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

A sleek, maroon McLaren Elva, the ultimate thrill machine, is parked on a brick driveway in front of a red brick building.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 12, 2024

McLaren Elva: Own A Unique, Ultra-Light Thrill Machine

If you can get your hands on one, you should. The McLaren Elva is one of the most unique modern hypercars. Like its other hypercar peers, it's incredibly powerful, innovative, lightweight, and of course, fast. It also shares with other hypercars daring styling with excellent craftsmanship, exclusive features, and finishes of the highest quality. However, even among the crowd of excellent hypercars, the McLaren Elva manages to stand out. That's thanks to the fact that unlike most other modern hypercars, the McLaren Elva is roofless, and can be had even without a windshield. The result of this is a hypercar experience like few others, with high performance that few other cars can offer, delivered with a raw and exhilarating driving feel that can't be replicated. Inspired by classic open race cars, the Elva modernizes that ethos and takes its thrill to an entirely new level, making for a truly unforgettable experience. Here are just five of the reasons why this hypercar masterpiece should be in your garage. 1. Rare The McLaren Elva is not just unique in the hypercar world, but also highly exclusive. McLaren only built 149 of these stunningly beautiful pieces of machinery, meaning its once-in-a-lifetime experience is not an easy one to get. What that also means is that if you can get your hands on one of the very few McLaren Elvas for sale, you'll have a collector-grade masterpiece with investment appeal. 2. Roofless Without a roof, and often without a windshield, either, the McLaren Elva belongs to a very exclusive group of cars, often described as "barchettas." The body style, associated with vintage race cars, refers to a car with no roof and no windshield, dedicated purely to high performance and remarkable exhilaration with the wind in your face as you experience the McLaren Elva's excellent performance both in straightaways and in corners. 3. High-Performance The McLaren Elva is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, and it's capable of producing an immense 802 horsepower. Combine that fact with the fact that the McLaren Elva only weighs a scant 2,351 pounds, and you have quite the monstrous machine on your hands. The 0-60 time is under 2.8 seconds, and you can expect to reach a soaring top speed of 203 mph, which is quite the number considering there's no roof, making it roofless and ruthless alike. 4. Heritage-Inspired The roofless design of the McLaren Elva draws its inspiration from classic race cars, something the McLaren name is incredibly familiar with. 60 years ago in 1963, McLaren saw its origins on the track, not introducing road cars until the F1 in the 1990s. Many of the various McLaren Elva specs pay homage to these classic race cars, sharing liveries with race cars that won historic titles and forged McLaren's celebrated legacy. 5. Bespoke Craftsmanship Being a exclusive and highly limited edition hypercar, the McLaren Elva saw plenty of beautiful and unique configurations. If you own one, you'll be glad to know that the McLaren Elva was made with the finest materials and finishes. You'll find unique paint colors, exposed carbon fiber, and interiors with finishes like carbon fiber, leather, nubuck, Alcantara, and beautiful stitching. View All McLaren Elvas For Sale 2021 McLaren Elva View Listing & Financing 2021 McLaren Elva View Listing 2021 McLaren Elva View Listing 2021 McLaren Elva View Listing & Financing

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By Jordan Aquistapace – May 09, 2024

Triple F Collection Completes The Ultimate McLaren Series...

With a supercar and hypercar collection that's worthy of going head-to-head against any other on the planet, Triple F Collection continues to stockpile exclusive examples at its car compound in Ohio. And while the family-run collection features automotive icons from brands like Bugatti, Rimac, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, it's clear that McLaren holds a special place in the hearts of the Freckas. Triple F Collection is excited to celebrate a monumental milestone in its most recent YouTube video as the guys complete the ultimate McLaren series by welcoming a $2M McLaren Elva to the garage fleet. The Elva first made waves in the industry when it debuted as McLaren's lightest road car in 2019, showcasing an open-cabin design that came available with or without a windshield. Already owning McLaren marvels like the Solus GT, P1, Saber, Senna, 765LT, and MP4-12C, the $2M Elva stands out as the final piece to the McLaren puzzle. Finished in a color-shifting Pacific Color Stream paint, courtesy of McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the Elva made its trip to Ohio where the guys would finally get an up-close look and first drive. Jason and Jordan's first drive in the Elva showcases just how user-friendly it is, highlighting features like a hood block plate that helps divert wind out of the driver's and passenger's faces. The Elva is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 delivering 804 horsepower and 590 foot-pounds of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends all that power to the rear wheels, resulting in a dash of 62 mph in under three seconds. Today, the Elva remains one of the rarest and wildest cars McLaren has ever produced. Only 399 examples rolled off the production line with a base price of nearly $1.7 Million. Now that the McLaren Elva has happily joined the Triple F Collection's fleet, definitely expect more open-top supercar content from the guys. Check out all the McLaren Elva examples currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All McLaren Elvas For Sale " width="680"> Source: Triple F Collection

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 16, 2023

Artist Hom Nguyen Did 72 Hours Of Brush Work For This New...

An ultra-rare hypercar gets a bespoke twist. The McLaren Elva is a truly special creation, even among the realm of ultra-exclusive supercars and hypercars, boasting ultra-lightweight construction, plenty of power, and McLaren’s revered racing-derived engineering. With only 149 units of the hypercar built, it’s rare and highly desirable by exotic car collectors, performance enthusiasts, and McLaren fans to boot. However, with bespoke touches, this new McLaren Elva shown off by McLaren in a new Instagram post goes to another level entirely. The hypercar, commissioned through McLaren Ho Chi Minh City by a art enthusiast and exotic car collector, features black paintwork with orange accents, exuding McLaren’s signature elegance and racing inspiration, however the bespoke excellence comes in the form of artful details created by French artist Hom Nguyen for the Vietnamese patron. In Nguyen’s signature style, the brushstrokes resemble wisps of smoke dancing all over the Elva’s elegantly styled bodywork to form discernible images like faces. The details took 72 hours of work with brush in hand, and as McLaren’s Instagram caption says, it was “worth every second.” Rare and exclusive hypercars like the McLaren Elva are some of the most incredible cars to own, and when the owner adds the extra splendor of commissioning bespoke details like artwork from an artist as celebrated as Hom Nguyen, cars like this new McLaren Elva become the unfathomable pinnacle of an exotic car collection. McLaren’s automotive excellence and Nguyen’s artistry make this hypercar a dream car in every sense of the word. View All McLaren Elvas For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by McLaren Automotive (@mclarenauto)

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 04, 2023

This 2021 McLaren Elva XP2 For Sale Has $150K In Options

Engineering excellence and roofless thrills are just the beginning of what makes this car special. The McLaren Elva is a hypercar like few others in the world. With no roof and no windshield, it combines fierce power with an ultra-lightweight thrilling experience, bringing futuristic power and engineering to the classic ethos of vintage race cars. With 804 horsepower coming from its twin-turbocharged V8 engine as well as 590 lb/ft of torque, it’s a wild ride, and with only 149 units in existence, it’s also one of McLaren’s rarest and most precious creations. This McLaren Elva for sale at McLaren Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina is even more special. It’s an XP2 prototype, finished in a unique livery and seen in various publications as automotive journalists drove the McLaren Elva for the first time and experienced its unique approach to driving exhilaration. Its distinct livery and optional equipment from bumper to bumper help this hypercar for sale transform from being a rare unique high performance machine to being a collector-grade masterpiece. The livery of this unique McLaren Elva is finished primarily in Tupelo Gold, with black and white stripes and accents throughout, along with exposed carbon fiber and the number 4 across the left side. The livery alone is valued at $70,456, with the Tupelo Gold paint being $14,000. Other extras include the interior featured in carbon fiber and Raven colored nubuck, which costs $13,500, the carbon fiber front gurney, which was $15,159, and more. If you’re interested in owning one of the most distinguished examples of what is already an incredibly unique, powerful, and thrilling hypercar, view the listing by clicking below. View Listing Image Source: McLaren Charlotte

By Gabriel Vega – June 06, 2023

Driving The McLaren Elva Overwhelms All Senses

Not even a windshield can dial back the Elva's utter lunacy.

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 22, 2023

The GearBox: Elva Edition

The McLaren Elva elevates the meaning of an open cockpit design to a whole new level, with the ability to choose an optional winds...

Pre Owned 2021 McLaren Elva ID5315689676 aHR0cDovL2ltYWdlcy51bml0c2ludmVudG9yeS5jb20vdXBsb2Fkcy9waG90b3MvMjIxNy8yMDIyLTAyLTAzL2UwYzA4Y2E3Y2FhY2FjODJjOGQwZDA4MWUxNTZkNTYyLmpwZw

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 09, 2022

Check The Spec: A 2021 McLaren Elva In Borealis Black Ove...

The striking two-tone McLaren Elva features the windshield delete package. Upon its release, the McLaren Elva shocked the automotive world with its futuristic design that received an option for a windshield delete. This 2021 McLaren Elva is presented by the supercar specialists at McLaren Newport Beach. The exterior of the open cockpit McLaren is finished in a gloss Borealis (Jet Black) and Mantis (Green) paint scheme that highlights the complex curvature of the body design. Keeping its configuration performance-focused, the Elva features a set of open five-spoke sport wheels with vibrant Mantis green brake calipers. MUST-READ: Check The Spec: Jeffree Star’s New ‘Pink Magic’ McLaren 765LT While the interior of the McLaren Elva is easy to see from all angles, it includes a pair of Mantis leather sport seats and matching trim to enhance the color combination. The McLaren Elva is powered by a 4.0L Twin-Turbocharged V8 that produces over 804-horsepower and 590lb-ft of torque. Managed by a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Elva is able to catch traction and launch from 0-60mph in just 2.8-seconds. This 2021 McLaren Elva is currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY from McLaren Newport Beach with only 91-miles. Click the link below to check out the vehicle listing and to inquire about pricing. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more supercar news and luxury gear releases. View Listing

By Edward Jones – August 18, 2021

Learn Why the McLaren Elva is Such an Important Automobile

McLaren Beverly Hills has created an evocative video that celebrates the Elva and its heritage. There's no denying the fact that the McLaren Elva was inspired by classic race cars from the automaker. Its speedster design, silhouette, and extreme power output (804 horsepower) are all aspects you would expect from a race but the Elva puts it all together in a street-legal package. McLaren Beverly Hills has just published a video that celebrates the link between the Elva and McLaren's storied history. In the video, found above, you'll hear from F1 CEO, Zak Brown, McLaren Indy 500 winner, Jonny Rutherford, and former McLaren F1 driver, JP Montoya. ‘’Everything about McLaren is authenticity, Elva represents that in the purest and most perfect sense from both the driving dynamics and design to the technology that’s in it.’’ - Ansar Ali, Managing Director, McLaren Special Operations

By Edward Jones – July 12, 2021

Watch the $2.2 Million McLaren Elva's Scary Drive at Good...

The hill climb turned into a slip and slide. It's sad, but the Goodwood Festival of Speed is over but that doesn't mean we can't look back at the happenings. One of the most exciting moments had to be when a McLaren Elva, worth around $2.2 million, flew through the hill climb course even though it was soaking wet. Kenny Bräck was the driver of the hypercar and the wet tarmac didn't stop him from hammering the Elva through every corner and straight. If you watch the video up above, you can see the Elva get incredibly squirrely throughout the entire hill climb but it manages to make it to the finish line without incident. the best part? The smiles on the passenger and driver when they finally cross the finish line and realize how insane that drive was. See All McLarens For Sale Source: YouTube/Goodwood Road & Racing

By Edward Jones – May 27, 2021

The McLaren Elva is Now Available With a Windshield

For those who prefer something a bit more physical. McLaren Automotive has just announced that the Elva will now be available with a physical windscreen, as opposed to a barrier of air thanks to the Active Air Management System (AAMS). The windshield is also being introduced because some states in the USA require windshields. McLaren notes that this version is starting production very soon. One of the drawbacks to this version is that the will be a little bit of added weight, but it's just 44 lbs. McLaren hasn't finalized acceleration figures for this new variant, but the original windshield-less version can run 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in 6.8 seconds. Just 149 examples of the Elva will be created and the first deliveries of the windshield Elva are expected to happen at the end of the year. See All McLarens For Sale Source: McLaren

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