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 Edward Jones – November 14, 2017

McLaren 720S Races Supercharged and Twin-Turbo Lamborghinis

Brooks of DragTimes is having a lot of fun with the McLaren 720S by showing off its capabilities in the stock form. In his recent adventure, he went up against two different supercharged Lamborghini Huracans, one being supercharged and the other twin-turbocharged. The results of both the roll races and drag races were very one-sided and very surprising, to be honest. Check them out by clicking play below. The 720S is powered by a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. With this much power, along with a dry weight of just 2,828 lbs, the 720S has a power-to-weight ratio of 0.251 horsepower per 1 lbs. Such a power-to-weight ratio allows the 720S to rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and 0-124 mph in 7.8 seconds. Top speed is also stated to be 212 mph. Sell My Lamborghini on duPont REGISTRY.com

By Edward Jones – November 14, 2017

McLaren Announces Reveal Date for New Hypercar

McLaren has set an official reveal for the what they call is the “most exquisitely crafted and luxurious road-going McLaren to date.” The date will be December 10, 2017, at 12:01 AM.McLaren Officially Announces World's First Hyper-GT Car, F1 Successor“BP23 will borrow the three-seat layout with the central driving position made famous by the iconic McLaren F1, and it will be housed in a streamlined, shrink-wrapped carbon fiber body of great elegance,” said McLaren Automotive’s Chief Executive Officer, Mike Flewitt. “We are calling BP23 a ‘Hyper-GT’ because it’s a car designed for longer journeys, but with the high levels of performance and driver engagement expected of any McLaren. A hybrid powertrain will make it one of the most powerful McLarens yet created but the car will also deliver the highest levels of refinement, enabling significant journeys to be undertaken with up to three people aboard.”View McLarens for Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bbef-ojHcpR/

By Edward Jones – November 07, 2017

Supercharged Lamborghini Gets Walked by Stock McLaren

There's nothing like a friendly race between two friends, especially when the vehicles are two extreme supercars. In a new video from DragTimes, Parker of Vehicle Virgins pits his supercharged Lamborghini Huracan against Brooks of DragTimes in a stock McLaren 720S. According to Parker, he was a bit cocky going into the race, only to be shown the rear of the 720S. The beginning of the race looked like it was going well for the Lamborghini, but that was only because the rear wheels of the McLaren were spinning. Check out the video below to see the race for yourself and an additional race between a modified 720S and the stock 720S. Used McLaren 650S Sell My McLaren At duPont REGISTRY.com

By Edward Jones – September 28, 2017

McLaren BP23 Prototype Revealed, Fastest McLaren Ever

McLaren officially announced the Hyper-GT car back in March of this year. Now, McLaren is using the BP23 Prototype car to test the car and are saying that it will be fastest car they have ever produced and they have revealed the test car being used.The BP23 Prototype is actually a 720S that has been heavily modified, with the biggest modification being the seating arrangement. Back when the Hyper-GT was announced, McLaren noted that it would be a true F1 successor with the iconic 1+2 seating. Inside the BP23 Prototype, McLaren has reintroduced the single-seater arrangement.In the images of the BP23, we see other aspects of the interior that are interesting. In front of the driver we see a myriad of nondescript switches, as well at the folding driver display that was introduced in the 720S. Also, there are digital sideview mirrors being tested which are being considered for the car.This is all the information we have about the next-generation McLaren Ultimate Series car, but we'll be keeping everyone up-to-date with information as it's released.

By Andrew Nabors – September 21, 2017

McLaren 720S Rev Battle: Sport vs Normal Exhaust

Our friends at DragTimes were forced to hunker down last week for Hurricane Irma. While it didn't give them much trouble in South Florida, we lost power for a few days here in St. Petersburg. Before the storm arrived, Brooks was kind enough to offer a comparison in the sounds of the McLaren 720S. His friend's new car was ordered with the $5,600 Sport Exhaust, so how does the sound compare to a normal example?McLaren 720S vs Lamborghini HuracanAs the cars start revving, the most interesting aspect is that the 720S sounds like an Italian. The new 4.0 liter V8 could be using a flat-plane crank, so if you have the details please let us know in the comments below. The Sport Exhaust sounds deeper, with more sounds from the wastegates and blow off valves. Is it worth over 5 grand on the window sticker? You be the judge. Either way, you can't go wrong with the advanced technology and potent power of Mclaren's latest Super Series.

By Edward Jones – September 19, 2017

McLaren 720S Runs 0-60 MPH in Under Three Seconds in Unfa...

Since the McLaren 720S was released, it has been growing in popularity with each passing day. Our friends at DragTimes recently got their hands on a new 720S to test it and see how it stacks up against the hype.Epic Showdown: McLaren 720S vs Lamborghini HuracanShortly after Hurricane Irma passed his town, Brooks of DragTimes took the new English supercar out for a spin on the drag strip. Unfortunately, the settings were a bit unfavorable, but that didn't stop the car from exceeding expectations. Here is the breakdown of how the car performed:0-60 in 2.8 seconds 1/4 mile 10.2 @ 144.8 mph 1/2 mile @ 174.04 mphThose are numbers that are comparable to the Porsche 918 Spyder and Bugatti Veyron. What's more? It's most definitely less expensive. Check out the video below to see the car's rapid acceleration for yourself.

