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

Lotus News

Lotus news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Emira, the electric Eletre and Emeya, and the Evija hypercar. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, design recognition and the company news that shapes the marque's direction. Lotus has changed a great deal in a short period, and we follow each decision as it is announced. This is sports car news with the market attached to it. Many of the Lotus models covered here are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, so a review and a real asking price appear together. For Lotus news today, and the performance car news around it, start below.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 30, 2022

Lotus Factory Collection Brings New Emira Owners To The H...

UK Lotus Owners can receive their new car factory fresh. The experience of buying a performance car is always thrilling, but manufacturers have been sure to add special touches to the moment of delivery to make it something that is truly unforgettable. Lotus offers an extra special delivery experience to customers who purchase their cars in the brand’s home country of the United Kingdom, offering something called Factory Collection as an option to any customer purchasing a new Lotus Emira sports car through Lotus Drive, the brand’s new car purchasing e-commerce platform. MUST READ: Hot Wheels Launches Small-Scale Models Of The Lotus Emira and Evija In the online checkout process, customers who select Factory Collection, like Shaan Kodituwakku, the first customer to do this and the new owner of a Hethel Yellow Lotus Emira V6 First Edition, are invited to Lotus’s Hethel factory, where they are given a tour of the new Chapman Production Center where the Emira is made, with an unmatched factory floor experience. After the tour, the customer gets to see their new car and is given a comprehensive demonstration of the car’s features, and a framed photo to remember the moment. With new features like Lotus Drive and Factory Collection, the Lotus brand is rapidly growing and changing, and the ownership experience of one of Lotus’s incredible cars is better than ever before. View All Lotus Emiras For Sale Source: Lotus

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 16, 2022

Hot Wheels Launches Small-Scale Models Of The Lotus Emira...

The Lotus Emira sports car and Evija all-electric hypercar have recently been launched as Hot Wheels toy cars. While modern-day supercars and hypercars go through rigorous testing to prove their abilities on the road, the real deciding factor comes when the creative professionals at Hot Wheels craft a small-scale version. Responsible for introducing millions to the automotive world, Hot Wheels continues its legacy by releasing the industry’s most popular sports cars, SUVs, racecars, and many more. As Lotus rolls out its new Emira supercar and Evija all-electric hypercar, Hot Wheels is proud to celebrate the occasion by launching die-cast versions of the cars. MUST-READ: The Top Automotive-Inspired LEGO Sets Available Now Lotus sits down with Hot Wheels product design manager Dima Shakhmatov to break down the process of encapsulating automotive icons. Dima expresses the importance of the new release by stating “With its dramatic styling, the Evija is one of the most exciting and visually interesting electric hypercars we’ve seen. The Emira will be the last combustion-engined Lotus and it was felt important to mark this by including it in the Mainline.” Showcasing each model in its desired launch colors, the small-scale examples feature detailed constructions that match the styling of the real versions. View all current Lotus cars for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Lotus For Sale Source: Lotus

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 06, 2022

The New Lotus Emira GT4 Debuts With Hot Laps At The Hethe...

Lotus Advanced Performance doesn’t take the word “performance” lightly. The brand demonstrates that with Lotus Advanced Performance’s debut car: the Lotus Emira GT4. It’s a race car that takes the incredible formula of the Lotus Emira sports car and couples it with improved aerodynamics, race-ready tweaks, and a 3.5-liter Toyota V6 engine. As a brand, Lotus was born on the race track, and the philosophy of racing ability and lightweight dynamics has followed it and been present in its cars throughout over 70 years of its existence, and the Emira GT4 is the latest, and one of the greatest examples of that. MUST READ: Lotus Is Opening Its First-Ever Global Store In London’s Mayfair District This week, an exclusive event was held at Hethel to debut the Emira GT4, where guests were able to ride in the passenger’s seat while the new car showed just what it was capable of on the 2.2-mile Hethel test circuit. For the first year of production, the car has already been sold out, and as with any racing Lotus, we aren’t the least bit surprised that it did. Source: Lotus

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 16, 2022

Lotus Announces World's Most Powerful 4-Cylinder Is Avail...

“Power” and “Lotus” weren’t historically words that went together, until now. However, with an electric car that boasts nearly 2000 horsepower in the brand’s portfolio, Lotus is not the car manufacturer they were before by any stretch of the imagination. Having blossomed into a formidable performance car brand with global, world-class appeal while remaining true to the brand’s lightweight racing agility roots, the Lotus Emira is, in many ways, the final culmination of Lotus as we have known it for decades. The Emira is Lotus’s last gasoline-powered model, and the V6 version of the Lotus Emira has been a wonderful success for orders thus far. However, Lotus didn’t stop there. In collaboration with AMG, Lotus is now offering the Emira with a four-cylinder engine, and not just any four-cylinder engine, the most powerful production four-cylinder engine in the world. Seen previously in the Mercedes-AMG A45, GLA45, and CLA45, the AMG M139 featured in the Lotus Emira is bespoke and manufactured specifically for the Emira, and despite its small 2.0-liter size, delivers 360 horsepower to the mid-engined car. That in mind, the four-cylinder Emira actually accelerates slightly faster than its V6 counterpart, getting from 0-60 in under 4.2 seconds. Currently, the First Edition is the only Emira available to order, with orders for the four-cylinder powertrain starting April 8, and deliveries starting later this year. The First Edition comes with standard touches like branded brake calipers, heated 12-way seats available in Nappa leather and Alcantara, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and added options available include a suspension and tire package, a package with privacy glass, headliner, branded floor mats and sports pedals, and a package including rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, and other convenience features. The entry-level four and six-cylinder Emira will launch and become available in early 2023, and with two powertrains to choose from, it certainly won’t fail to impress. All Lotus Emiras For Sale Source: Lotus

