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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

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By Caitlin Duffy – July 30, 2015

Christian von Koenigsegg Hosting an AMA

Have you ever had a question that you've wanted to ask someone who has created a supercar? This weekend is your chance.In a blog post on their website today, Koenigsegg announced the first of what seem to be a planned series of "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) question and answer sessions with the company's founder and namesake, Christian von Koenigsegg.From today to Sunday, August 2, the comments on their blog have been opened up, and the world is invited to post a question for Mr. Koenigsegg himself. They plan to review all of the submitted questions, select between 12 and 15 that are relevant to public interest and can be answered in a timely manner. The answers will then be posted to their website once they are complete."Our founder and CEO, Christian von Koenigsegg, is going to answer your questions and in keeping with the optimal open-internet philosophy – openness is something we’re very fond of here at Koenigsegg – you can ask him anything," describes the post on their website. "Of course, that doesn’t mean he’ll answer, but you can try."(See Also: Koenigsegg One:1 Laps Spa-Francorchamps in Record Time)Once you've thought of your question, be sure to visit Koenigsegg's blog at www.koneigsegg.com and see if Christian is compelled to answer. Of course, before you do, make sure you have your own Koenigsegg from our exclusive listings, found at the button below.Koenigseggs For Sale (Source: Koenigsegg) See More Koenigsegg News

By Caitlin Duffy – July 20, 2015

Koenigsegg One:1 Laps Spa-Francorchamps in Record Time

The Koenigsegg One:1 is a veritable megacar, with an insane amount of power created from its tiny frame.With a potent 5.0-liter turbocharged V8 that creates precisely one megawatt of power, approximately 1,360 hp, and 737 lb-ft of torque, it was able to break the world record for 0-300 km/h acceleration time June 8, shaving a full 3.24 seconds off of the previous record. So is it really any surprise that it completed a lap around the 4.34 mile long Spa-Francorchamps track in just two minutes, 32 seconds?A video posted to YouTube today by KoenigseggSweden gives us the dashcam look at their newest record breaking run and at the One:1 flying past every other car on the track. At the end of the video, they list a few stats that make this run even more impressive.Their previous best time on the Belgian track in a One:1 was two minutes, 33.26 seconds, completed in June. They list the best non-Koenigsegg lap time underneath as two minutes, 38 seconds - nearly four seconds longer than it took this most recent run."We believe this to be a new record for a road-legal production car," describes the video's caption. "We also believe there's plenty of room for improvement."(See Also: 2 Koenigsegg CCXRs For Sale at Fusion Luxury Motors)Check out this impressive run in the video above, and find your own Koenigsegg to take to the track from our exclusive listings.Koenigseggs For Sale (Source: YouTube, Facebook) See More Koenigsegg News

By Andrew Nabors – July 09, 2015

2 Koenigsegg CCXRs For Sale at Fusion Luxury Motors

It is our mission to bring you the most exotic and most exclusive cars of all time, and these two are what we live for. If you long to experience the works of Christian von Koenigsegg outside the confines of your game console, our friends at Fusion Luxury Motors have two CCXRs, in one location, in the same showroom. This is the automotive equivalent of dividing by zero. First is the 2009 in black with a red interior. Because Christian invented and holds the patent for flex-fuel vehicles, filling up with a tank of E85 unlocks 1,004 horsepower and 782 lb-ft of torque.The 2010 is one of 3 “Trevita” models built, and this was the only US-spec car to be produced. Trevita (Swedish for Triple White) was built to show the world that carbon fiber is not limited to traditional carbon black colors. By impregnating the fibers with a diamond coating, the exposed carbon fiber has a sparkling finish. The original sale price was $4.850,000 making Trevita one of the most expensive production cars ever built. Power and torque are the same as the previous car, utilizing twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers on a dual overhead cam 4.8L V8.(See Also: Miami Vice's Ferrari Testarossa Set to Cross the Block at Mecum)Even if you are not in the market for a twin-supercharged carbon fiber supercar, its worth stopping by Fusion Motors in Chatsworth CA to see their inventory in person. Stay tuned to Autofluence to see the rarest and most expensive rides ever built and the latest news on them.2010 Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita Buy Now2009 Koenigsegg CCXR Buy Now See More Listings For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 01, 2015

