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

Koenigsegg News

Koenigsegg news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Jesko and Jesko Absolut, the four-seat Gemera and the manual CC850. Our reporting follows reveals, record runs, engineering news and the auction results that set what these cars are worth. Koenigsegg builds only a handful of cars each year, so every confirmed sale carries real weight in the market. That is where our marketplace becomes useful to readers. Koenigseggs covered here are sometimes listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which puts the reporting and a real figure side by side. This is hypercar news with the market attached, so for Koenigsegg news today, start below.

By Edward Jones – July 13, 2018

Christian von Koenigsegg Cruises in the Regera Hypercar

Christian von Koenigsegg launched the Koenigsegg car company at the age of just 22-years-old in 1994. Now, decades later, the automotive company has turned into an exotic car powerhouse. Exciting cars like the CCXR, Agera RS and Regera have been created, each becoming stars in their own right. What's great about a company like Koenigsegg is often you'll see the founder interacting with customers and the public. He's also not shy about driving around in his prized creations. Recently, he was spotted cruising around in a Regera hypercar. This specific Regera is called 'Malin' and has a carbon fiber body with a gorgeous green tint. This color was chosen because the owner also owns a Jaguar XJ220 in the same color. Christian von Koenigsegg's Regera cruise took place during the Koenigsegg Ghost Squadron 2018 event. This event, located in Germany, started in Baden-Baden and ended in Königseggwald. In total, 18 different Koenigseggs attended the event, including the Agera FE cars Thor and Vader.

By Andrew Nabors – July 24, 2017

Koenigsegg Owners Tour 2017

If you weren't in Sweden last weekend, you missed out on 2017 Koenigsegg's Owners Tour. This yearly event is a way for Christian von Koenigsegg and his employees to thank their loyal customers.Nineteen cars from around the world came together for three days of carbon fiber fun. The largest gathering to date, the attendees arrived with 4 CCR’s, 6 CCX’s, 2 CCXR’s, 1 Agera, 2 Agera R’s, 3 Agera RS’s and a One:1 on the tour.Mr. von Koenigsegg was happy to see his creations again, saying: “This is amazing, and a little bit humbling, to be honest. We have a wonderful cross-section of Koenigsegg history here, nearly every generation of car we’ve ever made is represented. And the people just love them. It’s a great reminder of the progress that we’ve made, the friends we’ve made – our customers become friends as we go through the building process and it’s wonderful to see those relationships grow – and also the people who have helped to get us here.”Koenigsegg only builds a handful of cars each year because their focus is on quality and pushing the boundaries of automotive technology. From dihedral doors to a solid-state electrical system, no detail is overlooked. It would cost millions for the big automakers to compete with such innovations, which is how Koenigsegg have carved out a sizable niche in the supercar market. Their latest model (Regera) has made the transmission obsolete. It will take several decades for normal cars to have such advancements, so for now take a look at Koenigsegg for sale and stay with us for all your exotic car news.

By Edward Jones – June 13, 2017

Koenigsegg Regera is Now Officially Sold Out

Were you about to head over to Ängelholm, Sweden to talk to Christian von Koenigsegg about ordering a new Koenigsegg Regera? I have bad news for you, because Koenigsegg announced today (June 13, 2017) that all of the Regeras are sold out.Yes, that means all 80 units of the Regera hypercar that Koenigsegg plans to make have been spoken for, making it the largest single vehicle series in the automaker's history.“The Regera is a new high watermark for Koenigsegg Automotive” said company founder and CEO, Christian von Koenigsegg. “It has been our greatest technical challenge and as such, it is also our greatest technical triumph. That our customers and dealers have seen and appreciated the work we’ve done on the Regera is a source of great pride for everyone at Koenigsegg.”The Koenigsegg Regera is not only extremely limited, but also extremely...extreme. This new hypercar car combines a twin-turbo V8 engine with electric motors to produce an astonishing 1,500 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. This power, along with the new Koenigsegg Direct Drive transmission, the Regera can rocket from 0 to over 248 mph in just about 20 seconds. That's just insanity.So, congratulations to the 80 that claimed the Regeras-- if you're ever in Florida, I'd be more than willing to drive you around in your new hypercar.

By Edward Jones – January 23, 2017

Bordeaux Koenigsegg Regera is a Tall Glass of Wine

Koenigsegg has started a new series of Facebook posts that shows how their employees would customize their own Regera hypercar. The second Regera in this series was created by Johan B., Koenigsegg's Sales Director for Continental Europe and Nordic countries.(Purple Koenigsegg Regera Pays Homage to Prince)For Johan's Regera, he chose for the exterior to don a Bordeaux-tinted carbon fiber finish. This deep red carbon fiber exterior is separated by a naked carbon fiber stripe running down the center, as well as gold leaf striping. The Facebook post for this car notes: "Johan has French roots and the deep red finish will be like driving around in a glass of fine French red wine (with no blood-alcohol content, of course!!)."Inside, this Regera has a creamy interior made of a cappuccino/coffee color combination. So, on the outside you have a deep exterior that resembles a glass of wine, while the interior resembles a cup of coffee. Are you thirsty yet?All Koenigseggs For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 17, 2017

Purple Koenigsegg Regera Pays Homage to Prince

Koenigsegg has started a new series of Facebook posts that shows how their employees would customize their own Regera hypercar. The first of the series shows a Regera that is dedicated to the late music star, Prince.(Also Check Out - Christian von Koenigsegg Gives Update on Regera Hypercar)This car was designed by Steven Wade, who is in charge of Koenigsegg's communications and copywriting. He said in the post: "Vöx will laugh at me (as might a million others), but I've chosen a purple carbon exterior finish, with white striping and clear carbon side intakes. I'm a massive Prince fan (still grieving) and I've always loved our cars in purple. I was tempted to go with gold leaf stripes, like the purple/gold combination of chassis 7094, but I think the gold works better with paint rather than tinted carbon. Inside I've gone for 'snow' leather with a basket weave pattern on the seats. Yes, anyone who got into the car would have to be impeccably clean :-) The stitching on these seats is blue, but it'd be purple on the real thing. White calipers behind my carbon wheels finish the look. Now all I have to do is start saving!"Honestly, I'm in love with the design of this car. I feel like the world needs more purple supercars/hypercars, and this should be one of them. My love for purple cars most certainly started with the purple of the Lamborghini Diablo SE30 and was reignited by Dodge's Plum Crazy Purple revival.Wade, you designed one heck of a beautiful car.Sports Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 27, 2016

Christian von Koenigsegg Gives Update on Regera Hypercar

Christian von Koenigsegg has been giving the world some great updates about his company through videos uploaded by /DRIVE. In the latest video, he gives the world an update on the upcoming Regera hypercar and how the production is coming along.(Supercars For Sale)In the video, Mr. von Koenigsegg announces that they've received more orders for the Regera than they expected in such a short amount of time. Because of this, they're working hard to try and get the cars out to the buyers as soon as possible. With the growing interest in their hypercar, the Koenigsegg company has almost doubled, going from around 50 employees to over 100.Along with the news on the Regera, he also gives more details on the Regera RS and their sister company FreeValve. Click play below to learn more about the Swedish supercar manufacturer.All Koenigsegg For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 20, 2016

Koenigsegg Reveals New Carbon Fiber Wheels for the Regera

As the undisputed master of carbon fiber, Christian von Koenigsegg has taken wheel design to the next level. Aircore is the name of the hollow spoke composite wheels that were first seen on the Agera. As a proof of concept, the first design was purely a result of engineering without artistic input. The conventional 5 spoke design appeals to everyone, but since the Regera has a mid-mounted battery pack they decided to invest into the aesthetics for a shocking new design. (Related - Christian Von Koenigsegg in His New Regera) Aluminum is not up to the task because to replicate this pattern in metal would be very heavy. Perhaps they foresee American competition, as Ford has released carbon fiber wheels on their GT and GT 350 Mustang. The new rolling stock is wider and lighter than earlier versions, which will force the entire wheel industry to spend more time and money to catch up. Taking into consideration the time and engineering that went into these, it's safe to assume they are the most expensive wheels in production. Watch the master at work, and stay with us for all your Koenigsegg updates. All Koenigsegg For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 12, 2016

Learn About One of the World's Fastest Cars from the Crea...

