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 – April 12, 2019

McLaren Special Operations Explains Their Paint Process

Two-tone paint was killed by bean counters at the end of the last century. If you want something truly custom, you will either need a cheesy wrap job or a skilled artist. Painting a car by hand is something only reserved for the best cars in production, and that is why McLaren Special Operations explained their paint process. A stunning McLaren 720S Spider was chosen to receive a blend of cerulean blue, black, and their new meteorite gray. The video makes it look easy, but there must have been many late nights of color-sanding and buffing. What makes this blend so unique is their technique named Coriolis. Inspired by the Earth's gyroscopic influence on wind and water, it took 260 hours to finish this car. To get this result from modern water-based paint is amazing, especially considering it is being applied to carbon fiber. If you deserve a car unlike any other, click the link below to find a McLaren dealer near you. Browse McLaren 720S For Sale Related: McLaren Speedtail Price, Specs, Photos & Review Jason Statham's New McLaren 720S

By Edward Jones – April 11, 2019

McLaren Senna Model is $13,000, Has Remote for Lights and...

Many people out there may not be able to buy a McLaren Senna due to price and availability. However, there is the impeccable 1:8 McLaren Senna model from Amalgam Collection. If you read the title, you know that this is model is quite pricey, coming in with a price tag of $13,444. For this price, though, you get the finest model you'll find of the Senna supercar. The team at Amalgam Collection spent hundreds of hours designing this model and their efforts were not in vain. Every detail of this model mirrors its full-size counterpart, it's as if they just took a shrink ray to the real Senna. In fact, this model comes with a remote that activates the various light functions on the model and even open or close the electronic doors. That's some serious detail. For more information, click here. Source

By Andrew Nabors – April 10, 2019

McLaren Senna GTR Overview Filmed at Goodwood

It must be a fun experience to be a McLaren engineer. First you build the world's most potent production cars, then you are allowed to transform them into track-only superstars. Two versions of their latest achievement were on display last weekend. We have seen a few examples of the Senna, and we are acquainted with its abilities. But did you realize they took it to another level? If you wonder how to improve upon perfection, a McLaren Senna GTR overview was filmed at Goodwood. Their goal was to increase downforce and decrease aerodynamic drag. Even a challenge that complicated was not compromised. Instead, they went back to the drawing board and created a wider and longer body. A street-legal Senna lies under the flared fenders and massive spoilers. The rear of the car is longer to house a massive diffuser. It also places the rear spoiler in an optimal location to decrease drag. Without catalytic converters, the 4.0L V8 makes 814 horsepower & 590 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, there are no plans to make them street legal, but we do have the first P1 GTR that is street legal and waiting for you. Browse All McLaren For Sale Related: McLaren Senna Price, Specs, Photos & Review McLaren Senna GTR Track Debut

By Edward Jones – April 08, 2019

See The McLaren Senna GTR Track Debut for the First Time

As promised the McLaren Senna GTR track debut is finally here. This happened during the 2019 Goodwood Members’ Meeting. During the track debut, the Senna GTR was driven by Bruno Senna, the nephew of the man who the car was named after, Ayrton Senna. The Goodwood Road & Racing YouTube channel uploaded a video of the Senna GTR on the track and even interviewed Bruno regarding the new McLaren track car. As for the Senna GTR, it's McLaren's 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.

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 – April 02, 2019

McLaren Senna GTR Making Debut at Goodwood Soon

The new McLaren Senna GTR will be making its debut at the upcoming Goodwood Members' Meeting on April 6, 2019. Meant to recreate the same vibe set by the original BARC Meetings at Goodwood in the 1950s and 1960s, the Goodwood Members' Meeting is two days of automotive heaven. Historic and modern cars are on hand, putting on displays both on and off the track. This includes cars that have never seen track time before, like the Senna GTR which will be making its track debut as well. McLaren will also be displaying their McLaren Senna built out of 500,000 LEGO bricks at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. For more information on the Members' Meeting, click here. view all mclaren up for sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – March 22, 2019

McLaren Celebrates Their First Chassis from Yorkshire

McLaren builds such amazing cars that they have outgrown their headquarters in Surrey. Their new plant is the McLaren Composites Technology Center, located in Yorkshire. It is only 125 miles away, which is probably under a minute in a P1 GTR. It will allow for research and improvement of their Monocell and Monocage chassis by cutting weight and adding strength. The facility opened last year, and today McLaren celebrates their first chassis from Yorkshire. In a press release this morning, we see the happy team standing around "PLT-MCTC - 01". This prototype will be used to study crash safety, torsional loads, and hopefully graphene. This new facility is critical to their Track 25 Plan, as their goal is to have an entirely hybrid lineup by 2025. This will require stronger & lighter chassis to stay ahead of the competition, but honestly, they are decades ahead already. Congrats to the team at MCTC from all of us at duPont REGISTRY. Shop McLaren P1 FOr Sale Related: Porsche Employees Get $11,000 Bonus McLaren Beverly Hills: Dealer of the Year for 2018

By Andrew Nabors – March 20, 2019

Hennessey McLaren 720S HPE900 Sounds Ready for a Fight

Have you ever overheard someone say: "My car is fast enough". This could be a symptom of mental illness because the only humans ever satisfied with the performance of their machines are the pilots of the SR-71 Blackbird. I've had a few spins in McLaren's latest Super Series, and it doesn't disappoint. But after the new wears off, your answer can be found west of Houston. That's because the Hennessey McLaren 720S HPE900 Sounds ready for a fight. Something is different about the 4.0L V8 found in the Senna and the 720S. It either has a different firing order or maybe a flat-plane crankshaft. Either way, it's too quiet in factory form. So the team at Hennessey Performance started with high-flow intakes. These feed into modified turbos and then into larger intercoolers. More boost means more power, and a less-restrictive exhaust allows for instant response. Hennessey HPE1000 Corvette is a Supercharged Beast The secret sauce lies in the tuning. After extensive evaluation, John probably optimized the ignition curve and eliminated the silly boost-by-gear programming. The end result is 809 horsepower at the rear wheels along with 627 lb-ft of torque. That is a gain of 133 horsepower at the ground, not too shabby considering it includes a 3-year warranty and an aggressive soundtrack. Don't be shamed by a Senna, click the link below for all the info. View Details Related: McLaren 600LT vs Hennessey HPE1000 Jeep Trackhawk

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 Andrew Nabors – March 18, 2019

McLaren Senna 0-183 MPH Test Run

If you have enough currency to afford a new McLaren Senna, you probably know how to enjoy the finer things in life. It is unfortunate that many supercar owners never push their cars to the limit, so the public is forced to live vicariously through videos and the best car magazine of all time. As such, our friends at Motorsport Magazine decided to film a McLaren Senna 0-183 MPH test run at Lurcy-Lévis. The French test track includes a 1 kilometer straight for just such a test. Breaking in a new car should be done carefully to make sure the piston rings and valvetrain find there forever homes. This car only had 3,133 miles at the time of filming, so there is no turning back now. Needless to say, this was done on a closed course with a professional driver. It goes to show you just how capable the Senna is, so maybe you think you can handle it. Click the link below to find one near you and stay with us for all your McLaren news. Shop McLaren For Sale Related: McLaren Senna GTR Unveiled McLaren Senna Breaks Records on The Grand Tour

McLaren News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe