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.

By duPont REGISTRY – November 07, 2022

Introducing the Trophy•WD - A 1 of 1 “Woody” Electric Lan...

Presented by Rover Trophy, Written by Jeff Taylor, Founder of Rover Trophy. This TROPHY•WD electric D90 is an amazing new addition to the Trophy Collection. The idea/build is the brainchild of our founder and 1-1 in the world. This D90 is a special blend of classic and modern. The wood is inspired by the 1940s woody station wagons. The design stays true to the classic Land Rover shape and the electric power train modernizes the performance and reliability. You might not regularly associate elegance with a Land Rover but this one enters the class! This project was born out of my love for “all things wood. "The influence of antique furniture, boats and woody cars got me thinking. By combining the timeless lines of the Defender with this “woody” inspiration - I asked myself a simple question, “why not a woody Defender.” My drawings confirmed it could work. This was possible. Now to find just the right craftsman." I found a father-son team just north of London that was up for the challenge. The Rose Joinery team patiently worked through dissecting anactual D90 and built the hand-crafted body out of Ash (the lighter wood grown in the US) and the darker Sapele (hardwood from Africa). I definitely picked the right team. Fast forward -2500 hours and 2 years later we received the "Woody" body at our CT shop. Then we assembled the new galvanized frame, stock front body panels-painted in Arles Blue with Wimbledon White trim. The interior features the period dash with upgraded electronics. The leather interior features Chestnut Brown with Harris Tweed inserts. Next up is the Tesla Rear drive unit and 32 LG Batteries located in three separate boxes (engine bay, seat box and fuel tank area). We unveiled the "mostly" finished product at the recent Audrain Concours and Motor Week Show at The Gathering at Rough Point Mansion in Newport RI with Jay Leno presiding. Enjoy the video! Learn More

2021 land rover defender 110 0 553305093

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 02, 2022

This UNDEFEATED x Galpin Motors Land Rover Defender 110 F...

Own an epic and rare collaboration that’s off-road capable to boot. The Land Rover Defender has a long and legendary legacy of being one of the most dependable vehicles on the planet when it comes to traveling off the beaten path, and the decades of legacy the Defender has built up have placed it in moments of pop culture and style through the years. The collaboration between the Land Rover Defender, Galpin Motors, and streetwear brand UNDEFEATED resulted in the creation of two Land Rover Defender builds that featured unique custom design, retro appeal, and highly adventurous capability. MUST READ: UNDEFEATED x Galpin Motors Unveils Two New Adventurous Land Rover Defender Builds In a rare opportunity, one of these builds, the UNDEFEATED x Galpin Motors Land Rover Defender 110 P400 SE is available for sale from a private seller through duPont REGISTRY. It features charming retro-inspired teal paintwork with white “Steelie” Forgiato wheels, paired with a funky interior that features embossed UNDEFEATED logos in the leather-upholstered headrest, as well as navy houndstooth inserts in the seats. Designed for those who want to go far and have a vehicle with everything they need, the Defender build also comes equipped with things like a slide-out kitchen, awning, storage, and even a refrigerator. If you want a unique custom Defender that’s as clever as it is quirky and cool, this car is for you. View the listing on duPont REGISTRY by clicking below. View Price And Listing

1988 land rover defender 110 249995 278636759

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 21, 2022

This 1988 Land Rover Defender 110 Restoration Is A No-Com...

Drive a timeless classic that refuses to age. The Land Rover Defender has always been known and loved all over the world for its iconic looks and presence and of course its legendary off-road ability. However, driving one now can feel impractical with the notoriously Spartan vehicle’s lack of modern convenience and creature comfort. However, a restored Defender can offer you a vehicle that has the charm, appeal, and capability of the original, but also with the modern finishes and amenities of today’s best in the automotive industry. If that sounds like a vehicle you want, it’s a vehicle you can have. MUST READ: The Best 2023 Range Rovers You Can Buy Today This 1988 Land Rover Defender 110 for sale is a custom restoration done by ECD Automotive Design, and it’s called Project Alpaca. It’s finished in stunning Super White gloss paint and powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine. With custom wheels, air suspension, a roof rack, and a winch, the SUV is ready for you to drive so you can experience all the Defender’s glory and even more. Completing the no-compromise ethos of the ECD-restored Defender is the interior, with leather upholstery featuring a white diamond stitching pattern. A JL Audio sound system, a Sony infotainment system with Sirius XM, and even a wireless charging pad give this Defender modern capability and classic charm. If you’re looking to make this incredible Defender yours, you can view the price and listing by clicking below. View Price And Listing

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 22, 2022

The New $345,000 Land Rover Range Rover SV Carmel Edition...

