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 – March 05, 2018

How To Turn On McLaren 720S Secret Startup Exhaust Easter...

I absolutely love it when cars come with secrets. Take the Tesla Model S and Model X, for example. In these models are a number of hidden easter eggs, like the songs that they can "" title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>" to or the ability to "" title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>." For the McLaren 720S, the engineers decided they would include their own little easter egg.When turning on the 720S supercar, you simply put your foot on the brake and push the start button. However, there is also another way you can start the engine, which Jalopnik detailed in their video (found below). This new McLaren easter egg allows drivers to start their car with a little extra 'umph.' To activate this secret startup exhaust easter egg, do the following when starting up a McLaren 720S: Press the ignition button Press the "Active" button on the dashboard Switch the car to "Track Mode" Press your foot on the brake and then push the ignition button What you get when you do this is an extra "pop" that happens just after startup.

By Andrew Nabors – September 21, 2017

McLaren 720S Rev Battle: Sport vs Normal Exhaust

Our friends at DragTimes were forced to hunker down last week for Hurricane Irma. While it didn't give them much trouble in South Florida, we lost power for a few days here in St. Petersburg. Before the storm arrived, Brooks was kind enough to offer a comparison in the sounds of the McLaren 720S. His friend's new car was ordered with the $5,600 Sport Exhaust, so how does the sound compare to a normal example?McLaren 720S vs Lamborghini HuracanAs the cars start revving, the most interesting aspect is that the 720S sounds like an Italian. The new 4.0 liter V8 could be using a flat-plane crank, so if you have the details please let us know in the comments below. The Sport Exhaust sounds deeper, with more sounds from the wastegates and blow off valves. Is it worth over 5 grand on the window sticker? You be the judge. Either way, you can't go wrong with the advanced technology and potent power of Mclaren's latest Super Series.

By Edward Jones – September 19, 2017

McLaren 720S Runs 0-60 MPH in Under Three Seconds in Unfa...

Since the McLaren 720S was released, it has been growing in popularity with each passing day. Our friends at DragTimes recently got their hands on a new 720S to test it and see how it stacks up against the hype.Epic Showdown: McLaren 720S vs Lamborghini HuracanShortly after Hurricane Irma passed his town, Brooks of DragTimes took the new English supercar out for a spin on the drag strip. Unfortunately, the settings were a bit unfavorable, but that didn't stop the car from exceeding expectations. Here is the breakdown of how the car performed:0-60 in 2.8 seconds 1/4 mile 10.2 @ 144.8 mph 1/2 mile @ 174.04 mphThose are numbers that are comparable to the Porsche 918 Spyder and Bugatti Veyron. What's more? It's most definitely less expensive. Check out the video below to see the car's rapid acceleration for yourself.

By Andrew Nabors – August 04, 2017

McLaren Builds Full-Size LEGO 720S

If you are looking for a responsible way to have fun this weekend, we recommend getting brickfaced. LEGO and supercars are a perfect fit for each other. As part of the Speed Champions series, the McLaren 720S joins the Porsche 911 GT3, Ford GT, and the Ferrari FXX K as scale models, but McLaren decided to build a 1:1 example for this year's Goodwood Festival. In a time-lapse video uploaded this morning, over 2,000 man-hours are compressed into 59 seconds of assembly.Last weekend I had an opportunity to visit Art of the Brick, an exhibition of LEGO art by Nathan Sawaya. His creations are solid constructions, which makes them quite heavy. McLaren has a keen ability to keep their cars on the lighter side, so a steel frame was used as the base of the build. A set of brake rotors was welded on at the corners to support the wheels and tires, the only parts it shares with the production 720S. The team built a majority of the car before the event, but the finishing touches were left for volunteers. With proceeds going to Goodwood's Charity, helpers were allowed to use 13,000 bricks to complete the roof. In total, the LEGO 720S used 280,000 bricks and it makes for a great advertisement. If you are looking for the real thing, check out these McLarens for sale and stay with us for all your automotive LEGO news.

By Andrew Nabors – August 03, 2017

Off-Roading Two McLaren 570GTs Looks Like a Blast

Taking your supercar on a road trip could be a recipe for disaster if you don't have enough cargo space. That's why McLaren added an opening rear hatch to the 570S to build the 570GT. In all honesty, I wouldn't want to place anything heavy on the rear package tray. Not because the carbon-fiber wouldn't support it, but who would dare defile such fine English leather? To see how much it can handle, Mike Tornabene and his friend Zac borrowed two new examples from McLaren Beverly Hills and packed for a weekend in the desert.Also Check Out: Bruno Senna Drifts McLaren 570S On IceLone Pine, California is a sleepy town on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is famous for being in close proximity to the highest and lowest elevations in the lower 48. Mount Whitney tops out at 14,505 feet and it will be just above freezing tonight. Badwater basin is 131 miles east, at 278 feet below sea level. The drive from bottom to top is known as L2H and it will take your breath away, literally due to the change in altitude. Tourists and hikers come here year-round to take in the scenery, and many auto manufacturers use it when testing prototypes.The 570GT is capable of 26 miles per gallon on flat land and probably at sea level. It has 562 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, which might seem like overkill in the sand of the Mojave Desert. Watch the hijinx in the video below and let us know your ideal choice for a weekend off the grid. If you need the perfect camping accessory, we have many examples of the 570GT for sale. Stay with us for more McLaren reviews.

