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

Lamborghini News

Lamborghini news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily, covering the V12 hybrid Revuelto, the Temerario and the Urus, one of the biggest names in luxury SUV news. Our reporting runs across reveals, first drives, one-off builds and the auction results that set values. We also follow the earlier cars, from the Countach through to the Veneno. Many sites carry supercar news, but very few carry it beside live listings. A great many of the Lamborghinis covered here are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, so the reporting and a real asking price appear together. For Lamborghini news today, start with the stories below.

By Andrew Nabors – April 11, 2018

Lamborghini Urus: World Tour In 4 Months

If you are going to jump back into the hottest market in the world, you better make a statement. The Lamborghini Urus speaks for itself, but the market for luxury SUVs is hotter than ever. That's why they took the new Super SUV on a world tour. The logistics of moving show cars is hard enough in one location, so they chose 114 cities to show the car to over 8,500 potential customers. Normal shipping methods for new cars involve boats and trains, but the Urus can't be hindered by ancient technology. Each example was carefully strapped down to custom-made pallets to travel the world by air. In a press release early this morning, Lamborghini has uploaded stunning images from the Urus World Tour. Iconic backdrops like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The tour began with the first production model which was unveiled on the 4th of December. Since then, the factory in Sant' Agata has been working 24/7 to meet the flood of early orders. Lamborghini Urus Delivered in California to O’Gara Coach La Jolla Under the hood is a twin-turbo V8 offering 600 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. Coupled to the latest in AWD it allows the Urus to conquer any terrain. If you think you can harness this raging bull click on the link below. Tell us what location you would visit first and stay with us for all your Lamborghini news.

By Andrew Nabors – March 27, 2018

Lamborghini Urus: All-Roads Competition

If you thought the new Lamborghini Urus is just a pretty face, think again. Autocar is reporting that the Italian automaker is planning a series of competitions for their new SUV. CEO Stefano Domenicali said: Lamborghini welcomes challenges, but whatever we do will be quite different from other brands. We will choose a form of competition intended only for our class of vehicle. Our car has many faces. You can enjoy its beauty, it is very fast on the track, very fast off road and very fast on gravel. We will choose something that combines all of these things.”Lamborghini Urus Delivered in California to O’Gara Coach La JollaTheir corporate cousins at Bentley are planning to send their Bentayga up Pikes Peak with Rhys Millen at the wheel. Lamborghini denies they have plans for a similar run, but they will use it as a benchmark for the Urus. Autocar also predicts that the Urus will double Lamborghini sales in the UK to 700 cars annually. If the Urus has your name on it, click the link below to find a Lamborghini dealer near you.Browse Lamborghini For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 22, 2018

Lamborghini Built 300 Racing Huracans in 36 Months

If you intend to take your raging bull to the track, Lamborghini has a few options for you. In a press release last night, we have learned that 300 racing editions of the Huracan have been built over the past 3 years. This is an unprecedented effort by any manufacturer, let alone an Italian exotic.Lamborghini Huracan GT3 UnveiledRacing Huracans are built in two flavors: Huracan GT3 and Huracan Super Trofeo. The first are aimed at GT racing by privateer and factory supported teams. So far 70 examples have been assembled and they have seen 10 podium finishes around the world, including Daytona.For the Gentleman Racer, the Super Trofeo cars are built by Squadra Corse. Lamborghini's in-house racing department runs the Super Trofeo racing series. Drivers compete in identical Huracans at tracks around the world. Last week car #300 rolled off the line surrounded by its builders. It is one of the first of the new Super Trofeo Evo cars. Engines are unchanged but the bodies are all new, taking advantage of improved aerodynamics developed for the Huracan Performante. Tell us which Huracan you prefer in the comments below and stay with us for all your Lamborghini news.Browse Lamborghini Huracan For SaleAdvertise with duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – November 28, 2017

Listen to the Lamborghini Urus Super SUV

Splicing DNA is one of the dark arts that common sense tells us to avoid. When it comes to automotive evolution, Lamborghini has announced the perfect cross between a supercar and an SUV. It might seem like a tall order to fill, but everyone seems to forget the predecessor of the upcoming Urus for sale. The Lamborghini LM002 was the "Rambo Lambo", and it was built at the request of the Italian Army. Three decades ago, it was easy to build an SUV around the Countach's V12 to make a bold statement. But the modern marketplace is flooded with luxury utilities fighting for your dollars. So Lamborghini has taken a cautious approach on the Urus. In a video uploaded to their YouTube page, Chief Technical Officer Maurizio Reggiani explains their motivations. Pope Francis Gets His Own Special Lamborghini The DNA of the Urus is pulled from Lamborghinis both old and new. Even in heavy camouflage, styling cues from the other raging bulls can be seen. To keep it ahead of the competition, a new 4.0 liter V8 was commissioned. Twin turbos allow it to reach 650 horsepower, and it will undoubtedly be sent to all wheels. The exhaust note is as exotic as you would expect, so turn up your audio for a quick preview. Expect to find all the Urus updates here on Autofluence, so click the link below to find the Lambo that is right for you. View Lamborghini For Sale Luxury Cars for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 20, 2017

Lamborghini Unveils the Huracan Super Trofeo Evo

Inspired by the performance of the Huracan in this year's Squadra Corse racing events, next year's season will be even more intense. The 2018 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo is an evolution of the ultimate track car. It is the brainchild of Centro Stile Lamborghini, Dallara Automobili, and input from race teams.First Lamborghini Centenario Delivered in Japan As we suggested earlier, the aerodynamics package uses lessons learned on the Huracan Performante. The intakes in the quarter panels serve not only to cool the engine, but also to direct air at the rear spoiler. The 18" wheels are shorter than production cars, but they wear massive Pirelli 305mm tires up front with 315mm out back.A sequential six-speed transmission is provided by Xtrac and connected to a triple-disc clutch. Steel brakes replace the carbon ceramics in order to help race teams afford a season of competition. Braking and traction control is handled by Bosch, from a 10-position dial on the steering wheel. It will be a force to be reckoned with next year, so stay with us for complete coverage of the Super Trofeo Series and all your Lamborghini news.

