LaFerrari

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 Tyler Rampersaud – April 19, 2024

Ferrari of San Antonio Displays Off A Red-on-Red LaFerrari

A modern Ferrari legend is celebrated and showcased. Ferrari is known for having made some of the world’s most iconic, desirable, powerful, and innovative cars ever made, boasting a “Big Five” group of supercars that consistently command incredibly high values and earn coveted places in car collections worldwide. Being a renowned purveyor of Prancing Horse cars, Ferrari of San Antonio brought beautiful examples of Ferrari excellence to the Italian Motor Gathering event, and one specific car, the Ferrari LaFerrari, was one of the most attention-grabbing cars there, for good reason. The Ferrari LaFerrari not only marked a revolutionary turning point in the history of Ferrari, but it also participated in a revolutionary moment in automotive history as a whole. With its hybrid V12 powertrain, it was one-third of the hybrid hypercar “Holy Trinity” of the early 2010s, which used hybrid technology to push forward performance, engineering, and technology, foretelling the new generation of hybrid performance cars we are seeing today. Being an iconic Ferrari flagship and a hybrid performance pioneer, the Ferrari LaFerrari was one of the most legendary vehicles at the Italian Motor Gathering event, with an iconic Ferrari color combination consisting of both a red exterior and a red interior. With a timelessly beautiful configuration and hypercar legend status, it’s no wonder that the Ferrari LaFerrari was admired by Ferrari of San Antonio and the Italian Motor Gathering attendees. View All Vehicles From Ferrari of San Antonio View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferrari of San Antonio (@ferrariofsa)

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 10, 2024

Ferrari LaFerrari: Own The Prancing Horse's Holy Trinity ...

One of the greatest moments in modern Ferrari history can be yours. Today, hybrid technology is starting to enter the forefront of automotive performance. It’s a logical step in the journey toward electrification that the entire automotive industry is on, and when electric and combustion power come together, the result has been the creation of some of the most formidable, powerful, quick, and agile performance cars and supercars yet. However, it was over a decade ago when this technology found its way into a legendary cohort of hypercars, and the Ferrari LaFerrari is one of them. The Ferrari LaFerrari was introduced in 2013, and boldly named, it represented the pinnacle of Ferrari design, engineering, technology, performance, and exclusivity, and it introduced the F1-inspired HY-KERS system to a production Ferrari for the first time, which in conjunction with the car’s V12 engine brought the total system power to an immense total 950 horsepower. As a result, its top speed is 218 mph, and it gets from 0-60 in just 2.6 seconds. In addition, the exclusive production number of just 710 examples between the original coupe and the open-top LaFerrari Aperta variant, it’s one of the most exclusive Ferraris on the market, as well. As a member of the legendary hybrid hypercar Holy Trinity and being one of the greatest Ferraris in recent memory, the LaFerrari is a perfect hypercar to add to any exotic or luxury car collection, but it certainly isn’t the easiest exotic car for sale to find. Luckily, duPont REGISTRY has been the source for supercars since 1985, and its the perfect place to search for a Ferrari LaFerrari for sale. Check out some of the best examples below. What is the hypercar “Holy Trinity?” The “Holy Trinity” is a trio of hypercars that were all revealed in the early 2010s, all of which featured hybrid powertrains and game-changing performance. These were the Porsche 918 Spyder, the McLaren P1, and of course, the Ferrari LaFerrari. How many Ferrari LaFerrari cars were made? 710 total Ferrari LaFerraris were made. This includes 500 examples of the original coupe and 210 open-top Aperta cars. What is the Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta? The Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta is the open-top version of the LaFerrari, revealed in late 2016, coinciding with the Prancing Horse’s 70th anniversary celebration in 2017. View All Ferrari LaFerraris For Sale 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari View Listing 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari View Listing 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype View Listing

By Edward Jones – May 25, 2022

Super Rare LaFerrari Duo Shines At Foreign Cars Italia

It's not often that you see a LaFerrari and even rarer to see two. Foreign Cars Italia, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, has had the pleasure of housing two incredible examples of the Ferrari LaFerrari hypercar. These two magnificent Ferraris were at the dealership for service as the dealership is an Official Ferrari Dealer. To learn more about these cars, the dealership uploaded a video to YouTube video, found above, where Steve Sudler gives us the breakdown. In the video, you'll not only see the two cars but learn the history behind the LaFerrari and what made the model so groundbreaking when it was released. Once going through the history, Sudler then breaks down the specifics of the two examples that are parked in their showroom. One example is in Grigio Fero while the other is finished in Rosso Corsa. It's fantastic to see the LaFerrari represented in two completely different paint finishes so that you can truly appreciate its design and style. View Foreign Cars Italia Inventory

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 17, 2022

Watch Ferrari Collector David Lee Unveil His New LaFerrar...

David Lee replaces his LaFerrari with an ultra-rare Aperta spec. The Ferrari LaFerrari stands out as the Italian automotive manufacturer’s pinnacle model, blending hypercar performance with state-of-the-art hybrid technology. One of LaFerrari’s biggest fans happens to be Ferrari collector David Lee, who sold his first LaFerrari after keeping a promise with the original owner to sell it back if he ever wanted to buy it back. Since then, `David Lee has been on the hunt to locate and purchase a second chassis to add his collection that would once again secure “The Big Five” Ferrari models. In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, David Lee announces that he recently purchased a new LaFerrari Aperta to replace the empty space where the last spec was parked. MUST-READ: Ferrari F1-75 Unveiled For 2022 Formula 1 Season The Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta features a classic Rosso Corsa finish with a removable roof that transforms it into a targa-style hybrid hypercar. David Lee explains his history with the brand and some of the struggles that came with trying to obtain one of the most exclusive Ferrari models on the planet. Needless to say, David Lee is extremely happy to not only have a LaFerrari back in his collection but even more excited that it is a 70th Anniversary Aperta specification. View all current Ferrari LaFerrari examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury lifestyle releases and Ferrari news. View All Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta For Sale Source: Ferrari Collector David Lee YouTube

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 19, 2016

One of Only Three LaFerraris Finished in Nero DS Opaco

Ferrari's unprecedented hybrid supercar is rare and unique in its own right. Add in one owner, 211 original miles, and the incredible matte black Nero DS Opaco finish, and this 2014 LaFerrari is truly collector's dream.The LaFerrari uses hybrid automotive technology to deliver the highest performance ever achieved by a Ferrari production car. From exterior to interior, the LaFerrari is the pinnacle of innovation, from a hand laid carbon fiber body to the trademark double wishbone Ferrari suspension.Developed from the F1, the LaFerrari's HY-KERS system is a more seamless, more efficient way to marry the 6.3L/788 HP V-12 engine—the most powerful V-12 in the world—and a 161 HP electric motor, which work in tandem to produce an amazing 949 horsepower. Thanks to the low-speed torque provided by the electric engine, the V-12 is freed up for greater peak power—it redlines at a shrieking 9,250 RPM—creating an unrelenting surge of power and peak torque surpassing 663 lb-ft.The LaFerrari driving experience is like no other, with a 0-60 mph surge in 2.4 seconds, 0-124 in under 7 seconds, and 0-186 in a flat-out crazy 15 seconds. The LaFerrari's top speed hits 217 MPH, accompanied by that ear-splitting Ferrari V-12 symphony.This incredible example's ultra-rare DS Opaco finish is complimented by an interior fashioned in black leather and Alcantara with red accents including belts, stitching and piping. Additionally, the aircraft style interior shape is accented with carbon fiber trim. An adjustable steering wheel and pedals make for ultimate comfort in one of the world's most iconic supercars.The one of three 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari is offered by Mecum Auctions and will be available at the Monterey event located at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in gorgeous Monterey, California on August 18-20, 2016 at Lot R383. Click here to learn more.Learn More

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