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

Pagani News

Pagani news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Utopia, the Huayra in its many forms, and the Zonda that made the marque's name. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, bespoke builds and the auction results that set collector values. Pagani finishes fewer cars in a year than most makers build in a single day, so each sale sets a benchmark. That is where our marketplace becomes useful to readers. Paganis covered here are sometimes listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which puts the reporting beside a real figure. For Pagani news today, and the hypercar news and exotic car news around it, start below.

By Andrew Nabors – April 13, 2021

Why Horacio Pagani Never Really Left Lamborghini

Dedication and devotion above all else One of the most misunderstood stories in the automotive world is how an Argentine immigrant began sweeping the floors at Lamborghini. Mr. Pagani was 17 years old, and his enthusiasm impressed Ferruccio Lamborghini. Literally from the ground up, he rose to the top, becoming Chief Engineer by the mid 80's. Once Chrysler arrived with mandates to cut quality and stop fooling around with carbon fiber, Horacio saw the writing on the wall. His final masterpiece was the 25th Anniversary Countach, one for the record books Knowing full well that forged carbon was the future, Pagani struck a deal for a massive autoclave to build the first Zonda. But He still builds parts for anyone, which has inspired camaraderie amongst Italian automakers and the artists at the helm. Lamborghini and Pagani have completely different target audiences and price points, and the fact that both brands can exist in a symbiotic relationship is a testament to corporate cooperation. We hope this explains an oft-maligned story, so stay with us for all your Pagani news. Browse Pagani For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 09, 2021

How To Make a Pagani Zonda Revolución Street Legal

Could you tame this beast? We first saw the world's meanest Pagani Zonda at Pebble Beach nearly a decade ago. Since then, a few of us wondered how it could be driven legally. Going downtown on a Friday night would be much more enjoyable in a carbo-triax monocoque that is infused with titanium. While he was the Chief Engineer at Lamborghini, Mr. Pagani patented a slough of innovations relating to carbon fiber. All the best features of the 25th Anniversary Countach were made by him in small batches. Because the corporate overlords at Chrysler said no to innovation, he decided to build a car all his own, the Zonda. This being the most potent version, it offers 800 horsepower from a Mercedes-AMG V12. The price? Its expensive. Kudos to the team at The TFJJ for sharing this with us! We have several flavors of Pagani to choose from, so click the button and have a great weekend! Browse Pagani For Sale Image (C) TheTFJJ

By Andrew Nabors – March 22, 2021

Listen to the Pagani Huayra R V12 Scream to 9,000 RPM

Built as a homage to the best era of Formula 1 the latest Pagani makes power the old-fashioned way. Horacio Pagani has been a fan of racing all his life, and his favorite driver was also critical to the success of his cars. A fellow Argentine automotive genius was J.M. Fangio. He brokered the deal to allow Pagani to run Mercedes-Benz V12 engines. But now that the V12 is exclusive to Maybach, something new was needed. With a goal of building the world's most incredible V12, the challenge was answered by a legend. Hans Aufrecht founded AMG back in 1967 and he considered retiring once Mercedes-Benz bought him out. Because he knows a thing or two about building reliable power, his team at HWA Engineering have delivered a masterpiece. “The new engine had to have the charm, romance, sound and simplicity of the F1 engines of the 1980s, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology available today.” Horacio Pagani Weight was a critical aspect, so instead of the chassis supporting the engine, the engine forms the backbone of the car's rear suspension. Even dealing with this additional stress it only tips the scales at 436 lbs. So you will have the weight of a V6 with 850 horsepower at 8,250 rpm. Between 5,500 and 8,300 you will have 553 lb-ft of torque, no turbos or supercharger required. Such high-strung machines normally need intense maintenance after each race, but Pagani says it only needs to be inspected every 6,000 miles. It doesn't get any better than this, so click the button to learn more. Be sure to check out the Pagani Huayra R unveiling for more amazing details of their latest hypercar. Browse Pagani For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 18, 2021

New Pagani Huayra R Arrives Ready to Race

Street legal cars sacrifice civility when it comes to competition, and that's why this car is about to change the world. Aimed at enthusiasts who aren't afraid to push their limits, the new Pagani Huayra R arrives ready to race. As you probably know, Huayra is a god of wind in Argentinian mythology. The storms from the Andes mountains are ferocious, and the latest one will be the stuff of legends The first Pagani born on the track will undoubtedly be driven on the street at some point, even if the federal government gets upset. Starting over from the ground up, this new car is a Huayra in name only. While carbo-triax was used in many places on its predecessor, the entire monocoque incorporates it throughout. The seats are even molded into the cockpit to add another layer of strength. Chrome-moly has replaced aluminum in the subframes to make it 16% stronger in torsion and 51% stronger in flex. The engine is also a stressed part of the suspension to allow for a dry weight of only 2,314 lbs. Speaking of power, the turbos, intercoolers and supporting hardware are too heavy for a track car. Mercedes-AMG has been a great partner, but this time they needed more. Going to the genius himself, Hans-Werner Aufrecht. He is the "A" in AMG and his team has delivered a naturally-aspirated 6-liter that screams to 9,000 rpm. You will have 850 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque sent to a 6-speed sequential. “The new engine had to have the charm, romance, sound and simplicity of the F1 engines of the 1980s, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology available today.” Horacio Pagani Before you encounter this work of art, you will hear it coming. All twelve cylinders have equal-length exhaust primaries that are tuned for optimal torque. Mufflers are included to meet the FIA's limit of 110 decibels, but they are easily removed. This story began in 2008 with the development of the first Huayra. Horacio dreamed of building a car without having to conform to complex and pedantic regulations. This car represents 30 years of R&D. Three decades of innovations that were shelved in order to make the Zonda and Huayra acceptable on the street. That is why the Huayra R arrives with fully slick Pirelli P Zeros and 16.1" brakes. What began with the Pagani Raduno has evolved into "Arte In Pista". Leave your calendar open for exclusive events for the Huayra R and its owners. The goal is to cultivate an "intimate club of true adrenaline seekers". The Huayra R represents a new chapter for them, so get ready for a wild ride! View All Pagani For Sale Images (C) Pagani Automobili

By Andrew Nabors – March 15, 2021

Pagani Huayra R Teased Undercover

Mondays should be celebrated with a play on words, so since the latest project is still cloaked let's watch the Pagani Huayra R teased undercover. What we know so far is that the car was born to be free. Mr. Pagani shared the notions of a Huayra unchained by street-legal restrictions in a film last week. Now we can see its predecessor (the Zonda R) along with a few other famous supercars in the reflections below. The scream of a new AMG V12 can be heard, unmuffled by cats or turbos. Pagani is poised to put every other hypercar in their rearview, so stay with us for all your Pagani news. How street-legal is your car? See All Pagani For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 06, 2021

2021 Pagani Huayra R Screams In Teaser Clip

Perhaps the only downside to turbochargers is their soundtrack. If you long to listen to a naturally aspirated V12, listen as the 2021 Pagani Huayra R screams in a teaser clip. Uploaded to their Instagram page, this glimpse into the future shows a machined billet valve cover with beefy head studs. If the wizards at Mercedes-AMG have devised a dozen new cylinders, perhaps we will witnesses a renaissance of unmistakable sound and power. In the meantime our dealers stand ready to build a Pagani for you, so click the button below. Browse Pagani Huayra For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/CJeuOgyKq8c/

