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

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By Tyler Rampersaud – January 27, 2023

McLaren Scottsdale's New 35,000 Square-Foot Facility Is T...

Scottsdale, Arizona becomes a McLaren Mecca. Especially in the United States, Scottsdale, Arizona is an automotive capital in its own right, and the new McLaren Scottsdale showroom makes for a significant addition to the city’s car-world cachet. At a recent gala event, the Mike Ward Automotive Group dealership opened its new retail and service facility and totaling 35,000 square feet, it’s the largest one in the Americas. Holding the top spot for the highest specification vehicles sold by any store in the U.S. for McLaren, McLaren Scottsdale’s customers are known for wanting unique vehicles and utilizing much of what McLaren Special Operations offers. MUST READ: McLaren F1 Driver Lando Norris Specs Out His Dream McLaren Artura Configuration Over 500 customers and VIP guests joined McLaren, The Americas President Nicolas Brown in celebrating the opening, and part of the celebration was a display of cars like the Elva, Senna, F1, and more, totaling an incredible $25 million in value. In the midst of a city already known for its automotive excellence, the largest McLaren dealership on this side of the globe is certainly a welcome addition. View All McLarens For Sale Source: McLaren

By Edward Jones – August 11, 2021

New McLaren P1 HDK Debuted by O'Gara Coach and Lanzante A...

The two brands are starting the partnership off with a brilliant reveal. O'Gara Coach and Lanzante have both announced an exciting partnership between the two brands. This partnership will allow O'Gara Coach to offer their clientele with Lanzante's incredible bespoke projects. The partnership also gives O'Gara Coach the ability to take care of servicing and after-sales in regards to commissions from Lanzante, which will make owning one of their creations in the U.S. easier than before. Alongside this announcement, the two brands also unveiled a new McLaren P1 HDK (High Downforce Kit), the second of its kind created. The HDK was inspired by the original High Downforce Kit that McLaren F1 owners would add to their car in order to give their supercars an appearance similar to that of an F1 GTR. This particular P1 HDK started life off as a road-going P1 hypercar and was commissioned for Tom O'Gara, owner of O'Gara Coach. Its design is completely bespoke, featuring metallic green paint, saddle tan leather seats, and 24kt gold electroformed badges. As you can plainly see, the green, gold, and tan color combination work brilliantly on this P1 HDK. If you would like to see it for yourself, this example will make its debut at Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on Friday, August 13 from 10am to 4pm. If O'Gara Coach and Lanzante were looking to start their partnership off with a bang, they most definitely succeeded. We're more than excited to see more Lanzante commissions in the United States, especially knowing they'll look this good. “We are very excited to partner with Lanzante Limited,” said Tom O’Gara. “Having just completed our fifth project together, which happens to be my own personal car, we are thrilled to be able to introduce our existing clientele as well as potential new clients to the extremely special bespoke projects Lanzante produces. With this partnership not only can we assist clients with the commission and acquisition portion, but the servicing and after-sales portion as well, which we all know is the most important part.” If you'd like to learn how to order your bespoke McLaren from Lanzante, be sure to contact either McLaren Beverly Hills or McLaren San Diego. Source: O'Gara CoachPhotos by Harry Rudd

By Edward Jones – October 21, 2020

The 1st 2021 McLaren 765LT Delivered in the United States

McLaren Charlotte has just received what is the very first customer example of the 2021 McLaren 765LT to land on the shores of the United States. Loaded with features, this example of McLaren's latest supercar is a jaw-droppingly beautiful car. The exterior of this 765LT is finished in Fistral Blue, a selection from the MSO Defined palette that costs over $9,000. Fans of the famous Gulf Livery will love the sight of this blue being contrasted by the McLaren Orange on the brake calipers and even the orange seatbelts. Just about everything else that isn't blue on the supercar's exterior is visible carbon fiber thanks to the addition of the Carbon Fiber Exterior Upgrade packs. Inside, the cabin of this 2021 765LT is loaded with options, much like the exterior. The Black Alcantara and McLaren Orange stitching match the exterior's color scheme. Other options include vehicle lift system, 12-Speaker audio system, electric and heated memory seats, 360-degree park assists and more. As mentioned before, this 765LT belongs to a customer so it's already been spoken for. That being said, you can still contact them if your interested in picking a new McLaren up for yourself. For that, click the button below. View McLaren Charlotte Inventory

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

By Edward Jones – February 28, 2020

McLaren Philadelphia Named 2019 Retailer of the Year - No...

