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 – August 04, 2022

Maserati Introduces The New 2023 Grecale SUV To North Ame...

The Maserati Grecale’s stateside introduction is exclusive and unique. With the help of Maserati’s recently introduced Fuoriserie customization program, Maserati is introducing the Grecale SUV to North America with a limited edition that’s even more special because its owners will enjoy a Grecale with lots of options and beautifully unique finishes. Dubbed the Grecale PrimaSerie, these first editions of the Grecale arriving this fall will mark the introduction of the model to the North American market, and only 325 will be made. MUST READ: Maserati Introduces The Extra 10 Program To Further Extend Powertrain Warranty Two versions of the Grecale PrimaSerie are available. The first is the Grecale Trofeo boasting its 523-horsepower Nettuno V6, with a unique Giallo Corse quad-coat paint that is unique to Fuoriserie. Along with it come 21-inch wheels, red brake calipers, a black interior with yellow stitching and 3D carbon trim, and PrimaSerie custom trident headrest stitching to commemorate the limited edition. Also available is the Grecale Modena with its 325-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. It’s available in Bianco Astro metallic paint with a red interior, gray stitching, and piano black trim, Blu Nobile tri-coat paint with a black interior, blue stitching, and piano black trim, and Grigio Cangiante tri-coat paint with a Ghiaccio interior, gray stitching, and piano black trim. The interiors feature the same PrimaSerie headrest stitch and all the models feature 21-inch Pegaso wheels. Both the Modena and Trofeo models come with options including heated steering wheels and windshield washer nozzles, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, and a Sonus faber audio system with 21 speakers. Coming this fall, the 325 PrimaSerie Grecales will be sold with a 4-year, 50,000-mile maintenance plan, and they’re ready to shake up the North American luxury performance SUV market. View All Maseratis For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 02, 2022

Maserati Introduces The Extra 10 Program To Further Exten...

Maserati offers the greatest luxury of car ownership: ease. The Maserati Personal Service Lab strives to make sure that the luxury of Maserati ownership goes beyond just driving the car. The ownership experience of a Maserati, inside and out, should be as easy and luxurious as possible, and that is Maserati Personal Service Lab’s goal. To achieve that goal, Maserati has introduced a new warranty program called the Extra 10 Warranty Program, in which Maserati owners worldwide with any Maserati model are able to extend the coverage of their powertrain warranty until the car turns 10 years old. This not only makes owning a Maserati an even better experience but also adds to the long-term value of the car. MUST READ: Maserati USA Teams Up With Drive Toward A Cure For 75 Days Of Summer The service is offered in addition to the program allowing customers to extend their warranties to four or five years. Any Maserati dealer will be able to help you check to see if your car is available to be included in the program, and clue you in on the extra perks that come with participation in the Extra 10 program. The program will be available in the United States, Latin America, and Canada starting October 1, and with it in effect, owning a Maserati will become a more luxurious experience than ever, in what is arguably the most important way. View All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

By Gabriel Vega – July 27, 2022

Maserati USA Teams Up With Drive Toward A Cure For 75 Day...

To raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease, Maserati USA partnered with Drive Toward a Cure, a non-profit that focuses on advancing research and patient care. According to the carmaker, one of the inspirations for the collaboration came from former Maserati Formula One driver Phil Hill's personal struggle with the disease. Starting on the first day of summer (June 19th) through Labor Day (Sept 5th), the carmaker and non-profit organization will have weekly draws and grand prizes. To reach 18 to 25-year-olds specifically, participants in that age range qualify for additional bonuses, one of which is a 1-day racing school program from Skip Barber Racing School. In total, there will be over $15,000 in prizes available. Various automotive organizations and clubs across the country have joined with their own fundraising pages and efforts. By adding Drive Toward a Cure stickers to their vehicles, each of their summer drives will help spread awareness across the country. Additionally, the sticker's bright orange color will help it stand out across social media. Maserati has even taken steps to raise awareness through automotive media as well. This week's test vehicle, a 2022 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo, featured the non-profit's orange sticker, further showcasing the partnership. For more information on how to register and where to donate, click the link below. Learn More

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 27, 2022

Maserati Shows David Beckhams Journey To Goodwood In the ...

