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

Mercedes-Benz News

Mercedes-Benz news fromduPont REGISTRY News, updated daily, covering the S-Class, the Maybach range, the AMG models, the G-Class and the electric line-up. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, bespoke builds and the auction results that set collector values. Mercedes-Benz competes across more segments than almost any rival, so the news here runs unusually wide. Our marketplace supplies the part most publications leave out entirely. A great many of these cars are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which puts a review and a real asking price side by side. For Mercedes-Benz news today, and the luxury car market news around it, start here.

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 01, 2022

Mercedes-EQ x N+ Bikes Release The New Formula E Team eBike

The team at Mercedes-EQ Formula E gets its very own special edition ebike. The electrified team at Mercedes-EQ Formula E specializes in harnessing and applying renewable energy as the main power source for a new age of racing, seeking points on the track while driving for a sustainable change. Mercedes-EQ is proud to incorporate the same race-inspired technology into a series of E-bikes, sporting the team's iconic colors and logos. The Mercedes-EQ is proud to unveil the new Formula E Team eBike in collaboration with the cycling specialists at N+ Bikes. MUST-READ: Makes & Movements: IWC Pilot’s Watch ‘Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1’ x 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series The most noticeable change about the newly updated Formula eBike is the frame’s matte black finish and ‘Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team’ logo, made from a lightweight yet durable Aluminum 6061. Ensuring a comfortable ride no matter the distance, the Formula E Team eBike includes a set of paint-matched 700cc alloy wheels with puncture-resistant tires. A hidden single 36v battery acts as the power source and holds a 43.5-mile capacity at full charge, with a speedy 100% recharge time of 3.5-hours. Just as every Mercedes-Benz is built with functionality and reliability in mind, the eBike’s carbon drive belt proves to be maintenance-free for 20,000-miles. The state-of-the-art drivetrain achieves a top speed of 20mph and generates 25% more torque than the previous generation. A heads-up digital gauge allows riders to track crucial information during a ride while integrating other security features. The all-new Mercedes-EQ x N+ Formula E Team eBike is currently available in a variety of sizes starting at $3,450, by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and supercar news. Shop Now Source: N+ Bikes

By Jordan Aquistapace – May 18, 2022

Mercedes-Benz Talks Creativity And Its Concept Mercedes-M...

Mercedes-Benz puts its creative department behind the wheel. While Mercedes-Benz establishes success in the luxury automotive market with a fleet of performance-focused vehicles, its creative team behind the scenes aims to diversify its portfolio with art and fashion collaborations. Leading the brand’s creative division, Chief Design Officer Gordon Wagner continues his journey of creating the most desirable cars in the world for Mercedes-Benz beside other creative individuals like the late Virgil Abloh. Mercedes-Benz sits down with Gordon Wagner and Vice President of Marketing Bettina Fetzer in an interview to capture the vision of design essentials and the art of creating desire, giving insight into the past, present, and future of Mercedes-Benz. Following his design philosophy of “Sensual Purity”, Gordon defines Mercedes-Benz as modern luxury of the highest quality. The variety of vehicles that embellish luxury, performances, and sustainability help to speak to a larger audience, inviting opportunities to start new trends with examples like Project MAYBACH. Alongside the futuristic Mercedes-Benz show cars, Bettina highlights the importance of focusing more on just the product and the wishes of passionate customers. Mercedes-Benz The new luxurious addition to Mercedes-Benz is the Mercedes-Maybach Haute Voiture, a close-to-production concept car that elevates its status as the pinnacle of sophisticated luxury. The Concept Mercedes-Maybach Haute Voiture embodies exclusive design aesthetics and craftsmanship using the finest materials available. Its exterior features a head-turning two-tone finish that showcases the top half in dark nautical blue and the lower portion in a light shimmering rose. An elegant interior design utilizes exquisite nappa leather with high-quality bouclé fabric, a high-fashion combination that comes available as an additional matching luggage set. The strictly limited model is set to come to makers in early 2023, with anticipated demand from collectors and enthusiasts. Mercedes-Benz In addition to offering a line of luxury vehicles, the automotive manufacturer also wants to present luxury products in the forms of digital art, NFTs, and haute couture pieces. The bright future of Mercedes-Benz will soon make its way to Nice, France, where Gordon Wagner and Bettina Fetzer will be on-scene to attend the premiere of the Vision AMG and the debut of two special edition Mercedes-Maybach S-Class models. The success of Mercedes-Benz stretches far upon the automotive market with its focus on art and creativity, creating a true one-of-a-kind luxury experience. View all of the current Mercedes-Benz models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and Mercede-Benz news. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 18, 2022

Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team Announces The New n+ Silv...