The McLaren Automotive 2019 Retailer of the Year - North America has been crowned and it's none other than McLaren Philadelphia. They were recognized for having the highest standard of business operation while also growing the McLaren brand in North America. One interesting fact about this award-winning dealership is the fact that they're theonly F1 Certified Service Center outside of McLaren Special Operations in Woking, United Kingdom. “McLaren Philadelphia has been a valuable member of McLaren North America’s retailer network since we launched the brand in this region, and their expertise is unmatched. In 2019, they saw a 39 percent year-over-year increase in sales, and were the largest McLaren Certified Pre-owned dealer in North America. McLaren Philadelphia continues to be a top performer, and I’m proud to award them as Retailer of the Year- North America,” said Tony Joseph, President, McLaren North America. VIEW MCLAREN PHILADELPHIA INVENTORY

By Edward Jones – December 20, 2019

Ruslan Pelykh Directs McLaren 720S Spider Video for McLar...

Press Release - Up and coming multi-hyphenate filmmaker, Ruslan Pelykh has been commissioned by luxury dealership McLaren Beverly Hills to direct a one-of-a-kind video featuring the McLaren 720S Spider. The 720S Spider has the best of both worlds as it combines the adrenaline pumping rush of a supercar while sporting a retractable roof allowing the driver to enjoy its smooth ride under the sun to fully embrace the Los Angeles lifestyle. The video features a captivating Helios Orange 720S Spider and models Michael Yerger, Ari Welkom, and Brittany Phillips, and was produced by Adam Maffei. Similar to the McLaren designers, Pelykh is inspired by the human form and captures close-ups of the models’ body parts in movement, illustrating the correlation to different components of the vehicle. To Pelykh, a woman’s curves mirror the ergonomically designed outer shell, a shoulder morphs into the hood of a car, and a spinal cord resembles the spoiler. Pelykh masters the art of creating powerful yet graceful imagery by contributing an innovative and cutting edge perspective, unlikely to be seen by supercar connoisseurs. As such, this production marks Pelykh’s first supercar-focused project. The video also accentuates the intricacies of the car as well as the unique interiors and views of the dashboard from the driver’s seat. The glossy exteriors are beautifully highlighted and the distinctive details that are exclusive to the McLaren design are brought to the spotlight. The video comes to an end with a sensual display of the power of touch, concluding with an invitation to the viewer to climb into the driver’s seat. Ukranian born, New York City-based Pelykh is known for his artistic vision and handheld camera usage. He has worked with brands such as Alexander Wang, British Vogue, L’Officiel Italia, Rag & Bone and models including Alexina Graham, Doutzen Kroes, Elsa Hosk, and Hailey Bieber amongst others. The McLaren 720S Spider performs like no other as it is exceptionally fast yet still boasts a phenomenal driver engagement. At the heart of the 720S Spider is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that generates 720PS and 770Nm allowing the speed to go from 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds and 0 124mph in just 7.9 seconds. The Retractable Hard Top is a new design by McLaren with a one-piece carbon fibre roof panel as standard. For open-air driving, the roof can be lowered in just 11 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph. The McLaren 720S Spider is available for purchase at McLaren Beverly Hills ( price upon request ) VIEW MCLAREN BEVERLY HILLS' INVENTORY " width="680">

By Edward Jones – December 06, 2019

McLaren Beverly Hills Offers Three McLaren Senna XP Exclu...

