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 Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 18, 2016

Koenigsegg to Display Three Cars at 2016 Geneva Motor Show

Swedish car company, Koenigsegg, just announced their line up for the 2016 Geneva Motor Show and it includes two exclusive world premiers. First and foremost, Koenigsegg will have the Agera RS on display. Revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Agera RS sold out its 25 examples in a mere 10 months, becoming, according to the car company, "the fastest selling car in Koenigsegg history."Next up is the Koenigsegg Regera, one of the company's world premiers. Though the prototype was revealed at the 2015 show, this year's unveiling is the production specification. Koenigsegg spent countless hours and made an amazing 3000 changes to the Regera before approving the model for unveiling.Finally, the car company promises to unveil the brand new, final installment of the Agera model. The Agera was a major success for Koenigsegg, and this final installment in the series is sure to wow. They're remaining hush hush on specs though so we'll be just as surprised as the rest of the world.Full info will be release on March 1st and will be found on the Geneva Motor Show Website.Koenigseggs For Sale

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By Caitlin Duffy – November 13, 2015

Koenigsegg Regera Features "Robotized Autoskin"

More and more, automakers are finding ways to make controlling a car's functions easier and more seamless than ever.Most models offer a remote start for cold days, while a few, like Tesla and BMW, provide the ability to open windows, sunroofs and control the temperature within the car from a remote. But for their new hypercar, Koenigsegg wanted to take that remote control a step further, in a way that will keep the car fingerprint-free.With the introduction of a fully robotized Autoskin, Koenigsegg has given Regera owners the ability to open any or all of the car's compartments with just the click of a button. As a press release issued today describes, and a YouTube video demonstrates, this new feature is a practical and beautiful way to control the Regera without needing to touch it.Through a system of lightweight hydraulics, proximity sensors and soft-close mechanisms, which weighs less than 11 pounds in total, the 1,500 hp Regera can be opened or closed as desired. There's even a special option called "Show Mode," which opens both doors, raises the spoiler and pops the hood, all at once.Check out how this new skin works in the video below, then find your own Koenigsegg to enjoy while we wait for the Regera's release.Koenigseggs For Sale (via Koenigsegg, YouTube) See More Koenigsegg News

By Edward Jones – October 13, 2015

1,500 Horsepower Koenigsegg Regera Flies Down Runway

Before I even start, let me just tell you that I don't need any more proof to the know that the Koenigsegg Regera is one of the meanest sounding cars, ever.In a video that YouTuber Bo Bah uploaded Oct. 4, we get one of our first glimpses of the Regera actually in action. So far, we've only seen it starting up and cruising, but this video shows the megacar actually pushing itself a bit down Koenigsegg's private runway-one of the perks of owning your own automobile manufacturer.What you're hearing in the video is a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine that works in cooperation with three electric motors. This results in over 1,500 hp and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. Koenigsegg claimed in the original press release it is “the king of the road, as the fastest accelerating, most powerful production car ever.”If you don't believe me about how great this car sounds, just take a listen by clicking the play button right below.(Source: YouTube via RoadandTrack.com) Koenigsegg Videos, News and Pics

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

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