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

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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.

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By Tyler Rampersaud – May 02, 2022

will.i.am And Mercedes-AMG Team Up On A Strange New Coupe

Mercedes-AMG teams up with one of the most avant-garde celebrities in the automotive sense. will.i.am is known for his musical endeavors, especially with the Black Eyed Peas, but many of us car enthusiasts know him for his collection of off-the-wall automobiles, like his custom DeLorean or his heavily modified Tesla Model S. Employing his unique vision to create a project car that even just the teaser images make clear is something we’ve never seen before, Mercedes-AMG has partnered with the musician to create quite the interesting project car. MUST READ: What is there to find in Kevin Hart's car collection? FIND OUT What we can tell from the dimly lit teaser images of this upcoming car is that it is a front-engined coupe with suicide doors, retro-inspired wheels, panoramic glass roof pieces across each side, and most interestingly, a front end that looks as though it came off of a Mercedes-Benz G-Class. As with any of will.i.am’s automotive creations, this new car is sure to be interesting. While we still have to wait for its reveal on May 5, we can say without a doubt that this new car is going to be a conversation piece. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mercedes-AMG (@mercedesamg) Source: Instagram/Mercedes-AMG

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 06, 2022

Mercedes-Benz Celebrates The 2022 Masters With A Special ...

The German pro golfer will be pulling up to Augusta in style. The 2022 Masters tournament marks a special occasion for golf fans all around the world this weekend. As one of the main sponsors of the iconic event, Mercedes-Benz is proud to be on scene with some of the biggest names in the PGA aside their fleet of performance-focused sports cars. Mercedes-Benz The German automotive manufacturer is honoring two icons during the 2022 Masters, German professional golfer Bernhard Langer and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Bernhard’s decades-long career includes successful starts and wins at some of the most famous events, including his first Masters' appearance in Augusta, GA 40-years ago. Leading at the top of its class for over 40-years, it's only right to have Bernhard Langer arrive in style in the newly redesigned 2022 Mercedes-Benz G550. MUST-READ: New Virgil Abloh X Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Is Available To Buy Celebrating his dedication to the sport and its brand, Mercedes-Benz commissions a unique custom livery for the luxury 4x4 in collaboration with tape art artist Leah Abucayan. The once gloss white G550 now showcases a vibrant new design that features Bernhard Langer and his motto ‘Stronger Than Time’. Alongside Bernhard and the G-Class, Mercedes-Benz is also excited to see brand ambassador John Rahm as another prime contender for the 2022 Masters. Mercedes-Benz The golf-packed weekend is sure to be filled with intense competition and German automotive excellence. Look out for Bernhard Langer’s custom Mercedes-Benz G550, as well as the AMG SL and EQS at August National Golf Course during the 2022 Masters this weekend. View all of the current Mercedes-Benz G550 examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more upcoming celebrity car news. View All Mercedes-Benz G550 For Sale Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 01, 2021

Mercedes-Benz Project MAYBACH With Virgil Abloh

Rubell Museum to showcase Project MAYBACH to the public from December 1st – December 2nd. The world is devastated by the recent passing of fashion designer icon Virgil Abloh, who incorporated his unique artistic vision into countless collaborations and collections. As a member of the Mercedes-Benz family, Virgil continued to work closely with Chief Design Officer Garden Wagener on reimagining production vehicles as works of art displayed for enthusiasts to enjoy. Along with successful collaboration ventures like Project Geländenwagen, Virgil set out to shock the automotive and fashion world with his highly-anticipated release of Project MAYBACH. Mercedes-Benz is proud to honor the work of Virgil Abloh by revealing Project MAYBACH following the wishing of his family. MUST-READ: Project Geländenwagen By Mercedes-Benz x Virgil Abloh As an idea started from scratch, Virgil and Gorden took to the drawing board to create an off-road electric two-seater that pushes the boundaries of function, style, and collaborative creativity. The inspiration behind Project Maybach was complete creative freedom, the great outdoors, and recontextualizing a traditionally metropolitan brand within a distinctly off-road environment. Project MAYBACH channels Abloh's passion to challenge the status quo and re-write the rulebook of aspirational design. The X-Factor nature of Project MAYBACH results not only from its breathtaking size (nearly 20 feet long) and characteristics. While Project MAYBACH was inspired by his creative efforts, the Mercedes-Benz teams thank Virgil Abloh for the inspiration to explore the power of cross-industry dialogue. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury car news and releases. Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Edward Jones – February 22, 2021

Watch the “The Spirit of AMG: The Silber-Sau” Short Film ...

Back in 1971, the Spa Francorchamps 24 Hours race had a bit of an underdog amongst its competitors: the Red PiG. This nickname was given to the first AMG race car ever created and it was actually a modified Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. The Red Pig defied all odds and not only crossed the finish line but also came in first place in its class and second place overall. After the race concluded, the Red Pig was unfortunately sold and destroyed. While we may never see the famed underdog again, the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California has created the genuinely outstanding "Silber-Sau," a one-to-one homage to the Red Pig. While it is based on the original 300 SEL body, it does feature a more powerful 6.8-liter V8 engine, as opposed to the original's 6.3-liter V8. To celebrate the Silver Pig, NativeFour created “The Spirit of AMG: The Silber-Sau," a short film starring Magnus Walker behind the wheel of the homage car. You can see it for yourself by clicking play up above. You can also check out their previous short film titled "Ascension," which also stars Magnus Walker. Source: NativeFour

By Andrew Nabors – August 13, 2020

Mercedes-Benz and Wee Man Celebrate the Sprinter Van in "...

Van Life is about being free. No property taxes, nomadic traveling, and camaraderie at events. Now that the new Sprinter factory is running around the clock in Charleston, everyone should have an opportunity to experience them. With an ever-expanding lineup of configurations, Mercedes-Benz and Wee Man have organized a Sprinter "Concours de Zoom". Luxury Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Prices & Options This virtual car show will take place on Zoom today starting at 5 PM Eastern (2 PM Pacific). Celebrities will also include Mike Golic Jr., Thaddeus Young, James Kirkham, Sharky Laguna, Wee Man, Barry Nobles, Henry of Keeping Finn, Dan and Marlene of Mali Mish, and Kristen Bor of Bearfoot Theory. Click here to join the show, and click the button below to find your new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van. Browse Mercedes-Benz Sprinter For Sale

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