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 – July 31, 2019

Pagani Huayra Roadster BC is Automotive Perfection

We knew Horacio Pagani and his team was building something amazing. It has been seen testing around the world wearing intense camouflage, and now we see their latest creation. In a press release just a few minutes ago, we see the Pagani Huayra Roadster BC is automotive perfection. As an all-new design, it shares only a few parts with the previous Huayra models. Starting with a stronger foundation, the monocoque chassis is woven from their new Carbo-Triax and Carbo-Titanium. Lighter and stronger than other composites, these materials are decades ahead of what the competition is capable of. It allows this masterpiece to arrive with a curb weight of 2,775 lbs. Only 40 examples will be produced, each one with a base price of 3,085,000 € + VAT. At current exchange rates, you are looking a slightly under $3.5 Million. You will receive a hypercar capable of 1.9G in the corners, and powered by an all-new V12. Because the car is an homage to the first Pagani customer, the boss decided it was time for a new engine. Mercedes-AMG delivered a 6.0L V12 with three valves per cylinder. Combined with twin-turbos, you will have 800 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque. Maximum torque arrives at only 2,000 rpm and it hangs on across the tachometer. Not only will it launch the car unlike any Pagani before it, but you could also probably tow a 3-car trailer with ease. This launch coincides with the car being available on the world's most popular Drag Racing game. Zynga's CSR Racing 2 offers incredible graphics and realism, and their Vice President offered praise for their collaboration. If you want to see it in the real world, pack your bags for Monterey Car Week. It will be unveiled at The Quail, and also be a prominent feature on the Concept Lawn at Pebble Beach. We will see you there! Browse All Pagani For Sale " width="680"> Related: Pagani Huayra Roadster BC Teased

By Andrew Nabors – June 28, 2018

Pagani Huayra Roadster Delivered in Connecticut

If you are in the market for a new supercar in New England, Miller Motorcars has what your heart desires. They have sold everything from Alfa to Zagato and everything in between. Their most recent news comes via Pagani's Instagram page. One lucky customer received a new Pagani Huayra Roadster, #96 of 100 to be built. If you haven't experienced a Pagani in person, no detail is too small for perfection. The body is made of Carbotanium, a material patented by Pagani. The weave is book-matched perfectly at 90 degrees down the centerline of the body, inside and out. He invented the process to infuse carbon fiber with titanium, and it is the basis for his other company, Modena Design. The big V12 is hand built to Mr. Pagani's specifications by AMG. Horacio Pagani Receives Honorary Masters In Vehicle Engineering A new, breathtaking Pagani Huayra Roadster has just won over the East Coast! Thank you @millermotorcars for delivering this marvellous beauty to its new home! #pagani #huayra #huayraroadster A post shared by Pagani Automobili Official (@paganiautomobili) on Jun 27, 2018 at 8:52am PDT His creations have raised the bar for automotive design and engineering, so he was bestowed with an honorary Master's Degree in Automotive Design from the University of Modena. Our friends at iLusso allowed me to drive a Huayra coupe to the Orange County Auto Show, and it is the most impressive vehicle I have ever encountered. Click on the link below to find one for yourself, and stay with us for all your Pagani news. View Pagani For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 10, 2018