Koenigsegg CCXR Revs and Burns Out on Crowded Road

The CCXR was penned as "the world's first green supercar" by Koenigsegg when they first created it. The Swedish manufacturer modified the supercar's twin-turbo 4.7-liter engine to run on recyclable ethanol (E85 and E100), as well as gasoline. When the car is running on E85 biofuel, it pumps out 1,019 bhp, while it "only" produces 806 bhp when running on gasoline.(Related: Koenigsegg Regera Starting Up and Driving During Goodwood)At the 2015 ModBall rally in London, YouTube channel AdamC3046 caught a CCXR showing off its immense power on the streets. The supercar revs its powerful engine for the crowd and even pulls off a risky burnout.Check out the video, uploaded on June 30, below to hear and see the CCXR's power.(Source: YouTube) More Koenigsegg News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 29, 2015

Koenigsegg Regera Starting Up and Driving During Goodwood

As we saw in a video from the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Koenigsegg Regera appeared alongside a One:1 to spend a little time at the track and show off its design to the crowds.But as wonderful and evenly split between the two megacars as that video was, it's always great to see some raw footage of these beasts out in the wild.A YouTube video added by TheTFJJ shows us four minutes and 15 seconds of just that - the Regera driving around, simply going from point A to point B. It's like observing a beautiful and rare animal in its natural habitat, while hearing it roar for the first time.And yes, we mean roar. The rumble of the Regera's engine is as deep, steady and soothing as you could ever hope for, and wouldn't be a bad tune to fall asleep to. Check it out in the video above. See More Koenigsegg News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 29, 2015

Koenigsegg Regera & One:1 Driving at Goodwood

There's little question that Christian von Koenigsegg's talent has translated into some of the world's finest automotive engineering. Each model introduced is more impressive than the last, with the Regera touting the most impressive performance numbers so far."Realistically, you have 1,500 , which is adequate, I guess you could say," describes Jens Sverdrup, representative of SuperVettura, the United Kingdom's Koenigsegg dealership, and previous Head of Sales at Koenigsegg, in the video below. Added to YouTube by Goodwood Road & Racing June 25, it shows us a good look at both the Regera's first trip on the track and the One:1 accompanying it. Sverdrup also shared a few pictures on Instagram of the two together, giving us a look at the Goodwood Festival of Speed match up from another perspective. You can see his post from June 27 below. Though complete development on the Regera has yet to be finished, the example Sverdrup brought with him is almost there - at the very least, it has no problem holding its own next to the One:1. First introduced March 3 at the Geneva International Motor Show, the Regera is a true king of the road, with a projected 1,500+ hp and 1,475+ lb-ft created by three electric motors and a 5.0-liter V8. Regera on the move A video posted by Jens Sverdrup (@jenssverdrup) on Jun 27, 2015 at 6:43pm PDT Priced at $1,890,000, the Regera is a veritable megacar, passing the level of supercar, with only 80 examples set for creation. The One:1 was Koenigsegg's first megacar, unveiled Feb. 28, 2014, and had a much smaller production run: only 6 customer cars were created, selling out very quickly. It creates one megawatt of power, approximately 1,360 hp, and 737 lb-ft. Considering it also uses a 5.0-liter V8, it's easy to tell that some serious tuning advancements happened between the One:1 and the Regera. Watch these two megacars take on the track together at Goodwood above, and find your own Koenigsegg from our exclusive listings at the button below. Koenigseggs For Sale (Source: YouTube, Instagram) See More Koenigsegg News