By Andrew Nabors – June 02, 2017

A Minute Of Noise For Bruce McLaren, Who Passed Away 47 Y...

On June 2nd, 47 years ago Bruce McLaren passed away. Only 32 years old, he was testing his latest Can-Am racer (the M8D) at Goodwood. Some of the bodywork failed at a high speed, causing a loss in downforce, the car lost traction and what ensued would shock the motorsport world. Instead of a moment of silence, what better way to celebrate his life than to fire up his final build, which is what McLaren has done in a video found below. The M8 series dominated the Can-Am series for years thanks to innovations in aerodynamics. But a slippery design wasn't the only factor. The rear body work and some suspension parts are bolted directly to the engine to save weight. And what a monster motor it is.For the ultimate power in a light package, McLaren built a 7.62-liter all-aluminum 465ci Chevrolet big block. The legendary ZL1 engine was developed by Zora Duntov to make Corvette faster on the track, but only 2 Corvettes were built before the program was discovered by GM's bean counters. The engines were sent to Penske and other racers, and to the Camaro plant where 69 Camaro ZL1's were built. Essentially everything behind the cockpit was bolted to an engine that weighed only 420 lbs. The fuel injected beast made 670 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque thanks to a 12:1 compression ratio. Fully loaded, the car weighed in at 1,398 lbs, which must be a blast to drive. He must be looking down with pride, as his legacy for innovation can be found in machines like the P1 GTR and the new 720S. So fire up your surround sound for a minute of noise. Stay with us for all your McLaren news.

By Andrew Nabors – May 25, 2017

720 Horespower McLaren 570GT Goes for a Test Drive

One of the most satisfying drives is after a major upgrade, and the fact that you didn't lose your 10mm socket and nothing fell down the intake. For the gearheads at Germany's PP-Performance, they take delight in adding a few hundred horsepower to already potent supercars. Earlier this week we showed you a wild Porsche 911 Turbo S that was boosted to 750 horsepower, thanks to filming by AutoTopNL. But it looks like they aren't just a Porsche shop, as the latest upload features a 720 horsepower McLaren 570GT. The Sports Series from McLaren is aimed at a performance-minded daily driver, as it has an opening rear hatch for additional storage and a low door sill for easy entry.The Sports Series from McLaren is aimed at a performance-minded daily driver, as it has an opening rear hatch for additional storage and a low door sill for easy entry. We like the 570S because it has a very friendly price along with better engineering than any other car on the road. But the 570GT has aggressive aerodynamics along with a panoramic roof, which is worth its weight in gold. It does without super expensive carbon brakes because some people don't want to sell their children to afford new rotors. On the showroom floor it makes 562 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque at the crankshaft. This is perfectly adequate for a carbon fiber two-seater, but since the same basic engine is used across the lineup, PP Performace upped the boost and worked their magic. AutoTopNL is famous for their flat-out Autobahn films, and they promise one is coming. But for now, enjoy the sights and sounds 720 horsepower through the countryside. Both the 570S and the 570GT are great in stock form, so check with our dealers for great incentives.

By Edward Jones – May 10, 2017

Onboard a McLaren P1 LM Smashing a Goodwood Hillclimb Record

There are only a few cars that are more extreme than the McLaren P1, with the P1 LM being one of them. This hypercar is a road-going version of the P1 GTR, a transformation that was completed by Lanzante, a British automotive company. The conversion from the P1 GTR to the P1 LM involved a litany of operations, including swapping out the exhaust and bolts, removing the air-jack system, and more.Recently, at the Festival of SPeed's Supercar Shootout held at Goodwood's Hillclimb, Kenny Brack drove the McLaren P1 LM like a mad man. Ultimately, he broke the track's record and recorded the fastest time set by a road legal car during the shootout. You can view his entire run from onboard the car by clicking play below.McLaren P1 LM's Record-Setting Goodwood Hillclimb Run

By Edward Jones – February 01, 2017

Drifting the McLaren 675LT Looks Insanely Fun

We all drive our cars every day to and from work, driving in straight lines and taking turns properly. Sometimes it's just nice to take your car out to a track and drift it around like a madman. Especially if the car you drive is a dang McLaren 675LT.(How the McLaren F1 Became the World's Fastest Car)DRIVETRIBE's Jethro Bovingdon took a 675LT out to the track for some sideways action. He noted in a new video that the car has "brilliant balance" and "so much power." How much power? How about a devilish 666 bhp and 516 lb-ft of torque, thanks to the award-winning 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine.Check out the video below to see Bovingdon thrash the 675LT Spider, but prepare to be jealous.All McLaren 675LT For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 02, 2016

McLaren P14 Spied on the Road

The McLaren 650S has already been out two years and it seems a replacement is in the world: the P14. This new model has been regarded as a junior P1 and will more than likely see a debut in the coming months, but nothing is truly certain as of right now.(Related - Five Things Not to Hate About the McLaren 650S)What IS certain is the fact that Petrol Ped has witnessed the P14 on the road for himself. While on a drive in the U.K., he spotted a heavily camouflaged car and sent pictures of the car across his social platforms, asking what it was. The response was that this is indeed the undisclosed P14.Along with the P14, will we also see the launch of the successor to the F1 next year? Only time will tell, but it looks like next year is going to be a great year in the supercar world.All McLaren For Sale

McLaren News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe