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

Land Rover News

Land Rover news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport, the Defender and the special editions built in limited numbers. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, off-road engineering and the values these vehicles hold over time. Land Rover sits at the centre of luxury SUV news, and the segment keeps expanding each year. Our marketplace supplies the element most publications leave out entirely. Many of these vehicles are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which places the reporting and a genuine asking price side by side. For Land Rover news today, begin with the stories below.

Defender Collaborates With Gorillaz For The Band’s First Ever Stadium Show

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 22, 2026

Defender Collaborates With Gorillaz In London

Winning BRIT and Grammy awards throughout an iconic decades-long career, virtual band Gorillaz is known for blending genres and collaborating with some of music’s biggest legends across its nine albums, which also feature an overarching lore and an entertaining story for its characters. The band, created by musician and artist duo Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, is composed of singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs, and guitarist Noodle. The band’s first-ever stadium show took place this past weekend at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and as the highly anticipated concert approached, Gorillaz collaborated with Defender. One of the most celebrated names in the automotive industry and one of the most respected and historic brands in the realm of off-roading, Gorillaz and Defender share British heritage and an iconic adventuring spirit. The joint forces resulted in an exclusive hero image by Jamie Hewlett, bringing the real-life together with all four members of the virtual band in a scene inspired by the latest Gorillaz album, The Mountain. The band stands alongside a Defender 110, which is parked at the edge of a cliff in the midst of the wilderness. Beyond the image, the collaboration between Defender and Gorillaz consisted of a fleet of vehicles that supported key artist and event movements, as the show not only showcased the 13-member Gorillaz live band, but also 25 guest performers, who hailed from 15 countries around the world, all gathering at Tottenham for the iconic music event. Two British icons with a shared penchant for exploration and excitement, the collaboration between Defender and Gorillaz brought added buzz to an already acclaimed stadium show. View All Land Rover For Sale Image Source: JLR

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 20, 2024

Land Rover Classic Brings Historic British Royal Vehicles...

The late Queen’s Land Rovers graced Pebble Beach. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s reign lasted an incredible 70 years, longer than any other British monarch or female monarch. In that time, various royal vehicles helped serve the Queen’s duties, many of which came from the legendary Land Rover. Known for making some of the world’s most capable and recognizable off-roading machines, Land Rover’s classics are some of the world’s most important adventure-ready masterpieces. In a once-in-a-lifetime display, Land Rover Classic brought a fleet of Royal Land Rover vehicles to the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The fleet, consisting of 10 Defender and Range Rover models, featured vehicles used by the Royal family and the Queen, sourced from the Royal Household private collection, Land Rover Classic, the British Motor Museum, and private collections. Two of the earliest Royal vehicles were part of the incredible display: the first Land Rover Series I State Review vehicle and a Land Rover Series I. Next to the historic display, a British-themed garden party brought immersion to the showcase. The display is not only a historic gathering of royal vehicles but also a celebration of the longstanding relationship between Jaguar Land Rover and the royal family. Recently, His Majesty King Charles III granted Jaguar Land Rover a royal warrant in his initial list of grantees, extending that relationship into the future as Jaguar Land Rover continues to innovate and lead in the luxury automotive world. View All Land Rovers For Sale Image Source: Jaguar Land Rover

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 25, 2023

Jay Leno's Garage Welcomes Raglan Motors And Its Tesla-Po...

Joe goes over the finer details of the Raglan Defender and shares the story of his company, before Joe and Jay take the Defender for quick spin. Being the well-rounded car collector and gearhead he is, comedian and TV personality Jay Leno shares a love for all things automotive. Jay Leno's Garage serves as an informative series that welcomes past, present, and future automobiles, giving Jay's 3.54 million subscribers insight into some of the industry's most coveted creations. On the newest episode of Jay Leno's Garage, Jay joins Raglan Motors' co-founder and former U.S. Marine Joe Comiskey to check out one of the brand's Telsa-powered Electric Land Rover Defender builds. Raglan redefines the iconic Land Rover Defender by paying homage to classic design while integrating cutting-edge, eco-friendly technologies, serving as a gateway to new adventures and untapped experiences. Along with holding a stock of Defender inventory for future builds, Raglan Motors also invites customers to send their own Defender models for full recomission projects. The Raglan Motors' build brought to the Jay Leno's Garage stage is a two-door Defender equipped with an extended bed for extra seating and storage. Powering the electrified Land Rover Defender is a lithium-ion 85-kilowatt battery pack from previously-enjoyed Tesla single-motor powertrains, producing over 600 horsepower and a max range of 200+ miles. Focused on maintaining its heritage both inside and out, Raglan designs a period-correct interior by upgrading its factory dash and cabin elements with modern materials that create an aesthetically pleasing space. The team of military veterans at Raglan Motors have worked countless hours to develop an experience that bridges between classic and modern. After a full walk-around, Jay and Joe take the Raglan Motors Land Rover Defender out for a spin on the open road. Enjoying both the Tesla-powered Land Rover and the ethos of Raglan Motors, it's safe to say that the electrified Defender gets the stamp of approval from Jay Leno himself. Learn more about Raglan Motors and its lineup of modernized Land Rover Defenders by clicking the link below. Discover Raglan Motors Source: Jay Leno's Garage YouTube

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 09, 2020

The Atlantic and Land Rover Present "John Mayer Goes Outs...

Automobile companies usually take a fast-paced and complex approach when marketing the release of a new vehicle. Using everyday scenarios combined with high budgeted production to get the best expression of the message. Land Rover has taken a polar opposite approach with the release of the all-new Defender. The marketing team at Atlantic teamed up with John Mayer to create the YouTube video titled “John Mayer Goes Outside” presented by Land Rover. The thought behind the project is simply to get outside and drive, with no expectations. The Land Rover Defender was created to enjoy the outdoors regardless of the climate or conditions in its way. John Mayer knows all too well how well Land Rover performs, as he has owned older body style Defenders as well as the most recent. Throughout the video, the key message is to slow down and take a look around because the Land Rover Defender can get to some remarkable areas. From the deep woods where the redwoods grow to the bank of the perfect fishing spot. In the case of Land Rover, simplicity outmaneuvers complexity. To learn more about the new Land Rover Defender, click the link below. Learn More " width="680">

By Edward Jones – August 27, 2020

Laird Hamilton Uses the Land Rover Discovery as a Surfmobile

If you're a fan of surfing or fitness, you've more than likely heard of Laird Hamilton. It was Hamilton who innovated big wave surfing in a way that it could continue to grow without limitations. Growing up as a surfer, I've seen him catch some of the biggest waves imaginable and still think of him as one of the most legendary big wave surfers. With such an incredible background, Hamilton knows what vehicles to use for surf trips, whether its a watercraft of vehicle. Land Rover recently posted some images of Hamilton showing what the Discovery does best: adventuring. In the images, we see some of the options and features the Discovery offers for surf trips. This includes the crossbars and powered inner tailgate. Other options that I'd suggest for the perfect surf-mobile would be the rubber mats, loadspace organizer, activity key, and protective seat covers. See All Discoverys for Sale Source: Land Rover USA Facebook

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