McLaren 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 Andrew Nabors – May 07, 2019

McLaren 720S GT3 Unveiled as 570S GT4 Continues to Dominate

This might surprise you, but McLaren isn't a car company that races. They are leaders in the racing world who also build street legal cars. This can't be more evident than last weekend's races. The new McLaren 720S GT3 was unveiled as the 570S GT4 continued to dominate. Compass Racing was at Mid-Ohio for the inaugural round of the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup. After qualifying in 8th place, the car took a hard hit and was forced to retire. Before the big race, team "Motorsports In Action" had a great day at the Michelin PILOT Challenge. They pushed their 570S GT4 started on the front row and stayed ahead of the field for most of the race. Their 7th place finish earned enough points to keep them ahead of the competition. Across the pond, team Equipe Verschuur fielded their 570S GT4 in two races, scoring 3rd and 7th place. This puts them 14 points ahead of their competitors, along with proving the reliability of the car in back-to-back races. Finally, the 2019 China GT Championship race in Ningbo saw "The Winning Team" finish all three of their 570S GT4 in the top 10. McLaren Philadelphia allowed me to drive a 570S GT4 at the Nashville Auto Show last year, and I enjoyed all 10 minutes of it! If you see a Podium Finish in your future, click the link below to find a McLaren dealer near you. Find Your McLaren Here Related: New McLaren GT's Release Date Announced McLaren Senna Dyno Testing From Hennessey Performance

By Andrew Nabors – April 12, 2019

McLaren Special Operations Explains Their Paint Process

Two-tone paint was killed by bean counters at the end of the last century. If you want something truly custom, you will either need a cheesy wrap job or a skilled artist. Painting a car by hand is something only reserved for the best cars in production, and that is why McLaren Special Operations explained their paint process. A stunning McLaren 720S Spider was chosen to receive a blend of cerulean blue, black, and their new meteorite gray. The video makes it look easy, but there must have been many late nights of color-sanding and buffing. What makes this blend so unique is their technique named Coriolis. Inspired by the Earth's gyroscopic influence on wind and water, it took 260 hours to finish this car. To get this result from modern water-based paint is amazing, especially considering it is being applied to carbon fiber. If you deserve a car unlike any other, click the link below to find a McLaren dealer near you. Browse McLaren 720S For Sale Related: McLaren Speedtail Price, Specs, Photos & Review Jason Statham's New McLaren 720S

By Andrew Nabors – March 20, 2019

Hennessey McLaren 720S HPE900 Sounds Ready for a Fight

Have you ever overheard someone say: "My car is fast enough". This could be a symptom of mental illness because the only humans ever satisfied with the performance of their machines are the pilots of the SR-71 Blackbird. I've had a few spins in McLaren's latest Super Series, and it doesn't disappoint. But after the new wears off, your answer can be found west of Houston. That's because the Hennessey McLaren 720S HPE900 Sounds ready for a fight. Something is different about the 4.0L V8 found in the Senna and the 720S. It either has a different firing order or maybe a flat-plane crankshaft. Either way, it's too quiet in factory form. So the team at Hennessey Performance started with high-flow intakes. These feed into modified turbos and then into larger intercoolers. More boost means more power, and a less-restrictive exhaust allows for instant response. Hennessey HPE1000 Corvette is a Supercharged Beast The secret sauce lies in the tuning. After extensive evaluation, John probably optimized the ignition curve and eliminated the silly boost-by-gear programming. The end result is 809 horsepower at the rear wheels along with 627 lb-ft of torque. That is a gain of 133 horsepower at the ground, not too shabby considering it includes a 3-year warranty and an aggressive soundtrack. Don't be shamed by a Senna, click the link below for all the info. View Details Related: McLaren 600LT vs Hennessey HPE1000 Jeep Trackhawk

By Edward Jones – March 06, 2019

McLaren 720S Spider by MSO Shines With Breathtaking Blue ...

