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 – December 10, 2015

McLaren P1 Production Officially Ends

It's a very sad day, as McLaren P1 production has officially ended, according to a press released issued just today by the English automaker."The McLaren P1™ has achieved more than we ever expected of it since it was first previewed little over three years ago, both as a new generation of supercar, and in enhancing the McLaren brand globally," said Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive, in the press release.The 375th and final McLaren P1 is finished all in a pearlescent orange, which was accomplished with what McLaren is calling a "unique tinting process." This choice of color is special because it is reminiscent of the used on the final F1 road car, chassis #075. In fact, McLaren says in the press release that this final F1 actually inspired the famous color known as "Volcano Orange."Contrasting with the bright orange is the visible carbon fiber on the splitter, diffuser and side skirts. First and Last McLaren P1"As the direct ancestor to the fabled McLaren F1 – and the first in a new breed of hybrid-powered supercars – it had big shoes to fill, and it has more than succeeded," said Flewitt. "It has established itself as a true contender, proving to be more than a worthy rival on both road and track against long established rivals. It has done a fantastic job of becoming the halo product for the McLaren Automotive brand as we have grown the business into the three tiered, profitable outfit that we are today."In the image above is the last P1 (orange) and the very first P1 (Ice Silver). It's hard to think that it's been over two years since McLaren rolled the first P1 off the production line in the summer of 2013. Since then, we've seen the car take on the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 Spyder and various other high-end exotics. I'll be the first to say that this is just the start of memories that will be made by the P1.We can't wait to see what McLaren has in store for us next. In the meantime, click the button below to see our top 10 McLaren P1 moments so far.Top 10 P1 Moments(Source: McLaren Automotive)

By Edward Jones – December 03, 2015

McLaren MP4-X Unveiled: Future of Racing

McLaren is constantly looking to the future, whether it be the future for their production cars or race cars. Their design team is always designing and sculpting new models, and they've just shown off one of their most exciting examples yet: the McLaren MP4-X.On their web page dedicated to the concept race car, they note that this is their "conceptual vision for the future of motorsport technology."“With the futuristic McLaren MP4-X concept racecar, we wanted to peer into the future and imagine the art of the possible,” said John Allert, Group Brand Director, McLaren Technology Group, on the web page.They wanted to show off their ability to marry speed, excitement and performance with driver safety and hybrid power technologies, and it seems as though they accomplished this task.The most exciting technology introduced on this car has to be the chassis that changes shape in order to adapt to aerodynamic demands. What's more, it will "communicate in the event of a failure of a problem."Will we see this car on the race track in the future? Maybe. All I know is that this a great sign of things to come for the racing world.McLarens For SaleGallery (Source: McLaren)

By Caitlin Duffy – November 10, 2015

Exclusive McLaren 650S Spider Al Sahara 79 Created for Du...

In honor of the first day of the Dubai International Motor Show, McLaren Automotive has unveiled an MSO creation "bespoke to the Middle East": the 650S Spider Al Sahara 79.As a press release issued today by the British auto manufacturer describes, this model is available exclusively to customers in the Middle East, and features a design "inspired by the styles, cultures and landscapes of the region." 24 carat gold particles add a special shine to the exterior's pearlescent white gold paint, which is mean to mimic the shimmering gold sands of the region's deserts.The paint is truly where the car's name comes from; "Al Sahara" is the Arabic phrase for "the desert," and the atomic number of gold is 79. But it's not just the exterior that defines the motif. The interior's contrasting black and Almond White leathers accent the white gold paint of the steering wheel, door panels and center controls, while all switchgears and heating vents are finished in a dark gold.Of course, the fun part comes under the hood. The 650S' 3.0-liter twin turbo V8 pumps out 641 bhp and 500 lb-ft of torque, allowing a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.0 seconds flat and a top speed of 204 mph.As the release shares, the Dubai Motor Show isn't the only reason an exclusive Middle East creation was designed. Nearly 25 percent of all McLarens purchased in the Middle East are customized in some way, meaning the region "boasts one of the highest levels of MSO customisation globally."This model is priced at 1,456,308 AED, or approximately $396,500 USD. Of course, given that this car is exclusive to the Middle East, it can't be purchased using American currency. Check out the photos for some inspiration, then find a 650S Spider for your collection from our exclusive listings.McLaren 650S Spider For SaleGallery (via McLaren Automotive) See More McLaren News

By Caitlin Duffy – November 05, 2015

McLaren 570S Coupe Begins Production

We've awaited its arrival for months and watched it make special appearances around the world, and the time has come at last: the McLaren 570S has entered production.Announced today in a press release, the 570S's production star officially marks the start of the Sports Series, McLaren's third series of vehicles offered. It's the most affordable and easiest to drive of the McLaren cars released so far, though their iconic race experience still lies at the center of the 570S' design.Pietro Frigerio, the General Manager at McLaren Newport Beach, recently experienced the 570S during a track event in Portugal, and on Oct. 21 described it as an incredibly fun car to drive that doesn't take professional skills to handle. The model entered pre-production testing in August of this year, ordering opened in October and it's now ready, in November, to begin filling orders."The Sports Series is targeted towards a new buyer and opens McLaren up to the sports car market that we have not served to date," described Jolyon Nash, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing for McLaren Automotive, said the release. "The buyer of a Sports Series model will still experience the benchmark performance and driver engagement delivered by every McLaren model, but will also notice the increased usability and practicality that differentiates it from our existing cars."Priced at $184,900, it's expected that this model and the other Sports Series cars, like the 540C, will double McLaren's annual output to 4,000 vehicles by 2018. Stay with us to see if their estimates are correct, and find another one of McLaren Automotive's incredible cars from our exclusive listings below.McLarens For SaleGallery (via McLaren) See More McLaren News

By Edward Jones – October 29, 2015

Uber Will Pick You Up in a McLaren P1

Right now is the best time to have Uber pick you up if you happen to be in Manhattan.Uber announced Oct.27 that they teamed up with the National Geographic Channel to give customers rides in some of the "world's most cutting-edge alternative energy vehicles." This partnership was created to celebrate Nat Geo's new series "Breakthrough," a show that studies scientific breakthroughs in various fields.(Also Read: Ride along in the McLaren P1 GTR’s Passenger Seat)The vehicles they chose include the McLaren P1, Lexus CTh, Porsche Cayenne Biodiesel, Tesla Model S, Hyundai Tuscon Hydrogen Fuel Cell and more.How do you get picked up in one of these cars?Open the Uber app in Manhattan and enter the promo code "BREAKTHROUGH" in the promotions menu option. Then, request the "BREAKTHROUGH" option in the bottom slider. If one of the cars is available, they'll pick you up. Best part: your trip fare is free.This promotion ends at 7 pm on Oct. 30.McLarens For Sale(via Uber) More McLaren Automotive News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 27, 2015

Ride along in the McLaren P1 GTR's Passenger Seat

Editor's note: it was brought to our attention that the hour long video was, in fact, a well-edited loop of another video. The original video, added to YouTube Oct. 11 by Alexander West, has replaced the hour-long upload from Testarossa Power.The P1 is McLaren Automotive's flagship supercar. At 903 hp and 664 lb-ft, it's one of the most powerful road-legal cars out there, and also one of the most exclusive.Its price was set at $1.15 million and production limited to 375 examples when the P1 was released in 2014, meaning there are a few people on this planet that can acquire one for their collection. Later in 2014, McLaren Automotive announced another model that even fewer will be able to experience - the P1 GTR.(See Also: Chicane Grey McLaren 675LT at McLaren Newport Beach)Exclusively built for the track and only available to current P1 owners, the McLaren P1 GTR is an even-more-powerful and lightweight P1, with performance increased to 986 hp. But this beautiful thing that is the internet has made it possible to virtually experience the P1 GTR for yourself.On Oct. 11, YouTube channel Alexander West shared a video entirely from the cockpit of a P1 GTR. It's a video you'll want to put on full screen with the volume turned all the way up. Get cozy in your seat and prepare for an experience that will only leave you wanting more.When you're finished with your virtual ride along, find a P1 for your collection from our exclusive listings below.P1s For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More McLaren News