Formula E technology at the heart of the new Mercedes-Benz eBike. The advancements in EV technology allow enhancements not only benefits towards regular production vehicles but also for the world of motorsports and automotive racing. The Formula E series pushes the boundaries of electric vehicle performance with an action-packed season of racing on iconic circuits around the world. As the close cousin of Formula 1, the Mercedes-Benz EQ Team shares the same winning attitude as the team at Mercedes-AMG Petronas. The Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team is proud to announce its all-new n+ Silver Arrows eBike, featuring a sleek and modern design that pairs perfectly with state-of-the-art technology. The new eBike presents itself in a beautiful hand-polished and brushed aluminum finish with Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team logos. MUST-READ: How To Buy: A$AP Rocky’s Mercedes-Benz x AWGE Collection At PacSun The frame design comes in three different sizes to ensure the perfect fit for any rider looking for an electric kick to their daily bike ride. The n+ Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow features a 250W mid-drive motor that is driven by dual 36v batteries. With an advanced Enviolo constant variable transmission, the electric Mercedes-Benz bike holds a 62-mile range and 100-percent recharge time of 3.5-hours. The all-new n+ Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team Silver Arrows eBike is currently available for reservation with a price tag of $4,500 (10% deposit required). View all of the current Mercedes-Benz models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear news and releases. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 15, 2022

A$AP Rocky Teases A New Mercedes-Benz x AWGE Collection

Mercedes-Benz styled by the team at AWGE. With an ongoing influence on the fashion industry, Mercedes-Benz continues to collaborate with other industry leaders on luxury collections that bridge together the two worlds. In a recent Instagram post, American rapper A$SAP Rocky teases a new upcoming apparel collaboration with the German automotive manufacturer and the fashion professionals at AWGE. MUST-READ: Harley-Davidson x Todd Snyder Release Its New Limited-Edition Apparel Collection Although sneak peek images only highlight a small portion of the release, the product line is sure to feature head-to-toe essentials for an automotive lifestyle enthusiast. The two pieces seen in the teaser post take shape as a bomber-style jacket and designer work pants that feature classic Mercedes-Benz logos. The all-new Mercedes-Benz x AWGE Collection is set to release soon, so check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more updates on the drop. View all of the current Mercedes-Benz inventory for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by GRIM (@asaprocky) Source: @asaprocky IG

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 31, 2022

LEGO Announces The New Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance ...

A chance to build automotive excellence with help from LEGO x Mercedes-AMG. Mercedes-AMG incorporates track-inspired design, technology, and performance into its lineup of luxury road vehicles. Performing at the highest level of motorsports, Mercedes-AMG draws inspiration from chassis like the F1 W12 E-Performance and Project One. The professionals at LEGO are proud to encapsulate the two Mercedes-AMG icons into its collection of Speed Champions building sets. The new release from LEGO x Mercedes-AMG features two vehicles that celebrate the brand and deliver an authentic building experience for any collector. MUST-READ: The Top Automotive-Inspired LEGO Sets Available Now The LEGO Speed Champions Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E-Performance and Mercedes-AMG Project One come as a 564-piece set with two driver mini figures and branded logo decals for ages 9 and up. Available in the free LEGO Building Instructions app for smartphones and tablets, the interactive digital guide comes with amazing zoom and rotate tools that allow you to visualize a model from all angles as you build. The all-new LEGO x Mercedes-AMG building set will be releasing to the online store on March 1st for $29.99. Shop all of the automotive-inspired building sets from LEGO by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury lifestyle news and gear releases. Shop LEGO LEGO Source: LEGO

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 14, 2021

Mercedes Launches The Santoni For AMG Collection

The perfect luxury accessories to match the brutal performance from Mercedes-AMG. The construction of a modern-day supercar incorporates the perfect blend of industry-leading performance and luxury interior amenities. For Mercedes-AMG, the brand celebrates traditional interior design with the ability to configure the cabin layout using an array of material and color options. Following the same creative forward-thinking as a fashion brand, Mercedes-AMG is proud to team up with Santoni to make that thought a reality. MUST-READ: Discover The New Ferrari Eyewear Collection Available Now The all-new Santoni For AMG Collection features premium products and accessories that use the same high-quality materials in vehicles on the production line. The collection includes sneakers, baggage, and accessories that come in an array of styles and colors, making it the perfect addition to complement any style. The Santoni For AMG line best highlights the similarities, attention to detail, and high industry standards of both luxury powerhouses. Shop the all-new Santoni For AMG Collection by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury lifestyle news and releases. Shop Mercedes-AMG x Santoni Source: Santoni

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 07, 2021

Amalgam Collection Shrinks Lewis Hamilton's Car to a Quar...

