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 – April 07, 2026

Ultra-Rare $16.9M Lamborghini Veneno For Sale

While Automobili Lamborghini's illustrious history as an Italian marque has featured some ground-breaking supercars that have gone on to influence future models, there are a select few that stand out as ultra-exclusive, limited-production examples. The Lamborghini Veneno is one that perfectly fits that mold, with only 3 Coupes and 9 Roadsters produced for the brand's most elite clientele in 2013. If you think spotting a Veneno in the wild is a challenging task in itself, sourcing one for sale proves to be almost impossible, until now. The team of Italian raging bull professionals at John Scottie Automotive LTÉE and Lamborghini Montreal is proud to showcase this incredible 2014 Lamborghini Veneno as part of its extensive inventory of supercars and hypercars for sale on duPont REGISTRY. Being one of less than a handful of coupes ever made, this Veneno sports a customer-requested gloss silver finish courtesy of the creative specialists at Lamborgini's Ad Personam program. Exposed matte carbon fiber and vibrant red pinstriping add contrast to its ultra-aggressive body styling, which focuses heavily on aerodynamics with front and rear splitters, hood inlets, massive rear fender ducts, roof scoop, fixed rear wing, and rear-mounted shark fin. Lightweight aero-style forged wheels and factory carbon ceramic brakes provide the traction and stopping power needed to properly experience Lamborghini's track-focused hypercar. Inside, the Lamborghini Veneno's carbon fiber monocoque shines through with an interior configuration that screams subtly stealthy. Largely based on the cabin of the Aventador, the interior of the Veneno also incorporates the carbon skin characteristics from Lamborghini's other notorious limited-production series, the Aventador J. Two-piece sports bucket seats come layered in rich black leather and alcantara with bright red contrast sticthing that perfectly matches the exterior. Other than a full-carbon cabin with track-inspired weight savings like door pull straps, the Veneno remains true to Lamborghini's focus on delivering a drivable hypercar meant to be enjoyed on the street or circuit. The Lamborghini Veneno packs a massive 6.5L V12 engine that delivers more than 740 horsepower to its wheels, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. Paired with a 7-speed ISR automated manual transmission, the Veneno's power is sent to all four wheels for maximum traction. Posing the perfect opportunity for the ultimate Lamborghini collector, this 2014 Lamborghini Veneno from John Scottie Automotive LTÉE and Lamborghini Montreal is now for sale on duPont REGISTRY for $16,900,000. View Listing

By Edward Jones – September 16, 2018

Lamborghini Veneno Powerslides Around Wet Track

Hey guys, did you want to watch a video of a Lamborghini Veneno ripping around a track, revving and powersliding? Of course, you do.YouTuber marcopiz96 was on hand at an official Lamborghini event at an Italian racetrack. At the event, the Veneno, Sesto Elemento and more were on hand to rip up the wet track.(Related - Lamborghini Veneno and More in Possibly World's Largest Hypercar Meet)According to the video's description: "The weather wasn't by our side but the Lamborghini Team wanted to do some laps anyway; due to the rainy track, the car made a few powerslides which result pretty cool to watch!"Check out the Veneno in action in the video below.All Lamborghinis For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 01, 2016

Two Lamborghini Venenos Roadster in Hong Kong

I've already seen one Lamborghini Veneno Roadster delivered to Hong Kong, China. Now, it's come to my attention that two Veneno Roadsters have been captured together in the same place.Posted by Lamborghini Hong Kong's Facebook page were photos of one black and one white example--most likely the one we've seen before--of the Italian automaker's extreme convertible. With only nine of these models set to be made, the included photos represent just over 20% of all of the Veneno Roadsters in the world. That's pretty impressive.What's even more impressive is that when you consider each of these cars cost around $4 million a pop, putting the total of the two at $8 million. What could you buy instead of two Veneno Roadsters? Quite a bit. How about a handful of Aventador SV's with enough left over for a luxury home?What would you do with $8 million? Buy these two? Other cars? Let us know in the comments below.Lamborghinis For Sale

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By Caitlin Duffy – September 09, 2015

Lamborghini Veneno Roadster on Rodeo Drive

Only nine examples of the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster were ever created, and of those nine, just a few made it to the United States. They're one of the most intense models ever designed by Lamborghini, and South Bay Exotics spotted one on Beverly Hills' most iconic street just a few days ago.It's not unlikely that you'll see a stunning and rare car up and down Rodeo Drive. Just a few weeks ago Arnold Schwarzenegger took his Bugatti for a birthday ride to the Beverly Hills Hotel. But spotting one of the Veneno Roadsters anywhere is a feat.When the Veneno was released, it was a $4 million supercar with an extremely limited run; only five Venenos were created, and of those five, just three were available for customers priced at $4 million apiece. As a celebration of their 50th anniversary, Lamborghini created nine examples of the Veneno Roadster in 2014, with each initially priced at €3,300,000, or approximately $4.5 million USD*.Check out the video of the Veneno Roadster above, and then find your own Lamborghini from our exclusive listings.Lamborghinis For Sale *According to archived conversion rates at X-Rate Exchange (Source: YouTube, X-Rate Exchange) See More Lamborghini News

By Edward Jones – May 08, 2015

How To Ship a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster

If you're the owner of a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster, odds are you aren't planning on racking up miles on it. This is because only nine of these models will ever be created, making them instant collector's item. But, if you owned the car, wouldn't you want to show it off? (Related: Top 10 Lamborghinis Ever Made) In order to get the Veneno Roadster from city to city, it must be shipped. And, in a video uploaded by Shmee150, we get to see what it takes to pack up and ship this $4.5 million car. As an added bonus, we get to hear the car start up in the video. Lamborghini Aventador For Sale Check out the video above to see the tight squeeze this car had to make in order to get into the shipping truck. Lamborghinis For Sale (Source: YouTube via CarBuzz) See More Automotive Videos

By Edward Jones – April 14, 2014

2015 Lamborghini Veneno Specs, Prices, Photos & Review

2015 Lamborghini Veneno Specs[infobox bg="gray" color="black" opacity="on" subtitle="Price: $4,000,000Engine: 6.5-liter V12HP: 750 hp0-62: 2.8 secondsTop Speed: 220 mphTransmission: 7-speed automated manualTorque: 509 lb-ft"]Specs Let the expletives fly, if not for the cool outrageous design, then for the $4,000,000 price. The Lamborghini Veneno’s styling is about as extreme as you can get outside of a Hot Wheels factory. Want to feel young again? One look at the Lamborghini Veneno and you’ll want to hang a framed poster of it on your wall next to your wife’s Thomas Kinkade painting. However, with a production run of just three cars, any childhood-like excitement turns slowly into a sobering reality: a poster is as close as you may ever get to this car.Used Lamborghini Aventador For Sale Article from the 2014 Exotic Car Buyer's Guide See More Exotic Car Buyer's Guide Reviews

By Edward Jones – January 21, 2014

Lamborghini Veneno Delivered to U.S.

A private buyer in Florida has received one of the only three Lamborghini Venenos for sale worldwide on Jan. 20, completing a transaction that began in March, 2013. The car was delivered to Miami at 7:00 p.m.. As darkness fell and the lights of colorful South Beach blended with the bright halogen lights and vivid colors of the commemorative Italian uber-car, the masterpiece was unloaded off of a flatbed, and keys were presented to the buyer. The vehicle is believed to be history’s highest priced, retail, new car sale, at a tag of $4,106,000 for Veneno #2. The vehicle was sold to the buyer by St. Louis Motorcars/Lamborghini St. Louis, which is owned by Graham Hill and J.J. Mills. Hill was on hand to present the Veneno to a euphoric buyer. The vehicle was shipped from the factory to, and prepped at, Prestige Imports/ Lamborghini Miami. Owner Brett David graciously welcomed the opportunity to help facilitate such a significant transaction.After taking official delivery of the $4 million dollar car, the buyer and Hill promptly drove the supercar to a South Beach restaurant for dinner and proudly parked his new prized possession right in front, for all of South Beach to see and enjoy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoMnrhkZP2YGallery Delivery of Kris Singh’s New Pagani Huayra BC Macchina Volante

By Edward Jones – March 04, 2013

The Lamborghini Veneno: A $4 Million Supercar

Lamborghini has leaked their 50th Anniversary celebratory car ahead of its Geneva unveiling; the Lamborghini Veneno.Lamborghini For Sale

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