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 – 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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By Andrew Nabors – January 09, 2019

Andretti Autosports to Enter Pirelli GT4 America Series i...

Being part of a famous racing family has some nice benefits. For instance, Jarrett Andretti is the son of John Andretti and his great-uncle is none other than Mario Andretti. Clearly, he has some big shoes to fill. Jarrett has started to fill those shoes by winning numerous USAC Midget races and championships. Now it's time to step into something a little more powerful. Announced yesterday in a press release by his sponsor, Endurance Warranty Services has joined forces with Andretti Motorsports to enter the Pirelli GT4 America Series in a McLaren 570S GT4. Car # 18 was prepped and sold by our friends at McLaren Philadelphia, as they are the only authorized McLaren GT dealer this side of the Mississippi. McLaren 570S GT4 & 570S Sprint Added to Lineup The 570S GT4 does not merely resemble the production 570S. It uses a stock Monocell II chassis with wider fenders over massive mag wheels. It has an additional radiator to handle hot tracks, and the 7-speed transmission is sequential instead of dual-clutch. Front wheels are 18 x 9 and rears are 18 x 11, with center-lock hubs. The aluminum subframes are the same used on production cars, and the engine is also un-altered. The turbos are able to spin up much faster thanks to open exhaust. The power-to-weight ratio is probably similar to the Midgets he is used to, but Jarrett will have to get used to Air Conditioning and incredible brakes. If you are interested, click the link below to find your McLaren and stay with us for all your motorsports news. View McLaren Philadelphia Inventory " width="680"> P.S. - Please keep the Andretti family in your thoughts and prayers. John tweeted that his stage 4 colon cancer has returned. Surgery is scheduled near the end of January.

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 29, 2016

Epic McLaren Tampa Bay Line Up

Recently, Dimmitt Automotive's McLaren Tampa Bay were greeted by an incredible McLaren Lineup including the P1, 675LT, 650S and 570S. The cars, which were beautifully displayed one after another outside the dealership, added a little flair to the street and provided both employees and onlookers with a little eye candy. The dealership snapped these amazing images of the line up below. Take a peak and tell us which model is your favorite.View Dimmitt's Inventory

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

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By Caitlin Duffy – August 21, 2015

McLaren Newport Beach's Mission Monterey 2015

Monterey Car Week and the bevvy of automotive events hosted in and around Pebble Beach, California have been the main focus of the automotive world for the past few weeks. But just as importantly as how wonderful those events were is how the attendees arrived.When headed to one of the world's most exclusive and well known automotive events, where millions on millions of dollars worth of fine mechanical creations cross auction blocks and line streets, it's important to arrive in a fitting style. McLaren Newport Beach holds exactly that sentiment, and as a result, hosted the Mission Monterey 2015.A total of 17 McLarens, including two P1s, traveled together up the famous highway California 1, which follows the twists and turns of the Pacific coastline, from Malibu to Monterey. The scenic route of California 1 is a beautiful thing to enjoy any day in any car, but to experience it from behind the wheel of a McLaren while traveling with 16 other like-minded and like-engined individuals is an enthusiast's dream. The events waiting for them upon their arrival were simply the icing on the cake.(See Also: Man Buys and Immediately Races Porsche 918 Spyder, Carrera GT and McLaren P1)Take a look at the photos from this twisting and turning adventure in the gallery below, and hit the button to see what McLaren Newport Beach currently has in their showroom, and begin to prepare for 2016's trip.View InventoryGallery (Source: McLaren Newport Beach, Facebook) See More McLaren News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 06, 2015

