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 – November 13, 2019

McLaren Elva Roadster Revealed as Street Legal Featherweight

Bruce McLaren and his team were always ahead of the industry. Before roadsters and speedsters became serious contenders, he already had one on the track. Inspired by their fearless founder, the McLaren Elva roadster has been revealed as a street-legal featherweight. Starting with a new styling language "Blurred Boundaries" is appealing and functional. It incorporates their new AAMS, or Active Air Management System. This system contains high-pressure air in the cockpit to prevent turbulence and wind noise. The Original McLaren-Elva Meets its Successor Two versions will be offered. If you want clean looks, it is available without a windshield. The street legal version will have a DOT legal windshield and a host of active safety systems. Power is provided by the same 4.0L V8 from the Senna GTR. Their lightest production car will have 804 horsepower and 590 lb-ft. Browse All McLaren For Sale Also borrowed from the Senna is an improved hydraulic active suspension, electric-assisted hydraulic steering, and insane acceleration. Sixty mph is well under 3 seconds, and 124 mph arrives in 6.7 ticks. A base price of $1,690,000 doesn't include any fancy MSO options. Only 399 examples will be built, so click the button above to find our dealer near you!

By Edward Jones – August 19, 2019

McLaren F1 ''LM-Specification" Becomes Most Valuable McLa...

RM Sotheby's has auctioned off the world's most valuable McLaren ever sold at auction during their Monterey event. The car? The 1994 McLaren F1 'LM-Specification." This specific McLaren is only one of two F1s that had been upgraded to the Le Mans specification, is powered by the GTR engine and has the additional high-downforce package. It's also series no. 018. When it crossed the block, it showed just 21,500 km on its odometer, equating to roughly 13,359 miles. How much did it sell for? $19.8 million. Bidding took place between four different bidders and the bidding lasted for a total of four-and-a-half minutes. The buyer was a private collector located in the U.S. see all mclarens for sale " width="680"> Also Check Out: New McLaren Ultimate Series Model Announced in Pebble Beach McLaren Speedtail Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 24, 2019

Black Diamond 2019 McLaren Senna For Sale

We were sad to learn that McLaren was only building 500 examples of the 2019 Senna. This gorgeous and powerful car is an homage to Ayrton Senna, a racing legend whose life was cut short by tragedy on the track. It is worthy of the name since it outperforms the P1 Hypercar without the hybrid technology. This beast uses twin-turbos and a 4.0L V8 to offer 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. With a curb weight of 3,030 lbs, you will reach 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. If you want to scare your passenger, 124 mph arrives in 6.8 seconds. If you have a set of drag radials, you will enjoy consistent quarter-mile times in the high 9's. Bold styling was needed to offer more downforce than any other street-legal McLaren. Each car was pre-sold to McLaren's best customers, and no two cars are alike. That is thanks to the team at McLaren Special Operations. Their goal is to transform your dreams into reality, and they put a tremendous amount of time and effort into this car. View this car's Listing It all starts with an MSO bespoke Black Diamond paint for the body, while the calipers, center-lock nuts, and the door struts are red. This supercar has every option checked off. This includes the car cover, battery charger, fire extinguisher, and a two-tone interior. Inside, you'll be immersed in a Carbon Black Alcantara and Red perforated leather interior. Even the seatbelts are red, which you can see through the Gorilla Glass portholes in the doors. Other options the many Senna owners didn't opt for include the Telemetry System, ultra-light 9-spoke forged wheels, and the 7-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. The car was treated to a full vinyl clear bra when it arrived, and it has only been driven 68 miles since it was assembled. The tires, interior, and exterior have no signs of wear. Drake Beaudry is the owner of Lupo Motors, and he specializes in the collector quality inventory. One-owner cars are what they do, so you deserve to give this Senna a proper home. We only ask that you drive it, Ayrton wouldn't want this car hidden from the world. Click the link below for all the details, and stay with us for more amazing cars from Lupo Motors. View Listing

By Edward Jones – June 24, 2019

Jet Black McLaren Senna for Sale

The McLaren Senna was revealed all the way back on December 10, 2017, but we're now able to write about a used one that's up for sale. This particular Senna for sale comes from McLaren Philadelphia, who is offering it with just 231 miles on its odometer. It comes with a Jet Black exterior finished with a yellow trim found on the aerodynamic components. Inside is a black interior that's filled with carbon fiber. McLaren Philadelphia notes that this particular Senna is full of options. This includes the six-point harness, Bowers & Wilkins 7-speaker audio system, McLaren Track Telemetry, bespoke floor mats, bespoke brake caliper color and much more. Seriously, there are a ton of options. As for what kind of power you're getting when you buy this Senna, you're getting a lot. Powering the Senna is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 789 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power for sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 2.8 seconds. Better yet, this car will perform like a surgical knife around a track. It's precision handling and 1,764 lbs of downforce at 155 mph make it a track monster. If you're looking for the ultimate McLaren for the track, you've found it. For more information, like price and more images, click the button below. view this car's price and more info

By Andrew Nabors – May 13, 2019

McLaren Automotive Celebrates 20,000 Cars

If you have dreamed of a carbon fiber supercar, McLaren has several examples to offer. What began in 2011 has far exceeded their expectations. So congratulations to everyone at McLaren Automotive as they celebrate 20,000 cars. In their latest press release, everyone at the McLaren Production Centre gathered around a Chicane Grey 600LT Spider. To keep up with increasing demand, the company employees over 2,300 skilled men & women. Last year saw 4,800 cars delivered, and they are on target for 5,000 for the 2019 model year. Street cars are now a majority of McLaren Group's profits, finally edging out their race technology division. What was 10 cars per day in 2016 is now 20 cars, and they are sold in 32 markets around the world. Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jens Ludmann said: “It’s testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment from our McLaren Production Centre employees that we’re now able to produce 20 cars a day across many different vehicle types and variants.” If you want to know what makes McLaren cars so popular, click the link below and stay with us for all your McLaren news. McLaren 600LT For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 03, 2019

Upcoming McLaren 'Grand Tourer': Best Look Yet

The new McLaren 'Grand Tourer' was first teased back on March 5th under heavy camo. Now, McLaren is back again with even more teases, but these new images give us a better look at the fourth model in their Track25 business plan. In the images found in this post, you can see that the additional body panels were removed. This allows us all to see the car's exterior design for the first time. A camo livery still resides on the car's exterior, but McLaren promises that they will take the livery off in May. Can we wait a couple more months? Sure, but it's going to be tough. Validation tests are currently being run on the car, which includes a 1,000-mile drive from McLaren's development base in Woking, United Kingdom to Barcelona, Spain and then back to Woking. This test will include two occupants with a full set of luggage. Mike Flewitt, the McLaren CEO, says that their new Grand Tourer will have "competition levels of performance from a twin-turbo V8 engine with continent-crossing capability and a level of agility never experienced before in the luxury Grand Tourer segment." Power for the car will be provided by a twin-turbo V8 engine. view all mclarens for sale Also Check Out: McLaren Senna 0-183 MPH Test Run McLaren 600LT Price, Specs, Photos & Review

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 – March 08, 2019

McLaren Senna GTR Unveiled: More Aggressive Than Ever Before

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

By Edward Jones – 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 Andrew Nabors – February 01, 2019

Highly-Optioned McLaren Senna Sold by Miller Motorcars

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

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