By Edward Jones – September 18, 2017

McLaren Creates Collection of Very Special and Limited 57...

McLaren Automotive has created a small collection of bespoke 570GT examples that will be available later this month.A total number of six 570GTs were commissioned by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) as an MSO Collection. Each of the cars are finished in the XP Green paint, the same color found on the McLaren F1 XP GT 'Longtail' that was built back in 1997. Inside these six cars is a Saddle Tan leather interior with green leather inserts and a plaque on the center tunnel specifying the car's significance.Samuel Eto'o Receives First London Delivery of LaFerrari“Any McLaren is a very special vehicle, but we are also seeing an increasing number of buyers expressing a desire to personalise their cars with additional features and options as well as color and trim choices outside of the core specification offered,” explained Jolyon Nash, McLaren Automotive Executive Director, Global Sales and Marketing. “As well as making it possible for individual McLaren owners to have exactly the McLaren they want, McLaren Special Operations will continue to create limited-volume collections such as these six 570GT models in XP Green, to further extend customer choice.” McLaren states that each of the cars will be delivered to their owners in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands very soon. The price of the MSO options included in these models costs an additional £21,000 (~$28,000 USD) on top of the price of the vehicle itself, giving each car a total price of £188,567 (~$255,000 USD).

By Andrew Nabors – August 04, 2017

McLaren Builds Full-Size LEGO 720S

If you are looking for a responsible way to have fun this weekend, we recommend getting brickfaced. LEGO and supercars are a perfect fit for each other. As part of the Speed Champions series, the McLaren 720S joins the Porsche 911 GT3, Ford GT, and the Ferrari FXX K as scale models, but McLaren decided to build a 1:1 example for this year's Goodwood Festival. In a time-lapse video uploaded this morning, over 2,000 man-hours are compressed into 59 seconds of assembly.Last weekend I had an opportunity to visit Art of the Brick, an exhibition of LEGO art by Nathan Sawaya. His creations are solid constructions, which makes them quite heavy. McLaren has a keen ability to keep their cars on the lighter side, so a steel frame was used as the base of the build. A set of brake rotors was welded on at the corners to support the wheels and tires, the only parts it shares with the production 720S. The team built a majority of the car before the event, but the finishing touches were left for volunteers. With proceeds going to Goodwood's Charity, helpers were allowed to use 13,000 bricks to complete the roof. In total, the LEGO 720S used 280,000 bricks and it makes for a great advertisement. If you are looking for the real thing, check out these McLarens for sale and stay with us for all your automotive LEGO news.

By Andrew Nabors – August 03, 2017

Off-Roading Two McLaren 570GTs Looks Like a Blast

Taking your supercar on a road trip could be a recipe for disaster if you don't have enough cargo space. That's why McLaren added an opening rear hatch to the 570S to build the 570GT. In all honesty, I wouldn't want to place anything heavy on the rear package tray. Not because the carbon-fiber wouldn't support it, but who would dare defile such fine English leather? To see how much it can handle, Mike Tornabene and his friend Zac borrowed two new examples from McLaren Beverly Hills and packed for a weekend in the desert.Also Check Out: Bruno Senna Drifts McLaren 570S On IceLone Pine, California is a sleepy town on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is famous for being in close proximity to the highest and lowest elevations in the lower 48. Mount Whitney tops out at 14,505 feet and it will be just above freezing tonight. Badwater basin is 131 miles east, at 278 feet below sea level. The drive from bottom to top is known as L2H and it will take your breath away, literally due to the change in altitude. Tourists and hikers come here year-round to take in the scenery, and many auto manufacturers use it when testing prototypes.The 570GT is capable of 26 miles per gallon on flat land and probably at sea level. It has 562 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, which might seem like overkill in the sand of the Mojave Desert. Watch the hijinx in the video below and let us know your ideal choice for a weekend off the grid. If you need the perfect camping accessory, we have many examples of the 570GT for sale. Stay with us for more McLaren reviews.

By Andrew Nabors – June 20, 2017

Cheapest McLaren You Can Buy? Looks Like it!

If you have been looking for a weekend project, stop browsing and start building your own McLaren 12C. To show customers the advanced underpinnings of the 12C, McLaren built 35 examples without a body so the innovations could be seen. In addition to lacking any body panels, the sway bars are also missing. That's because the Super Series which includes every upper-level car from the 12C to the 720S uses advanced hydraulics for roll control. Doing away with two heavy pieces of spring metal not only saves weight, it divorces the left and right wheels when it comes to bumpy roads.If you are wondering about the vacant space ahead of the cockpit, the chassis was designed to be modular in order to accommodate all-wheel-drive and hybrid powertrains like the McLaren P1. If the engine is just a mockup, there is ample room in front or back to mount your LS swap. No detail was overlooked to keep the center of gravity as low as possible, and the exhaust running over the transmission is ready to throw flames.Lake Forest Sportscars is offering this chassis with a VIN for only $79,900. By far the cheapest new McLaren on the market, it deserves to be part of a collection before someone drops a Fiero body on it and hits the track. Tell us if it would make a good Outlaw 10.5 car or should it be saved for posterity in the comments below, and stay with us for all your McLaren news.View Listing

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