale

The showroom wall showcases an array of vibrant car paint samples, highlighted by a screen featuring an SUV image. Jaguar Land Rover invests $81.2M to expand paint facilities, reflecting their commitment to innovation and quality in every hue.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 03, 2025

Jaguar Land Rover Invests $81.2M To Expand Paint Facilities

Jaguar Land Rover makes a big investment towards its forthcoming era. Jaguar Land Rover is on the cusp of a transformational new chapter in its rich history of creating celebrated luxury British vehicles. The legendary Range Rover, which for many enthusiasts is the quintessential SUV, is soon to be revealed in a new all-electric variant with a waitlist that has thousands of clients and a development cycle that is coming close to fruition. In addition, Jaguar has showcased a revolutionary rebrand, including a new logo and a new identity, with a new Type 00 concept car showcasing the potential future of Jaguar’s engineering and design language. However, an important behind-the-scenes move has been made towards bringing the new era of Jaguar Land Rover to fruition: the investment of roughly $81.2 million towards expanding its UK and Europe-based paint operations for bespoke vehicle personalization, thanks to the doubling of demand. Aligning with its strategy towards net zero carbon emissions as a company, the paint facilities Castle Bromwich, UK, and Nitra, Slovakia will be reimagined to have lower environmental impact. In the UK, the investment in the facilities will be specifically to facilitate SVO paintwork on bespoke and ultra-luxury vehicles. In the example of the Range Rover SV, an SV Bespoke commission adds roughly $87,400 to the price, heightening the lofty approximately $252,300 price. Despite the high price for a bespoke commission, demand for the personal expression and luxury of SV Bespoke commissions is growing, hence Jaguar Land Rover’s expansion of its SV Bespoke paint abilities and continued commitment to reducing emissions as it ventures towards its next era. View All Land Rovers For Sale

A maroon electric SUV from JLR is parked and plugged into a charging station against a beige wall, highlighting the shift towards hybrid sales in anticipation of FY25.

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 30, 2024

JLR Reports 29% Increase In Hybrid Sales In First Half Of...

Electrification is in demand for Jaguar Land Rover. Jaguar Land Rover is on the cusp of entering a new era, with new electric models on the horizon and hybrid models facilitating the transition to electrification. With a waitlist open for the upcoming Range Rover Electric, whose development is well underway, and a plug-in hybrid iteration of the Range Rover already available, Jaguar Land Rover is bounding towards the future with its British luxury lineup. The Range Rover Electric’s waitlist contains 48,000 clients, and it will be the first in a new lineup of JLR electric vehicles. With the first half of its FY25 in the books, Jaguar Land Rover is reporting that its efforts towards electrification have already proved a success. In the year’s first half, sales of hybrid vehicles have increased 29% compared to last year’s first half number. In addition, for the Range Rover brand alone, PHEV retail sales increased by 47 percent in the first half of the year. The same growth happened last year compared to the year before, as well. For JLR, the goal is to have a purely-electric version of each of its nameplates by 2030, with 2039 being the year in which the company plans to reach net carbon zero. Thanks to its new Modular Longitudinal Architecture, JLR’s lineup boasts the flexibility to offer ICE-powered and BEV variants to customers, with the current PHEV Range Rover boasting a 70-mile electric range, already offering commuters a way of relying on electric power. With electrification proving successful, Jaguar Land Rover is continuing down its path for the rest of its FY25. View All Land Rovers For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 27, 2024

Jaguar Land Rover Announces $670M Investment In EV Factory

JLR makes another big investment in electrification. Recently, Jaguar Land Rover has been on a transformative journey of electrification. Jaguar retired the F-Type as its final combustion-powered sports car. Range Rover has opened the waitlist for a new model that will surely be a historic milestone for the legendary nameplate: the first-ever Range Rover Electric. Another important move has been made by the manufacturer in its electrification transition: an investment of over $670 million towards creating an EV factory in Merseyside, England. The factory is 61 years old, located in Halewood and built in 1963, originally to manufacture the Ford Anglia. Over $330 million has already been invested in the factory, and over a million hours of construction has taken place over the last 12 months. Expanding nearly 350,000 square feet will allow JLR to manufacture medium-sized electric luxury SUVs using the new EMA platform, standing for Electric Modular Architecture. New EV build lines, 750 autonomous robots, ADAS calibration rigs, and more mean that on the other side of this large investment and ambitious project, the factory will be the EV factory “of the future.” Part of the Reimagine strategy that JLR has recently set into motion, the ultimate goal of this investment, as well as the others Jaguar Land Rover has made recently, is to electrify its brands by 2030 and become carbon neutral across its supply chain and operations by 2039. With a big investment and lots of construction underway, the next chapter of Jaguar Land Rover’s history is nigh. View All Land Rovers For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 01, 2024