By Andrew Nabors – January 04, 2021

Pagani Inspired By Imagination & Determination

Dreaming of a Zonda is a motivation for many because Pagani is inspired by imagination and determination. Their latest upload features a young fan beset with headlines of social distancing and the lockdown of Italy. The worst is over, and we see the planets in orbit and the Earth still spinning. " width="680"> Pagani had a great year, revealing a new chapter in the life of the Huayra. The Tricolore pays homage to the Italian Air Force with 840 horsepower. With a dry weight of 2,799 lbs, nothing compares to the performance offered, for a cool 6.75 million dollars. Our dealers stand ready to welcome you to the Pagani family, so click the button to learn more. Browse Pagani For Sale Image (C) Pagani Automobili

By Andrew Nabors – December 15, 2020

Pagani Teases Something Fast For December 17th

Sometimes there is a thin line between driving fast and flying slow. Taking inspiration from fighter jets, Pagani has teased something fast for December 17th. Two clips were uploaded to their social media accounts earlier today, and the most evocative aspect is the analog machmeter. Displaying indicated airspeed as it relates to the sound barrier will allow the driver to stay safe at trans-sonic speeds. Tell us what you would like to see in the new Pagani and stay with us for the full reveal. Browse Pagani For Sale https://www.facebook.com/PaganiAutomobili/videos/479593239676135

By Andrew Nabors – November 25, 2020

Pagani Huayra Roadster BC Configurator Offers Endless Pos...

Horacio Pagani and his team of artists rarely deny a customer's demands. As long as the finished product is in the best interests of art and performance, your wishes will become a reality. In order to offer a starting point for their latest hypercar, the Pagani Huayra Roadster BC configurator offers endless possibilities. Jay Leno Drives Keith Urban’s Pagani Huayra On Saturday we were honored to display the first Huayra Roadster at Cars & Coffee Tampa. All 100 examples sold out immediately, with the final cars being delivered a few weeks ago. As is normally the case, Mr. Pagani compiled a series of improvements that could make it better, but they would be best executed with a new foundation. https://www.facebook.com/PaganiAutomobili/videos/382082316393975 As a race-ready roadster, this new model starts with a stronger chassis. Instead of titanium infused carbon fiber, the entire car is carbon-triax. The patented material is 50% lighter and 20% stronger than its predecessor. Working with AMG, horsepower is up to 755 with 811 lb-ft of torque. Xtrac developed a new 7-speed sequential to handle the power. No detail was overlooked, as exhaust flaps open to fill the aerodynamic voids ahead of the diffuser. All this was done to pay respect to Pagani's first customer. Benny Caiola believed Horacio could conquer the world, so his full deposit was given in cash to help the artist build his first car. Only 40 examples of the Roadster BC will be offered, so strike while the iron is hot. Configure Your Pagani

By Andrew Nabors – October 13, 2020

2021 Pagani Calendar: Arte En La Pista

As a true Renaissance Man, Horacio Pagani is an equally adept artist and automotive engineer. His amalgamations of both have changed the motoring world ever since he began sweeping the floors at Lamborghini. At 17 years old, Mr. Lamborghini saw something in him that could not be verbalized in Italian. Much like the 25th Anniversary Countach, all of his cars speak for themselves. That is why the 2021 Pagani Calendar is inspired by the racetrack. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGP9OH3BvSA/ Mr. Pagani went home to find three incredible artists at the Argentinian School of Painting. Over the next year, you will be mesmerized by the works of Alfredo De la María, Jorge Ferreyra Basso and José María Villafuerte. Each one has a different technique and vision for supercars in action. To summarize their work he says: "We have transformed our calendar into a timeless masterpiece. I have always had the highest regard for the work of De la María, Ferreyra Basso and Villafuerte. For us, the 2021 Calendar project was a special occasion since it gave us the chance to visually convey our values through a very interesting and expressive genre of painting. We decided against the usual collector item and opted for an idea that went beyond the simple calendar. In other words, something able to transmit emotion and provide unforgettable thrills, just as our cars do." Our dealers will be taking reservations for the calendar starting November 1st, so click the link below to for all the information. Browse Pagani For Sale

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