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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

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 22, 2022

Silent-Yachts Announces The New Silent 60 Solar Electric ...

Silent-Yachts plans on making a different kind of noise at the Cannes Yachting Festival this year. Silent-Yachts is introducing the new Silent 60 at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, a solar electric catamaran fitted with a kite wing, which according to Silent-Yachts is capable of generating up to 10 times more power per square meter than a conventional sail. The kite wing is compact, and is launched from a fold-away mast on the foredeck, offering the vessel propulsion of 4-5 knots, reducing the burden of the electric motors, a reserve mobility method in case of emergencies, and the simple excitement of seeing the kite pull the boat with the power of the wind. MUST READ: The New Otam 58 GTS Is A 63-Foot Yacht With Luxurious Appointments And A 55-Knot Top Speed Other than the kite, the catamaran is powered by 42 solar panels, with which the yacht is able to cruise with zero emissions for up to 100 nautical miles a day for weeks. The cruising speed of the yacht is 6-8 yachts, but it’s capable of traveling at up to 20. Four guest cabins ana a spacious master suite comprise the accommodations in the lower deck, but other layouts are available. Social areas on board include the main salon, aft cockpit, flybridge, and the bow area. Along with the Silent 60, Silent-Yachts will display its first Tender at Cannes, as well, the Silent ST400. At 13 feet, the ST400 is made of carbon fiber, and it can be lifted out of the water and stored on the hydraulic stern platform on the Silent 60 and recharged with the solar energy the Silent yacht produces. With available electric jet drive or a conventional electric outboard engine, the ST400 is capable of 20 knots with either system. Silent has also announced plans for a larger tender, as the Silent 60 and Silent ST400 make waves at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Source: Silent-Yachts

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 20, 2022

The New Iguana Sport Is Ready To Make Boating More Fun, S...

The right way to travel by water is with comfort, ease, and luxury. That’s exactly what the new Iguana Sport offers, and it makes use of ingenious solutions to make sure that your boating experience is always stylish and hassle-free. With a top speed of 48 knots, 350 horsepower, and space for up to 12 passengers, the Iguana Sport is ready for practical boating fun, and that’s just the start. Its style and quality are inspired by French luxury, which is why the Iguana Sport boasts large, comfortable seating, a sleek, elegant look, and a center console. MUST READ: The New Otam 58 GTS Is A 63-Foot Yacht With Luxurious Appointments And A 55-Knot Top Speed One of the most intriguing aspects of the Iguana Sport is its amphibious landing gear. The boat makes approaching shore easier than ever with a hydraulic amphibious mobility system that allows the Iguana Sport to conquer more than just water. The electric drive system makes the Iguana capable of a 4-mph ground speed that takes all the guesswork out of landing your boat and allows you to focus solely on the good time you’re having. Along with that, other clever features include an available carbon fiber T-top, fresh water shower, LED lighting throughout, a Bluetooth sound system with four speakers, and more. To make the best of the timeless style of the boat, custom paint and upholstery are also available. The Iguana Sport is ready to make your maritime journeys personalized, luxurious, effortless, stylish, and above all, more fun than ever. If you'd like to learn more, be sure to contact Prestige Marine of North Miami Beach, Florida for more information. Contact Prestige Marine Source: Iguana Yachts

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 18, 2022

The New Otam 58 GTS Is A 63-Foot Yacht With Luxurious App...

The newest uncompromising Otam 58 GTS is ready to debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The 26th hull of Otam’s 58 is nicknamed “Bad Boy” and it’s been restyled by Giuseppe Bagnardi to make the Otam 58 GTS. The sportiness and luxury of Otam yachts are present in spades in the 58 GTS, and with a cruising speed of 48 knots and a top speed of 55+ knots, the Otam 58 GTS is as exhilarating as it is entertaining. The semi-open deckhouse provides the feeling of an open-air yacht with shelter from the elements that a hard-top would provide. It also ensures minimal turbulence and optimal aerodynamics for speed and comfort at the same time. MUST READ: Arcadia Yachts Launches A New Sherpa 80 XL Yacht With Five Cabins With a bar, corner sofa, and dining area in the covered cockpit, the yacht is sporty while still accommodating for comfortable and luxurious journeys at its 63-foot length. Below deck, the Otam 58 GTS features two ensuite double cabins and an open-space galley, and also a third single cabin with a bathroom that can accommodate either an extra guest or a crew member. With speed, comfort, luxury, and innovation, the new Otam 58 GTS is ready to make a splash at the Cannes Yachting Festival this year. Source: Otam Yachts

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 15, 2022

Arcadia Yachts Launches A New Sherpa 80 XL Yacht With Fiv...

Arcadia Yachts shows off a new Sherpa 80 XL with room for more. Arcadia’s Sherpa 80 XL is a yacht that boasts the ability to use its 79-foot length to deliver an experience of something much larger, being called the “pocket mega-yacht” by the brand for its large surface area with immediate proximity to the water. The specifications that the client for this new Sherpa 80 XL laid out required Arcadia Yachts to come up with creative solutions. The Sherpa 80 XL’s typical layouts usually include either three or four cabins, however, this customer wanted five. In order to accommodate this, the layout was modified so that the galley would open into the sky lounge. Not only does this accommodate the five cabins, it also creates a space where the sky lounge and galley blend into each other for an incredible gathering and entertaining area on the boat. MUST READ: The New 108-Foot Sanlorenzo SP110 Enlists Studio Arnaboldi For More Sustainable Design Another feature that the owner gets to enjoy on this Arcadia Sherpa 80 XL is called “Jardin d’Hiver.” In the event of cold or inclement weather, the aft deck dining area is able to be closed off and heated, while the surface area of the yacht is still uncompromised. The Volvo Penta IPS-based propulsion system allows for a 1,200 nautical-mile range at 10 knots, and a top speed of up to 23 yachts thanks to two IPS 1350 engines, and a focus towards sustainability comes from the use of solar panels that can provide 3 kW of clean energy. Also to this end, low power-consumption devices and LED lights are fitted throughout. The Arcadia Sherpa 80 XL, and especially this example, is a yacht that’s as smart as it is sumptuous. Source: Arcadia Yachts

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 14, 2022

The New 108-Foot Sanlorenzo SP110 Enlists Studio Arnabold...

Sanlorenzo and Studio Arnaboldi are collaborating on a yacht that plays by new rules. Introducing its SP, or “Smart Performance” range of yachts is Sanlorenzo’s new SP110, an Open Coupè boat that adds an important new dimension to the luxury and pleasure of yachting: sustainability. The 108-foot yacht achieves amazing performance as the hull design, which was edited by Marco Arnaboldi takes advantage of jet propulsion over propellers, and the preference for jets is due to the fact that they are less sensitive to variations in the weight of the vessel, making the entire design of the boat more accommodating to changes. MUST READ: Alia Yachts Has Begun Construction Of The Alia Sea Club, A 172-Foot Superyacht When it came to designing the SP110, sustainability was a priority. Lightweight materials and clever design, like matching the appearance of the windows to the color of the hull, meant that consumption could be optimized and the yacht could achieve high performance with minimal environmental impact. The windows are made of lightweight laminated glass and cover about 80% of the boat. While they match the look hull, eliminating the visual compromise of windows, they still let in an immense amount of natural light and offer sweeping views of wherever the owner chooses to traverse with the SP110. It’s luxurious, beautiful, sustainable, and incredibly clever: with the help of Studio Arnaboldi, the Sanlorenzo SP110 is everything a great yacht should be. Source: Studio Arnaboldi

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 12, 2022

Alia Yachts Has Begun Construction Of The Alia Sea Club, ...

At over 172 feet, this yacht is a dream come true. The Alia Sea Club is a magnificent yacht, at over 172 feet long, and Alia Yacht Builders has proudly announced that this gorgeous and gigantic vessel is now under construction. It features a nearly vertical bow and a flexible general arrangement designed by Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture in the Netherlands, which means that its owner will have an impressively sized yacht laid out entirely to their own liking. Features include accommodation for a submarine, two wave-runners, two sailing dinghies, two sailing catamarans, storage for an inflatable waterpark, a helideck, and a dedicated water sports center for equipment and activities to be stored. MUST READ: Numarine X Yazz Collective Resort In Turkey Make For The Ultimate Yachting Destination This paradise can be enjoyed with others as the yacht is able to accommodate 10 guests and 12 crew members, and two guest cabins, one large master cabin, and relaxation areas throughout are ready to welcome guests and host parties and social events. The yacht has already been sold and is currently under construction at Alia Yachts in Antalya, Turkey. Delivery of this masterpiece is scheduled to take place at the end of 2023, which would complete a blisteringly quick build period of only 24 months. Source: Alia Yacht Builders

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 11, 2022

Numarine X Yazz Collective Resort In Turkey Make For The ...

The Turkish yachting experience just got even better. Boatbuilder Numarine is based in Turkey and celebrates the beauty of what Turkish waters and yachting destinations have to offer. In doing so, Numarine has announced an incredible collaboration with one of the finest yachting destinations in Turkey, the Yazz Collective resort. The resort, in Fethiye, which is located in the Turkish Riviera, has no roads connecting to it, and is only accessible by boat, making it the perfect place for Numarine to celebrate and demonstrate just how amazing Turkish yachting can be. MUST READ: Stylish New Sirena 78 Yacht Offers An Unbelievable Amount of Customizations For summer 2022, Numarine has set up an exclusive dock at Yazz Collective for its owners, meaning when a Numarine-built yacht pulls into the port, the stay at the stunning Yazz Collective resort is complimentary. Champagne and fresh fruit greet the Numarine-owner guests, along with on-the-house couples massages. At the private resort at Turunc Pinari Bay, guests enjoy incredible meals all day and dancing all night. Numarine owners are also welcome to moor in the bay and are taken by a fleet of luxury tenders owned by the resort to and from the shore. Numarine and Yazz Collective are ready to make Summer 2022 the best ever for its clients Source: Numarine

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 07, 2022

The New Canados Oceanic 143' Tri-Deck Yacht Can Sail At 2...

The 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show will feature Canados’ new 143’ flagship. The latest culmination of over 70 years of Canados’ yacht building experience comes in the form of the brand’s Oceanic line of boats, which combines an Explorer-style yacht with a higher speed than the usual 13 knots. The newest Canados Oceanic 143’ Tri-Deck yacht uses a hull architecture that improves comfort and fuel consumption and allows for speeds of up to 24 knots. The combination of comfort, efficiency, and speed is difficult to achieve, and it comes courtesy of the Oceanic’s special “Displanning” hull architecture made of lightweight E-Glass and Vinylester resin, with a superstructure made of Kevlar and Aramat. Making its public debut at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show, this new yacht combines innovation with uncompromising luxury. MUST READ: Stylish New Sirena 78 Yacht Offers An Unbelievable Amount of Customizations 3 new Caterpillar C32 B-Series engines with 12 cylinders and 3 turbos provide 2,400 horsepower each, and the owner and guests can experience their power and drivability in ultimate comfort, with special attention paid to noise reduction and insulation. The lower deck VIP suites are located 36 feet from the engine room, and other components were placed specifically to separate the cabins from the engines. The other guest and owner spaces are even farther from the engines so as to reduce noise even at full speeds to the bare minimum. Two guest cabins, two VIP suites, and a fully private owner’s deck make being a passenger of the Canados Oceanic 143’ Tri-Deck a complete pleasure. The aft deck features everything from an infinity tub to a bar, kitchen, dining table, and more, and with a Sun Deck that measures over 570 square feet, featuring a bar, sun pad, wing stations, and a Turkish bath inside the mast, the Canados Oceanic 143’ Tri-Deck yacht leaves nothing to be desired but the ocean to sail. Source: Canados

By Edward Jones – June 30, 2022

Stylish New Sirena 78 Yacht Offers An Unbelievable Amount...

This new vessel is all about options, entertainment, and long-range. Sirena Yachts has just announced their new 78 model, a yacht that is a true jack of all trades. From her exterior to interior, the Sirena 78 offers up a wide-range of personalization options that will allow owners to cruise in the yacht they truly are dreaming of. It all starts with the most notable option which involves the flybridge. Customers will have the ability to choose between either an open, semi-enclosed, or fully enclosed layout. Another exterior highlight is found on the foredeck where a massive sunpad is found, as well as tables with L-shaped settees. With this setup, those onboard a Sirena 78 will benefit from a true alfresco dining area or lounge. Inside, the Sirena 78 has a massive galley thanks to the absence of a main-deck helm station. It's here that the loose-furniture concept can be utilized, allowing pieces of furniture to be arranged anywhere the owner wants. For accommodations, there is a full-beam owner's suite with a private bath, as well as a VIP cabin and twin cabins for a total of four cabins (+1 for crew). In terms of design, Sirena Yachts can create different interior styles that range from bold tones that include dark wood and anthracite lacquer to light and airy visuals from light gray colors that accentuate the sunlight. If you're interested, the Sirena 78 will be debuting in France at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival. Source: Sirena Yachts

By Edward Jones – June 27, 2022

World's Largest Sportfishing Superyacht by Royal Huisman ...

The most epic fishing vessel is now one step closer to being finished. Royal Huisman's Project 406 is set to be the world's largest sportfishing superyacht as it will measure in with a length of 171 feet and have six decks. From stern to bow, Project 406 will have plenty of accommodations that will allow its guests to have the most incredible fishing excursions possible. Now, Royal Huisman has announced that the installation of the superyacht's superstructure into the hull has been completed. From here, the shipyard will begin the fit-out of the remaining four decks. As for an estimated completion date, the shipyard notes that she will be launched in 2023. Photo by Tom van Oossanen Photo by Tom van Oossanen If you've been near any marina, you have more than likely seen sportfishing yachts, but none of them have been like Project 406. Not only does this superyacht have a massive size, but it's also chock-full of phenomenal features that set it apart from others. Some elements that have been revealed and should be noted include the massive Sky Lounge and the most epic fighting chair. As of right now, Royal Huisman hasn't revealed much about the other features found onboard Project 406, but you can check back in with us in the future for more info as it's revealed. Source: RoyalHuisman.com

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