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 – October 16, 2020

2020 McLaren Senna vs. 720S by DragTimes

No matter the situation, its always good to have that one friend. The person who knows a guy. It is insurance for any event to keep him or her around. Thankfully, we got a guy. His name is Brooks and he has made a career filming the world's most exotic cars in action. What's more, he has a guy. When people ask him where they can buy the cars he films, he tells them to come here. Word of mouth is the best endorsement, so we are indebted to him and his team. Therefore, we have their latest upload ready for the weekend, so let's watch a 2020 McLaren Senna versus a 720S by DragTimes. You won't find two dozen Sennas anywhere else, so click the button to find yours! Browse McLaren Senna For Sale " width="680">

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By Andrew Nabors – October 06, 2020

2021 McLaren High-Performance Hybrid Supercar Enters Fina...

Yesterday we shared a Ferrari prototype that has been testing V6 power with the latest in hybrid assistance. Over the next model year we will see V6 hybrids replace the V8 thanks to major leaps in battery technology. That is why the 2021 high performance hybrid supercar has entered final testing. In a press release this morning, they offered a few details of the new model. Is This a Hybrid Ferrari V6 Spotted on the Streets? First, it wont be a successor to the P1. Their new V6 engine is optimized to be a generator for the hybrid system, giving it the EV range of a current-generation electric car. The new carbon fiber structure replaces the monocell and monocage with the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture. It is optimized for future developents in propulsion along with being stronger than its predecessors. Speaking of them, this new high-performance hybrid (HPH) will replace the Sports Series (570S, 570GT, etc). It will be placed between the McLaren GT and the 720S in their lineup. The Sports Series has been their bread & butter over the years, so it will be given a proper farewell with a limited run. Based on the 570S GT4, the 620R will be the end of the line. 2015 McLaren P1 Price, Specs, Photos & Review The HPH has been envisioned, developed, and it will be produced at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre in Sheffield. CEO Mike Flewitt says: This all-new McLaren supercar is the distillation of everything we have done to date; all that we have learned and achieved, This is a new kind of McLaren for a new era, an extraordinary drivers’ car that offers blistering performance as well as an all-electric range capable of covering most urban journeys. We see this new McLaren as a true ‘next generation’ supercar and cannot wait to show it to customers.” Browse McLaren For Sale Twin-turbo V6 engines with massive electrical capacity are about to eclipse the "Holy Trinity" of 5 years ago. Considering the Koenigsegg 2-liter making 600 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, get ready for another hypercar battle royale. In the meantime we have several Sennas and P1 to choose from, so click the button to find yours.

By Andrew Nabors – October 01, 2020

2021 McLaren 765LT Arrives With Unique Pirelli Rubber

You can incredible power and sophistication, but your car is only as good as the tires allow it to be. With 765 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, the latest English supercar needs straight-line traction along with the flexibility to hold a corner. So that is why the 2021 McLaren 765LT will arrive with unique Pirelli rubber. See How Fast the McLaren 765LT Hits 150 MPH Early on in the car's development, McLaren engineers reached out to Pirelli to see if their best could be improved upon. After extensive simulations, they developed a unique tread pattern to optimize the contact patch. These unique P Zero Trofeo R are distinguished by the "MC" on the sidewall. They allow the 765LT to go faster around a test track than any previous McLaren. For drivers who don't race their cars, normal P Zeros are also an option. All incorporate PNCS- Pirelli Noise Cancelling System that negates much of the road noise associated with high-performance tires. Click the button to learn more from our dealers and stay with us for all your McLaren news. Browse McLaren For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 29, 2020

See How Fast the McLaren 765LT Hits 150 MPH

The new McLaren 765LT is a mean machine that deserves to be taken seriously. With 755 horsepower, 590 lb-ft of torque and a body that screams "aerodynamics," it's like a rocket through any straight or corner. Matson Watson recently took a McLaren 765LT out for a test spin to see how it performs. The most interesting part of his test-drive video, found below, is when he launched it down a straight. He managed to make the English supercar hit 150 mph in under 10 seconds. I reckon that would make the 765LT quite the formidable quarter-mile opponent. Click play below to see the action for yourself. See All McLarens For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 23, 2020

2021 McLaren 765LT Production & Performance Specs Unveiled

For those of us lucky to secure an allocation, this car is going to destroy all preconceived notions of what the brand is capable of. That's because the 2021 McLaren 765LT production and performance specs were in our inbox this morning. Their latest press release starts by confirming that all 765 cars have been sold, and production will be starting in a few days. While it has all the trademark aspects of its LongTail predecessors, this car will be the first to be comprised of body panels from the McLaren Composites Technology Center. It is there that the future of McLaren will be in lighter and stronger carbon fiber. Of course the 765LT is longer and a little wider due to the aerodynamic enhancements, and yet it is 77 lbs lighter than the 720S. Having 765 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque allow it to reach 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. You will be at 124 mph in 7 seconds and blasting through the quarter-mile in 9.9 ticks. Those numbers speak for themselves, and the 765LT will command respect from all enthusiasts. As soon as we get our hands on one we will have a proper review for you. Until then, click the button for great offers from our dealers and stay with us for all your McLaren news. Browse McLaren For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 22, 2020

McLaren Senna LM Debuts In The U.S.

Earlier this month I told you that something special was en route from England. From the skilled technicians at McLaren Special Operations, a special car was built to celebrate winning LeMans in 1995. To celebrate the Silver Anniversary of that historic win, the McLaren Senna LM has crossed the pond and arrived at McLaren North Jersey. Built to resemble the McLaren F1 LM, this Senna offers the same 814 horsepower found in the Senna GTR. To achieve this, the heads were ported by hand, a lost art in this world of mass-production. Unique aerodynamic bits offer more downforce to equal the immense power, and OZ Racing supplied their lightest forged wheels. No detail was overlooked, as the exhaust is plated in satin gold and the pedals are nitride-hardened titanium. McLaren North Jersey along with McLaren Orlando have committed to building five examples, so perhaps you need a new centerpiece for your collection. Click the button below to reserve yours and stay with us for all your McLaren news. Browse Inventory at McLaren Orlando

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By Edward Jones – September 18, 2020

5 Custom McLaren Senna GTR LMs Honor F1 GTR Race Cars

McLaren has just unveiled five stunning examples of the Senna GTR that honor the five F1 GTRs that finished 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 13th in the 1995 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Each of these Sennas were commissioned by customers and feature hand-painted liveries that took more than 800 hours each. In order to ensure each livery was faithful, McLaren received special permissions from brand owners and by Le Mans organizer the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). The results are absolutely stunning. But it's not just the liveries that make these Senna GTR LMs so special. Each of these race cars has new features and technical enhancements that allow it to sit above the Senna GTR they are based on. For example, McLaren's engineers re-calibrated the powertrain to increase its power output by 20 horsepower. There are also the new special LM twin-exit exhaust pipes, bespoke five-spoke wheels by OZ Racing, gold accents and more. Ansar Ali, Managing Director of McLaren Special Operations, said: “The McLaren Senna GTR LM project has been a labor of love for nearly two years; we have gone to great lengths not only to perfect the engineering aspects of the cars, but also to gain co-operation from brand holders and partners to maximize authenticity.” You can view each of these McLaren Senna GTR LMs in the galleries down below. See All McLaren Sennas for Sale McLaren Senna GTR LM 825/1 - The Ueno Clinic car McLaren Senna GTR LM 825/6 - The Harrods car McLaren Senna GTR LM 825/2 - The Gulf car McLaren Senna GTR LM 825/7 - The Jacadi Car McLaren Senna GTR LM 825/5 - The Cesar car

By Edward Jones – September 14, 2020

Pre-Owned McLarens Are Selling Fast in 2020

This year has been a rough one due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For McLaren North America, however, they are having seeing an incredible uptick in sales. In total, McLaren North America has sold 580 Certified Pre-Owned vehicles so far this year, an 11 percent increase when compared to August 2019. This sales figure is actually their best-ever in terms of year-to-date pre-owned vehicle sales. There were 50 cars sold in the Canada, while 530 were sold in the United States. The draw of the McLaren Certified Pre-Owned cars is pretty easy to see. Each car comes with a minimum one-year Certified Warranty after passing a comprehensive multi-point examination completed by McLaren-trained technicians. These pre-owned McLarens must also go through all servicing and maintenance that would be due within three months of its handover to the dealership and they have to be fitted with McLaren Genuine Parts as well. "Our mission is not only to build the best sports cars in the world, but also to offer the best ownership experience," says Tony Joseph, President McLaren North America. "McLaren Certified delivers that commitment on pre-owned McLaren cars from our retailers through the promise of quality and exclusivity with full factory support." See All McLarens for Sale

By Edward Jones – September 11, 2020

See 10-year-old's Winning McLaren Design

Mclaren Automotive and CBBC's Blue Peter have awarded 10-year-old Alex as the winner of their recent 'Supercar of the Future' competition. For his supercar's design, Alex drew his inspiration from nature and used advanced materials that could be grown on a tree. The judges loved his future-focused, sustainable design elements and crowned him the winner. After his win, McLaren's Design Director Rob Melville and his team worked with Alex to turn his sketches into a large-scale model along with virtual renders. On top of this winning the orange Blue Peter badge and getting to work with McLaren's design team, he received a VIP trip to the McLaren Production Center in Woking. It was here that brand ambassador Amanda McLaren welcomed him and showed him around the facility. But it doesn't stop there. Alex also was taken around the Top Gear track by The Stig himself in a McLaren 720S. But wait, there's more! There's also a new paint called 'Alex Leaf Green' that McLaren customers can choose from when ordering cars. Alex definitely had an incredible time and deserved the win! "I hope the supercar of the future competition inspires others to be creative and to really push the boundaries of what we think is possible. Supercars are a very tangible expression of how art and science combine and produce innovation so some of the ideas we’re working on – and that Alex has come up with – will help create breakthroughs and future transport solutions that we can all benefit from in the future." - Rob Melville, Design Director, McLaren Automotive See All McLarens for Sale

By Edward Jones – September 04, 2020

McLaren Dallas Debuts the Incredible Elva Roadster

The McLaren Elva Roadster has made a debut at McLaren Dallas during an exclusive event at Avondale's Premier Collection. While the guests sipped on fine cocktails and enjoyed small bites, the sheet on the new Elva Roadster was removed. Only 149 examples of this new hypercar will be created with just about 30 expected to come to the United States. In fact, McLaren Dallas has already taken orders on the Elva. “Rooted in the open-air sports cars designed by Bruce McLaren in the 1960s, the modern Elva is an engineering masterpiece,” said Heath Strayhan, General Manager of Premier Collection. “The Elva has no windshield, roof or windows, connecting the driver to the road in a bold fashion. McLaren’s unique Active Air Management System channels high speed air through the cars bonnet, up and over the cabin, creating a bubble that keeps passengers comfortable even at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour.” Check out the images below of the event and click the button below to see the inventory at McLaren Dallas. View Inventory

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