By Edward Jones – June 23, 2015

Koenigsegg One:1 0-300 km/h Run - Engine Sound Only

Back on June 17 we brought you a video of the Koenigsegg One:1 breaking the world record for the fastest 0-300 km/h (186 mph) time for a production car. Unfortunately, the video of the run wasn't the greatest of quality due to it being from a Vbox system.But, on June 22, they Swedish manufacturer uploaded a new video of the 17.95-second record run that needs to be watched. This new video allows viewers to witness the high-speed run at Koenigsegg's Ängelholm test track in 1080p at 60 frames per second.(Related: Lewis Hamilton in the Gumball 3000 Rally in a Koenigsegg)What's more, the music is removed and all you can hear is the sweet sound of the twin-turbocharged 5.-liter V8 engine.Check out the video below to hear the engine and see what acceleration to 186 mph from a standstill is like.(Source: YouTube) More Koenigsegg News

By Edward Jones – June 17, 2015

Koenigsegg One:1 Breaks 0-300-0 km/h World Record

Back in September 2011, Koenigsegg set the Guinness World Record 0-300-0 km/h (186 mph) time of 21.19 seconds in the Agera R. This was thought to be an unbeatable record.To break the unbreakable, Koenigsegg planned to set a new world record time, but this time in the new One:1 megacar.(Related: Two McLaren 570S Prototypes at Dimmitt Automotive)According to an email from the Swedish automaker sent out today, they achieved their quest in breaking the record. On June 8, Koenigsegg factory driver Robert Serwanski took the One:1 to the company's test track in Ängelholm, Sweden. It was then and there that he recorded a 0-300-0 km/h time of just 17.95 seconds, 3.24 seconds faster than the previous record.Below is a recording of the record run, as well as the data. 0-300 km/h: 11.922 seconds 300-0 km/h: 6.032 seconds 0-300-0 km/h: 17.95 seconds 0-200 mph: 14.328 seconds 200-0 mph: 6.384 seconds 0-200-0 mph: 20.71 seconds (Source: Koenigsegg Automotive AB) Click here For More Koenigsegg News

By Caitlin Duffy – May 28, 2015

Koenigsegg One:1 Dash Cam on Suzuka Circuit

It can create 1,340 hp. It can reach 273 mph. Its torque is measured at 1,011 lb-ft. It's not a supercar, it's a megacar, and when measured in kilograms, its power-to-weight ratio is perfectly matched.It's the One:1 from Koenigsegg, a beast of a machine with a pounding twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 for a heart, and it's unlike anything ever created before. Justin Bell described it as a rocket ship of a car in our 2015 Exotic Car Buyers Guide.So who wouldn't want a chance to test it on the world's most impressive circuits and tracks?A video added to YouTube by KoenigseggSweden May 26 shows off a trip around the Suzuka Circuit in Japan with the One:1, a five minute symphony with shots alternating between the view out the windshield from between driver Robert Serwanski and his passenger, and the view from the front of the hood, carbon fiber visible throughout. It's loud, it's impressive and it's a point of view that you don't want to miss.(See Also: The BHP Project's Top Speed Run in Their Koenigsegg One:1)Check out the video of their two laps, the first a warm up and second at speed, and stay with us for more news from the automotive world.(Source: YouTube) See More Koenigsegg News

By Edward Jones – May 11, 2015

The BHP Project's Top Speed Run in their Koenigsegg One:1

Everyone loves a top speed run, especially when it involves a car such as the Koenigsegg One:1.Our friends over at The BHP Project have received their own Koenigsegg One:1 and, as promised, the amazing videos are starting to roll in. Uploaded on May 10 to YouTube is a video of them taking the car for a high-speed run at Vmax200's Hypermax event.(Suggested Read: Strangest Cars to Race on Nurburgring Nordschleife)They reach a top speed of 225 mph, but I should also note that they were only running at 1,160 hp due to their inability to find Bio-Ethanol fuel in England. But, they have promised me that they are going to get their hands on some of that lovely fuel and try for a high-speed run with all 1,389 hp.Check out the video above to see the One:1 in action!(Source: YouTube)

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