Maserati News

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 – March 17, 2022

Maserati's New "Folgore" Electric Lineup Starts With 2023...

2021 was a great year for Maserati, but it’s going to keep getting better. Maserati enjoyed a 2021 with increased sales, to the tune of 41%, increased market share, and plenty of other successes. However, their biggest success yet comes more recently, as Maserati has finally announced its plan to introduce a range of electric vehicles, which will be called Maserati Folgore, named after the Italian word for “lightning,” and this announcement makes Maserati the first Italian luxury car brand to produce fully electric models. MUST READ: 75 Years After Its First Gran Turismo, Maserati’s New GranTurismo Is Going Fully Electric Better yet, the Trident plans to complete the electric lineup by 2025, which will by then be extended to include the MC20, the Quattroporte, Levante, Grecale, and more. The pioneer Maserati Folgore model, however, will be the new GranTurismo, which employs technology derived from Formula E to provide the degree of performance, comfort, beauty, and elegance that we have become so accustomed to with the GranTurismo as we have known it. Performance statistics, pricing, and other details for the Folgore Gran Turismo have yet to be revealed, but the car will debut on the market in 2023. Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 14, 2022

75 Years After Its First Gran Turismo, Maserati's New Gra...

Maserati’s love for luxury and performance dates back 75 years. Gran Turismo, or GT, is a way of describing cars that combine luxury and comfort with exhilarating performance, and for decades, that designation has been used to describe some of the greatest cars we have ever seen, which combine stately luxury with fearsome driving capability. And when you think of GT cars, Maserati is one of the first brands that come to mind. MUST READ: The Maserati Boomerang Is 50 Years Old But Still Looks Like It’s From The Future 75 years ago, in March 1947, was when Maserati launched the first Maserati GT ever at the Geneva Motor Show, the Tipo A6 1500 Gran Turismo. Many aspects of the car are things that Maseratis and other GT cars continue to echo to this day. At the time, its 6-cylinder engine produced an amazing 65 horsepower and climbed up to a top speed of over 90 miles per hour. Its gorgeous Pininfarina styling with lines sweeping from front to back, long hood, and plexiglass sunroof complimented the performance and defined the GT car for decades to come. Now, Maserati is getting ready to bow out its current GranTurismo model, which premiered 15 years ago at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, which continued to define Gran Turismo cars with its timeless looks and Ferrari-derived V8 engine. The next Maserati GranTurismo, however, will mark a new chapter for the Trident and GT cars as a whole, as it will make a big stride forward by being Maserati’s first 100% electric car once it is launched in 2023. Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 09, 2022

The Maserati Boomerang Is 50 Years Old But Still Looks Li...

Even after half a century, the Boomerang is still important to Maserati’s current efforts. The Geneva Motor Show has been a place where automotive brands from all over the world bring the absolute best they have to offer, from flagship production models to concepts that bravely venture into the future of their brand and the automotive industry as a whole. In 1972, 50 years ago, the Maserati Boomerang was one of these concepts, a mid-engined, Giorgetto Giugiaro-penned wedge that pushed the boundaries of what was possible, practical, and normal at that point in the automotive world. MUST READ: Maserati Brings A Fleet To The International Concours of Elegance To Play In The Snow Based on a Maserati Bora, the Boomerang’s rear-mid-mounted V8 produced 310 horsepower, which was able to get the Boomerang to speeds of close to 186 mph, with the help of rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual transmission. However, its speed was far from being the car’s only bragging right. The Boomerang featured incredibly daring, avant-garde looks, from its futuristically minimal wedge shape to the panoramic sunroof, which was unheard of at the time, and the enormous windows that were split in the middle by a strip of metal. And once inside the car, the Maserati Boomerang’s dashboard provides an unobstructed view of the road ahead, because the instrument cluster is mounted inside the steering wheel. The wheel is spokeless and moves with the driver while the gauges remain stationary. With the introduction of the Boomerang 50 years ago, Maserati’s style, and direction were informed for a great many years, but the Boomerang has had a legacy even beyond that. It has since been loved by car enthusiasts and the public worldwide, winning awards in auto shows and being featured in advertisements by Louis Vuitton. And most importantly, the Boomerang is one of Maserati’s most important reminders of the brand’s dedication to beauty, luxury, and futurism in all of its vehicles and endeavors. Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 28, 2022

Maserati Brings A Fleet To The International Concours of ...

Leave it to Maserati to put the elegance in Concours of Elegance. The Engadin region of Switzerland is home to St. Moritz, one of the most famous winter destinations in the world, home to world-class skiing, the Winter Olympics, and a stunning frozen lake, at least at this time of year. MUST READ: Maserati’s New Personal Service Lab Makes Maintenance A Breeze This year’s International Concours of Elegance, which serendipitously possesses the acronym I.C.E., featured this stunning alpine backdrop, and to go along with it, Maserati brought some of its most iconic and beautiful automobiles to come and play in the snow. Both the Maserati MC20 and its legendary predecessor, the MC12 were on display, both dressed in white to match the idyllic Swiss valley scene. Along with them came the Levante range, the 3500 GT, and other beautiful classic Maserati’s that helped celebrate the brand’s long heritage. Have a look at some of the cars below. All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 21, 2022

Maserati's New Personal Service Lab Makes Maintenance A B...

Owning a Maserati comes with a whole host of new perks. The Maserati Personal Service Lab introduces Maserati customers to a new range of services that provide a luxury experience to perfectly match the ownership of an icon in the Italian luxury automotive world. With the new Pick-up & Delivery and Courtesy car services, Maserati owners can enjoy convenience and luxury not only in their car, but also when their car is getting serviced. Maserati’s Pick-up & Delivery service allows the Maserati owner to have their car taken to be serviced from an address that they specify, and when that service is completed, the car will be taken back to the exact same address. This way, Maserati owners with busy lives with family, work, or social obligations can make sure that their car always gets the attention it deserves. MUST READ: Maserati’s Family Fleet Grecale Takes To The Streets, And Drops Major Hints Along with that is the Courtesy Car service. This service allows Maserati owners to drive a Maserati provided by the dealership, while their own Maserati is being serviced. This also provides luxury and convenience to the same people who need to continue their busy lives, and can’t afford the time to wait for work to be done on their car. These services will be available at Maserati dealerships, and can be purchased at any point during your ownership of a Maserati, and having them makes owning a Maserati just that much better. See All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 15, 2022

Maserati's Family Fleet Grecale Takes To The Streets, And...

“Ciao. I’m the Maserati Grecale. I can’t tell you much more.” That’s the simple greeting displayed on the side of the latest Maserati Grecale SUV. Ahead of its premiere, the SUV has already been out and about on the street and playing a part in the daily lives of the Maserati Family as part of the Maserati Family fleet. The Grecale’s makers, designers, and engineers have all had the opportunity to test, use, and enjoy the car as it gets ready to be unveiled to the whole world. MUST READ: Maserati Fuoriserie Customization Program Launches Limitless Style Possibilities For now, the car is still in camouflage, but as more Greacles are seen, the camouflage becomes more and more revealing. This new Fleet Grecale is the most revealing one yet, with most of the shape of the car discernable. Maserati says that everything about the car will be revealed on March 22, but for now, the camouflage livery on the car teases some of the specifications Maserati plans to boast about once the Grecale is fully revealed. These include acceleration time, luggage space, legroom, and sound system. While it’s no surprise that Maserati would make a car with impressive attributes, this does make the full reveal just that much more anticipated.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 03, 2022

Maserati Fuoriserie Customization Program Launches Limitl...

A new level of customization and personalization is coming to Maserati. Fuoriserie is the name of Maserati’s new customization program, and it allows you to make the Maserati of your dreams in a way you’ve never been able to before. Customers are able to customize the Levante, Ghibli, Quattroporte, and the MC20, and to spark creativity, Maserati has three collections of customizations to choose from. MUST READ: Maserati Gives the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte the MC Treatment Starting February Corse is a collection inspired by vintage racing and specifically Maserati’s racing heritage. With classic stripes and liveries, the Corse customers can live out their “gentleman racer” fantasies in their dream Maserati. Unica is unapologetically contemporary. The collection features bright colors and bold patterns and speaks to the customer who lives in the moment. Futura is for the customer who goes fearlessly forward, with its industrial colors, and space-age minimalist aesthetic. Maserati has also created cars in collaboration with Chinese brand Canotwait, Massimo Bottura, Michelin-starred Chef Alajamo, and David Beckham through the Fuoriserie program. Along with the collections, Maserati makes it clear that this program has incredible potential to create beautiful and unique Maseratis.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 02, 2022

Maserati Gives the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte the ...

The MC Edition Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte look and perform like they mean business. MC, short for Maserati Corse, has been the designation given to Maserati models that were made to perform. The MC12, GranTurismo and GranCabrio MC, and the MC20 are some of the models that have had the honor of carrying that title, and now the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte get to join them. MUST READ: Maserati Grecale Prototypes Play in the Snow in Lapland, Sweden Each one of these cars will get a V8 engine and will be tuned and optimized for “uncompromising driving pleasure.” Along with that, the new MC models feature exclusive colors, Giallo Corse, and Blu Vittoria. These colors are an homage to the colors of Modena, and therefore represent the Motor Valley and the birthplace of the Maserati Brand. The Levante MC receives a set of 22-inch wheels, while the Ghibli and the Quattroporte get 21-inch wheels. Both sets of wheels are finished in gloss black, with blue brake calipers to capture the spirit of Maserati. With stunning looks and performance to match, the new MC Edition is available in EMEA, APAC, and China from February 2022 All Maseratis For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 26, 2022

Maserati Grecale Prototypes Play in the Snow in Lapland, ...

The Grecale’s first snow day isn’t all fun and games. As Maserati continues to test out the prototypes for its new SUV, the Grecale, the time of year has rolled around where some extreme weather can put the car to the test. And that’s exactly what Maserati decided to do. MUST READ: Discover The Limited-Edition ‘Maserati Meets Fragment’ Ghibli Sport Sedans Out in the far northern Lapland region of Sweden, the Maserati Grecale was tested for its ability to start up, drive, and do everything that it needs to do in temperatures as cold as -30 degrees Celsius, which works out to be -22 degrees Fahrenheit. Image Source: Maserati The Grecale performed excellently in every test, managing track laps, corners, straight sections, inclines, declines, and more challenging driving situations on snowy and icy surfaces, where those challenges are exacerbated. While the Grecale’s premiere was pushed back from this past November to this spring, the time for it to be unveiled draws nearer and nearer, and we cannot wait to see the Levante’s little sibling in action and on the road.

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 21, 2022

Discover The Limited-Edition 'Maserati Meets Fragment' Gh...

Maserati takes the Ghibli to the next level with help from Fragment. The global launch of the ‘Maserati Meets Fragment’ collaboration shocked the automotive and streetwear fashion worlds with an apparel collection that blends the values of both brands. Since its release in October 2021, Maserati x Fragment has been working towards incorporating inspirations from Fragment into one of the Italian automotive manufacturer’s performance chassis. Maserati is now proud to announce the release of two Fragment-inspired Maserati Ghiblis. The new Operanera and Operabianca take on the artistic visions of creator Hiroshi Fujiwara and his world-renowned streetwear brand. MUST-READ: The Maserati x Fragment Capsule Collection Is Available Now Based on the Ghibli sports sedan, the ‘Maserati Meets Fragment’ vehicles come available in a black or white variation with hints of Fragment featured throughout the design of the vehicle. The exterior of the special edition Ghiblis includes a chrome ‘Fragment’ badge that displays beautifully within the large mesh-style front grille. The interior layout features premium leather and Alcantara, contrasting silver inserts for the vertical stitching, and the Trident on the headrests, as well as seat belts in dark blue. A very limited number of these unique vehicles are allocated for North America and are now available through Maserati’s dealership network. View all current Maserati Ghibli models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear news and supercar collaboration releases. View All Maserati Ghibli For Sale Source: Maserati

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