This new exquisite Range Rover honors the automotive world’s favorite week. Monterey Car Week is one of if not the most important, revered, and anticipated events in the car world, and every year, it brings us the best when it comes to luxury, performance, style, history, and rarity in the automotive industry. Land Rover’s Range Rover is one of the most desired and legendary luxury vehicles in the modern era and has been one of the most important players in the luxury SUV category. As part of its presence at Monterey Car Week, Land Rover revealed the new Range Rover SV Carmel Edition at its Range Rover House to a group of VIP guests, and the car is a VIP-ready machine to match. MUST READ: Christie’s Is Auctioning Stunt Cars Featured In No Time To Die To Celebrate 60 Years Of James Bond Movies The new Land Rover Range Rover SV Carmel Edition is an incredibly exclusive model, limited to only 17 units, and priced at a high $345,000. That’s because it has been created by Land Rover’s SV Bespoke division to be an incredibly beautiful, detailed, and unique Range Rover, with a Satin Bronze exterior, and an interior with the front seats finished in Liberty Blue, and the rear seats finished in Caraway contrast. The vehicle was inspired by nature, specifically the Carmel, California location of the exquisite Range Rover house, with a beautiful natural setting and sweeping Pacific Ocean views. Luxury is present inside and out, with SV-etched Dartington Crystal glassware, Diamond-turned 23-inch wheels, Range Rover’s 523-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 engine, and a center console that continuously runs from front to back, featuring incredible luxury touches throughout. The vehicle is offered exclusively to guests of the Range Rover House, with only 17 available, and it is bound to turn heads and be the subject of automotive dreams. View All Range Rovers For Sale Source: Land Rover

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 15, 2022

The New Defender 110 V8 Soft Top By Overfinch Heritage Co...

Overfinch continues to flex its long-established strength in Land Rover performance and luxury. Land Rover is known for off-road icons, and the brand has a long history of incredible performance and capability off the beaten path. With the new Classic Defender 110 V8 Soft Top by Overfinch Heritage, Overfinch’s famous performance and luxury continue to bring update the legacy of classic Land Rover vehicles with contemporary power, speed, and comfort. This new Overfinch Defender, which is finished in a sleek all-black from the body to the wheels and soft top, is specifically painted in Overfinch Satin Obsidian Black. The interior continues the all-black theme with Ebony leather paired with contrast Cirrus stitching. 1990s Land Rover Defender 90 Price, Specs, Photos & Review Other luxury touches in the interior include a piano black dash surround, soundproofing in the interior, Recaro seats, teak wood decking in the rear, and a champagne drawer with a cigar humidor. Performance comes as a result of the LT1 V8 engine from GM, with a 6.2-liter displacement, an 8-speed automatic transmission, 6-piston front and 4-piston rear brakes, and a dual-valve stainless steel performance exhaust system. With other features like a touch screen interface that allows for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 10,000-lb electric winch, and an upgraded audio system, the Overfinch Defender 110 V8 Soft Top by Overfinch Heritage brings extra style, substance, comfort, and performance to the already-iconic Land Rover Defender. View All Land Rovers For Sale Source: Overfinch

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 25, 2022

The Second Annual Defender Service Awards Will Give Winni...

Land Rover honors nonprofits that defend doing what’s right. Land Rover has just announced the Second Annual Defender Service Awards, which honor organizations that make a difference. The contest consists of the categories of Search and Rescue, Environmental & Conservation, Veterans Outreach, Community Service, and Animal Welfare. Each category will have a winner that receives $25,000 from its respective sponsor. The category sponsors are Pelican for Search and Rescue, Outside Magazine for Environmental and Conservation, dentsu X for Veterans Outreach, ei3 for Community Service, and KONG Company for Animal Welfare. MUST READ: 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 V8 Review: Improving A Best-Seller The 5 finalists in each category will receive a $5,000 donation each from the presenting sponsor, Chase, for a total donation of $125,000. What’s more, is that each category winner will not only receive a donation, but also a custom Land Rover Defender 130, the newest rendition of Land Rover’s revitalized legendary SUV with 3 rows and seating for up to 8 passengers, and 88.9 cubic feet of load capacity. These vehicles can be crucial in organizations’ operations, whether transporting volunteers, gear, or animals, and each organization will get to select their own accessories and a custom exterior wrap for the SUV. Last year’s winners included Wolfe County Search and Rescue, New York Marine Rescue Center, Humane Society of Independence County, Montgomery Emergency Medical Services, One Tree Planted, Hamptons Community Outreach, and Navarre Beach Fire Rescue. Each of these organizations got a custom Land Rover Defender 110 for their efforts. For this year’s contest, entrants are now able to nominate their own organization or one of their choice by filling out an entry form and submitting a video up to 3 minutes in length about the mission of the organization and how the Land Rover Defender will help the organization’s efforts. View All Land Rovers For Sale Source: Land Rover

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 19, 2022

The New Land Rover Defender 130 Seats Up To 8 For Off-Roa...

A Defender fit for a crowd is coming soon. The Land Rover Defender 90 and 110 body styles have both revived the Land Rover Defender legend, as just like the original, they are both incredibly capable off-road vehicles with old-school looks and modern convenience and technology. Now, spaciousness gets added to the list of the Defender’s benefits, with the new Defender 130 coming soon that can seat up to 8. MUST READ: 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Revealed: Everything You Need To Know With a 2-3-3 seat configuration, the Defender 130 will be able to comfortably accommodate 8 people while simultaneously being ready-made for any adventure on and off the road with the latest technology when it comes to driving ability. The Defender 130 will be revealed on May 31, and when it is, it will be immediately available to order as well. Source: Land Rover

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 10, 2022

The New Range Rover Sport Debuts By Climbing A 1000-Foot ...

As usual, the new Range Rover Sport is capable of things that only a brand like Land Rover can put it through. By now, it’s well known that Land Rover goes to great lengths to prove just what the Range Rover Sport is capable of. In the past, the mid-size luxury SUV set a record at Pikes Peak, completed the first recorded crossing of the Arabian Peninsula’s “Empty Quarter” desert, and climbed the 999 steps to China’s Heaven’s Gate. Now, the third generation of the Range Rover Sport gets introduced with a new stunt, and this is one of the highest stakes, daring ones yet. MUST READ: 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Revealed: Everything You Need To Know Land Rover has decided to show off the capabilities of its newest Range Rover Sport by having James Bond stunt driver Jessica Hawkins take the SUV from the valley floor near the Karahnjukar Damn in Iceland all the way up and over the dam’s spillway, which is the biggest of its kind in the world. Not only did it have to brave the torrential flowing water of the spillway, but it also had to wade a riverbed, traverse a rocky dam wall, and navigate a dark tunnel. Nevertheless, the Range Rover Sport succeeded, with the help of both Jessica Hawkins’s driving skills and the Range Rover Sport’s new innovations. These include a new Dynamic Air Suspension with switchable volume air springs, twin-valve active dampers, all-wheel steering, and the Range Rover Sport’s new MLA-Flex architecture, standing for Modular Longitudinal Architecture, which allows for more dynamics than the Range Rover Sport has ever been capable of before. Newly available is a twin-turbocharged V8 engine that gives the Range Rover Sport 523 horsepower, making it capable of a 4.3-second 0-60 time, and Land Rover promises that an all-electric Range Rover Sport will be available in 2024. The new interior features the classic Range Rover look, however now with a 13.1-inch haptic touchscreen that controls the vehicle settings with intelligence that actively personalizes the interface. The new Range Rover Sport is available to order now, and after seeing its Icelandic journey, it might just be the best one yet. View All Range Rover Sports For Sale Source: Land Rover

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 02, 2022

The New Land Rover Defender 30th Anniversary Edition Hono...

The Land Rover Defender has roamed American soil for 30 years. A vehicle as loved and iconic as the Defender simply begs to have such an anniversary celebrated, and Land Rover did just that. The Defender 30th Anniversary Edition is a new limited edition Land Rover Defender based on the Defender 110 P300 S, that pays homage to the 1993 Defender 110 First Edition. It’s limited to only 500 examples and is available at select Land Rover dealerships. MUST READ: Land Rover Defender: 1990 Price and Specs The Defender 30th Anniversary Edition is finished in Fuji White with Ebony grained leather seats, as well as other exterior accents finished in white. Each of the 500 30th Anniversary Edition Defenders will also feature badging to signify the limited edition model. With LED headlights, air suspension, and Land Rover’s Activity Key that can be worn around the wrist and protected from water, the Defender 30th Anniversary both honors the legacy of the Land Rover Defender and shows how far the technology in the model has come. Starting at $75,000 the Land Rover Defender 30th Anniversary Edition is available at Land Rover dealers in the United States. View All Land Rover Defenders For Sale Source: Land Rover

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 27, 2022

Land Rover Supports The US Equestrian Federation With A N...

Land Rover’s support of the US Equestrian Federation continues with a new option package. Available on the Land Rover Discovery, Defender, Range Rover, and Range Rover Sport, the new US Equestrian Federation Pack offers a series of accessories that saddle new Land Rover owners up for an amazing Land Rover experience. The pack is $5,000 and comes with a picnic basket YETI cooler, a Custom Horse Cooler, a wool blanket, a garment bag, and a canvas tote bag. Along with these, the car accessories include rubber floor mats, mudflaps, and a Portable Rinse system. For each pack sold, $250 will be donated to the US Equestrian Federation. MUST READ: The New Land Rover Range Rover Sport Is Coming Soon The pack will debut at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington, Kentucky, where a Defender will be on display featuring all of the pack’s new accessories and equipment. The winner of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event will receive not only the major share of a $375,000 purse but also a 12-month lease to a brand new 2023 Land Rover Defender. While it’s certainly different than reins and a saddle, whoever claims the prize will know that the Land Rover Defender is an equally capable steed. View All Land Rovers For Sale Source: Land Rover

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