The Koenigsegg Regera is downright one of the finest and most advanced cars to ever hit the road. Seriously, it has a new "electric" transmission, fully robotized body, 1,500 hp and so much more. There's no doubt in my mind that this car will go down in the history books as one of the finest extreme cars ever made. (Related - Koenigsegg Agera R vs Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Drag Race) To inform the world on the finer points of the new Swedish megacar, /DRIVE filmed the creator of the car, Christian von Koenigsegg, giving a fantastic overview of the car. From the chassis to the taillights, he describes the car the way a father would brag about their son. One little feature that he goes over in the video is that the headlights and taillights have their own processors, allowing them to wirelessly change the pattern of the lights on the fly. To learn all about the insane Regera, click play below. Koenigseggs For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 23, 2016

Christian Von Koenigsegg in His New Regera

Last year Mr. Koenigsegg allowed us to get up close and personal with the One:1, and he told us he would have something special for 2016. Spotted last week in Monterey, the Regera was caught with its creator behind the wheel. For a car without a transmission, it seems to move pretty well. In a system the company refers to as "Direct Drive", power from the engine is turned into voltage and sent to electric motors at each rear wheel. Excess power is stored in a hybrid battery pack in the car's central tunnel, and when fully charged the system delivers 1,500 hp and 1,475 lb-ft of torque.(Related: Koenigsegg One:1 Arrives at Prestige Imports: It's For Sale) Regera uses smaller turbos that spool faster than its predecessors. Made possible by the electric motors providing much of the low end power, the smaller turbos offer more efficiency and better drivability. In lieu of a transmission, the engine does have a hydraulic clutch which couples the crankshaft to the rear differential (2.73 gear ratio) at highway speeds. Only 80 examples are planned for production, so stay with us for rare footage of them in action.Search Koenigsegg For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – March 02, 2016

Revealed: The Koenigsegg Regera, Agera Final and Agera RS...

Koenigsegg was one of the highly anticipated brands at the Geneva Motor Show, as they'd recently announced their three-car lineup, and auto enthusiasts couldn't wait to see the lineup in person. Koenigsegg unveiled the production specification Regera-- the all-popular concept unveiled at last year's Geneva Motor Show, the Agera 'Final' and the Agera RS. Here's a brief look at the lineup specs.This concept underwent an incredible 3000 changes before the brand thought it was ready to meet the public. Here's what we know:Koenigsegg Regera Specs Dry weight of 3240 lbs Includes the Koenigsegg Direct Drive System (patent pending) which "eliminates the weight complexity and mechanical losses that come with a traditional gearbox." Read more about the system here. 800 volt, 4.5kWh battery pack which offers the highest cooling capacity and makes the Regera the first 800V production vehicle 0-62 in 2.8 1500+ hp 2000+ Nm torque Agera 'Final'The Agera line is coming to an end, and to commemorate the popular model, Koenigsegg created the "Agera Final", which is limited to just three vehicles. According to Koenigsegg, the model includes a number of customized elements including: Top-mounted read wing with second blade Triple Winglets on front bumper A upgraded 1MW engine Options that once costed a fee for upgrade are now standard including the 1MW engine upgrade and the Aircore carbon fiber wheels Carbon finish in clear or partially clear Agera RSThis is the model responsible for selling out in 10 months, which marked it as Koenigsegg's fastest selling model. Here's what was revealed: 5.0 litre 32-valve V8 engine 7-speed sequential transmission Incredible control thanks to a "suspension system that includes double wishbones front and rear" Stay tuned for more Geneva Motor Show coverage.Koenigseggs For Sale

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