"L'Ultimo" Pagani Huayra Project

All Paganis are tailor made to reflect client’s visions. Brett David, CEO of Prestige Imports, wanted to go beyond this and create a bespoke project drawing inspiration from Lewis Hamilton’s Formula one car. While Mercedes-AMG isn’t totally abandoning production of their twelve-cylinder designs, the time has come to revise the V12 to keep up with emissions and fuel economy laws. The Pagani V12 might sound and perform like other Mercedes-AMG designs, but the block, heads, and almost every component are built to Horacio’s and his team demanding tolerances. Prestige Imports: Hypercar and Supercar Heaven “L’Ultimo” Huayra is heading to Pagani’s Miami dealership. It’s a collaboration between Brett David and Pagani Automobili Spa and an example of Pagani’s technology that allows clients to render their car in a virtual realm. Pagani Miami’s Showroom has a live 3D connection with the factory in San Cesario. It took Brett and Horacio quite a while to work out the details, and its location on Biscayne Blvd will blow your mind. “L’Ultimo” will arrive in June. It will wear the livery of Lewis Hamilton’s F1 car, which is also a testament to AMG’s racing dominance. Are eight months to build one car too long? If you have ever seen a Pagani in person, you will understand that perfection can’t be rushed. Attention to detail can be found in every titanium bolt being marked after final torque was applied. The Pagani Huayra Project Vulcan: Created by Dedication It can be seen in the symmetrical carbon fiber body. Typical carbon fiber wouldn’t cut it, so Pagani patented a way to weave titanium into the material used for the monocoque. Prestige Imports has been a fixture in our magazine since day one. Brett’s father Irv David took a gamble on our new car magazine in 1985, and now his son has transformed the famous company into an empire. Stay with us for production updates and all your Pagani news and tell us what you think will power the next Pagani in the comments below. Buy a Pagani Huayra Now

By Edward Jones – September 06, 2017

Pagani Zonda Barchetta Arrives in Miami

Horacio Pagani, the man behind Pagani Automobili, has recently shipped out his personal Zonda HP Barchetta to the United States. Now, it has landed in Miami, Florida at Prestige Imports | Pagani Miami.This new model was unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance just a couple of weeks ago. This new Speedster-style supercar was designed to celebrate Horacio Pagani's 60th birthday. It was built with a blue carbon fiber exterior, with silver finish wheels on one side and blue wheels on the other.https://www.instagram.com/p/BYqsLH-AM5n/Pagani has said that only three examples of the Zonda HP Barchetta will be created, meaning the world will see only two other Barchettas.As of right now, the car is currently sitting in the Prestige Imports | Pagani Miami showroom. What It's Like to Own a Ferrari FF

By Edward Jones – August 21, 2017

Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta Breaks Ground at Pebble Beach

Pagani brought a special guest to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the new Zonda HP Barchetta. It seems as though Pagani never really did stop making the Zonda, but maybe this model will finally be the last. Maybe... Although, I can't complain considering these are some of the coolest cars in the world, and loudest. The Zonda HP Barchetta takes the form of a speedster-type car, with a short windshield and no signs of a roof. This unique car was created by Horacio Pagani and team to celebrate the founder's 60th birthday (happy birthday!). https://www.instagram.com/p/BYCHgMUFYnV/ Blue and black naked carbon fiber make up the car's body panels, while the wheels are another story entirely. On the left side are of a silver finish, while the right side has blue wheels. It's definitely an interesting visual. Pagani Newport Beach Officially Opens Up https://www.instagram.com/p/BYAnoq-F_xn/ Pagani is planning on only creating three examples of the Zonda HP Barchetta, and I can't wait to see how the other two will turn out. https://www.facebook.com/dupontregistryautos/videos/10155664419918256/

By Edward Jones – July 20, 2017

New Custom-Made Pagani Zonda Fantasma Evo Unveiled

Just today, Pagani has unveiled their latest creation on their Facebook page, and it's not a Huayra. The new car is a custom-made Zonda Fantasma Evo, which is a complete one-off model. The car is essentially a Zonda Cinque mixed with a Zonda Revolucion. From the Cinque comes the headlights, front fascia (with an added pair of canards), and rear wing. From the Revolucion comes the air ram above the cabin and the centrally-located fin place in front of the rear wing. Other design cues include the tricolore pattern on the front boot, red striping and red brake calipers. As the body overall, its crafted out of red-tinted carbon fiber with exposed natural carbon fiber. Check out the images below to see the new supercar for yourself.

By Edward Jones – May 26, 2017

Red Carbon Fiber Pagani Huayra BC Delivered to @sparky18888

It seems as though the past couple of weeks have been filled with hypercar deliveries. We've seen a blue Pagani Huayra BC being delivered in Miami, a blue Lamborghini Centenario being delivered in Newport Beach and a red Centenario delivery in New Jersey. Now, we have the delivery of a red Huayra BC. This new Italian hypercar was delivered to @sparky1888, through Miller Motorcars. This particular Huayra BC has exposed carbon fiber that has a deep red tint to it. One secret that can be found on the car are 24 karat gold crowns that are hidden underneath the rear flaps. These weren't ordered by @sparky1888, but they were actually a surprise birthday gift from his friend @lamborghiniks. Check out the pictures below from the owner's Instagram page and his son's, @vtm_theking_4. By @vtm_theking_4

By Edward Jones – August 16, 2016

New Pagani Zonda by Mileson Revealed

The Pagani Zonda will never die and that's not a bad thing. A while ago, it was said that the Zonda would not be created anymore but as the new Zonda by Mileson shows, the model is still alive.https://www.instagram.com/p/BI2GvCRBJgh/?taken-by=something_guoThe car was caught on camera by the YouTube channel VIRAGE and in photos by Instagrammer @something_guo, who spotted it testing at Pagani's factory in San Cesario sul Panaro, Modena, Italy. Titled as "Pagani Zonda 760 by Mileson and Huyara BC," we are led to believe that this new Zonda is based around the 760, which looks to be true. Visible modifications made to the car include a new blue finish, front wheel arches, a revised 760 rear wing and more.https://www.instagram.com/p/BI69SorhUpu/?taken-by=something_guoAlso included in the video, found below, is the new Huayra BC. This new model is regarded as being the most technologically advanced one yet. Powering the car is a twin-turbo V12 engine that has been exclusively developed for Pagani by Mercedes-AMG. It creates over 750 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque.Check out the video below to see the cars for yourself.View Paganis For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 19, 2016

Pagani Huayra BC: Most Technologically Advanced Yet

We've been waiting for quite some time, but we're finally being graced with the unveiling of the Pagani Huayra BC. The name of the car comes from Benny Caiola, a man who the revealing press release says inspired Horacio Pagani over the years. He was also the first customer to ever buy a Pagani Automobile.The Huayra BC is not just any normal Huayra. It comes in as the most technologically advanced one yet, welcoming a fine selection of new features that will be used in future Pagani vehicles. When putting the car together, there were specific areas of development and goals that Pagani wanted to focus on. These were: Create the lightest, globally homologated, Hypercar. Develop chassis and suspension systems that are derived from motorsport to deliver dynamic and secure car, fast and fun, that retains the comfort typical of a Pagani. Develop a completely new AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) paying particular attention to both the performance and comfort, without compromising the weight and balance of the car. On the outside, the Huayra BC is easily recognizable in a crowd from other Huayra. The press release notes that it "has been completely redesigned and except for the roof does not share a single body panel with the Huayra Coupé." Changes include exposed carbon fiber, new front end, side skirts, rear diffuser and massive rear wing. Of course, the inside of the Huayra BC is just as impressive as you'd expect from Pagani.Powering the car is a twin-turbo V12 engine that has been exclusively developed for Pagani by Mercedes-AMG. It creates over 750 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a seven-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). Pagani states that the weight of the gearbox, including a brand new electronic active differential, is just about 40% lighter when compared to the dual-clutch of the current generation Huayra.While the power is most certainly there, so is a drive that handles well. A new bespoke suspension system was installed, which Pagani states to be the lightest and most effective suspension ever utilized in a "hi-performance vehicle." A savings of 25% in weight was accomplished through HiForg, a lightweight aeronautic aluminum alloy. Along with the suspension, the Brembo brakes, Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires and Bosch ESP system ("Comfort", "Sport" and "Track" driving modes") work together to create a ride that will deliver on both the track and road.The Huayra BC is a great look into what Pagani will introduce to the world in the near future, and it's made me quite excited. Stay with us for the latest from Pagani as it's released.

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