By Andrew Nabors – September 20, 2017

Lamborghini Teases Wild New Huracan

Being in the ring with an angry bull is a recipe for destruction. That's why Lamborghini wants to put you in control of the action. Their Squadra Corse program offers a way for Lamborghini owners to participate in races and track days around the world. If the idea of modifying a new Huracan makes you uneasy, something new is in the works.McLaren 720S vs Huracan In a Facebook upload yesterday, we are offered a few glimpses at the upcoming race car. The new Huracan will probably be a track-only version of the Performante. This year's Super Trofeo series has proven the Huracan to be capable of the world's toughest tracks. Lessons learned at tracks like Imola and Nürburgring have led to changes at the factory, which look to have culimnated in a new car. All of the details will be released later today, so check back with us for the scoop. In the meantime, tell us what you think it will be in the comments below. Used 2016 Huracan For Sale

By Edward Jones – May 26, 2017

Red and Black Lamborghini Centenario Delivered in New Jersey

On the heels of the United States' first Lamborghini Centenario being delivered at Lamborghini Newport Beach, there's been another in New Jersey. The delivered took place at Lamborghini Paramus, and the example delivered has the same exposed carbon fiber that we've seen, but with red trim. Photos of the car's delivery were posted on their Instagram page, showing the magnificence of the hypercar.“The Centenario is a car that perfectly combines tradition and innovation. It looks to the future while honoring the legend that is Ferruccio Lamborghini,” said Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann. “The Centenario is an opportunity for our designers and engineers to transcend some of the constraints of series car production to achieve an incomparable result: the Centenario has immediately proved itself as a desirable collectors’ car, while demonstrating new Lamborghini technologies and outstanding performance.“Specs Price: $1,900,000Engine: V12Horsepower: 770Torque: 507 lb-ft0-62 mph: 2.8 secondsTop Speed: 217+ mphTransmission: 7-speed automatic

By Edward Jones – May 18, 2017

Lamborghini Centenario Arrives in Hong Kong in Glorious F...

The Lamborghini Centenario has officially landed in Asia-Pacific. Lamborghini Hong Kong has recently posted pictures on their Facebook page of the Italian hypercar in their showroom for the very first time. You can view the images below.Each Centenario comes with the naturally aspirated V12 engine producing 770 hp, with Lamborghini stating its the most powerful engine they’ve ever produced. It can run the 3,351 lbs car from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds and 0-186 mph in 23.5 seconds, with a top speed of over 217 mph. Aiding in the quick acceleration is the permanent four-wheel drive, which includes the new Lamborghini rear-wheel steering system.

By Andrew Nabors – December 01, 2016

Lamborghini Shows off Full Huracan Range in Epic Video

Did you know the Lamborghini Huracan is available in four flavors? If you want the wind in your hair, the Spyder is begging for your attention. If you don't need the grip or weight of all wheels, the transfer case and front axles are absent on Huracan RWD. In a commercial uploaded to their YouTube page, Lamborghini showcases all four variants in a race across Europe: Spyder, RWD, Coupe and RWD Spyder. The soft top can be raised or lowered below 32 mph, and its operation is much quicker than the Gallardo. If you are wondering how capable the AWD system is, we covered that here.Used Exotic Cars For SaleSending massive power to only the rear wheels can be a recipe for disaster, so the RWD cars are limited to only 571 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Both AWD cars are rated at 602 hp and 413 lb-ft in order to reach 201 mph. The additional running gear carries a weight penalty of almost 400 lbs. Another 200 lbs in convertible top hardware make the AWD Spyder the heaviest of the four. Being able to reach 60 mph in just over 3 seconds makes weight irrelevant and it also makes the Huracan one of the best bargains in the automotive world. It carries none of the sacrifices one normally associates with supercars, as the seating position is comfortable and visibility is better than most cars we have driven. Huracan deserves your consideration if you need a daily driver, so check out the listings from our dealers if you need a stocking stuffer.All Lamborghini Huracan For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – March 04, 2016

2015 Marks Best Year Ever for Lamborghini

Lamborghini has a long history of great years, but 2015 marks the best year in the company's history. Growth is full throttle and looks as though it should continue into the coming years. Highlights include in introduction of new models and selling more than 3,000 units worldwide. Here's a closer look at what made 2015 great for Lamborghini2015 Highlights(According to a press release from Lamborghini) Over 3,000 Lamborghinis sold (28% increase) Five new models introduced Business growth for 5th year in a row 39% increase in sales euros North America and China mark the largest markets for the auto maker, and they hope to continue the trend into 2016. According to Lamborghini:Interrupted for a few years by the financial crisis, sales have increased considerably over the long term and have almost tripled since 2010. Over the past ten years sales have more than doubled and turnover more than tripled. The number of dealers has also more than tripled.With the Geneva release of the Huracan Avio and the Centenario, we can't wait to see what's in store for 2016. Congrats Lamborghini!Lamborghinis For Sale

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