Maserati’s powerful new Grecale Trofeo served as David Beckham’s entrance to Goodwood. David Beckham’s entrance to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year was part of the UK’s introduction to the new 2023 Maserati Grecale SUV, and especially the Trofeo variant of the Grecale, which comes with 530 roaring horsepower from a V6 engine derived from the MC20’s Nettuno unit. Beckham took the Grecale Trofeo all the way to Goodwood, and a brand new video from Maserati documents his journey there. MUST READ: The New Maserati Project24 Is An Upcoming Track-Only Supercar Beckham's drive to House Goodwood took him through crowded city streets and open British motorways, where he could experience both the Grecale’s luxury and practicality and its impressive performance. The tagline “Everyday Exceptional” perfectly describes the personality of the 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo, because of its ability to carry luggage and passengers with luxury and ease, and simultaneously thrill and excite its driver with an incredible new engine that delivers levels of power that undoubtedly put the Grecale Trofeo in the category of luxury performance SUVs. View All Maseratis For Sale Source: YouTube/Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 22, 2022

The New Maserati Project24 Is An Upcoming Track-Only Supe...

Maserati’s radical new track-only supercar shows the true performance potential of the Nettuno engine. With a look and a livery even more reminiscent of the legendary and rare MC12 of the 2000s, Maserati has announced Project24, which is the codename of a new, highly-limited supercar that is purpose-built (and only allowed) for the track. Based on the MC20, the car uses Maserati’s pride and joy, the Nettuno V6 that was introduced with the supercar, but this time, it’s more powerful, and it’s in a lighter car. The all-carbon-fiber bodywork was designed by Maserati Centro Stile with the goal of creating a car that was even more unique than a race car, with increased downforce, adjustable aerodynamics, and a design that conveys how fast the car can go while it’s just standing still. MUST-READ: The Best Maserati MC20s You Can Buy Today The increased performance of the engine comes thanks to new turbochargers that bring power up to 740 horsepower. The car’s dry weight is less than 2,756 pounds, which makes for an absolutely explosive power-to-weight ratio of 3.72 lbs/hp. Brembo racing brakes with a bespoke cooling system, slick tires, and a suspension system featuring a semi-virtual steering axis, adjustable racing dampers, and adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars translate that performance into superior dynamics on the track, and the interior makes the car’s racing purpose clear. The passenger’s seat is an option, while the steering wheel features a built-in display, and options are available for cameras and recording systems for the interior, rear-view, and to record the telemetry system for racing videos and information. However, comfort isn’t completely abandoned, as the car features air conditioning. The new customer racing machinefrom Maserati is ready to bring the trident back to the track. View All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 13, 2022

Check Out The Maserati MC20 Going All Out At 180+ MPH On ...

Maserati’s newest performance flagship is in action where it can go full throttle, literally. Maserati’s new MC20 supercar is a statement of what Maserati is truly capable of when it comes to performance, beauty, and innovation. In this video, we get to see the car do what it’s built to do best: go fast, and it’s going to do that on what is probably the best road in the world to do that: the Autobahn. With no speed limit, there are few other places in the world that aren’t test tracks where a driver can truly let Maserati’s revolutionary Nettuno V6 engine sing. MUST READ: The New Maserati Grecale Trofeo And MC20 Cielo Take On The Goodwood Hillclimb On the road, the car was easily able to reach soaring speeds of over 180 mph, and even at such high performance it looks and sounds like the elegant Maserati that it is. Maserati has proudly created the Nettuno V6 as an in-house engine that makes the MC20 capable of ludicrous performance, like a top speed of 202 mph, and a 0-60 time of just 3.2 seconds, thanks to an incredible 621 horsepower and 538 lb/ft of torque coming from the V6 engine. If the stats didn’t prove that the MC20 is a worthy successor to the MC12 despite having only half the cylinders, this video certainly should. View All Maserati MC20s For Sale Source: YouTube/AutoTopNL

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 24, 2022

The New Maserati Grecale Trofeo And MC20 Cielo Take On Th...

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Maserati is showing off its latest and greatest. It’s no secret that Maserati has quite a bit in store for the near future, with the reveal of its smaller SUV, the Grecale, and the convertible version of the MC20 supercar, the new Maserati MC20 Cielo. What’s more is the fact that the sportiest version of the Grecale SUV, the Grecale Trofeo, possesses a 530-horsepower V6 engine, derived from the Nettuno engine that serves as the beating heart of the flagship MC20 supercar. MUST READ: The New Maserati Grecale SUV Will Make Its UK Debut At The Goodwood Festival Of Speed It’s this Grecale Trofeo that was chosen to take on the Goodwood hill climb to show off the new Maserati SUV’s full performance potential. Along with it, the new Maserati MC20 Cielo, and the MC20 Coupe are making appearances on the track. Maserati’s special guest is a familiar face: the brand’s global ambassador, David Beckham. Arriving at the festival in a Maserati Grecale Trofeo, he continues a partnership with Maserati that was forged in 2021. The Grecale Trofeo and MC20 will be on display in the First Glance Paddock and Supercar Paddock respectively for the duration of the Festival of Speed. View All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 17, 2022

Maserati's Revamped Website Spurs Development Of A New Di...

The Trident’s new website features an ocean of new Maserati experiences. Maserati has put the process of revamping and creating an amazing new digital experience for its customers into motion, and the brand has started with a new website, which will serve as the starting point for what Maserati says will be a whole new integrated digital experience for Maserati fans and owners to enjoy. Consisting of three sections, Models, Brand, and Ownership, the website provides new information on what Maserati and its cars are all about, as well as features for Maserati owners. MUST READ: Maserati x North Sail Apparel Announce An Upcoming Adventurous Capsule Collection The new Models section features a new layout that provides information on the entire Maserati range, as well as all available trims. The Brand section focuses on the values, history, and facts about the Maserati brand, with a “Stories of Audacity” magazine featuring a live feed of Maserati news and content. In an exciting development for Maserati owners, the Ownership section of the website is full of content that links directly to the Maserati Owner Apps. With this new website opening plenty of doors for Maserati’s future digital experience, Maserati has made sure to make their new website ready for other aspects of the brand’s future as well, as the brand has announced that with the upcoming launch of the all-electric Folgore range of Maseratis, a series of support tools will be specifically designed for owners of fully-electric Maserati vehicles. View All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – June 15, 2022

The New Maserati Grecale SUV Will Make Its UK Debut At Th...

Maserati has chosen to give its second SUV a grand entrance to the UK. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is undoubtedly one of the world’s most iconic automotive events, and because of that status, plenty of brands are coming to the event ready to put on quite the show. This year, Maserati has chosen to debut its second SUV, the Grecale, at Goodwood, and specifically with its sportiest iteration, the Grecale Trofeo, to take on the legendary Goodwood hill climb. The Grecale Trofeo shares the Nettuno engine that Goodwood attendees first saw last year when the MC20 debuted at the event. Similarly, the Batch 6 hill climb is where the UK will see the Grecale Trofeo in action for the first time. MUST READ: The Best Maserati MC20s You Can Buy Today Along with the Grecale, the MC20 will be making an appearance at Goodwood, both in its coupe form and as the new MC20 Cielo spyder. Both cars will be at the Supercar Paddock throughout the Goodwood weekend, and the debuts of the Grecale and the MC20 Cielo at the event mark the start of an exciting future for Maserati, as the Grecale has already been announced to be the first Maserati model that will be receiving the fully-electric Folgore treatment, with the Grecale Folgore, Maserati’s first all-electric SUV and first all-electric model debuting in 2023, and Maserati has suggested all-electric versions of the MC20 and MC20 Cielo, as well. View All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 25, 2022

The New MC20 Cielo Is Maserati's Latest Spyder

Open-air Italian luxury comes to Maserati’s flagship supercar. The Maserati MC20 is the brand’s latest flagship supercar, and a show of force when it comes to Maserati’s capabilities in performance, luxury, and amazing style. Now, that gets even better with the introduction of the MC20 Cielo, the spyder version of the MC20. It features similarly incredible performance as its coupe counterpart thanks to Maserati’s Nettuno V6 engine and combines that with a luxurious and ingenious electrochromic glass roof that can be configured to be opaque or clear, and opens and closes in a mere 12 seconds. MUST READ: 2022 Maserati MC20 Review: A Fresh Take On A Winning Formula Refusing to compromise, the MC20 Cielo weighs less than 120 pounds more than the coupe, and the car was tested to ensure amazing performance with the roof both open and closed. In the style department, the MC20 Cielo only improves on its coupe cousin, with the coupe’s butterfly doors remaining. With the launch of the MC20 Cielo, a new color is introduced: Acquamarina, composed of layers of pastel grey and aquamarine mica. With the sky above and supercar power within, the Maserati MC20 just got even better. Source: Maserati

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