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 Jordan Aquistapace – July 07, 2026

The World Premiere of the New Pagani Huayra 70 Derecho

Since its start, the Goodwood Festival of Speed has set the stage for the world’s most prestigious car makers, offering the opportunity to showcase their latest creations and put them to the test on the hill climb course. For years, Pagani Automobili has treated the weekend event as a proving ground, giving those in attendance a chance to experience its hypercars upclose while also setting eyes on securing a record-breaking sprint. As part of this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Pagani has shocked the automotive world with the global premiere of the all-new Pagani Huayra 70 Derecho.Joining an already impressive duo displayed on the grounds of the Goodwood House, including the Zonda F Roadster and Utopia Roadster, the Pagani Huayra 70 Derecho celebrates Horacio Pagani’s 70th birthday, with only three examples set for production worldwide. Revealing the few-off creation at the famous hill climb just adds to the history of unveilings at the event, such as the Huayra Codalunga Speedster and the track-focused Huayra R. GALLERY-EMBED The Huayra 70 Derecho links its name to a classified storm system with extreme straight-line winds and destruction capable of spanning more than 240 miles. The car is brought to life by Pagani Automobili’s Grandi Complicazioni division as a bespoke commission, featuring a one-off livery in Pearl Orange and Ink Blue, specially developed to highlight the intricate fish-bone weave of the carbon fiber. In addition to solid-milled aluminum components on the body, the same eye-catching finish has been applied to the custom Huayra 70 titanium wheels. GALLERY-EMBED Inside the cabin, which is also revealed from a sky view thanks to its open-top configuration, the Huayra 70 Derecho reflects new heights for Pagani and its world-renowned craftsmanship. Ceramic White leather is paired with rich Tricolore Blue accents, with contrasting stitching tying everything together for a clean, tailored look. Small touches like the Pearl Orange 12 o'clock marker on the steering wheel and the matching gear knob bring the exterior color into the cabin. GALLERY-EMBED Powering the Pagani Huayra 70 Derecho is the brand's signature 6.0L twin-turbocharged V12 sourced from Mercedes-AMG, delivering 864 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. It comes mated to a seven-speed manual transmission, making it one of the few modern hypercars to offer a true three-pedal driving experience. If you’re lucky enough to be attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed, visit Pagani Automobili to get a first-hand look at the new Huayra 70 Derecho. Source: Pagani Automobili

A silver Pagani Automobili Huayra Codalunga convertible sports car with a sleek, aerodynamic design is displayed on a plain light background, showcasing its limited edition allure.

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 08, 2025

Pagani Automobili Reveals The Huayra Codalunga Speedster,...

Pagani is back with its newest creation. What started as a dream backed by decades of expertise working with and around the most beautiful and powerful supercars is now a living reality for Horacio Pagani and Pagani Automobili. Since the creation of the first Zonda C12 back in 1992, every Pagani has served as a stepping stone as the brand has evolved into the hypercar powerhouse it is today. And while legends like the Zonda and Huayra paved the way with a number of exclusive models and variations over the years, newcomers like the Imola and Huayra Codalunga have carried on Horacio's vision of what a hypercar looks and drives like. Today, Pagani Automobili just revealed its all-new Huayra Codalunga Speedster as the open-top version of its ultra-exclusive hypercar. Pagani's Huayra Codalunga Speedster draws on the spirit of post-war prototypes, longtail race cars, and a time when performance and luxury didn't meet. Horacio Pagani and his Grandi Complicazioni team set out to build something that pays homage to the past while remaining timeless. The result is a stripped-back design with cleaner lines, a more artistic presence, and a purposeful lack of the dramatic aero components that flood today's automotive world. The shape of the panoramic roof, the low side windows, and the tapered rear feel subtle but intentional. The whole thing seems more interested in being driven than being noticed, which is refreshing for a modern hypercar. Inside, that same mindset carries throughout the cabin. The interior features handpicked materials like stitched leather and polished aluminum, with custom embroidery that you notice more the longer you look at it. The embroidered seat fabric alone, stitched with over 450,000 individual threads, quietly proves how far Pagani goes to build something meaningful. There's also a modest nod to old-school craftsmanship, from the gear lever's shape to the steering wheel's wooden touches. And despite being open-top, the Codalunga Speedster doesn't feel like it's been carefully considered, inside and out, as a hypercar that can both be driven casually and comfortably or at 200+ mph. Under the hood, the 6.0L twin-turbo V12, built with Mercedes-AMG, delivers 864 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque to its rear wheels. It's paired with a 7-speed gearbox from Xtrac, available with either an automated setup or a traditional manual for those who prefer something more mechanical. The real appeal lies in how it delivers the performance, which is raw but refined, aggressive but not loud for the sake of it. The chassis is all carbon and titanium, the suspension is fully active, and the brakes are race-grade Brembos. Pagani Automobili describes the Codalunga Speedster as responsive, light, and deeply analog. Only ten of these will be built, each shaped by a collaboration between the Pagani team and individual owners. But for all its rarity, the Huayra Codalunga Speedster is a reminder that cars can still be personal, still be shaped by history, and still be made for people who want to feel something unique behind the wheel. View All Pagani Hypercars For Sale Source: Pagani Automobili

