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 Andrew Nabors – November 06, 2019

2020 McLaren 600LT Hot Laps at COTA

Just outside of Austin's City Limits is the Circuit of the Americas. A World-Class motoring mecca that hosts Formula 1 and all lesser series. Everything is bigger in Texas, so the latest McLaren 600LT for sale has room to flex in front of the crowds. To show us what it is capable of, Lando Norris is about to take you on the ride of a lifetime. Let's watch him drive a 2020 McLaren 600LT hot lap at COTA. Related: McLaren 600LT Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – October 29, 2019

One-of-a-kind "Comet Fade" McLaren 600LT

A new, one-of-a-kind McLaren 600LT enhanced by McLaren Special Operation (MSO) has been unveiled after it's delivery. This supercar was commissioned by a long-time customer who picked the "Comet Fade" appearance for the exterior. The paint that creates the "Comet Fade" visual took MSO technicians 120 hours to complete. The paint used is "Coriolis Blend", which is actually Cerulean Blue that fades into "Burton Blue" and then into Atlantic Blue. All of the MSO Technician's efforts result in a visual that resembles the appearance of a comet flying by. A list of MSO components has also been equipped to the "Comet Fade" 600LT, including three different Carbon Fiber Upgrade packs, a bespoke carbon fiber roof scoop, MSO Clubsport Pack and more. see all mclaren 600lt's for sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 15, 2019

Ferrari 488 Pista vs McLaren 720S Track Shootout

Choosing your opponent can make or brake a race. However, if you arrive in a McLaren 720S only a few cars can keep up with you. One such contender is Ferrari's V8 Flagship. In this well instrumented test by theSUPERCARDRIVER, we are elated to see a Ferrari 488 Pista vs McLaren 720s F1 track shootout. Anglesey speedway is very technical and loaded with a scenic coastal view to distract the driver. The contenders are perfectly matched, on paper. Both engines are rated at 710 horsepower, 567 lb-ft of torque, and both cars reach 124 within 0.2 seconds. Browse All Ferrari 488 Pista For Sale McLaren does it in 7.8, Ferrari in 7.6. McLaren has a weight penalty of 115 lbs, but that is offset by the active aerodynamic braking. So what does that add up to after 3 hot laps? The McLaren 720S' fastest time is 1:33.05 vs Ferrari Pista's fastest lap of 1:32.20. They are so close it comes down to preferences. Carbon fiber vs aluminum, England vs Italy. Tell us what you think in the comments below and stay with us for more supercar comparisons. Browse All McLaren 720S For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – October 10, 2019

New OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition Smartphone Announced

Just announced is the new OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition smartphone. This happens to be the second collaborative effort between McLaren and OnePlus. So, while the 7T Pro is a powerhouse in terms of specs (256 GB of storage, 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, and Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 855 Plus Mobile Platform), there are quite a few touches that make is a true "McLaren Edition" smartphone. See McLaren 570S for Sale The casing of the phone features Alcantara, which provides grips and style. For the color, they went with the iconic Papaya Orange paint that can be seen on both McLaren supercars and Formula 1 cars. Within the phone's operating system are a few other touches, like the clock inspired by a McLaren's dashboard, and exclusive animations, themes, icons and wallpapers. This phone comes with a starting price of £799 in UK, which is about $1,000 USD. see all mclarens for sale

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By Andrew Nabors – September 30, 2019

McLaren BC 03 Prototype Leaked and Caught Testing?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B220vYXD3ky/ A year ago we learned that McLaren's Vision Gran Turismo concept could potentially be produced. Deliveries of the Senna are moving along at a consistent pace, and production of the GT will soon commence. If you are wondering what happened to their wildest concept, this might be the McLaren BC 03 prototype caught testing at night (last image in the gallery up above). Carscoops came across these images posted by Sebastian Miller (@supercarpress) on Instagram. What we see are a few renderings along with what looks like a prototype shooting flames on a dark road. The name of this car or veracity of the information/images has not been confirmed by McLaren as of yet. We won't speculate on what will power it, so tell us what you think of these shots in the comments below. Browse All McLaren For Sale Related: McLaren Senna Specs, Price, Photos & Review Image Source: Sebastian Miller @supercarpress via Carscoops

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By Andrew Nabors – September 27, 2019

McLaren 720S Apex Collection by MSO

You can't deny that the McLaren 720S is a beast on the streets and on the track. The dual-purpose supercar has seen action on Europe's historic Grand Prix circuits, so a celebration is in order. The McLaren 720S Apex Collection by MSO pays homage to 5 famous tracks. The 15 cars consist of: Apex Great Britain: 2 right-hand drive, and one left-hand drive celebrating Silverstone Apex Germany: 1 RHD and 2 LHD celebrating Hockenheimring. Apex France: 1 RHD and 2 LHD celebrating Circuit Paul Richard Apex Belgium: 1 RHD and 2 LHD celebrating Spa Francorchamps Apex Italy: 1 RHD and 2 LHD celebrating Monza Browse all McLaren 720S For Sale All 15 cars will receive an F1 Paddock Pass, and they are eligible to run in the Pirelli Hot Laps experience. Each example will hopefully find its way to a collector in the country it represents, and sadly none are slated to reach the U.S. Our dealers have several examples of 720S Coupes and Spiders to choose from, and they can have MSO customize it to your heart's content. That's why you should stay with us for all your McLaren news. " width="680"> Related: McLaren 720S Price, Specs, Photos & Review McLaren 720S Coupe & Spider Receive MSO Longtail Spoiler

By Andrew Nabors – September 23, 2019

McLaren GT Launch Mode Outruns Almost Everything

Dr. Wernher von Braun developed the V2 rocket to hit London from Germany before the transistor was invented. As it was one of the most heinous weapons of WWII, he and his rocketeers made sure most of them were duds. PRO TIP: if you are losing a war, don't fuel your rockets with moonshine! Many V2 rockets were launched near empty. After being hired by NASA, the Saturn V that took us to the moon was also his creation. As good as his Saturn V was, it seems that the English have won the battle for a perfect launch. In the latest upload from Motorsport Magazine, the McLaren GT Launch Mode outruns almost anything. Browse McLaren GT For Sale Back to the Apollo program, a moon launch took 13 seconds to leave the tower at a speed of 60 mph. For comparison, the McLaren GT takes 17 seconds to reach 143 mph, and it is much more affordable than a rocket. There is only 1 Saturn rocket on the market, and it is free if you can move it from the Marshall Space Flight Center. However, our dealers have a full lineup of new McLarens that are much more practical. Click the button above to find one near you and stay with us for the world's fastest cars for sale. " width="680"> Related: How To Configure Your McLaren GT McLaren GT by MSO Heading to Pebble Beach

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By Andrew Nabors – September 13, 2019

McLaren North America Leaves NYC for new Dallas HQ

"The sage in bloom is the perfect perfume, deep in the heart of Texas." Perhaps Bing Crosby was on to something. The Lone Star State was the only independent county to ever join the U.S., so it makes sense for an English supercar manufacturer to be based there. After careful demographic studies, McLaren North America is leaving New York City for a new HQ outside Dallas. Find Your McLaren Here! New York City has no car culture and the rent is a little steep. Another consideration is that an East Coast office gets expensive when N.Y. to L.A. flights start adding up. A quick glance at our website reveals that they have 27 dealers in the U.S. Dallas is the magnetic center for McLaren, so they chose to build a high-tech 30,000 square-foot Headquarters in Coppell, Texas. Their goal is a 3-hour flight to dealers and customers, even though it might take longer to reach Fort Worth in heavy trafffic... McLaren 720S Price, Specs, Photos & Review Since they returned in 2011, McLaren have sold over 7,000 cars to us Yankees. Their Track25 plan has 14 new models arriving by 2025, so this move was a smart decision. I may be slightly biased, but the South has much to offer. Mercedes-Benz builds several models in Alabama, all BMW X models are built in South Carolina, and Porsche's Atlanta facility will take your breath away. Houston is home to NASA, and even SpaceX built the Star Hopper on Padre Island. Tell us what you think of the move in the comments below, and click the button above to find a McLaren near you. " width="680"> Related: McLaren 600LT Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – August 30, 2019

Fully-Restored McLaren F1 #063 to Debut in England

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has done it again and brought back a McLaren F1 to its original glory. The F1 in questions is chassis #063, a supercar that's benefited from the new McLaren F1 Certification program. It took the took at MSO 18 months to restore this F1. The process started with the body and drivetrain being stripped out, then came the interior, which was re-trimmed in the original Semi-Aniline leather. For the body, MSO repainted #063 in the original Magnesium Silver paint, a process that took almost 900 hours. As for the engine that was pulled out, it was completely rebuilt. McLaren will premiere McLaren F1 #063 at the Hampton Court Concours d’Elegance in outside of London, England on September 6-8. see all mclarens for sale

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