By Edward Jones – September 20, 2021

Lotus Emira V6 First Edition Price Revealed, Configurator...

Time to build your own Lotus Emira. The new Lotus Emira is a fantastic addition to now only the automaker's lineup, but also the automotive marketplace in general. Lotus has always been known for creating fun and exciting sports cars that can be seen during track days, on the road, and even at autocross events. With Lotus' new brand DNA that was first showed off with the Evija hypercar, we were left wondering what would replace models like the Evora GT. The answer to that is the new Emira and it looks to be a worthy successor. Lotus recently revealed the price for the Emira V6 First Edition model, which starts at £75,995, or around $104,000 USD. That price actually puts it right around the Evora GT's starting MSRP. Lotus has also launched the configurator for the Emira V6 First Edition, which can be accessed on the Lotus website. See All Lotus For Sale Source: Lotus

By Edward Jones – September 08, 2021

Lotus Emira GT4 Race Car Revealed and Ready for the Track

Meet the successor to the Evora GT4. Lotus is no stranger to the world of motorsport, and are once again keeping their name on the track with the new Emira GT4 race car. Based on the recently revealed Emira sports car, this new race car will aid in Lotus' motorsport division resurgence. As for the nitty-gritty specifications and details, here's a bit of info. It will be powered by a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 that provides 400bhp from Toyota and, obviously, features a collection of aerodynamic-focused body components. Additionally, it will have a rollcage, six-point harness, fire extinguisher, 96-liter FIA-approved fuel cell, Motec-supplied dashboard with data logging, Öhlins coil-over dampers, and will weigh in at 2,778 lbs. Lotus will be officially launching the Emira GT4 later this year at the Hethel test track and will build a limited number for the 2022 season. Source: Lotus

By Edward Jones – August 13, 2021

Watch Jenson Button Take the Lotus Emira Around Laguna Seca

Jenson Button: “This is such a great circuit, most road cars on tracks don’t work, but this does.” Just after the Lotus Emira's debut, Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has taken the new sports car out for hot laps around Laguna Seca. Better yet? The whole ordeal was recorded and you can view it in the video up above. Jenson was able to take the Emira out before its public debut on the Lotus stand at The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering. It's easy to say that I'm quite envious of his time behind the wheel of the Emira, because this car looks to be a true joy to drive. Available in either a manual transmission with a power output from 360 to 500 horsepower, the Emira is a true sports car that sounds, looks, and appears to drive beautifully. That being said, we can't wait for our time behind the wheel of the new Lotus Emira. See All Lotus' For Sale Source: Lotus

By Edward Jones – July 06, 2021

Meet the New Lotus Emira Sports Car

Available with two engine options. Lotus Cars have just unveiled the new Emira sports car, a mid-engined model that takes inspiration from the Evija hypercar. Lotus will be launching the new Emira with two different engine options: an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a supercharged 3.5-liter V6n engine. Lotus notes that the power output of the Emira will be from 360 to 400 hp at launch. Expect the Emira to launch from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 180 mph. What's more, Lotus is aiming for a target weight of 3,097 lbs. Lotus is launching the Emira with a look that has clearly been inspired by the Evija hypercar. You will notice that there are many air inlets on the Emira the are incredibly similar to the ones found on the Evija. "The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus," says Matt Windle, Managing Director of Lotus Cars. "It stands as a beacon of everything we have achieved to date in the transformation of the business, the embodiment of our progress. It is a highly significant milestone on our path to becoming a truly global performance car brand." The new Lotus Emira will have a starting price of under $82,000. Lotus retailers are currently taking orders. If you'd like to see it for yourself, it will be on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 8 to 11. See All Lotus For Sale Source: Lotus Cars USA Inc.

By Edward Jones – April 27, 2021

Lotus Emira Announced as All-New Sportscar

The final Lotus ICE car. With the Lotus Evija unveiled as the automaker's first all-electric hypercar, many thought the days of a ICE-powered (Internal Combustion Engine) Lotus were gone. With the announcement of the new Lotus Emira, those thoughts are put to rest. The all-new Emira will be the automaker's final ICE car that's made possible thanks to a new powertrain partnership. Lotus notes that there will be a range of engine options when the Emira is released, but the details and specs have yet to be revealed. What we do know is that the name is pronounce 'E-meer-a' and that the design was inspired by the Evija. The Lotus Emira will be unveiled on July 6 and will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 8-11). See All Lotus' For Sale

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