Pagani Huayra Epitome 2 2 3 4 Anteriore Portiera guidatore aperta

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 02, 2024

Pagani Reveals The New One-Off Huayra Epitome

Pagani brings a completely bespoke hypercar masterpiece to life. There’s no greater pinnacle in the automotive world than a one-off regarding luxury. Having a car that nobody else has is an unparalleled level of exclusivity, and it’s that level of exclusivity that Pagani Grandi Complicazioni is a specialist in delivering. The firm’s latest creation has a broken cover, the Pagani Huayra Epitome, and it’s a bespoke rendition of Pagani’s legendary hypercar, and it’s nothing short of a masterpiece. It sets itself apart from other Huayras by being a one-off, but it’s also the first and only Pagani Huayra to be fitted with a manual transmission, serving as an ode to purist driving. Like a true bespoke one-off, it was created as a collaboration between Pagani Grandi Complicazioni and the client, an unmatched luxury experience. However, it’s more than a rolling piece of art, with an 864-horsepower twin-turbocharged V12 engine built by AMG. Beyond its captivating beauty, the unique Pagani Huayra Epitome is also a formidable high-performance machine. In addition, the hypercar is finished entirely in elegantly tinted blue exposed carbon fiber, combining the material's high-tech performance aspects with the beauty of vibrant color. Its bodywork is inspired by the racing-focused Pagani Imola, also in the client’s private collection, with its aggressive track-ready aerodynamics, lightweight construction, and low, wide stance. Appropriately named, the new bespoke Pagani Huayra Epitome epitomizes Pagani’s philosophy of combining art and science in their highest forms to create unparalleled hypercars. Being a one-of-one and the only Pagani Huayra with a manual transmission, the new Huayra Epitome is one of the most unparalleled Paganis yet. View All Pagani Huayras For Sale Image Source: Pagani

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 17, 2024

Pagani Will Show Off A Green Huayra R At Fuoriconcorso 2024

Lake Como backdrops Pagani’s hypercar excellence. Pagani is known as one of the most desirable and coveted Italian automotive manufacturers out there, with a portfolio of captivatingly beautiful supercars and hypercars that simultaneously employ traditional artisan craftsmanship and cutting-edge performance innovation. With displays of Pagani hypercars wowing audiences worldwide, the 25-year-old manufacturer has announced yet another venue at which visitors will get a chance to see one of Pagani’s incredible creations. That is the Fuoriconcorso 2024, held at Italy’s Lake Como, a place that is not only a stunningly beautiful and iconic destination but is also known for its reputation as a hub for automotive excellence. On May 25th and May 26th, Pagani will be showing off the Huayra R at Fuoriconcorso. Keeping in the event’s theme of “British Racing Green” this year, the Huayra R features a two-tone exterior color, consisting of Verde Smeraldo and glossy Black Mamba. Stripes highlight some of the Huayra R’s design features in Rosso Dubai, Bianco Malta, and Nero Galante. With its track-only designation, the Huayra R serves as the sequel to the Zonda R, which was born out of the desire from Pagani engineers to create something unbridled by constraints and imbued with freedom of pure, unleashed performance. The Huayra R represents that freedom today. It has a naturally aspirated V12 engine that delivers raucous noise and performance, inspired by classic Le Mans racers and Formula 1 cars, and it is evolving their incredible race track capabilities. View All Paganis For Sale Image Source: Pagani

Simulatore Huayra R vs. Huayra R Laterale

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 27, 2024

Pagani Unveils The New State-Of-The-Art Huayra R Simulator

Pagani digitally recreates its hypercar sensation. The Pagani Huayra R is nothing short of an elite racing hypercar, and it exemplifies not only Pagani’s performance and racing prowess, but also the brand’s unparalleled design, innovation, and artisan craftsmanship capabilities. Having to stick to the track, it isn’t often that anyone, even owners of the car, gets to experience the full splendor of the Pagani Huayra R, but the iconic Italian manufacturer is now celebrating and capturing the essence of the hypercar ingeniously: through a new simulator. The Pagani Huayra R Simulator results from a collaboration between Pagani and Racing Unleashed, a manufacturer of simulators used for professional training. In addition to its excellence as a simulator, the new Huayra R simulator is designed to be a beautiful and commemorative piece to add to the homes of Huayra R owners. Available to purchase through Pagani’s international dealer network, Huayra R owners will be able to use the simulator to familiarize themselves with their track-only hypercar in a safe and controlled environment without consequences, also experiencing the ins and outs of circuits across the globe. The simulator works in conjunction with Pagani’s Arte In Pista program, bringing together its incredible track-only hypercars and their owners to travel the world, visiting different race tracks and participating in non-competitive events that show off the incredible performance and engineering of Pagani’s track-only hypercars, with full technical support from Pagani’s team. The simulator helps drivers preview the tracks that the Arte In Pista program will visit. Racing Unleashed and Pagani began work on the new simulator in 2020, and the result is nothing short of amazing. It features a carbon fiber design that can match the spec of a Pagani Huayra R hypercar, as well as advanced haptic, as well as pitch, roll, and yaw motion feedback to faithfully replicate how the real car would behave on the track. The simulator is powered through Assetto Corsa Pro, the leading racing simulator in the industry, and coming together as the result of four years of work, the new Pagani Huayra R simulator is ready to bring one of the most exclusive track-only hypercars to the digital world. View All Pagani Huayras For Sale Image Source: Pagani

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 05, 2024

The First U.S. Pagani Huayra Roadster Tempesta Makes Land...

Pagani's Temepsta Package makes its U.S. debut on the Huayra Roadster. The passion for all things automotive often ignites early, kindling a lifelong love affair with the roar of high-performance engines and the sleek lines of exclusive supercars. It's this early fascination that fuels dreams, inspiring car enthusiasts to work tirelessly toward the ultimate goal: a garage brimming with multi-million dollar supercars and hypercars. The passionate hypercar professionals at Miller Motorcars of Greenwich, CT, and Pagani Automobili, are excited to keep that dream alive for businessman and well-known mysterious car collector, Supercar_Ron. Joining the already packed garage full of cars like the Koenigsegg CCXR, Bugatti Veyron, Porsche 918 Spyder, and many more is his new Pagani Huayra Roadster Tempesta. What makes the occasion even more special is that it's the very first production car to land on U.S. soil. When the highly desirable Tempesta Package became available for the Huayra Roadster, Supercar_Ron opted to have his sent back to Pagani's factory to receive some extra goodies. The Tempesta Package elevates the Huayra with enhanced aerodynamics, upgraded suspension components, and exclusive aesthetic enhancements, further refining its performance and aggressive appearance. While most would stare and admire from a distance inside of a garage, Supercar_Ron chose to break into his new hypercar build with an early morning drive through Times Square in the heart of New York City. A 4 am departure would ensure that traffic would be light in the city, which made for the perfect inaugural Hauyra Roadster Tempesta photoshoot. With a whole new look and some added performance, we can't wait to see Supercar_Ron unleash fury in his Pagani Huayra Roadster Tempesta. View all Miller Motorcars inventory currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY. View All Miller Motorcars Inventory Source: Miller Motorcars/@Supercar_Ron

364266495 820544429394135 4720850716521583865 n.jpg

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 03, 2023

Pagani Organizes A Private Track Day At The Nürburgring F...

The event gave owners the chance to unleash fury on their $3.5M Pagani Huayra R race cars.

By duPont Registry – May 08, 2023

Keith Urban's Former 2014 Pagani Huayra Listed For Sale

It is one of 100 coupes made.

334858862 201739589146213 607163343791171117 n.jpg

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 24, 2023

Pagani Unveils The Huayra Dinamica Evo As A One-Off Hypercar

Taking the already extraordinary Huayra Roadster to the next level, Pagani's bespoke team crafts the Dinamica Evo into a masterpiece.

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 21, 2022

Watch This Customer Take Delivery Of His New Pagani Huayra

Thanks to Pagani Miami, this lucky new owner received his holiday hypercar a little early. Every car enthusiast and collector can agree that delivery day proves to be a monumental moment, especially when it means collecting your new multi-million dollar hypercar. The automotive professionals at Pagani Miami are spreading holiday cheer earlier this season, welcoming a special client to their sunny South Florida dealership to present his new Pagani Huayra coupe. Pagani Miami embraces the experience of a lifetime by creating an unveiling event with champagne to celebrate the occasion. MUST-READ: The First Of Five New Pagani Huayra Codalunga Cars Has Been Completed The Pagani Huayra features a stunning Blu Tricolore finish, accentuating the precise carbon weave throughout its lightweight bodywork. Firing up the Huayra's Mercedes-AMG Twin-Turbocharged V12 engine for the first time, the 730 horsepower track monster echos throughout the showroom. After a few short revs, a tutorial on its controls, and a nice new Pagani Automobili hat, Pagani Miami welcomes its newest client to the Pagani family. View all current Pagani examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Pagani For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pagani of Miami (@paganiofmiami) Source: Pagani Miami

Pagani News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe