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 Edward Jones – October 12, 2018

McLaren Speedtail Reveal Date, Price & More Announced

McLaren Automotive has finally set a release date and more details regarding the upcoming Hyper-GT car known as the Speedtail. First off, the car will be unveiled on October 26, 2018, at 8am EST on the Cars.McLaren.com website. That means we're not far off from the reveal of the wildest car the British automaker has created.On top of the reveal date, McLaren announced a few other details, as well as the teaser pictured above. As for its power, its hybrid powertrain will be pushing out over 986 horsepower. When the Speedtail is revealed, McLaren will confirm its top speed. They note it will have a maximum speed that's higher than any car they've created thus far.Restored McLaren F1 Revealed Alongside New Certification ServiceThe McLaren Speedtail is the first of the 18 new models in the company's Track25 business plan. Only 106 examples of the car will be produced and the entire production run was allocated before the project was officially announced in November 2016. Production on the car will begin at the end of 2019. Each vehicle was reserved at £1.75million (roughly $2.3 million USD) plus taxes. View McLarens For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 12, 2018

McLaren 720S vs 675LT on the Autobahn

McLaren's return to production cars was based on their 3.8 liter twin-turbo V8. The compact and powerful engine can be found in everything from the 12C to the 675LT, and it was also the basis for the P1 hypercar. It is based on a Nissan VRH that was planned for the Indy Racing League. Tom Walkinshaw Racing transformed it from a race engine to a street configuration, just like they did in the legendary Jaguar XJ220. McLaren bought the rights from TWR and the rest is history.Also Read - Cost to Repair a Scratch on a McLaren 650SSomething more was needed for the 2nd generation of McLaren's Super Series. Looking to extract every last horsepower, they forged a new crankshaft with more stroke. Keeping the bore at 93mm, the stroker crank increases displacement to 4.0 liters. The obvious advantage is more power, and it achieves this by allowing the pistons to spend more time in the combustion chamber. It allows for higher compression ratios, cleaner emissions, and higher exhaust speeds to spin the turbos. It all adds up to a much faster car, and the Autobahn is the best place to demonstrate it. Misha Charoudin was lucky enough to ride along in a 675LT who encountered a worthy opponent. The results speak for themselves, so if you are interested in a new McLaren 720S, our dealers are ready to help. Of course, we also have a slew of pre-owned McLarens for sale. View McLarens For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 05, 2018

McLaren 720S Receives New Track Pack Specification

McLaren Automotive has just launched the new Track Pack for the McLaren 720S supercar that will give driver's a more "circuit-focused" supercar. This new pack provides the 720S with a few functional and visual upgrades for the sake of track functionality.Because the pack is based on the 720S Specification it includes the following: hood air intakes, rear fender air intakes and carbon fiber door mirror casings. With the Track Pack, you get the aforementioned upgrades, as well as lightweight 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, a gloss finish carbon fiber active rear spoiler from MSO and the Sports Exhaust system. These upgrades result in a loss of 52.9 lbs. The Track Pack provides drivers with a bespoke Track drive mode.Inside is a cabin that you'd expect in a track car. A titanium bar is mounted behind the seats, which supports 6-point harnesses for both the driver and passenger. Holding the driver and passenger in place are carbon fiber racing seats. For the driver, they will be able to flip through gears by tapping on the new MSO Defined Satin Visual Carbon Fibre Extended Gearshift Paddles that rest behind the black Alcantara® steering wheel.*Why You Should Buy A McLaren 720S* Owners who opt for the 720S Track Pack will be able to review their recent track session thanks to the inclusion of the McLaren Track Telemetry (MTT) system. This system adds three cameras to the car, along with a data-logging software. MTT gives driver's the opportunity to review their performance and pinpoint where they need to improve.Interested in the McLaren 720S Track Pack? It will cost an additional £28,360 (roughly $37,000 USD) when purchasing the car. McLaren will also be offering the 720S with the Performance spec and Track Pack already installed for £224,700 (roughly $293,000 USD) in 2019. View McLaren 720S for Sale McLaren 720S Specs Supercars for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 17, 2018

Bruno Senna Configures his 2019 McLaren 600LT

A configurator is a great tool for dealers and customers alike. When McLaren uploaded the 600LT into their system, it gave the world a glimpse of the nearly endless customizations. To show off the power of this software, they allowed Bruno Senna and Chief Test Driver Kenny Brack built their versions of the latest model. Before you see their examples, take a look at ours in the link below.How To Configure Your McLaren 600LTSpending his days validating each model, Mr. Brack decided on bright Sicilian Yellow with a carbon black Alcantara interior. Of course, he needs the 6-point racing harness. It is the main component of the MSO Clubsport Pro Pack. Aimed at racers, it includes glossy carbon fiber for the roof, fender vents, and all optional carbon accessories. For a truly lightweight ride, the no-cost options of Sirius Radio, navigation, and Air Con were omitted.Kenny Brack's 600LT Brand Ambassador Bruno Senna chose Burton Blue, a special-order paint from MSO. He also opted for the Clubsport Pack with full Alcantara. Orange accents on the headrests and seat belts. For a street-friendly build, it culminated in Air Conditioning and the Bower & Wilkins audio. The press release concluded with a mention that the 600LT will be a limited run. Starting in October, they will only be assembled between primary production of the Senna, Senna GTR, and the new Speedtail. Tell us how you would build your 600LT in the comments below and stay with us for all your McLaren news.Browse McLarens For Sale Bruno's 600LT

By Edward Jones – August 31, 2018

Restored McLaren F1 Revealed Alongside New Certification ...

At Hampton Court Concours of Elegance 2018, a McLaren F1 that had undergone a full restoration to "as new" is being revealed as the first F1 Certified car. The car was the famous '25R' 1997 F1 GTR Longtail and it was restored by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). It was built as one of three Longtail cars for the Gulf-Davidoff team. It has a detailed racing history and was even the last F1 GTR to ever compete in a contemporary race series. During its restoration, MSO used only pre-June 1997 parts in order to retain originality.“Even among F1 GTRs, this car, designated ‘25R’, is unique – and now it is as near to being new as we can make it,” commented Ansar Ali, Managing Director, McLaren Special Operations (MSO). “The car is the exemplar of everything that the new certification programme stands for and we are proud to have ‘25R’ as the very first McLaren F1 Certified car.”2015 McLaren P1 Specs, Price, Photos & Review The new F1 Certified program includes both road and track versions of the car and provides each car with a Certification of Authenticity. This certificate authenticates the car's condition, history, service life, originality and more. McLaren also gives the owner of each car a bespoke book that documents the history of the car.“McLaren cherishes its rich heritage of iconic and world-beating cars such as the F1,” said McLaren Automotive Chief Executive Officer Mike Flewitt. “’25R’ presented us with a unique opportunity to demonstrate this by restoring it to precisely how it was when it raced at Le Mans in 1997, thus ensuring its future. Maintaining the integrity of these historically significant cars is paramount and F1 Certified will play a big role in allowing us to do that for the peace of mind of owners today as well as preserving a wonderful heritage for future generations of car lovers.”If you're the owner of an F1, it would be a very smart idea to call McLaren and have it certified. It could definitely pay off in the long run.

By Andrew Nabors – August 24, 2018

McLaren 720S GT3 is Now Ready to Race: Price and Pics

Wait, stop planning on transforming your McLaren 720S into a race car. If you want to go racing, they have just released a GT3 version of the 720S. The engineers must have been delighted to take their 4.0L twin turbo V8 to its fullest potential. Without intake or exhaust restrictions it will be a fire-spitting monster. While the normal 720S reduces torque-by-gear to keep you safe on the street, the GT3 is tuned for maximum output.Stealth Grey McLaren 600LT Heading to Pebble BeachOnboard air-jacks and center-lock wheels will make for quick pit stops, and the rear differential is adjustable for weather and track conditions. In keeping with 2019 GT3 specs, the carbon fiber seat is ready for your HANS device, and the traction control system is within easy reach. The McLaren MonoCageII one-piece cockpit is shared with the street version of the 720S, but the doors and hood are much thinner to save weight.Several prototypes were tested by their tire supplier, with Pirelli recording over 18,500 miles in several 36-hour endurance runs. They are legal to race in several FIA classes, but they are not street-legal in any sense. If you're interested, they come with a £440,000 price tag, which is about $565,000 USD.To see if you can handle it, click the link below to find a 720S near you, and stay with us for all your McLaren updates.Browse McLaren 720S For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 14, 2018

McLaren 720S Models Unveiled in Pacific and Track Theme

McLaren and their McLaren Special Operations (MSO) branch have unveiled two bespoke examples of the 720S supercar. The two themes unveiled are the Pacific and Track Themes, which are included in the same portfolio as the 720S Velocity Theme.Each of the themes has their own specific colorways and trim. The Track Theme was commissioned by McLaren Manchester. They went for the Anniversary White finish, a paint that was inspired by the championship-winning F1 cars in the 1980's. Joining the white paint is handpainted details in Carbon Black and Tarroco Orange. The Pacific Theme was picked out by McLaren Glasgow, who opted for the Cerulean Blue paint, the same paint found on the current McLaren F1 car. To deepen things up against the bright blue paint, MSO tinted the carbon fiber in Cobalt Blue.McLaren 720S Specs, Price, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – August 01, 2018

McLaren Special Operations Heading to Salon Privé

One of the most exclusive auto events in Europe is coming soon. Salon Privé Concours is a precursor to the Blenheim Palace Classic & Supercar show. To show off the unlimited abilities to fulfill their customer's wishes, McLaren Special Operations has built two bespoke cars for these back-to-back events.McLaren 720S vs 675LT on the AutobahnThe Salon opens August 30th and ends on September 1st. Then the modest estate of Blenheim Castle will host over 1,000 cars in the Concours on September 2nd. Pack your bags for Oxfordshire if you want to see the latest in custom McLarens. The first is a gorgeous 570GT MSO Black Collection. Only 100 examples will be produced, each one with Carbon Black paint, MSO SuperSports Titanium exhaust, Sport Pack Dynamic Handling, and, of course, a unique set of Gloss Black wheels. Inside you will find Jet Black leather and Alcantara with MSO embroidery.It will be parked next to the star of the show. The McLaren 720S 'Velocity' features accents of Nerello Red along with Volcano Red on the sides and rear. Forged one-piece wheels are finished in Metallic Bronze, which provides a perfect contrast to the carbon fiber bits from the MSO Defined collection. Both cars were built with input from McLaren Bristol and McLaren Birmingham, so be sure to check them out if you are in the area. Stay with us for complete coverage of the show and click on the link below to find your McLaren.McLaren 570GT For SaleMcLaren 720S For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 27, 2018

McLaren Senna #001 Takes An Epic Road Trip

Normal cars are bought and they are instantly stuck in traffic as transportation appliances. McLaren owners are passionate about performance, especially David Kyte, who purchased Senna #001. In a press release this morning, we get a glimpse of the delivery process. Mr. Kyte was presented with his keys and all the documents by McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt at their Technology Center. Michael Fux Delivered First McLaren Senna Finished in Anniversary White with Aurora Blue accents, the colors and their layout was handled by McLaren Special Operations. We can't be more happy for what happened next. Instead of driving the car home and keeping the world from seeing it, David and 5 other owners hit the road. After 870 miles (and a trip under the English Channel) they arrived at Paul Ricard racetrack in the south of France. The convoy consisted of three other McLaren Sennas, a new 2019 McLaren 720S, and the latest Sports Series: McLaren 600LT. Brand ambassador and racer Bruno Senna went along to show the owners just what their machines are capable of. This trip accomplished several goals. David experienced the camaraderie among McLaren owners, he allowed the public to see a convoy of horsepower and elegance that rarely happens. And finally, their journey allowed the engines to get a proper break-in. Buying a new car and parking it is the worst way to hurt the engine. It takes at least 500 miles for the rings and bearings to set, and a road trip is a perfect way to do this. I drove a low mileage Murcielago that was babied its entire life, and the dealer wonders why it smokes at startup. So click the link below to find your McLaren and follow the instructions for years of smooth running. Shop All McLarens for Sale

By Edward Jones – July 25, 2018

McLaren Speedtail Will Be the World's First Hyper-GT

Up until now, we've called the upcoming McLaren Hyper-GT model "BP23." This was just a codename. Now, we know what the next model in the Ultimate Series will be called: McLaren Speedtail.McLaren says that they have informed all 106 clients that reserved the hybrid model when it was BP23 that it will be called Speedtail. Each of the 106 Speedtail created will be personalized to the customer's liking through MSO's abilities, meaning no two will be the same.Official: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ AnnouncedThe Speedtail is being touted as the fastest McLaren yet, being able to break the 243 mph barrier set by the F1. McLaren also says that the Speedtail will be the most luxurious model they've created as well.The Speedtail is designed with a three-seat cockpit design, with the driver being centrally located. Sound familiar? Yup, that's the same layout that we saw in the legendary F1.McLaren notes that the entire allocation of Speedtails was spoken for before the car was even officially announced back in November 2016. Those who reserved one have had to wait a while, but production is set to begin by the end of next year and the car will get a public reveal before 2018's end.

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