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 – January 16, 2019

McLaren 600LT Spider Unveiled

The wait is over. Last week we hinted at something wild after a teaser was uploaded to social media. And now we can cheer for a new Longtail as McLaren has unveiled the 600LT Spider. As the 5th McLaren to wear the Longtail badge, it stays true to its predecessors. The third car in their Track25 plan, it is only 110 lbs heavier than the 600LT coupe. Without fluids, it tips the scales at 2,859 lbs, and the MonoCell II chassis required no reinforcements to maintain its impressive strength. In fact, it is 220.5 lbs lighter than the 570S Spider, despite the longer body and folding hard top mechanism. Mclaren 600 LT Price, Specs, Photos Just in front of that dynamic tail is the same twin-turbo 3.8L V8. Offering 592 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque, you will reach 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and 124 mph in 8.4. Only 0.2 seconds slower than the coupe, it will reach a top speed of 201 mph. Production will be limited due to the hand-built construction, and the MSRP starts at $256,500. I personally like the idea of seeing the flamethrower exhaust with the top down. It will offer the same interior and exterior options as the 600LT Coupe, so click the link above to envision your own, then click below to find a McLaren showroom near you. View All Mclarens For Sale " width="680"> Also Check Out: Howard Panes’ Vibrant McLaren Senna is a Must-See McLaren 2018 Sales: More Cars Sold Than Ever Before McLaren Speedtail Gets Three Collections to Make Customizing Easier

By Edward Jones – January 04, 2019

This McLaren Senna Celebrates Its Name's Origin in the Mo...

Robbie Dickson's new McLaren Senna may just be one of the wildest examples of the new English supercar yet. Robbie Dickson (@robbie_dickson) grew up in England in a household full of engineers and has a family tree full of engineers. Naturally, he became an engineer himself. This profession would lead him from University to a job at Rolls-Royce. From there, he went on to work at BMW, Ford and Isuzu. As you can see, his entire life has revolved around the automobile. But his automotive lifestyle had really only begun at that point. Dickson eventually started his own company that was based around his own inventions. This led to further success in his like, which allowed him to truly live out his dream of owning all of the cars he desired and even an F1 size racetrack (Area-27), designed by the Canadian F1 Champion Jacques Vielleneuve. Over the years, he has owned many cars from many different makes. Lamborghini, McLaren, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Lotus; you name it, he's had it. His most recent acquisition, however, is one of his most unique cars yet. Dickson's new McLaren Senna is one for the ages. It revolves around commemorating the legendary Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna, who is the car's namesake. All around the supercar is a custom livery that has all of Senna's Formula One Grand Prix wins. Yes, all forty-one of the wins that happened across seventeen different circuits. Another homage to Senna is the brake calipers and wheel hardware that mirror the colors of the Brazilian flag. Dickson also opted for a couple of other notable options that should be mentioned. First is the gold-plated engine bay shield, which was one of the shining features of the McLaren F1 supercar and a whopping $30,000 option. Dickson also had his Senna fitted with the Track Telemetry Option, which was a must-have for him considering he owns a race track. Be sure to check out the gallery below of the car's unveiling, courtesy of Dickson himself, and learn more about him by visiting RobbieDickson.com.

By Edward Jones – January 02, 2019

McLaren Speedtail Gets Three Collections to Make Customiz...

Dropping seven figures on a car should mean that you're getting a lot out of the purchase. For the McLaren Speedtail, McLaren is giving owners quite a bit. Not only will they be receiving the fastest McLaren ever, but also the chance to customize their car to the most minute details. For the 106 Speedtail deposit holders, their journey to owning their new Hyper GT model has only just begun. It all started with a chunk of change, but will result in owning the wildest McLaren creation yet. Before they get their hands on it, they need to customize the car. While they will surely spend a long time configuring their Speedtail, McLaren has created three different collection that aim to help the customization process a bit simpler. Each collection was curated by McLaren's Colour and Material design team. The idea was to create collections that have different vibes that would fit different customer personalities. It seems they were aiming for these three themes in the collections: sophisticateed, striking and sporty. There's the Urbane collection that has a more "discerning and refined feel" with a sophisticated look. It features "calm" paint finishes and "cool" interior hues. Next up is the Visionary collection. McLaren says this collection includes a purposeful look with both striking and opulent touches. Then there's the Dynamic collection that revolves around one thing: sporty. McLaren created this one for those looking to be bold and make statements. Expect the first McLaren Speedtail deliveries in early 2020. "Whilst only 106 customer cars will be built, it is important that each one is unique, so this tailored collection is quite simply, like no other – as is the McLaren Speedtail itself.” - Jo Lewis, McLaren Automotive, Head of Colour and Material Design

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">

McLaren News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe