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 – March 08, 2019

McLaren Senna GTR Unveiled: More Aggressive Than Ever Before

When the McLaren Senna was first revealed, it took so many by surprise. It's extremely aggressive appearance is an absolute showstopper and it's become a star at every car show that has one appearing. Now, the newly unveiled McLaren Senna GTR takes the ferocity of the model up by the nth degree. McLaren notes that the Senna GTR is their most extreme track car yet. Its power comes from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces a staggering 813 bhp. With a lightest dry weight of just 2,619 lbs, the Senna GTR comes with a solid power-to-weight ratio. Because the Senna GTR is a track car, McLaren didn't have to worry about all of the road regulations like they did when designing the Senna. Without restraints, they created a car that's faster, lighter and more powerful than the Senna. “The McLaren Senna GTR is a perfect example of our determination to bring our customers the Ultimate expression of track driving performance and excitement," says Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive. Only 75 examples of the new McLaren Senna GTR will be created, with deliveries starting later this year in September 2019. McLaren has price the track car at £1.1 million plus taxes, equating to roughly $1.43 million USD. If you're interested, I should let you know that all of the cars were allocated within weeks of the order book opening, which happened shortly after the unveiling of the Senna GTR Concept at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. see all mclarens for sale

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 – March 05, 2019

New McLaren Grand Tourer Teased

A new McLaren Grand Tourer model has been teased ahead of its eventual reveal. It's announcement makes it the fourth McLaren that will be unveiled as part of the automaker's Track25 Business Plan. For now, we'll have to make due with a teaser image as its full reveal won't be for a few month. McLaren did, however, divulge a bit of info regarding the new model. Inside, they say that the interior will be "spacious, uncluttered and modern." Mike Flewitt, the CEO of McLaren Automotive also said that it will be the "Most usable mid-engined car yet." Here's a full quote by Flewitt from the press release issued by McLaren: “The fourth McLaren to be introduced under the Track25 business plan will be our interpretation of the Grand Tourer. It will be a car that combines competition levels of performance with continent- crossing capability, wrapped in a beautiful lightweight body. It’s a car that has been designed for distance and one that will also provide the comfort and space expected of a Grand Tourer. But with a level of agility never experienced before in this segment. In addition, it will be the lightest of Grand Tourers and by also having the best power-to-weight ratio, I promise it will be one of the quickest. In addition, it will be the only Grand Tourer to share its DNA with the 250mph McLaren Speedtail.”

By Edward Jones – February 22, 2019

Preview of the McLaren 600LT Spider by MSO That Will Be a...

A truly incredible McLaren 600LT Spider by MSO is making its way to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) designed this 600LT Spider's color scheme after the original colors for its predecessor, the 675LT. Across the body is a Dove Grey paint that's accented with brilliant instances of Napier Green, outlining what McLaren calls the "key design elements" of the 600LT. During the application process of the Napier Green paint, MSO use a new process for the very first time. This process involves a new technique that involves applying the paint to a film that's light and flexible, resulting in a perfect color match. This film has been applied to the splitter, sills, door inserts and rear diffuser. MSO also packed this 600LT with options like the MSO Defined Visual Carbon Fiber Front Fender Louvres, Visual Carbon Fiber exterior elements, retractable hard-top in MSO Bespoke Carbon Black, 10-spoke Ultra Lightweight forged alloy wheels. Inside, there's plenty of carbon fiber options as well that make it as sporty and stylish as you can make a 600LT Spider. If you want to see it for yourself, be sure to head out to the Geneva Motor Show, which starts on March 7th. Want a McLaren 600LT of your own? Click the button below to see what we have in stock! view all mclaren 600lt for sale

By Edward Jones – February 20, 2019

Justin Bell Tests Out the McLaren 600LT Spider

The new McLaren 600LT Spider and Coupe are incredible hot right now, thanks to their style, power and those beautiful exhaust pipes that shoot out flames. Justin Bell, a British racecar driver and son of Derek Bell, recently had the opportunity to test out the car. To test it, Bell flew out to Arizona to try out the 600LT Spider for his YouTube channel JustinBellTV. "On the road it was tight and agile with a barely contained contempt for being held back, but once out on the race track it showed its true colors," says Bell. Check out his full test drive of the car by clicking play above! view all mclarens for sale Also Check Out: Hennessey Performance McLaren 600LT Upgrade: Hypercar-like Power Why You Should Buy A McLaren 600LT How To Configure Your McLaren 600LT

By Edward Jones – February 14, 2019

McLaren 570S Art Car by Spencer Couture for Sale

O'Gara La Jolla is known for putting on amazing local events in order to connect with their community and their latest one is a perfect example of just how good they are at it. Don't believe me? Check out the story of this McLaren 570S Art Car by Spencer Couture that's for sale now. The dealership recently teamed up with local San Diego artist Spencer Couture to create a very unique work of art. It all started with a simple idea of creating a piece of work for the dealership. They stepped back on this idea because it seemed too simple and went big. After going back to the drawing board, they came up with an incredible idea: putting on a pop-up art show for Spencer Couture at the Omnia Night Club. What's more, it would feature a very special piece of work. Knowing that the McLaren brand is fairly new to the San Diego area, they chose a very special canvas for Spencer to use when creating a piece of art for the art show: a McLaren 570S from McLaren San Diego. By doing this, the McLaren automobile would truly be making a colorful splash in the area and catching the eyes of just about everyone. To create the visual, O'Gara La Jolla's partners at Modern Image were put to the task. They took an art piece of Spencer's and turned it into a seamless wrap for the car. If you look closely, you'll see that the artwork continues from panel to panel, transforming the car into a rolling piece of art. As for the event, it was a complete success. Over 300 guests were in attendance and each of them was surely picking up their jaws when they saw the incredible McLaren 570S Art Car by Spencer Couture. What's more, this car is currently for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com. Check out the incredible pictures of the car and it's price by clicking the button below. view listing and price Source

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 Edward Jones – February 04, 2019

McLaren 570GT MSO Cabbeen Collection Debuts in North America

In 2018 at the Beijing Auto Show, the new McLaren 570GT MSO Cabbeen Collection was unveiled. McLaren created this special edition model as a celebration for the Lunar New Year. Now, under a year later, this very special model has made its North American debut at McLaren Beverly Hills. Originally, there were supposed to be five created but this sixth edition was created and will be available only through McLaren Beverly Hills. The 570GT MSO Cabbeen Collection was designed in cooperation with Chinese fashion designer and entrepreneur Mr. Cabbeen. On the outside is an exterior finished in MSO Bespoke Obsidian Black with a hand-painted dragon design in Gloss Speedline Gold. Holding the car above the ground are a set of new 15-spoke GT wheels finished in the same gold paint as the dragons. Inside is a cabin that's highlighted by dragon embroidery. This McLaren 570GT has a special VIN that ends in 888888, meant to commemorate the Lunar New Year: Year of the Pig. Interested in owning it? Be sure to contact McLaren Beverly Hills by clicking the button below. view mclaren beverly hill's page

By Andrew Nabors – February 01, 2019

Highly-Optioned McLaren Senna Sold by Miller Motorcars

The notion of a missed opportunity can be a cause for sadness...or you could be proactive by never letting it happen again. That's why, if given the chance to order a McLaren Senna you should go all-in. Our friends at Miller Motorcars had a few individuals waiting for this allotment, and the lucky new owner didn't skimp on the details. Starting with the standard equipment, every Senna arrives with 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. The bold styling is meant as homage to Ayrton Senna, McLaren's master driver. You also have 1,763 lbs of downforce keeping the Pirelli tires glued to the track. Here is where this build gets juicy. Volcano Red looks great in any light, and we approve of the glossy carbon fiber. Satin 9-spoke wheels are the lightest McLaren offers, and the dark theme culminates in the exhaust heat shields. Instead of stainless, the interior details are galvanic grey. Bright red stitching on the carbon fiber seats includes the Senna logo. The clear section in the lower door is also optional, and it was ordered in Gorilla glass. It is the same tough composite that makes up the tops of the doors. Speaking of, when you are done scaring your passenger you will notice the door struts are Volcano Red. And so are the wheel center locks, and even smaller details that might take weeks to find. That's why car #259 will not be like any of its 499 siblings. view miller motorcars' inventory

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

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