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 Jordan Aquistapace – March 21, 2024

Lamborghini Celebrates Record-Breaking 2023 With Stellar ...

With a diverse new fleet of modern marvels that include the Revuelto, Huracán Sterrato, and Urus Performante, it's clear that success and innovation are the driving force behind Automobili Lamborghini's record-setting year for 2023. As the Italian supercar manufacturer continues to make strong strides forward toward the future of high-performance driving, it's important to reflect on year-over-year figures to both celebrate milestones and find areas of improvement. Reporting 2023 as its most successful year to date, Lamborghini delivered an impressive 10,112 supercars and super SUVs to owners around the world. With revenues reaching $2.9 billion, up 12.1% from 2022, Lamborghini's growth is an example of to its industry appeal and strategic business plans. The year's highlight was the operating margin reaching an all-time high of 27.2%. In a thrilling announcement from Sant’Agata Bolognese, Automobili Lamborghini has revealed that 2023 was its most successful year to date, illustrating the brand's unwavering ascent in the luxury car market. Achieving a milestone by delivering an impressive 10,112 cars, the iconic Italian automaker has not only surpassed previous years' performances but has also set new benchmarks for financial success and operational efficiency. Lamborghini's future seems brighter than ever, with the order bank already covering production for the next two years without the contribution from the highly anticipated Revuelto, which is set to start deliveries in 2024. As Lamborghini embarks on its 60th year, the results of 2023 celebrate past achievements while also laying a solid foundation for its ongoing legacy. View all Lamborghini supercars and hypercars for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Automobili Lamborghini

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 16, 2024

Lamborghini's Record-Breaking 2023 Year: Over 10,000 Cars...

Automobili Lamborghini celebrated a monumental year in 2023, with its 60th anniversary year, and by setting outstanding sales records. For the first time ever, the iconic House of Sant’Agata Bolognese surpassed the 10,000-car delivery mark, ending the year with a staggering 10,112 supercars and super SUVs delivered to customers. This milestone represents a significant 10% increase over the previous year, highlighting the manufacturer's consistent upward trajectory. Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO, expressed tremendous pride in the brand's achievement, emphasizing the collective effort and dedication of the entire Lamborghini team. The distribution of Lamborghini's deliveries in 2023 was remarkably balanced across the three macro-regions. EMEA led with a 14% increase, closely followed by the Americas and APAC. The United States maintained its position as the top market, with significant contributions from Germany, Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and other key regions. The Urus Super SUV continued its dominance with 6,087 examples delivered, while the Huracán also set a new record. Additionally, the year saw the delivery of the last 12 Aventadors and 51 One-Offs, featuring the iconic V12. Federico Foschini, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, attributes this success to the growing global brand perception and the extensive dealership network. Learn how to sell your Lamborghini online today. 2023 was also notable for the launch of the Revuelto, Lamborghini's first 1,001 horsepower V12 HPEV hybrid supercar. With orders extending into late 2026, the Revuelto marks a significant step in Lamborghini's electrification, under the Direzione Cor Tauri plan. The roadmap also unveiled the Lamborghini Lanzador concept car, foreshadowing an all-electric future, and the debut of the Lamborghini SC63, set to compete in prestigious racing championships. The exceptional performance in 2023 celebrates Lamborghini's historical legacy while also firmly positioning the brand for continued success in the luxury automotive space. View all Lamborghini models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Lamborghini

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 30, 2023

Lamborghini Hits Historic Highs In 2023: Sales, Turnover,...

Lamborghini's first nine months of 2023 break records with over $2.12 billion turnover and 7,744 cars delivered. The brand teases an electrifying future with the Lanzador concept. Automobili Lamborghini is crushing 2023 with record-breaking performance, setting new milestones in sales, turnover, and profitability. For the first time in its history, Lamborghini's turnover outperformed the $2.12 billion mark in just nine months, reporting a 5.2% increase from last year. Even more impressive, the operating result hit $654 million, outperforming the entire fiscal year of 2022. CEO Stephan Winkelmann attributes this success to the company's skillfulness and strategic vision, hinting at an electrifying future with the upcoming Revuelto, Lamborghini's first plug-in hybrid. CFO Paolo Poma repeated the opinion, highlighting that the stellar nine-month performance indicates well for an unprecedentedly profitable year, strengthening Lamborghini's leadership in the luxury automotive industry. The sales figures speak volumes. A total of 7,744 cars were delivered, marking a 4.2% increase year-over-year. Additionally, these numbers mainly represent the internal combustion models, Urus and Huracan, which are sold out until their production ceases in late 2024. The sales were fairly distributed globally, 3,117 in EMEA, 2,728 in America, and 1,899 in Asia Pacific, with the United States taking the lead in individual markets. Lamborghini is also making strides in innovation and sustainability. The Lanzador concept car revealed during Monterey Car Week, stands out as a forerunner to Lamborghini's first fully electric model slated for 2028. The brand was also recently named a 2023/2024 Sustainability Champion, affirming its environmental commitments. The expanding global footprint of the brand is evident in the four new dealerships launched this quarter, in Sapporo, Lugano, Verona, and Budapest, taking the global count to 182 dealers in 54 markets. With the last quarter promising even greater success, Lamborghini's future looks as bright and fast as its supercars. View all Lamborghini models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Lamborghini For Sale Source: Automobili Lamborghini

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 10, 2023

Automobili Lamborghini Breaks Sales Record In The U.S. In...

Lamborghini sees a 7% sales increase in the U.S. in H1 2023, with Huracáns surging 62%, and the brand expands its dealership network.

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 31, 2023

Urus and Huracán Lead Lamborghini’s Record Results For H1...

Driven by the success of the Urus and Huracán models, Lamborghini achieves unprecedented global sales.

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 26, 2023

Lamborghini's First EV Is A 2+2 GT Debuting 2028

The fully-electric model could harken back to Lamborghini's past 2+2 grand tourers.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 03, 2023

Lamborghini Redesigns U.S. Showrooms After Record 2022 Sa...

U.S. Lamborghini dealers enter 2023 eager for more success. Recent years have seen Lamborghini experience a transformational level of success, and in 2022, it has continued on that pace with a year of record-breaking sales for the Italian supercar brand. With plenty of wind in its sails, as Lamborghini enters 2023, the brand's new design aesthetic has been imbued into dealerships in the United States that have now opened, ready to show off a new and changing Lamborghini brand and excite existing and new clients to experience the brand’s incredible cars. MUST READ: Deliveries Begin For The New Lamborghini Urus S The United States accounts for the lion’s share of Lamborghini’s sales, with 2,721 American deliveries of Lamborghini cars in the record 2022 year, an increase of 10% compared to 2021’s number. California followed by Florida are the two highest performing states for Lamborghini’s American sales. In 2023, Lamborghini hopes to build on that success with a transformed model lineup. With the introduction of the Urus Performante, Urus S, and Huracan Sterrato, as well as with the impending introduction of the Aventador’s replacement, Lamborghini has its sights set on reaching a level of success we’ve never seen before. View All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Lamborghini

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 10, 2023

Lamborghini Delivered Its Most Cars Ever In 2022

Despite tough circumstances, Lamborghini puts a record year in the books. The lasting effects of the pandemic have plagued nearly every company in the world and inhibited their ability to grow. However, some companies, Lamborghini included, were still able to grow and achieve unprecedented success. In 2022, Lamborghini managed to come away with one of its best financial years on record, eclipsing 9,000 cars delivered to reach 9,233, which represents an increase of 10% compared to last year’s figure. In addition, that increase in deliveries wasn’t thanks to just one region’s success: deliveries were up 7% in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region at 3,484 cars, up 10% in America at 3,188, and up 14% in Asia at 2,561. These numbers all represent the best-ever delivery numbers for each region. MUST READ: CURATED Sources And Smuggles A Rare Lamborghini Countach Out Of Venezuela With the wind at its back, Lamborghini looks forward this year to introducing the start of a radically new lineup, with hybrid cars coming soon in accordance with the brand’s Direzione Cor Tauri program. The ambitious strategic plan involves Lamborghini’s highest-ever investment at over $1.9 billion, as the Fighting Bull brand moves from combustion engines to hybrids, and eventually to fully-electric vehicles. The foundation has already been laid for this change to begin, with the legendary Aventador having said its final goodbye to the automotive world, and the V10-powered Huracan, after the introduction of the Huracan Tecnica and Huracan Sterrato off-road model, to surely follow soon. The popular Urus Super SUV has evolved, with the introduction of the Urus Performante and Urus S, and with 2023 ahead, all of Lamborghini’s new and upcoming models are sure to continue the brand’s amazing success. View All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Lamborghini

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 07, 2022

Lamborghini Boasts Strong Financial Performance With The ...

Lamborghini enters a new era as a very strong brand. With the delivery of the final Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, the brand has bid farewell finally to the “pure” naturally-aspirated V12 that has personified its flagship models for the overwhelming majority of its history. However, as bittersweet as that goodbye is, it means opening a new and unique chapter that has new and different approaches to performance and luxury coming to the Fighting Bull brand. In the first 9 months of the year, Lamborghini achieved deliveries increased by 8 percent over the same period last year, and that’s just the beginning of the good news so far. MUST READ: Lamborghini And Iron Lynx Announce A New Motorsport Partnership For 2023 Planning to hybridize the entire range by 2024, Lamborghini begins its journey towards that goal financially strong, with turnover increased by 30.1 percent compared to 2021’s equivalent period, and profit for the period increasing by an incredible 68.5 percent in turn. For this success, Lamborghini credits an increase in the volume of sales, as well as an increase in revenue per car due to customization and the range to choose from, as well as favorable currency exchange rates. With two new Urus models introduced recently, the Performante and the S, Lamborghini plans to end the year even stronger, teasing an off-road capable Huracan that will serve as the swan-song for the pure naturally aspirated engine for Lamborghini at Art Basel Miami. View All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Lamborghini

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 09, 2022

Lamborghini Reveals The Strategy Behind Its Biggest Finan...

Lamborghini is doing better than ever. Here’s why. In the past six months, Lamborghini experienced its most financially successful half-year ever, in the midst of a crisis that continues to plague the entire automotive industry. For this success, it credits a strong financial strategy, and Lamborghini’s Chief Financial Officer, Paolo Poma, shares a bit about that strategy, and what Lamborghini's plans are for the future. Due to the brand’s flexibility and response to the pandemic, Lamborghini has not only had a successful 2022 thus far, but managed to maintain growth throughout the two years of the pandemic, and continues to be on course to meet its goal of being “best in class,” with its sights set on annual profitability of 22 to 25 percent. MUST READ: Lamborghini Announces A New 8-Month NFT Campaign Called “The Epic Road Trip” One of the most important factors in Lamborghini’s recent success was the introduction of the Urus Super SUV, which was brought into the market at an opportune time to take full advantage of the world’s relatively newfound love for luxury performance SUVs at the highest echelon of the automotive industry. Since its introduction, Lamborghini has seen incredible new growth and success. As Lamborghini expands its product range, its goal is to replace old products with new ones that have higher profit margins. Along with that, Lamborghini pays careful attention to making sure it can manage the cost of growth as in any company, growth comes at a price. As car enthusiasts, Lamborghini’s growth and success mean seeing more of the brand’s incredible automobiles on the road, and as the year continues, Lamborghini surely has more to show. View All Lamborghinis For Sale

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