Press Release - Beverly Hills, CA - December 3rd, 2019 - Luxury dealership McLaren Beverly Hills is gearing up to release three one-of-a-kind McLaren Senna XP cars. The McLaren Senna is the most track-focused road car McLaren has ever built, and consistently sets the fastest lap times of any McLaren to date. The XP cars, which were commissioned by the dealer from McLaren Special Operations (MSO), are unique to McLaren Beverly Hills. VIEW MCLAREN BEVERLY HILLS' INVENTORY Only 500 examples of the McLaren Senna were made available globally during the car’s limited production run, and all were snapped up by enthusiasts before production even began in 2018. McLaren’s XP cars are even rarer, being traditionally the factory experimental prototypes and initial test cars, and then re-built to individual customer specifications after the model program is completed. The Beverly Hills XP vehicles are inspired by three of the most remarkable achievements in the career of iconic F1 pilot Ayrton Senna, one of McLaren’s greatest racing drivers. Each car features a fully exposed gloss carbon body with unique paintwork detailing matching the hosting countries’ colors of that Grand Prix. The flags of these countries are hand-painted on the rear wing, which together with the exquisite detail airbrushed onto the interior extended carbon fiber sills, shows the racing exploits of the great man. These features and the fully bespoke interiors in matching tinted gloss carbon fiber took the craftsmen and women at MSO in Woking, UK 780 hours to create. The finishing touches are bespoke brake calipers, a steering wheel with special 12 o’clock marker, an etched accelerator pedal, headrests embroidered with the nation flag and name of theme and a special 1 of 1 dedication plaque, signifying that this is a truly unique car. Master of Monaco celebrates Senna’s six wins, five of which were consecutive victories, at the iconic street circuit between 1989 and 1993. Considered by most as requiring more concentration over a single lap than any other circuit, the drivers get closer to the barriers at Monaco than at any other Grand Prix. In 1988, Ayrton qualified on pole by over 2 seconds driving what he later said was “well over something conscious”. Lap of the Gods pays respect to one of Ayrton’s greatest victories, when at Donington Park in the UK during the 1993 season, he came from 5th place on the grid to lead the race in the wet and changing conditions by the end of the first lap. Ayrton solidified his status and went to finish in first place over 1 minute ahead of second place. This incredible drive by Ayrton is widely regarded as the best opening-lap charge in F1 history, and rightfully so. Home Victory (vitória em casa, the Portuguese translation of Home Victory) pays homage to Ayrton’s home country of Brazil and his first home win in 1991. Against all odds, Ayrton won the Interlagos race with only 6th gear remaining through the final laps; with competitors catching up to him, his superhuman effort and great luck led him to victory in the emotional race. “I only returned to reality when I saw the finish line” he stated. “Then I felt happy to be alive, to be in Interlagos, in my homeland, and with my happy compatriots. It wasn’t the greatest victory of my life, but one where I gave everything I had.” These extraordinary cars are exclusive to O’Gara Coach and McLaren Beverly Hills and each has an MSRP of $1,435,328. They will be displayed at O’Gara Coach’s upcoming Sunset GT in Sunset Plaza on December 8th for the Southern California car community to enjoy and view up close. VIEW MCLAREN BEVERLY HILLS' INVENTORY I4mages by Robert Grubbs

By Edward Jones – March 20, 2019

McLaren Beverly Hills is McLaren Automotive's 2018 "Globa...

Out of the 91 retailers in McLaren Automotive's global network of dealers, McLaren Beverly Hills is in the spotlight as the manufacturer's top performer. The California dealership that's part of the O'Gara Group was awarded as the McLaren Automotive Global Retailer of the Year 2018 during the fourth edition of the awards. To determine the winner of the award, McLaren looked at areas like sales, customer service, aftersales and marketing. “I would like to congratulate McLaren Beverly Hills on claiming the McLaren Global Retailer of the Year Award,” said Tony Joseph, President of McLaren North America. “It’s an especially impressive performance considering that the O’Gara Group only took on the franchise in late 2017 and have succeeded in taking their performance in sales and service to a world-beating level in only 12 months”. " width="680"> “At McLaren Beverly Hills we don’t just sell McLarens, we inspire our customers to enjoy, drive and race their cars," says McLaren Beverly Hills CEO, Tom O’ Gara. "We are as much enthusiasts and motorsports fans as they are and we are thrilled that McLaren has recognised the passion and spirit that we bring to this business and our attention to customer care and service” There were three other North American McLaren retailers that were among the top 12 global retailers: McLaren Philadelphia, McLaren San Francisco and McLaren Toronto. view mclaren beverly hills' inventory

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 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

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