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 – January 27, 2023

The New Maserati GranTurismo PrimaSerie Is Limited To 150...

Maserati’s new GranTurismo is making a grand entrance. Maserati uses quite simple naming conventions for quite a few of its cars. Translated from its native Italian, for example, Quattroporte means “four doors.” Likewise, GranTurismo translates to grand touring, which is exactly what the stunningly beautiful coupe is purpose-built for, and excels at. With the Trofeo version of the car getting high-performance power from Maserati’s pride and joy, the Nettuno V6 engine, that is the version that Maserati chose to be the launch edition of the car, and it comes in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Maserati’s grand tourers. MUST READ: 2022 Maserati Levante Trofeo Review: Sidestep The Norm The new Maserati GranTurismo PrimaSerie is based on the Trofeo, and comes in two beautiful configurations complete with commemorative badging that honors the 75 years of Maserati making cars for long, luxurious, comfortable, enjoyable, and stylish drives. The first is in a silver color called Grigio Lameira, which comes with details finished in Corse Red. The leather interior of this configuration features Corse Red stitching to match. The other configuration is in a black called Nero Cometa, with details and interior stitching coming in a unique Mint Green. This iconic car and its momentous occasion come with exclusive production numbers, as only 75 units of each configuration will be made. If you want to own an undeniably excellent car for high performance and weekend cruises, as well as a timeless collector’s piece, the new Maserati GranTurismo PrimaSerie might be the car for you. View All Maserati GranTurismos For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 14, 2022

The New Maserati GranTurismo Is On The Streets Ahead Of I...

The new Maserati GranTurismo is out and about. For Maserati, the GranTurismo is one of the brand’s most timeless examples of driving pleasure and luxury. A classic grand touring coupe, the car is inspired by the Maserati A6 1500 from 75 years ago, and its ethos of sports car joy has yet to fail in impressing drivers, enthusiasts, and collectors worldwide. The new generation of the GranTurismo is ready to be unleashed, and Maserati has taken it to the streets before it is officially revealed. Maserati has announced that the Modena and Trofeo versions of the new GranTurismo are equipped with the brand’s new Nettuno V6 engine, originally revealed with the MC20 supercar. MUST READ: NOVITEC Shows Off New Upgrades For The Maserati MC20 In the lightweight, mid-engined, and low-slung MC20, the engine is able to deliver incredibly quick 0-60 times and a top speed above 200 mph, however, the performance of the GranTurismo will likely be somewhat different, as Maserati has promised a driving experience true to the “gran turismo” name, with high performance but also comfort that is “suitable for long distances and comfortable journeys.” Maserati has also promised an all-electric version of the new GranTurismo, which will be named the GranTurismo Folgore, or “lightning” in Italian. The Folgore name will denote other all-electric offerings from Maserati, as well. As a new Maserati GranTurismo is on the horizon, new and improved technology continues to enhance a timelessly classic driving experience. View All Maserati GranTurismos For Sale Source: Maserati

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 11, 2022

The New Maserati GranTurismo Folgore Prototype Takes A Tr...

Maserati is recharging the Gran Turismo with an all-electric model. Dubbed “Folgore,” which is Italian for “lightning,” the new all-electric series of Maserati is slated to start with the Grecale and the new GranTurismo. And it looks like that start is going to happen soon, with a GranTurismo Folgore prototype being seen out on the street. Fittingly, the GranTurismo Folgore prototype was used to drive to Rome’s Formula E circuit, where Maserati is the first Italian brand to enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Maserati is also going to be the first Italian luxury brand to make 100% electric models, with its goals of having a fully developed electric line by 2025, with the transition to electric being complete in 2030. At the Formula E Rome Grand Prix, the Maserati Grecale Folgore Electric SUV was also on display. MUST READ: Maserati MC20 Price, Specs, Photos & Review The GranTurismo, as the name suggests, has been Maserati’s stunning grand tourer since 2007, and this evolution of the model introduces a new look along with the Folgore electric model. The new model maintains the GranTurismo’s beautiful proportions and shape while refreshing the styling with athletic touches to match Maserati’s current lineup. The all-electric GranTurismo Folgore is expected to hit the market in 2023. View All Maseratis For Sale Source: Maserati

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 Edward Jones – November 12, 2019

Maserati GranTurismo Zéda: The Last Current-Gen GranTurismo

The new Maserati GranTurismo Zéda is meant as a celebratory car as the production of the GranTurismo comes to a close. Yes, you read that correctly. Maserati is stopping production on the current generation GranTurismo and is planning towards a new model that's set to launch in 2020. The GranTurismo Zéda gets its name in a simple manner: "Zéda" means "Z" in the Modena dialect. This signifies the end of the current GranTurismo in the form of the end of the alphabet. Maserati is already renovating the Modena plant where the new GranTurismo will be produced. Regarding the powertrain for the new GranTurismo and GranCabrio, Maserati say's they will "herald a new era of electrification for the Maserati range of cars, constituting the first models to adopt 100% electric solutions in the history of the Brand." see all maserati granturismos for sale

By Christina Avila – November 19, 2015

Maserati Shows Off New 2016 Line-Up at LA Auto Show

In Roman mythology, the trident was a powerful weapon yielded by only the bravest of gladiators. The three-pronged spear was simple in appearance but fierce inability, making it almost essential to any hard-fought victory.Maserati Levante For SaleFor over 100 years, Maserati has embodied the same characteristics, boldly branding the trident as their symbol in the automotive industry. With a century of vehicular excellence behind them, the Italian car company is set to debut a 2016 range that won’t disappoint.Just as a gladiator enters an arena, trident in hand, Maserati arrized at the Los Angeles Auto Show, ready for battle with a fully-loaded arsenal. In a press release today, Maserati showed off two of their latest additions to their big Italian family: the Ghibli S and the Quattroporte S.Armed with an impressive V6 engine, the S versions of the Ghibli and the Quattroporte can generate 410 hp, with rear-wheel drive. The latest models will also offer the exclusive Ermenegildo Zenga trim package, a collaborative design with the famous Italian fashion house. The results are a custom-fit woven silk interior available in three richly colored options – Nero, Cuoio and Rosso.Maserati will also had the GranTurismo coupe and convertible models on display at the show.Maserati For Sale (via Maserati)

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