Range Rover

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

Overfinch Reveals A One-Of-One Holland & Holland Commission At Goodwood

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 16, 2026

Overfinch Reveals New One-Of-One Commission At Goodwood

Overfinch, a celebrated customization firm known for its transformations of the Range Rover and Land Rover Defender, is especially known for its Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover, an opulent customization of the quintessential, legendary luxury SUV that combines both brands’ British heritage, along with the trappings of traditional sporting and the luxury of bespoke craftsmanship. However, a new commission, revealed at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, elevated the opulence of the Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover even further, and as a one-of-one created by Overfinch, the new commission is a unique masterpiece of custom luxury automotive design. Reinterpreting the Holland & Holland Edition’s sporting aesthetic, the new commission features a more contemporary aesthetic, along with more formal and personal touches. The exterior is finished in black, which is contrasted by gold details. Created by Overfinch’s specialist team, some of the highlights of the exterior include the grille, side vents, and wheel details. Meanwhile, the interior pairs warm ivory and black upholstery in place of the traditional London Tan color, with black piping, contrasting Holland & Holland monogram embroidery, and bespoke bird embroidery. The interior also features handcrafted moorland marquetry, used in deployable tables in the rear cabin to display a countryside scene. When the system is closed, a peaceful landscape is depicted, and when it opens, game birds can be seen flying across the horizon. <- Gallery -> About the new bespoke commission, Kevin Sloane, CEO and Chairman of Overfinch, said, “This Bespoke Commission represents the very essence of Overfinch. For five decades, we have worked with clients across the world to create vehicles that go far beyond specification, becoming deeply personal expressions of taste, craftsmanship and individuality. This one-of-one Holland & Holland commission demonstrates what is possible when British handcraftsmanship, exceptional materials and true bespoke capability come together. While proudly rooted in the UK, our outlook is inherently global, and it is through commissions such as this that we continue to respond to the ambitions of a truly international clientele seeking something entirely unique.” Using an already rare, exclusive, and coveted custom Range Rover as its basis, this new bespoke, one-of-one Range Rover Holland & Holland Edition by Overfinch is a stunning statement of luxury craftsmanship and bespoke design. Coming from one of the most celebrated customization firms in the automotive industry, the new bespoke commission is a reaffirmation of Overfinch’s incredible luxury Range Rover commissioning potential. View All Overfinch For Sale Image Source: Overfinch

A black Range Rover SUV parked on grass in a sunlit forest clearing with rays of sunlight streaming through the trees.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 18, 2025

Overfinch Unveils The New Holland & Holland Range Rover

A cherished legacy continues with more opulence than ever. One of the most prominent customization firms for Land Rovers, Overfinch is known for its luxurious and powerful transformations of some of the world’s most iconic and celebrated luxury SUVs, especially when it comes to Land Rover’s legendary luxury brand: Range Rover. One of the original, quintessential, and most excellent luxury SUVs, Range Rover has become a household name, synonymous with and symbolic of status and elegance, and Overfinch specializes in adding a signature twist of craftsmanship, performance, and unique design to those vehicles. One of the most iconic Overfinch creations is the Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover, a series of stunning, bespoke, limited-production Range Rovers made in collaboration with a near-200-year-old manufacturer of sporting shotguns and rifles. The intersection of legendary household names in British luxury is a recipe for opulence, with an unmistakably British aesthetic in all of the Holland & Holland Range Rovers, and sumptuous features that set it apart from just about any other iteration of the legendary luxury SUV. Now, the Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover is back again, and Overfinch and Holland & Holland have committed to making it more luxurious and opulent than ever before. It’s based on what is already the ultra-luxurious flagship of the Range Rover lineup: the Range Rover SV, and only 25 examples of the new Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover will be made. As per tradition for the special edition, a British Racing Green exterior is paired with stunning details finished with Holland & Holland’s ‘Royal’ scroll, and that pattern continues throughout the interior, which also includes open-pore French walnut veneers, a champagne cooler with flutes, Quilted Bridge of Weir leather, and, of course, commissionable companion chests at the rear, custom-made to hold champagne bottles, enough flutes, cutlery, napkins, and other accessories to serve eight, and two shotguns. Each vehicle can either be ordered or crafted from an existing Range Rover SV, and it’s the latest edition of an ultra-exclusive, celebrated hallmark of Holland & Holland, Overfinch, and Range Rover luxury and heritage. View All Range Rover For Sale Image Source: Overfinch

Close-up of a car grille with "OVERFINCH" lettering and part of an engraved firearm, with "Holland & Holland" faintly visible in the background.

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 28, 2025

Overfinch Teases A New Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover

A new Holland & Holland Range Rover is about to emerge. A celebrated manufacturer of sporting shotguns and rifles for 190 years, Holland & Holland has become a cherished and storied household name in the world of luxury and a sophisticated lifestyle. Over the years, Holland & Holland has put its approach to traditional sporting luxury on wheels through the creation of custom Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover luxury SUVs. Through Overfinch, one of the most preeminent customizers of Range Rovers and other Land Rover creations, a new Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover is on the horizon. The vehicle is set to be limited to just 25 ultra-exclusive commissions globally, and it will be based on the latest Range Rover LWB model. Michael van der Sande, whose role as a special advisor to Overfinch included consultation on the upcoming project, looks forward to the new Holland & Holland Edition Range Rover from Overfinch, saying that it “will become a true collector’s piece, bringing pride and joy to its owners all over the world.” Having teased the new Holland & Holland Edition with its latest announcement, Overfinch says that the new ultra-exclusive edition will be “the most luxurious Range Rover ever built.” Next month, the new Overfinch Range Rover Holland & Holland Edition is set to launch in London, and after that exclusive launch event, more details on the rare, bespoke ultra-luxury SUV are going to be revealed. View All Range Rover For Sale

2 chieftain frt q vertical grille 2 small scaled 1

By Andrew Nabors – March 11, 2021

Chieftan Xtreme Arrives With 700 Horsepower

What began as a restoration service for 4-door Rovers has evolved into a complete lineup of modernized classics. If you need Chevy thunder in an English 4WD, the Chieftan Xtreme arrives with 700 horsepower. Starting with a new example of the original chassis, fabricators box every connection and the suspension points are gusseted. While the 4-door will always be iconic, their 2-door is more enticing. The non-supercharged 6.2 is the LS3 first seen in the 2008 Corvette. It offers 430 horsepower to an 8-speed automatic. Opting for the supercharger will send 700 hp to a fully independent suspension backed by AP Racing brakes. All control arms have rod-end connections, and you can choose the interior and exterior colors. Xtreme has side-exit exhaust BFG All-Terrains, and meaty fender flares, so tell us where you would take it in the comments below. Images (C) JIA

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