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 13, 2020

MSO Builds Heritage Inspired Elva Roadster

You can't deny the genius that was Bruce McLaren. In order to dominate the 1964 Grand Prix season, he built the M1A. It was a tube-frame chassis wrapped around a 4.5L Oldsmobile V8. It allowed McLaren drivers to win the Can-Am series championship in five consecutive years ('67-71). Demand for the car was unprecedented, so he outsourced production to Elva Cars Ltd. Our friends at Road & Track tested the car in 1966 and had this to say " the fastest car we’ve ever tested (and) an example of the latest thinking in sports/racing cars.” Now that McLaren is building a modern Elva, the team at MSO decided to honor the original car. Sporting a classic livery, the new car offers 804 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. It leaps to 62 mph in under 3 seconds. Reaching 124 mph in 6.7 seconds, it will blow the doors off of a Senna in a drag race. Our dealers have all the resources to recreate this car for you, so click the button below and stay with us for all your McLaren updates. Browse All McLaren For Sale Related: McLaren Elva Roadster Revealed as Street Legal Featherweight

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 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 – 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

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 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 Andrew Nabors – July 26, 2019

McLaren 600LT Spider Pike's Peak Collection Unveiled by MSO

Ascending 9,000 feet above the clouds is a great benchmark for automotive performance. With such a lack of oxygen, naturally aspirated cars are at a disadvantage. Having two computer-controlled turbochargers allows for amazing performance at any altitude, so the McLaren 600LT Spider Pike's Peak Collection was unveiled by MSO. Their Special Operations division chose to customize six of the latest Spiders with either MSO Bespoke, or MSO Heritage liveries. What is common across all six are gold and matte black graphics, and Satin Speedline Gold wheels. On the inside, the steering wheels have a Satin Gold stripe at Noon, and it is flanked by extended shift paddles in gold. The headrests are embroidered with the Pike's Peak logo, and the interior contrasts use the same gold stitching. For a finishing touch, they borrowed the carbon fiber seats from the Senna along with the MSO Club Sport Pack. It includes carbon-fiber cantrails, fender vents, and titanium lug bolts. Technology borrowed from the Super Series 720S is how the 600LT became the flagship of their Sports Series. They share the same upper and lower control arms (front and rear), along with the same suspension uprights. The brake booster was inspired by the Senna for the ultimate in stopping power, and it is needed on the road to the summit. The car is capable of 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, so the massive carbon rotors pull it from 124 mph to 0 in only 384 feet. You will have 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque at any altitude, so click the link below to find yours and stay with us for all your McLaren news. Find Your McLaren 600LT Here McLaren 600LT Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 23, 2019

How McLaren Transformed a Steel City Into a Carbon Fiber ...

Much of our modern society wouldn't exist without steel. The process of making steel from iron was patented by Sir Henry Bessemer of Sheffield, England. His patent made possible the first large-scale steel plants, and after 1856 Sheffield transformed from a small town into the U.K.'s version of Pittsburgh. Over 200 steel plants flourished here during the industrial revolution, with peak production of 3.5 million tons in 1969. The area was hit hard in the 1970s, as Asian steel flooded the market. But Sheffield will rise again thanks to another critical material. This is how McLaren transformed a Steel City into a carbon fiber capital. In their latest press release, we learn that metalworking employed a quarter of the population in the year 1379. An engineer named Harry Brearley patented Stainless Steel there in 1912. Innovation is nothing new to the workforce here, and that is why McLaren chose the site for their new Composite Technology Centre. Expansion is necessary when you build amazing cars, and the new facility will produce the light & stiff carbon fiber chassis on a grand scale. The Monocage and Monocell chassis are works of art, and they require a skilled workforce along with many hours to produce each one. Their existing plant in Woking has been struggling to keep up with demand, and by relocating chassis production it will allow them to expand and improve their lineup. CEO Mike Flewitt said ‘The region has a long association with advanced materials; first with steel, and now a future to look forward to with carbon fibre innovation and production for McLaren". Sheffield will once again lead the nation in producing the materials needed for the future. Research into graphene has been rumored, and it would make an unbeatable car. Kudos to McLaren for putting Sheffield back to work. Their first creation underpins the McLaren 720S Coupe and Spider, so click the link below to find one near you. Find Your McLaren 720S Here! Related: McLaren Senna Spins Donuts in new Building

By Andrew Nabors – May 16, 2019

New McLaren GT in Detail by Carfection

Yesterday McLaren unveiled their latest model. The GT does not fall into their Sports or Super Series because it is truly unique. Comfort and civility were their goals, and it is safe to say this car is about to change the world. To see what makes it so unique, here is the new McLaren GT in detail by Carfection. First, they needed ample cargo space. This was achieved by developing a new intake and exhaust for the 4.0L V8. By using a flat intake and moving the turbos outboard, it is almost 5" lower than the Senna. This allows for a set of golf clubs and a soft bag. Up front is the spacious trunk that can hold even more. Inside, every switch and button is machined from billet alloy. Leather is found almost everywhere, and it is Semi- Aniline from Bridge of Weir. You have a real cup holder and your drink will not be spilled. That's because the Proactive Damping Control is a learning system. It adjusts for different road types in milliseconds. Because it is over 15 feet long, only the Speedtail casts a longer shadow. Tell us what you think of the latest McLaren in the comments below, and click the link to find a dealer near you. Browse McLaren For Sale Related: Meet the new McLaren GT McLaren Automotive Celebrates 20,000 Cars

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

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