A very special McLaren 720S by MSO has bowed its head at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. This 720S supercar demonstrates MSO's abilities to create one-of-a-kind automobiles that stand out from the crowd. To accomplish this, McLaren's specialization branch took each aero component and blended three MSO metallic paints on them: Cerulean Blue, Burton Blue and Abyss Black. This blend creates a spectacular visual that looks as though the blue paint is eloquently fading into the black paint, standing out against the new Meteorite Grey paint. Other bespoke features include the Gloss Carbon Fiber Tonneau Cover, 10-spoke super lightweight forged wheels in an Abyss Black gloss finish, Burton Blue brake calipers, gloss finish carbon seat backs and a lot more. see all mclarens listed for sale

By Edward Jones – February 13, 2019

McLaren 720S "Art Car" Covered in Comic Book Wrap

On its own, the McLaren 720S is an understandably beautiful car. In fact, it may be one of the best looking cars on the market at this very moment. But there are always ways to take the appearance of the 720S to the next level. For McLaren Stockholm, they created a McLaren 720S "Art Car" thanks to a creative wrap. The 720S, captured on film by GTBOARD.com, has been turned into a rolling comic book page. Across its exterior is a vivid wrap that looks like it was pulled from the pages of a classic comic book. One bit of the design that I do enjoy is that the wrap's design is quite symmetrical, even though it looks like it's all over the place. Up front, you can see an orange strip running down the center that's flanked by blue areas with black dots. Even the sides are just about mirrored in design. It's definitely worth a deep look into. Want a 720S of your own to wrap? Check out all of our McLaren 720S for sale by clicking the button below. view all mclaren 720s for sale Check Out These Art Cars: Karma Miami and Romero Britto Created a Wild Art Car and It’s for Sale Duaiv Lamborghini Aventador Roadster Art Car at Lamborghini Miami BMW Art Car #18 Unveiled in Beijing

By Andrew Nabors – February 01, 2019

McLaren 720S New 1/4 Mile Record by Excell Racing

Warning: Drag Racing is addictive. Once you start chipping away at your car's best time, it is hard to keep it stock. Our friends at Excell Racing have been pushing their McLaren 720S into uncharted territory with upgrades strictly limited to tuning and exhaust. But now it's time for turbos, right? Those days are coming to an end. McLaren uses the latest in turbo technology, with the hot and cold sides perfectly matched to their 4.0L V8. This is how they achieved a 9.7 second run in stock form (on Toyo drag radials). This is where they started analyzing the car's tune. Every McLaren uses a torque-by-gear system. The computer limits torque in the lower gears, giving you more as speed increases. I want my torque all the time, it even keeps me awake at night. So the team at Excell Racing developed a new calibration after countless runs at Palm Beach International Raceway. Their efforts resulted in a blistering 9.218 @ 154.14 mph on stock turbos! A glance at the time slip shows an amazing launch. If you are looking for a pre-owned luxury or supercar, Excell Auto Group is located in Boca Raton, Florida. Their gearheads at Excell Racing will be happy to add some power for you also. Stay with us, because I sense an 8-second run coming soon! Browse Excell Auto Inventory Related: McLaren Envisions A Wild Future For GP Racing Top 10 Fastest 1/4 Mile Production Cars

By Andrew Nabors – January 10, 2019

McLaren 720S Scorches the Nürburgring Nordschleife

One of the most popular urban myths is that German magazines give preferential treatment to their own brands (Porsche, Mercedes, BMW) when attacking the Nürburgring. While that might have been true in the old days, our friends at Sport Auto chose a McLaren for their latest lap. In a video uploaded to YouTube last night, driver Christian Gebhardt made use of the newly resurfaced track. The McLaren 720S scorched the Nordschleife (north loop) which was extensively updated in December. Instrumentation included two cameras, a G-meter, and GPS speedometer from Race Navigator. This 7.08 lap is only .03 seconds slower than the lap he did back in September. But that car was a Porsche 911 GT3 RS ordered without any options. Porsche 911 GT3 RS Specs, Price & Review Having driven examples of each, the 720S offers a very comfortable and quiet ride. A Porsche 911 GT3 RS is a brutal beast that makes no apologies. Given the extremely different nature of each car, tell us which one you would choose in the comments below. Click the link below to find a McLaren dealer near you and stay with us for more Nurburgrung action. View All McLaren 720S For Sale Related: McLaren 720S Spider Unveiled Check Out Jay Leno's Collection!

By Edward Jones – December 10, 2018

McLaren 720S Configurator is Now Live

The McLaren 720S Spider was just announced not too long ago and the configurator for the new supercar is already live. If you work at a desk or like to spend free time on a computer, these configurators are a great way to build the car of your dreams. The best part is that if you plan on buying the car, you either send in your interest in the car or download the PDF of your spec so you can take it into a dealer. Here's a breakdown of the McLaren 720S Spider. How Much is a McLaren 720S? FIND OUT HERE Specification: Here you can pick between a base 720s, 720S Luxury or 720S Performance. Paint: This is where all the different paint options are. They include Standard, Special, Elite and MSO Defined paints. Wheels & Brakes: Pick you wheel, wheel finish, brakes, brake caliper color and tire type. Exterior: There are SO many exterior options to pick from, you just have to see it to believe it. Interior: Just like the exterior, the interior is full of options to pick from, like the seats, interior color and even the gear shift paddles. Entertainment: Pick your sound system and what kind of Mclaren Track Telemetry you want. Safety & Security: Add on extra camera to the car and even pack your car with the ever-so-useful Vehicle Lift system. Practical: Need a car cover, fire extinguisher or even MSO Defined Keys? You can select them in this section. Summary: See the finished product and choose if you want to download a PDF, share it with friends or find out how to register your interest in a McLaren 720S Spider. build your mclaren 720s spider now

By Andrew Nabors – December 10, 2018

McLaren 720S Spider Unveiled With Stunning Details

If you want to build anticipation for the summer's hottest convertible, follow the leader. McLaren's latest drop-top hit our inbox like a ton of bricks, but the new 720S Spider is actually lighter than most coupes. Starting with the already potent 720S, they developed an all-new type of carbon fiber roof. The "RHT" or retractable hardtop will open or close in 11 seconds up to 31 mph. An optional glass insert is electrochromatic, going from clear to dark at the flick of a switch. Adding the necessary electronics for the roof and its fancy glass add weight, right? Well, McLaren builds every car as a spider, so the roof adds additional stiffness to the new Monocage II-S. The new chassis incorporates room for the top mechanism without sacrificing strength or weight. The new car is only 4% heavier, with a dry weight of 2,937 lbs, their press release claims it is 194 lbs lighter than its closest competitor. Ford GT vs McLaren 720S What hasn't changed is the performance of their 4.0-liter twin turbo V8. It offers 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 202 mph with the top down. Leaping to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds you will be at 124 mph in only 7.8 ticks. You will pass the quarter-mile in 10.4, only 0.1 seconds behind the coupe. Leaving the top up will allow it to reach the same 212 mph as the coupe. Our dealers View McLaren 720S For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – November 27, 2018

How to Detail a McLaren Senna

Before your take delivery of your stunning new Senna, our friends at McLaren Newport Beach has something to consider. The best way to ensure your car's finish will stay factory fresh is with protective film. Working with Ceramic Pro, their full-body protection starts with a cleaning and polishing of the clear coat. This might seem like madness to disturb the clear of a new car, but their proprietary coating ensures the ceramic film will offer years of spotless cruising. McLaren Newport is also an industry leader by doing it all in-house. No lot lizards looking to make an extra dollar, these specialists are trained professionals who take pride in their work. Of course their services are not limited to their main brands, so your car could probably use their protection. Click the link below to browse their inventory and stay with us for all your McLaren news. McLaren Newport Beach Inventory Related: Stunning Senna Delivered at McLaren Newport Beach

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