By Edward Jones – October 23, 2015

Chicane Grey McLaren 675LT at McLaren Newport Beach

McLaren Newport Beach has yet another happy customer, thanks to the selling of this McLaren 675LT. The new owner will be able to enjoy the supercar and its 3.8-liter V8 engine, capable of producing 666 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. This V8 is related to the one found in the 650S, but the 675LT benefits from a massive amount of upgrades. These include new turbos, modified cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds. McLaren states on their web page for the car that the 675LT is "the lightest, most driver-focused, most exclusive series-production McLaren supercar ever built." On top of the fantastic standard features McLaren includes in the car, this example has a list of optional upgrades. You can view these below, along with a detailed gallery of the car in McLaren Newport Beach's showroom. View Dealer Inventory Exterior Special Paint - Chicane Grey Carbon Fiber Exterior Upgrade Pack Carbon Fiber Front Bumper End Plate Carbon Fiber Side Intake Carbon Fiber Lower Side Intake Carbon Fiber Door Blades Carbon Fiber Rear Bumper Center Carbon Fiber McLaren-branded Sill Panels Carbon Fiber Mirror Casings Carbon Fiber Engine Covers Carbon Fiber Engine Bay Panels Carbon Fiber Racing Bucket Seats - Touring Carbon Fiber Extended Shift Paddles Carbon Fiber Interior Trim Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel Trim Titanium Water and Oil Caps Motorsports-style Polycarbonate Engine Cover McLaren Carbon Fiber Stealth Badge Carbon Ceramic Brakes - Napier Green Callipers Super-Lightweight Forged Wheels - Gloss Black Machine Finish Titanium Exhaust Tips McLaren Track Telemetry Camera Extended Upper Trim - Carbon Black Alcantara Full Carbon Black Alcantara®& Embossed Leather Interior Napier Green Contrast Coloured Stitching Soft Close Latches P-Zero Tyres Meridian Surround Sound System Gallery

By Edward Jones – October 21, 2015

McLaren Newport Beach's GM Test Drives McLaren 570S in Po...

By Pietro Frigergio, General Manager of McLaren Newport Beach:McLaren Automotive offered the management of each dealership the opportunity to drive the 570S for the first time in Faro, Portugal - the trip started in the little resort of Conrad Algarve, where great food and a 570S craned at the 4th floor terrace was on display.The day program included driving the 570S on the Autodromo International Algarve, a facility used by most manufacturers, with a very long straight where speeds of 170+ mph are possible. To test handling, there are very twisty sections with extreme elevation changes, off-camber turns and blind crests- a real spectacle where the agility of the 570S came out to play.The 570S may not be as fast and composed as the 650S, but for a non-professional driver, it is actually a lot of fun. I'd say it's a bit like a go-kart, allowing everybody to have fun and make the car dance without always approaching the physical limits of the vehicle. And, it really sounds great, considering the challenges of a turbocharged engine. McLaren topped the event off by allowing us to drive the 570S back to the hotel by way of a three-hour drive through beautiful Portuguese country highways. This is where the McLaren really was in its element. Even without pushing excessive speeds, the vehicle was going from turn to turn in a smooth and very reactive manner. The steering felt directly connected to the eyes of me, the driver. The noise was popping at downshifts and upshifts, creating an audible spectacle. Inside, the cabin is a beautiful place to be; seats are extremely comfortable and the view of the road, as in every McLaren, is fantastic.Overall, the McLaren 570S is really an everyday sports car: fun on the track and extremely entertaining on the road with the benefit of looking exotic with a great road presence.Gallery

By Edward Jones – October 19, 2015

Entirely Orange McLaren P1 is a Sight to Behold

There's no way you'll be able to miss this orange McLaren P1 in daytime or nighttime.The McLaren P1 has been seen in just about every color of the rainbow since it started being delivered to customers in 2013. From Deadmau5's blue P1, to a purple one in Scotland, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has shown off their ability to create a model personalized exactly to the owners' tastes.AutomotiveMike captured one very special P1 during the Modena Motorsport Trackdays back in June and just uploaded a fantastic video of the car Oct. 18.Its all-orange body is quite the sight, making the hypercar resemble a more aerodynamic and faster relative of the orange. But, there's one little detail that gets me about this P1, and it's the little kiwi on its side sill. This little detail is an homage to the legendary Bruce McLaren, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand.Check out the car for yourself in the video below, and let us know what you think about the vibrant paint job in the comments.P1s For Sale (Source: YouTube) More McLaren News

By Edward Jones – October 16, 2015

McLaren 650S Can-Am in Papaya Spark and Onyx Black

McLaren Automotive is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Can-Am race with the exclusive 650S Can-Am model. This model is a variant of the popular 650S that features an automatic, fully-retractable, carbon fiber hard top, and a number of cosmetic changes.Only 50 examples of this car will be produced in either Mars Red, Papaya Spark and Onyx Black. So far, we've only been able to see the 650S Can-Am in Mars Red, as it was the color chosen for the debut, but now we get to see it in the vibrant Papaya Spark and dark Onyx Black color schemes.On October 14, McLaren Automotive's official Facebook page shared pictures of the two versions.The Onyx Black version dons a mostly black body, with hints of red and even smaller hints of white. As for the Papaya Spark version, the car is highlighted by the electric Papaya Spark finish, which contrasts against the black trimming and equally bright purple accents.Which one do you like better? Let us know in the comments below. And, as always, be sure to check out our Mclarens for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com by clicking the button below.McLaren Listings(Source: Facebook, McLaren) More McLaren News

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