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 Andrew Nabors – April 08, 2019

Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro Track Review by Carfection

Ever since Mr. A and Mr. G began modding Mercedes-Benz cars, they have never stopped improving AMG's lineup. Continual improvements caught the eye of their former bosses, and AMG was purchased by Mercedes-Benz in 1999. Now that the AMG GT has been on the market for a few years, it is time to make it a proper race car. If you have been wondering how good it really is, here is the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro track review by Carfection. Henry Catchpole and team did a great job showing the differences between the AMG GT R and the new GT R Pro. First off, the shocks are manually adjustable, with separate compression and rebound dials. Then it was on to carbon fiber upgrades. Starting with a driveshaft tunnel brace, this gorgeous kit increases torsional rigidity by 7%. Carbon fiber can also be seen on the new front and rear spoilers, dive planes, and the fixed-back racing buckets. The track pack is now standard, so you will have a roll cage and fire extinguisher that are compliant for many classes. Engine and transmission settings were not changed, so you still have 577 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque at your command. If you think you can handle it, click the link below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Mercedes-AMG news. Browse AMG GT R For Sale Related: Mercedes-AMG G63 vs Porsche Cayman GTS vs Audi RS3 Modified Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Hits 199 MPH

By Andrew Nabors – April 01, 2019

Mercedes-AMG G63: 2019 vs 2017 Drag Race

It only took Mercedes-Benz three decades to upgrade the Geländewagen. And as soon as the 2019 model entered production, the gearheads at AMG transformed it into a hot rod SUV. The previous generation G63 was the Swan Song for the traditional 5.5L V8. With its head held high, it left us with a need for 571 horsepower and three locking differentials. When we heard it was being replaced by the ubiquitous 4.0L, we figured the 2019 model might not measure up to its predecessor. But we couldn't have been more wrong. The latest G63 has 585 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. It beats the older model by 14 horsepower and 66 lb-ft of torque. Aerodynamics have also been cleaned thanks to a raked windshield and finely sculpted fenders. The major difference is in the front suspension. Independent axles have replaced the solid differential. This makes for a more comfortable ride and a little more ground clearance off road. Tell us which G63 you would own in the comments below, and stay with us for more 1/2 mile action from DragtimesInfo. View all Mercedes-AMG G63 For Sale Related: Mercedes-AMG Announces G65 Final Edition Drake Buys Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet

By Edward Jones – October 31, 2018

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Breaks Four-Door Nurburgring Record

The new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ has become the world's fastest series production four-seater around Nurburgring Nordschleife. This record comes after a certified time of 7:25:41, which was completed by AMG Development Engineer Demian Schaffert. Schaffert is actually a former racing driver, so he knew exactly what he was doing behind the wheel. You can view the record lap down below.Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: A Look BackMercedes' four-door sedan beat out the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio's time of 7:32, set back in 2016. Now the German company can sit on top of the four-door Nurburgring pedestal for the time being. Which car will break the record next? View All AMG GT For Sale AMG GT R Specs

By Andrew Nabors – May 29, 2018

Hitting Top Speed in a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG

When a rocket is heading into orbit, it has to slow down and almost coast through the sound barrier. No matter how aerodynamic an object is, air gets mad when you compress it. Our friends at AutoTopNL are usually fond of flogging the latest in German supercars on the Autobahn.Sell Your Exotic Car With duPont REGISTRYBut for this week's top speed run, the boys from the Netherlands chose a box with a sledgehammer under the hood. The Mercedes Geländewagen literally translates to cross-country wagon, so it arrives with 3 locking differentials and the ability to climb the Matterhorn. But like every iconic Mercedes, they allowed AMG to give it amazing power.See 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS Hit Top SpeedThe new generation G63 will arrive with the same 4.0-liter twin turbo found across their lineup. So the 2018 models are the last ones to feature the classic 5.5 liter V8. Each one has its pros and cons, so click the link below to find yours and stay with us for more fast-paced footage from AutoTopNL.Browse Mercedes-AMG G Class For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 09, 2018

Mercedes-Benz Opens First AMG Speedway in South Korea

Tensions are cooling after six decades of a ceasefire on the Korean peninsula. So investing in South Korea is quickly becoming a sure bet. That is why Mercedes-Benz has announced the new AMG Speedway in a press release this morning. South Korea has been an important market for AMG's high-performance models, so this 2.6-mile track is located only 23 miles from Seoul.The facility includes areas for new model introductions, driving instruction and the AMG Lounge. CEO of Mercedes-AMG Tobias Moers had this to say: "The AMG Speedway is the world's first racetrack bearing our name. This underlines the importance of South Korea as one of our main markets.The AMG Speedway is thus not only an important step in the further dynamic development of AMG in South Korea. It also stands for the strategic expansion of our face-to-face communication. Customers and fans can experience the essence of our brand here first hand”. What was South Korea's first racetrack was reconfigured to have 17 turns and a bridge over the ground of the Everland theme park on the outskirts of Seoul. It should make for great racing, so stay with us for all your Mercedes-Benz and AMG news. If you want to experience the best of AMG without traveling the globe, click the link below for great deals on the AMG GT. Browse AMG GT For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 19, 2018

