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 – March 10, 2020

2021 McLaren 765LT Proves Less is More

Ordering a car with every option is a life goal for many. However, if you demand the ultimate performance from your car, how much luxury do you really need? That is the question being answered here, as the 2021 McLaren 765LT proves less is more. McLaren 765LT Revealed: The Latest Longtail is Here Starting with the solid foundations of the 720S, engineers sculpted a longer and wider body to offer 25% more downforce. Then it was time for a diet. Starting with carpet, the new 765LT can be ordered without audio, air conditioning, and power seats. We saw the prototype on Sunday at the Amelia Island Concours, and it is the epitome of analog motoring. Tipping the scales at 2,709 lbs when dry, it has an incredible 622 horsepower per ton. The latest LongTail will arrive this fall, so click the link below to find our dealer near you. Browse All McLaren For Sale " width="680"> Related: McLaren 720S Spider Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – March 03, 2020

McLaren 765LT Revealed: The Latest Longtail is Here

Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (M840T)Horsepower: 755 bhpTorque: 590 lb-ft0 to 60 mph: 2.7 seconds0 to 124 mph: 7.2 secondsTop Speed: 205 mph The next longtail is here in the form of the new McLaren 765LT. Joining the Mclaren Super Series lineup, this new model is lighter, quicker and faster than the 720S model. The 765LT relies on a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine (McLaren M840T) for power. In total, it pushed out 755 bhp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Such power can propel the 765LT from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in 7.2 seconds. McLaren notes that the 765LT has 15 percent quicker in-gear acceleration than the 720S, as well as the fastest lap times of any Super Series model. This kind of speed is helped out by the 765LT weight of just 2,952 lbs (DIN weight), 176 lbs less than the 720S Coupe. McLaren accomplished this weight through the application of advanced carbon fiber technologies for body components, a titanium exhaust system and more. Now, onto its style, which is impeccable. There's no better place to start than the rear of the 765LT-- it's a longtail after all. A menacing quad-exhaust exhaust system rests in the rear of the 765LT in a straight line. Above the exhaust is the larger "Longtail" active rear wing while the lengthened rear diffuser is below. Upfront is longer front splitter, as well as a new front bumper. All of these body components were crafted out of carbon fiber, saving weight and adding strength to the body. McLaren is set to create 765 examples of the 765LT. Pricing is set to be announced shortly. See All McLarens for Sale

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2020

Verdant Theme GT by McLaren Special Operations is A Green...

On March 3, McLaren Automotive will be holding their livestream where a new supercar and unique GT will be unveiled. However, McLaren has gone ahead and showed the world Verdant Theme GT by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) ahead of tomorrow's unveiling. This new 2020 McLaren GT for sale has a beautiful satin tri-tone paint scheme. The colors go from light to dark, nose to tail, in the following shades: Horsell Green, Arbor and Steppe Green. MSO spent 430 hours creating this stunning visual on the GT. To finish off the exterior, there are Napier Green pinstripe accents on the body and front splitter, as well as Napier Green brake calipers. Inside, the cabin has a Dark Green, Jet Black and Laurel Green leather interior with Lauren Gren micropiping. Contrasting against these verdant colors is charcoal grey cashmere. It took MSO 18 months to develop an automotive application for cashmere and it's on full display with this splendid GT. "The McLaren Verdant Theme GT by MSO is the perfect showcase for us in the way it takes modern-luxury to the next level by incorporating so much innovation," says Ansar Ali, Managing Director, McLaren Special Operations. "The Grand Tourer of McLaren’s range provides a sophisticated and elegant canvas for our artistry, but also I hope the spark that will inspire every McLaren owner as they seek ever more ways to personalize their car, whether it is GT, sports convertible, track supercar, or the ultimate uncompromised road car such as our new McLaren Elva." See All McLaren GTs For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 28, 2020

McLaren Will Reveal a New Supercar on March 3

After the cancellation of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, automakers have been left wondering how they will unveil the cars meant to be shown off during the event. For McLaren, they will be holding what they call the "McLaren Motor Show 2020." This event will happen on March 3, at 8:30 GMT (3:30 AM EST) and it will be streamed live at this link: https://cars.mclaren.com/en/mclaren-motor-show-2020. The conference will be led by McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt. He will be unveiling a new McLaren supercar and giving additional product news and a business update. Stay tuned! Related Video: " width="680">

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 – February 13, 2020

See the McLaren Senna's Standing-Mile Top Speed Run

The McLaren Senna supercar recently visited the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds which uses the Space Florida shuttle landing facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was here that the Senna was pushed to the limit for a standing mile run. For the test, the weather was perfect for a Florida winter. And by that, we mean it was in the 80s in the afternoon and humidity wasn't over 80 percent. You can see the run down below for yourself. It's quite the sprint and the video shows you just how quickly the Senna can accelerate. ALL MCLAREN SENNA FOR SALE " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – February 11, 2020

McLaren 600LT Spider Price, Specs, Photos & Review

McLaren 600LT Spider Price Any McLaren 600LT Spider for sale is far from a cheap car, and it certainly makes sense why. This vehicle is fast, flashy, and fashionable for fans of British sports cars. A McLaren 600LT Spider can range pretty significantly in price. Currently, one can expect a McLaren 600LT Spider price to be around $256,500, which is the MSRP. The current as-tested price is around $310,390. Because the McLaren 600LT Spider is a limited edition car (the brand itself has announced they will only build the open-top LT for a single model year), one can expect the price of this soon-to-be rare vehicle to grow in price. McLaren 600LT Spider's predecessor, the McLaren 600LT, was released in June of 2018. Originally inspired by the 675LT and the F1 GTR Longtail, the body of this version of the 600LT has been notably altered to be longer. The current MSRP for the McLaren 600LT is around $240,000. McLaren 600LT Spider Review For our McLaren 600LT Spider review, we wanted to focus on the aspects of this vehicle that make it different from its predecessors. The biggest feature that sets it apart from other similar sports cars is speed-- the McLaren 600LT Spider is blindingly fast and can reach speeds of up to 62 miles per hour in just under three seconds and 124 miles per hour in just over eight seconds. At maximum, a McLaren 600LT Spider can achieve a top speed of 196 miles per hour with the roof retracted and 201 miles per hour with the roof intact. Complete with a carbon fiber monocoque MonoCell II chassis, drivers can take advantage of the core strength this vehicle provides for an ultra-dynamic and performance-heavy driving experience. The McLaren 600LT Spider is hailed by motorsports enthusiasts for handling accuracy as well as sharpness with relative ease. One may also notice significant noise reduction with this model-- the engine noise with the rear window is significantly lower than similar vehicles. McLaren 600LT Spider Specs Price: $260,000 Engine: 3.8L Twin-Turbo V8 Transmission: 7-speed Dual-Clutch Horsepower: 592 Torque: 457 lb-ft 0-60 mph: 5.0s 1/4 mile: 10.5s Top Speed: 201 mph Weight: 3,179 lbs Carlos Sainz Picks Up His McLaren 600LT Spider McLaren 600LT Spider Engine The McLaren 600LT Spider engine is quite a powerful one. It shares the exact sample 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine as the McLaren 600LT. The 600LT Spider acceleration starts at around 60 miles per hour in approximately 2.8 seconds. The maximum acceleration speed for a McLaren 600LT Spider is 201 miles per hour. The 600LT Spider horsepower sits at 592 hp @ 7500 rpm. McLaren 600LT Spider exhaust flames are possible with a handful of tips. With Manual Gear Shift enabled while in Active Mode, we recommend pressing and holding the throttle to between 4,500 to 5,000 rpm for about half a second. Then, quick release while in the third or fourth gear while driving. One can also do this while neutral at a stand-still for the ultimate expression of power McLaren 600LT Spider Transmission The McLaren 600LT Spider's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is bolted directly to the engine, which is common with most modern McLaren models. The transmission can also fire off electron-quick changes in gear without disrupting the balance of the car. The 600LT Spider's unique and powerful SSG automatic transmission was designed by Graziano. While automatic transmissions are not very common in similar models, the dual-clutch design is not wholly dissimilar to a manual transmission. Gear-switching is notably smooth with the McLaren 600LT Spider. McLaren 600LT Spider Interior The McLaren 600LT Spider interior is quite similar in design to the McLaren 600LT and the regular 570S with some key differences. At a glance, it features carbon black and graphite interiors. The housing for the infotainment system protrudes downwards from the middle of the dashboard, where it hovers above the center console. The center console itself is where one will find the starter button, roof controls (for the retractable roof model, obviously), and toggles for different drive modes. One will find a cupholder hidden away in that area as well, though it is difficult to get to. The cabin also features a number of storage compartments for smaller objects like phones and bags. In order to lighten the car up, McLaren did away with the glovebox and door compartments. The internal design also does not feature air conditioning or a sound system, though both elements can be added for free by the manufacturer. McLaren 600LT Spider Brakes The McLaren 600LT Spider brakes feature a firm pedal, which has much to do with the vehicle's standard carbon-ceramic brake discs. One will notice the advanced lightweight braking and suspension is the same as what would be found in the 720S-- ultra-responsive and great at communicating the smallest ground changes. McLaren 600LT Spider Pike’s Peak Collection Unveiled by MSO The McLaren 600LT Spider can take on quite a few repeated hard stops from extremely high speeds without the risk of a soft pedal. The steering for the McLaren 600LT Spider is also fantastically smooth and natural without a hint of artificial lightness. The Spider version of this McLaren series features rear-wheel drive and a middle engine. McLaren 600LT Spider Standout Features There are so many standout features to the addition to the McLaren sports family. The McLaren 600LT Spider's top speed is 196 mph with the top down and 201 mph with the top-up. Even with the top down, those are some seriously impressive top speeds. The 600LT Spider has a dry weight of 2,859 lb. Only about 109 pounds separate the Spider from its Coupe counterpart, and the Spider is the heavier of the two. It has a curb weight of 3,179 pounds and a torque of 620 Nm (457 lb-ft) @ 5500 rpm. The torque weight for the McLaren 600LT Spider is 436 Nm (321 lb-ft). The MSO ClubSport package deletes the air-conditioning and radio, adds titanium lug nuts, and borrows the carbon fiber seats from their Ultimate Series. Browse McLaren 600LT Spider For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – February 06, 2020

McLaren Senna GTR Takes Center Stage at Rétromobile

New McLaren Senna GTR On Display By Richard Mille Four Historic McLaren F1 Surround The New Supercar Also A Rare Outing for Bruce McLaren's M6GT This year's Rétromobile show in Paris opened yesterday and runs through Sunday evening. Examples of new & old European supercars have been invited to an unprecedented gathering. That's why we loved to learn that the McLaren Senna GTR has taken center stage at Rétromobile. Also on-hand are four examples of the F1. The 1995 LeMans-Winning GT10R, F1 GTR #42 from the same race. GT02R is a Longtail finished 2nd overall 2 years later. Finally, Chassis 69 was built in 1998 and loaded with MSO options since it was one of the last F1s to be built. Browse All McLaren For Sale Related: McLaren Senna Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – February 04, 2020

McLaren Speedtail Review by Chris Harris

Our favorite English automotive presenter recently had the ride of a lifetime. As the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, P1, and the Senna, it marks their fourth example of the "Ultimate Series". Only 106 examples will be made, with deliveries slated for the end of this month. Offering 1,055 horsepower and 848 lb-ft of torque, here is the McLaren Speedtail review by Chris Harris. Browse All McLaren For Sale " width="680"> Related: McLaren Speedtail Completes High-Speed Testing at Kennedy Space Center

By Edward Jones – January 02, 2020

McLaren Speedtail Finishes Top Speed Testing at Kennedy S...

McLaren Automotive has announced that the high-speed validation program for the new Hyper-GT prototype 'XP2' (Speedtail) has officially ended. The high-speed tests took place at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds, located at Kennedy Space Center. Kenny Brack, McLaren's chief test driver, managed to take the Speedtail up to its top speed of 250 mph more than 30 times. This kind of speed in a straight line was only possible because of the Proving Grounds' 3-mile long, 100-yard wide runway. “It’s fitting that the Speedtail’s high-speed test program concluded with multiple maximum-speed runs at a location so strongly associated with pushing the boundaries of extreme performance and engineering excellence,” commented McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt. “The Speedtail is a truly extraordinary car that epitomizes McLaren’s pioneering spirit and perfectly illustrates our determination to continue to set new benchmarks for supercar and hypercar performance.” SEE ALL MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL FOR SALE

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