McLaren P1 in Alaskan Diamond White at McLaren Newport Beach

Currently, at McLaren Newport Beach, there is a rare opportunity worth taking advantage of. With only 920 miles on its odometer is a McLaren P1 in Alaskan Diamond White, covered in carbon fiber and waiting for a new owner.A creation from McLaren's Special Operations (MSO) division, this P1 features black Alcantara and leather with red contrast stitching in the interior, with the P1 logo stitched boldly into the headrest of each seat. The exterior is clean, sleek and stunning, with red brake calipers tying the interior's red accents to the exterior's display.Of course, it isn't just the appeal of a visually stunning car that makes this offer so special. Under the hood is McLaren's potent twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 combined with an electric motor creates a total of 903 hp, making a limited top speed of 217 mph and a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 2.8 seconds possible.Tie in the fact that this is one of the 375 examples created, all of which have already been sold, and that the odometer lists a scant 902 miles, and this listing is declared rare, indeed.(See Also: Iconic 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV)Take a moment to browse the photos of this P1 below, and when you're finished, hit the button to visit the listing and see how you can make it yours.Buy NowGallery (Source: McLaren Newport Beach) See More Listings For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 31, 2015

The Most Unique McLaren 650S Le Mans Edition

Only 50 McLaren 650S Le Mans Editions will be made. Less than 10 can be found in the United States and almost all of the 50 cars are Sarthe Grey, but this example features Tarocco Orange Elite paint with matching orange seat inserts. The lightweight wheels are unique to the Le Mans Edition and pay tribute to the F1 GTR entered in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. It finished first, third, fourth, fifth and 13th in that race, making McLaren the only manufacturer to ever win Le Mans on their first attempt.The Le Mans Edition was produced by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) to commemorate 20 years since the historic win. All Le Mans Editions feature handmade carbon fiber parts and interior badges, but this particular example has many unique options. A few of the carbon fiber parts, including the MSO rear diffuser and roof snorkel, cost in excess of $60,000.The roof snorkel, also found on the P1, significantly helps with channeling air into the engine. The snorkel creates a “woosh” sound above the driver and passenger's heads that makes for an unbelievably visceral driving experience. This example was commissioned for a prestigious collector who had some unique pieces added to the car. He requested the signatures of every McLaren engineer that worked on this car, as well as the signature of Ron Dennis, CEO of McLaren.Dimmitt Automotive Group would like to extend a special thank you to the collector who purchased this vehicle.View Dealer InventoryGallery

By Edward Jones – June 29, 2015

Blade Silver 2015 McLaren 570S at McLaren Newport Beach

The first revealed model from McLaren's Sport Series was the 570S, a sports car that aims to compete with the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 Turbo.The car comes packing a M838TE twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 562 hp and 442 lb-ft. Its weight is considerably low at 2,895 lbs, thanks to the carbon fiber MonoCell II chassis. Combine that much power and that little weight, and the 570S can rush from 0-62 mph in 3.2 while topping out at 204 mph.(See Also: Satin Pearl White McLaren P1 Sold by McLaren Newport Beach)Recently, McLaren Newport Beach brought a new example of the 570S onto their showroom floor, finished in gorgeous "Blade Silver" paint. This finish is offered as a "Special" color when configurating your own 570S.Check out the gallery below to see just how beautiful this color looks on the 570S.Gallery

By Edward Jones – June 24, 2015

Satin Pearl White McLaren P1 Sold by McLaren Newport Beach

McLaren Newport Beach have delivered yet another P1 to one of their clients. This time, it's a Satin Pearl White example with red trimming.The California dealership has had McLaren models go through their showroom left and right. Below are some of the new models we have covered that McLaren Newport Beach has had on their dealership floor. McLaren 650S “Le Mans Edition” at McLaren Newport Beach McLaren 675LT In Detail at McLaren Newport Beach Every Angle of the P1 GTR at McLaren Newport Beach Private Party Only Tarocco Orange Pearl P1 in US For Sale at McLaren Newport Beach McLaren 570S Unveiling at McLaren Newport Beach McLaren Newport Beach Delivers “Fire Black” McLaren P1 Two McLaren P1s For Sale at McLaren Newport Beach McLaren Newport Beach Delivers 8th McLaren P1 McLaren Newport Beach Receives Alaskan Diamond White P1 Azure Blue McLaren P1 Arrives at Newport McLaren McLaren P1s in Supernova Silver and Tarocco Orange Detail Galleries Azure Blue McLaren P1 Photoshoot That's a lot of McLarens. Be sure to check out the latest P1 to roll through the dealership by viewing the gallery below and stay with us for more from McLaren Newport Beach.Gallery

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