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 Tyler Rampersaud – October 19, 2023

O'Gara Coach & Pagani Of Beverly Hills Celebrate The New ...

Pagani’s latest creation arrives in style. The new Pagani Utopia is the third chapter in Pagani’s incomparable splendor. Its unique design, rarity, iconic V12 engine, and high performance come together to form one of the most desirable cars yet. It’s the latest iteration of Pagani’s traditional yet avant garde approach to design, combining futuristic lines with classic-inspired touches like leather straps, and even an available manual transmission. For exotic car collectors, the new Pagani Utopia is nothing short of a masterpiece, and Pagani of Beverly Hills and O’Gara Coach celebrated its arrival with the perfect amount of fanfare. Traveling to Las Vegas to celebrate the introduction of the Utopia, the celebration not only rang in the era of the Utopia and the “third act” of the Pagani brand, but also the 25th anniversary of the manufacturer, helicopters brought guests to a golf course on which examples of the Huayra, and the new Utopia were displayed. With iconic locations like the Las Vegas Sphere in the background, guests got to experience the splendor and unmatched craftsmanship of the new Utopia up close and personal. With only 99 examples of the Utopia being made, the event was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Pagani enthusiasts and fans of exotic cars, and the grandeur of this Las Vegas celebration is the perfect way to begin the era of the Pagani Utopia. View All Vehicles For Sale From Pagani of Beverly Hills View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pagani of Beverly Hills (@paganiofbeverlyhills)

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 23, 2023

Pagani To Bring Supercar Excellence To 7th Historic Minar...

With performance, exclusivity, luxury and stunning design, Pagani's incredible brand elevates a historic event.

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 Tyler Rampersaud – June 09, 2023

Pagani of Manchester Opens Its New Showroom

Pagani goes to Manchester for its 25th birthday.

By duPont Registry – May 08, 2023

Keith Urban's Former 2014 Pagani Huayra Listed For Sale

It is one of 100 coupes made.

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 04, 2023

Pagani Is Bringing The New Utopia To Motor Valley Fest 2023

Pagani’s newest masterpiece is being shown off to the public for the first time.

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 – January 19, 2023

Pagani Automobili Completes The Second $7.4M Codalunga Hy...

Unveiling the Huayra Codalunga as an exclusive customer request collection, Pagani Automobili began production on the $7.4M long-tail hypercar towards the end of 2022. Since the reveal of its first configuration back in December, Pagani continues to work with the other four Codalunga owners to create their dream specifications. Pagani Automobili took to its Instagram page to announce the completion of its second of five Codalunga examples, imagined by the customer and the creative team at Pagani Grandi Complicazioni. MUST-READ: Automobili Pagani Debuts The All-New Huayra Codalunga The second specimen of the Codalunga series presents a stunning gloss metallic finish that exposes its lightweight carbon fiber body. At the rear, a carbon race stripe circulates the pronounced tail of the one-of-a-kind Huayra. Inside the driver-oriented cabin is an interior design that showcases layers of rich brown leather and matte carbon fiber. Each sport-style bucket seat includes a grey and white stripe insert that matches the light exterior paint. A monstrous Twin-Turbocharged Pagani V12 powers the Codalunga, producing an astonishing 840 horsepower and 811-pound feet of torque to its rear wheels. With two Pagani Huayra Codalunga examples finished and delivered, we are excited to see the other three multi-million dollar configurations. View all current Pagani models 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 Automobili Official (@paganiautomobili) Source: Pagani Automobili

By Tyler Rampersaud – December 22, 2022

Watch Harry Metcalfe Tour The Pagani Factory With Christo...

See where some of the most respected automotive magic happens. Pagani is one of the world’s most sought-after automotive brands, and for good reason. The exquisite cars that come out of the brand are incredibly powerful, incredibly well-engineered, and incredibly unique, with looks and craftsmanship that set Pagani cars far apart from just about anything else. On his YouTube channel, Harry’s Garage, Harry Metcalfe visited Pagani’s factory in Italy’s incredibly famous Motor Valley as part of his tour through Europe in his new Lotus Emira. At the factory, Metcalfe shows viewers Pagani’s museum and tells the incredible story of the brand and of Horacio Pagani’s passion for incredible design, futuristic engineering, and overall automotive excellence. MUST READ: Watch This Customer Take Delivery Of His New Pagani Huayra However, after the museum, Harry Metcalfe opened the doors to Pagani’s production floor, revealing the beautiful space where Paganis are made. Fitted with street lights and a clock tower, and adorned with exposed bricks, the factory space has the same eclectic beauty that Paganis are known for. On display is the very first Zonda, as well as a design prototype for the new Pagani Utopia, the newest model revealed this past September. Metcalfe then talks to Horacio Pagani’s son, Christopher Pagani, about the Utopia and how its design is an incredible evolution of the Huayra and Zonda before it. With its honorable approach to performance and strikingly beautiful creations, Pagani is hard not to love, and this video reminds us why. View All Paganis For Sale Source: YouTube/Harry's Garage

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

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