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 – July 13, 2017

Lamborghini Aventador Miura Homage Edition For Sale

Fifty years ago, Ferruccio Lamborghini and his team unveiled the Miura. Unlike anything else before or since, the mid-mounted V12 was mounted east-west behind the cockpit for optimal weight distribution. It had more style than any other car, the headlights have eyelashes! She was the enticing Italian at the end of the bar. You know its a bad idea but you only live once. It caught the attention of celebrities like Frank Sinatra. He said you buy a Ferrari if you want to be someone, and you buy a Lamborghini when you are someone. It also mesmerized the eye of a young mechanic named Valentino Balboni. He joined Lamborghini in 1968 as an apprentice and is still on staff for marketing and promotions.The car that invented the supercar industry was produced by hand until 1973, but only 764 Miuras were built. That's why Lamborghini chose to build 50 Aventadors as tributes to the iconic car. It's our job to offer the most exclusive cars in the world, so here are the details of the Aventador Miura Homage. Each car was ordered and built by Lamborghini's Ad Personam department due to the extensive changes from the production cars. The most striking feature is the two-tone exterior. Cars wearing two shades are rare these days, which makes no sense to us. The Miura Homage was only offered with gold or silver accents, which included the wheels, spoilers, and rocker panels. It helps to tame the aggressive looks, making it more inviting. Mr. Lamborghini would probably laugh at the notion of microfiber, so the interior is all leather. Premium Italian hides cover every inch of carbon fiber, and it's a nice departure from the "regular" Aventador. Seats are embroidered with the Miura logo, and a numbered plaque on the A-pillar displays the build number. Only 12 were built for the US, and not just any dealer could order them. These cars were reserved for Lamborghini's elite, which is why you deserve one. Check out these listings and tell us which one is your favorite. Black/Gold Yellow/Silver Red/Gold Blue/SilverThere you have it, the best combination of old and new. Make room in your collection for a piece of history and stay with us for all your Lamborghini news & reviews.

By Edward Jones – June 20, 2017

United States' First Lamborghini Centenario Roadster Deli...

The United States has seen it's fair share of Lamborghini Centenario Coupe deliveries, but the US now has its very first customer-owned Centenario Roadster, according to one of our sources. Delivered by O'Gara Coach through Lamborghini Beverly hills, this exposed carbon fiber and yellow Italian hypercar is the first of its kind on our shores.Lamborghini has 40 Centenarios planned for production, with 20 of them being Coupes and 20 of them being Roadsters.View Lamborghini Centenarios For Salehttps://www.facebook.com/dupontregistryautos/videos/10155463189043256/Each Centenario, no matter Coupe or Roadster, comes with a naturally aspirated V12 engine that produces 770 horsepower. Lamborghini has stated that this is the most powerful engine they have ever produced over their decades of production. A 0-62 mph sprint can be completed in just 2.8 seconds when behind the wheel of the Centenario, and 0-186 mph (yes, it's so fast that this is a performance figure) is done in 23.5 seconds. Lamborghini has rated its top speed at over 217 mph, but a definitive number has not been stated.

By Edward Jones – June 09, 2017

Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder Spotted in the Wild

Everyone knew that it was coming, but it's now been spotted out in the wild: the Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder.Autogespot's spotter known as GIAMMISERI_PHOTOGRAPHY recently captured a photo of the car while he was in Italy. What's interesting is that the majority of this car is uncamouflaged. The only parts being disguised are the front boot, engine bay and top of the rear wing. Even with the camo, it's still quite obvious that we're looking at a convertible version of the Huracan Performante.Autogespot notes that the car will likely be revealed at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show and will start production in 2018.

By Edward Jones – June 06, 2017

How to Unload a Lamborghini Huracan Performante (Revs Inc...

Getting a supercar on or off of a truck can be nerve-racking, especially when that car is the brand-new Lamborghini Huracan Performante.Gumbal was recently witness to the unloading of a Huracan Performante at a race track for the Supercarsunday. At this event hypercars like the McLaren P1 GR, Pagani Huayra, Koenigseggs, Bugattis and many more were on hand. As the Huracan Performante made its way to join these hypercars, the driver managed let out a few very loud revs for the pursuing photographers.Lamborghini unveiled the Huracan Performante as a tuned up version of their Coupe version. Just about everything was reworked during the development of the Performante, including its weight, engine, chassis and aerodynamics. After all of the changes were said and done, the Huracan Performante would go on to complete the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in a record-breaking 6:52:01. https://blog.dupontregistry.com/ecbg-2018/2018-lamborghini-huracan-performante-price-specs-review/

By Edward Jones – June 02, 2017

Lamborghini Urus SUV Spied Testing on Nurburgring

We've been waiting years for it, but the upcoming Lamborghini Urus is becoming a reality with each passing day. Lamborghini has stated that the Urus is planned for production in 2018, and we're just now starting to see the test mule out and about. YouTube channel NM2255 recently captured the Urus test mule being put through its paces on the Nurburgring, and has uploaded a video of the action for us all to see. In the video we see the Lamborghini SUV taking the corners quite gracefully and putting up some high speeds. While we don't get to see the exterior too well because of the camo, its still easy to see that its just about identical to the example that has been brought to various shows. One thing that I will note is that I couldn't really hear any engine noise as the Urus was passing by. Check it out for yourself by clicking play below.

By Edward Jones – May 31, 2017

Lamborghini Centenario Arrives and Revs in London, Causes...

All of this Lamborghini Centenario news is getting out of hand. That being said, I hope it never stops, because this car is so gorgeous. First, we had the United States' first Centenario delivered, then one delivered in New Jersey, and just recently a yellow model arrived in California. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, they received their own example of the Lamborghini hypercar.Delivered to HR Owen Lamborghini London, this Centenario has a exposed carbon fiber body with orange trim. When it arrived via truck, it seemed as though every automotive enthusiast in the city showed up for the spectacle. YouTube Channel LK HORIZON was on-hand for the delivery and recorded a video so we could all experience the madness that came with the car. As an added bonus, the end of the video has a few revs from the new Lamborghini.

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 Andrew Nabors – May 25, 2017

Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary- Going Out On Top

Derek Jeter, Jerome Bettis and the Lamborghini Countach- Three timeless athletes that went out on top. If you are wondering how we made the comparison, think about the 80's. It was a dark time for performance because technology couldn't keep up with clean air laws. But Lamborghini rose to the challenge and transformed their Lambo Countach from a great looking car into a timeless supercar. In the latest YouTube upload from /Drive, the founder of England's Italia Autosport tells the story of its evolution. John Pogson knows a thing or two about Italians, look at the cars in the background. Countach Specs, Price, Review, History In a very long production run, the original Countach LP400 was released in 1974. It was and is an imposing design that blends curves with sharp angles. Marcello Gandini was also responsible for the Miura, another stunning Bertone body. The last real Lamborghini with a functional rear view mirror, the mid-mounted V12 used side-mounted carburetors for a low deck lid. But a young engineer named Horacio Pagani was beginning to shake things up. From starting out sweeping the floor, his insights led him to become the company's Chief Engineer, and his quest for performance was unprecedented. As Countach evolved, the QV (four valves) mounted the carburetors on top, effectively killing any rear visibility. Photos by Grubbs Photography Flared fenders, ground effects, a giant rear spoiler are just a few of the styling touched that culminated in the 25th Anniversary Countach. Lamborghini was purchased by Chrysler in 1987, and winds of change could be felt throughout the workplace. Mr. Pagani decided to give it a fitting farewell, knowing he had bigger plans in the works. Only 658 examples were built, and they were the fastest examples to date. He redesigned and smoothed most of the intakes along with front and rear bumpers. It set the tone for successive models and is considered a high water mark for classic Lamborghinis. Turn up the volume and listen to a story of a supercar. And if it piques your curiosity, we have quite a few pre-owned Lamborghinis to choose from.

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 – May 12, 2017

Learn What Makes the Lamborghini Active Aero So Incredible

A few weeks ago Lamborghini released a brilliant teaser video showcasing their latest achievement. The active aerodynamic system (ALA) on the Lamborghini Huracan Performante is a novel approach to controlling lift, drag, and downforce. New spoilers front and rear are computer controlled. We knew they were also programmed to help in cornering, but the details of the system were not made clear. Engineering Explained has gained a following by making sense of complex designs, so he decided to break it down for us.The front spoiler takes the place of a lower splash shield. It opens to relieve the high pressure that builds in front of the radiator and allow that air to enter the slipstream along the belly pan. This cuts downforce and drag for maximum speed. In the corners, you need as much downforce as possible, and the rear system is quite a treat. We guessed the rear spoiler would change its angle like every other supercar, but Lamborghini came up with something all new. Two air ducts in the rear wheel wells are routed through the spoiler's legs to force high-pressure air into the turbulence generated by the wing. While it's not strong enough to produce forward thrust, it greatly reduces the low-pressure bubble behind the car. Another trick is air vectoring, which Lamborghini claims enhanced traction when turning. Have a great weekend and stay with us for all your Lamborghini Huracan news!Lamborghini's Brilliant Active Aerodynamics - Huracan Performante

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