Top 5 Untold Stories From Mercedes-Benz

The oldest automaker in the world (Mercedes-Benz) started a new YouTube Series over the weekend. The "Best of Benz" is aimed at highlighting some of the more interesting points in their history. We like this approach because it avoids appealing to emotion and nostalgia. Many marketing departments fall down this hole, leading each advertisement to be more surreal than the next. But the Germans tell it like it is.Five of the little-known bits from the past begins with the Measuring Car. Before computers were used for peaceful purposes, engineers worked in an analog world. For this, they needed a full-scale prototype to be loaded down with instruments and accelerometers to record data in real-world situations. Engineers could only make an educated guess on details like shock valving and torsional rigidity, so the data was recorded on paper and tape so they could play it back later to refine the design. This was an expensive and time-consuming task, so it took Mercedes-Benz to bring the automotive world into the modern era.New Mercedes-AMG Hypercar-Inspired Boat RevealedA wind tunnel seems like a no-brainer these days, but back when gas was cheap nobody cared about mileage or aerodynamics. Style was king over the automotive world until Daimler engineers took a page from the Wright Brothers playbook. The Mercedes-Benz wind tunnel not only tested the cars at Autobahn speeds, it subjected them to scorching heat and bitter cold. We're not discrediting their other claims, but crash-testing is a bit of a stretch. Louis Chevrolet and Henry Ford validated their designs at places like the Indianapolis Brickyard and the beaches of Daytona long before 1953.Five Most Luxurious Mercedes-Benz Cars Ever MadeThe Bionic car was modeled after a Boxfish and it arrived in '05 as a concept vehicle from the Daimler-Chrysler years. That merger period is a story unto itself, so we'll cover it down the road. The final remark is that Karl Benz had the first driver's license. The first car he built was a prototype car or in German the "Patent Motorwagen". It was so far ahead of its time he wanted to make sure the authorities were ok with it. So he obtained written approval to drive it, which in theory was the first Driver's license.Browse Mercedes-Benz For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 12, 2018

Mercedes Benz G-Class Encased in 44 Tons of Amber

Think about the most breathtaking display you have ever seen an at an auto show, and get ready to be amazed. The Detroit auto show is almost upon us, which means manufacturers from around the world will be fighting your attention.Everyone knows the new G-Wagen will be a star of the show, so expect to see a few examples of its predecessors. It has been in production since 1979, known as the Geländewagen. It means cross-country wagon in English since it has 3 locking differentials with enough gear reduction to pull a building up a hill.Michael Fux AMG Black Series Collection Heading To AuctionWhen an automaker chooses to display historical versions, you can bet they have tight security around them. Instead of a guard or a velvet rope, Mercedes-Benz chose another method to protect one of the first examples. The 1979 G Wagon heading to Detroit has been permanently cast into 44 tons of amber. Instead of using natural resources, a synthetic resin was poured around the vehicle and allowed to harden. This monolith measures 18' long by 10' high, and it took 90 days to cool.The logistics of transporting something like this make us wonder what will happen to it after the show. Perhaps the fossilized 4x4 will be found in the distant future, and its DNA will be used to clone a new generation of rugged luxury SUVs. Stay with us for a review of the new G-Class along with complete coverage of the Detroit Auto Show.Browse G Class For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 01, 2017

Mercedes-AMG Launches New Campaign for E63 S 4MATIC+

Mercedes-AMG has launched a new campaign for the new and powerful E63 S 4MATIC+. The campaign is centered around a trio of short films created by British photographer Rankin. Daimler notes in a press release regarding the campaign that these films "show the complexity that career people face in their lives today. They have to go their own way to achieve their aims. Much in the same manner as the performance saloon makes its own rules when it comes to driving dynamics."The three new Mercedes-AMG films are titled "Focus Your Energy," "Do Not Waste Anybody's Time," and "Appear Where You Are Not Expected." Each video s howcases the E63 S 4MATIC+, which has a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine. This engine delivers a massive 612 horsepower, making it the most powerful engine ever fitted in an E-Class. That kind of power rockets the car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. That kind of acceleration is only possibly with the car's AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-speed sports transmission and the 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system.You can view each of the films below.Focus Your Energy Do Not Waste Anyone's Time Appear Where You Are Not Expected

By Edward Jones – May 09, 2017

Glorious Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Exhaust Noise

The now classic Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR was introduced into the world of racing back in 1997, but two decades later it's still one of the most gorgeous cars the German automaker has ever created. This stretched out CLK houses a massive 6.0-liter V12 engine that produces an ear-shattering exhaust note.While the CLK GTR and CLK LM raced in the FIA GT series and 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mercedes produced 25 road cars from 1998-1999 after the GIA GT1 class was canceled in 1999. This road-going version brought a lot of components over from the racing version, including that massive V12 engine. However, the displacement of the engine was increased to 6.9-liters and the racing air restrictor was removed. This results in 604 hp and 572 lb-ft of torque. At the time, the Guinness Book of World Records regarded it as the most expensive production car ever built, at a price of $1,547,620, which would equate to around $2.3 million in today's money with inflation taken into account.Related - 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R Coupe Gets Official U.S. PricingSpeedracer38 recently filmed a CLK GTR SS's exhaust as it made its way back to the RENNtech headquarters after a day at the track. This car has a bored-out 7.3-liter V12 that has 720 hp on tap.Mercedes-CLK GTR Exhaust Video

By Edward Jones – April 07, 2016

Ultimate Race: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe vs Parkour vs ...

I'm not exactly sure who thought of the idea for this video, but bless 'em because it's an absolute blast to watch.Created by Teamsupertramp, this video pits an unlikely lineup of contestants against each other, starring the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe. The other contestants were Ronnie Shalvis with the parkour and a Traxxas RC truck. Their race takes them through a maze of shipping containers, with the RC truck getting in through the tight spots, the parkour runner running atop the maze and the C-Class gunning through open space.Who wins? Watch the video above to find out! Also, be sure to watch the behind-the-scenes video below.Mercedes-Benz's For Sale

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