Amalgam’s Quarter Scale model of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes-Benz F1 car is 25% of the size with 100% of the thrill. Since 1985, Amalgam Collection has been making model cars with incredible attention to detail in various scales, ranging from miniature sculptures and 1:18 models at the smallest to 1:4 at the largest. Their latest effort, in celebration of Lewis Hamilton’s seven championship wins, Amalgam Collection will be selling only seven examples of their quarter-scale model of his F1 car in the livery it wore when he surpassed Michael Schumacher’s record for most race wins at the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix. Click here to check it out. For the F1 enthusiast who wants to see and experience a model of Lewis Hamilton’s F1 car in a manner only second to the real thing, $35,030 is what it will take to own this four-foot-long replica of the incredible Mercedes machine. The reason for this price is the fact that each one takes over 450 hours to assemble, and that is after the 4500 hours it took to develop the model, with no expenses spared according to Amalgam Collection, and paint codes and CAD designs provided by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team themselves. And if you can’t get your hands on the Lewis Hamilton model, Valtteri Bottas and George Russell versions are also available. Visit AmalgamCollection.com

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 09, 2021

Mercedes-Benz x Proenza Schouler Release Its New Capsule ...

Mercedes-Benz hops off the track and on the fashion runway with Proenza Schouler. Mercedes-Benz is known as a leader in the automotive industry, featuring a fleet of luxury and performance-focused vehicles that cater to any owner's lifestyle. Alongside its dedication to crushing lap times on circuits around the world, the German automotive manufacturer highlights its fashionable side on the runway. As part of its most recent collaboration project, Mercedes-Benz is proud to announce the release of its new apparel and accessories collection with the fashion experts at Proenza Schouler. The all-new capsule collection draws inspiration from traveling on the open road while incorporating an extra sense of luxury with help from the creative design team at Mercedes-Benz. MUST-READ: The Best Mercedes’ You Can Buy Today The collection includes outerwear, tops, blankets, baggage, and small leather accessories that feature unique styles and color combinations. The products in this collection are crafted from high-quality, sustainable materials, such as recycled eco cashmere and up-cycled leather, and made using responsible manufacturing practices involving natural dying and tanning methods. The all-new Mercedes-Benz x Proenza Schouler Capsule Collection is now available through the retailer’s website starting at $350. View all current Mercedes-Benz models for sale on DuPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Source: Proenza Schouler

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 01, 2021

Watch Mercedes-AMG x PALACE Announce Its New Collection

The best on track meets the best in streetwear. The growing popularity in the world of automotive motorsports is starting to venture its way into other industries like streetwear fashion. Iconic brands like PALACE act as a blank canvas looking to create unique styles drawing inspiration from different backgrounds that hold similarities. The UK-based streetwear brand is proud to announce its newest collaboration collection with its neighbors at Mercedes-AMG. The duo acts as a bridge between both industries, opening the eyes of new enthusiasts and fans from all corners of the world. The PALACE x AMG Collection features head-to-toe apparel and accessories uniquely designed to stand out whether you are on track or out on the town. The Mercedes-AMG GT race car acts as the inspirational focus as its head-turning livery is proudly featured on each style throughout the lineup. Made from premium materials, the PALACE x AMG collection features jackets, sweaters, hoodies, polos, graphic t-shirts, hats, skateboards, and accessories. Along with PALACE and Mercedes-AMG logos, other automotive race sponsors are also incorporated into the clothing line, making you feel part of the team itself. The new PALACE x AMG Collection is set to launch in-store and online for the U.S. on Friday, June 4th at 11:00 am EST. Media Source: PALACE For more Gear news, Check out The New BRABUS Marine x Jobe Collection Is Available Now

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 10, 2021

Xiaomi Unveils The Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG...

Every Formula 1 fan has seen them, the electric scooters driven throughout the events by team drivers and members like Mercedes-AMG Petronas. Well, now is your chance to ride like Lewis Hamilton on the new Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition by Xiaomi. The new personal scooter combines design elements from the renowned championship-winning team with Xiaomi’s world-leading engineering. The styling includes a design livery straight from the season’s current race car with the mantra ‘The Best or Nothing’ scripted on the frame. The Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 is manageable through a smartphone via a smart app to help track the 28-mile range provided at full charge. The speed is generated by three modes gradually increasing power, which in sport mode with max out at 15mph. Learn more about the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition by clicking the link below, and stay tuned for a How To Buy special. For more Gear news, Check out Wheels X Wardrobe: Valentine’s Day Date Night In The Ferrari LaFerrari

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