Jaguar Land Rover Reports Best Q1 Revenue On Record

Jaguar Land Rover starts its financial year strong. The first quarter of Jaguar Land Rover’s financial year is in the books, and the results have shown that it’s the best first quarter for the company's revenue on record. Revenue for the quarter increased by 5 percent year-over-year, and profit before tax and exceptional items increased by a staggering 59 percent. However, it’s in the near future where Jaguar Land Rover has the most exciting things to report. At the beginning of July, Jaguar Land Rover revealed a high-performance version of the Defender: the Defender Octa, offering the most luxury and power seen on a production version of the off-road legend yet. In addition, Jaguar Land Rover’s luxury icon is on the cusp of a revolution, the Range Rover Electric. Customers are excited for the electric rendition of the half-century luxury SUV titan to arrive, with Jaguar Land Rover reporting that roughly 41,000 have signed up for the model’s waitlist. With sustainability and futuristic luxury at the top of its priorities, along with high performance and off-road thrill, Jaguar Land Rover's highly successful Q1 2024 marks the start of what is hopefully a robust financial year, with exciting new models arriving to the brands’ lineups. View All Land Rovers For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 09, 2024

Jaguar Land Rover Celebrates 25% Sales Increase In 2023

2023 marked a successful year for Jaguar Land Rover. By now, it’s no secret that the automotive industry has been challenged for the past few years by global circumstances, and many manufacturers around the world still seem to be plagued by many of these difficulties. However, with full-year results in for 2023, Jaguar Land Rover is happy to report that the family of historic British brands has emerged successful. Year-on-year, sales (totaling 431,733 units for the year) increased by over 20%, with a 16% increase seen in the fourth quarter alone. Within each brand, wholesale volumes increased for Range Rover by 22% in 2023 compared to the year before, with Defender increasing by 5%, Discovery increasing by 1%, and Jaguar increasing by a staggering 39%. Retail sales increased by the greatest percentage in the UK at 32%, with North America seeing a 21% increase, with a 16% increase overseas. Retail sales across the board increased by 22% between 2022 and 2023, totaling to 431,733 units, while wholesale sales increased by 35% at 401,303. With positive sales results across the board for the iconic group of British manufacturers, Jaguar Land Rover looks forward to embracing the future and continuing to succeed in the luxury automotive realm in 2024. View All Land Rovers For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 02, 2024

Jaguar Land Rover Sees Highest Quarterly Profit Since 2017

Jaguar Land Rover marks a major recent success. With a lineup of iconic, historic, and downright legendary brands and vehicles, it’s no surprise that Jaguar Land Rover enjoys success as a business, but just how successful it has been this past financial quarter is especially remarkable and noteworthy, as finishing its Q3 FY24, JLR is proud to announces its highest quarterly profit number since 2017. Before tax, the profit for the quarter came in at 627 million pounds. One of the most important pieces of this puzzle was the Range Rover, which broke its record for quarterly wholesales this past financial quarter, and in the limelight was the flagship version: the Range Rover SV. Even at an average price of over $250,000, sales have grown immensely, with the current year-to-date sales of 3,637 units already eclipsing FY23’s number of 1,909. The Range Rover is also at the center of the manufacturer’s electrification efforts, with the upcoming Range Rover Electric model already seeing 16,000 sign-ups to its waitlist. The prototype is being tested on the road, while other electric SUV prototypes, including Jaguar-branded models, are being developed. With a great third quarter behind it, Jaguar Land Rover looks forward to showcasing and evolving its automotive excellence in the future. View All Range Rovers For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 23, 2023

Jaguar Land Rover Reuses Car Batteries For Renewable Energy

Used batteries from the Jaguar I-PACE can power 750 homes.

JLR Partners Wolfspeed Image Battery 3110 002

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 31, 2022

Jaguar Land Rover Partners With Wolfspeed On Silicon Carb...

Jaguar Land Rover isn’t driving into the future alone. As the entire auto industry is, Jaguar Land Rover is looking forward to a future with electric cars, and the group’s goal is to reach a net zero carbon footprint by 2039. In order to do this, gaining access to electric vehicle innovation is absolutely necessary, and Jaguar Land Rover has chosen the firm Wolfspeed as a partner for silicon carbide semiconductor technology. MUST READ: Rare “007 Edition” 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 For Sale This technology promises to increase the efficiency and range of the next generation of Jaguar and Land Rover electric vehicles, and the silicon carbide technology will specifically be implemented in the inverters of the vehicles where it will be used to help transfer the power from the battery to the electric motors as effectively as possible. With new technology from Wolfspeed, new electric vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover starting in 2025 will be better than they’ve ever been before. Land Rover Defender For Sale Source: Jaguar Land Rover

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