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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

By Alyssa Mammano – May 05, 2020

Home of the Day: The Iconic "Triangle House"

Location: Tarzana, California Address: 4946 Vanalden Avenue Price: $3,999,900 Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms Bathrooms: 6 total bathrooms Square Feet: 5,278 total square feet View Listing Welcome to the iconic ”Triangle House” designed by Harry Gesner, world-renowned, AIA-rated architectural visionary. The angular entrance gate opens to reveal a private drive leading to this celebrated Mid-Century Modern residence. This illustrious home with over 5,200 square feet of interior living space offers an open concept floor plan with a gourmet kitchen providing the perfect blend of beauty and function. Stunning imported designer fixtures catch your eye while the spacious island offers convenience. View Listing Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – May 01, 2020

Home of the Day: 50,000-Square-Foot Mountain Mansion

Location: Springville, Utah Address: 8272 E Left Hand Fork Hobble Creek Price: $25,000,000 Bedrooms: 6 bedrooms Bathrooms: 12 total bathrooms Square Feet: 49,568 total square feet View Listing Exquisite 49,568-square-foot estate on over 156 acres nestled beneath the beautiful Wasatch range, with amazing views of Hobble Creek Valley and the mountains surrounding the home. Quality craftsmanship throughout. Enjoy the indoor swimming pool with water fall and slides, lazy river, spa, sauna, movie theater, bowling alley, indoor basketball court, indoor area for archery or shooting, indoor basketball court/meeting area, elevator, heated drive; this home has it all. There is plenty of room to build your own amazing equestrian facility with access to mountain trails. Home has been significantly reduced for a quick sale. You do not want to miss out on this. View Listing Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – April 30, 2020

Top 5 Mansions of the Week

From the waterfront of Isle of Palms, South Carolina to the elevations of Beverly Hills, California, our Top 5 Homes of the Week offer supreme privacy ideal for social distancing. Elaborate estates across the nation are on offer for any taste in perfectly-located remote destinations. Priced in the range of $3 million to nearly $6 million, these homes are among the most well-crafted homes available in today’s market. Explore the location of your liking or consider a new property you may have not thought to live among the magnificent listings below. Tour our Top 5 Mansions of the Week and find more listings to suit your style by clicking below. View all 5 Mansions

By Alyssa Mammano – April 27, 2020

Home of the Day: Waterfront Home for Exotics Enthusiast

Location: Tierra Verde, Florida Address: 104 9th Street East Price: $1,850,000 Bedrooms: 5 bedrooms Bathrooms: 4 total bathrooms Square Feet: 4,644 total square feet View Listing " width="680"> A magnificent waterfront home with rare, direct wide-open access to the Gulf of Mexico. Located in the exclusive Tierra Verde, incredible attention to detail was considered throughout, with nearly every feature being a high-end luxury finish. This home features a master suite on its first floor with a private observation deck, impact windows and doors, Versace Home Collection bathroom features, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, two designer blown glass chandeliers, a high-tech security system and a climate-controlled garage and oversized driveway. Enjoy remarkable panoramic sunset views from the master suite, entertain with the finest indoors and enjoy the warm Florida sun in the refreshing salt water pool and spa. Head out to the water at your pleasure from your superior boat dock. Surrounded by Sands Point Luxury Living. View Listing Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – April 21, 2020

Home of the Day: Experience Florida Waterfront Lifestyle ...

Location: Vero Beach, Florida Address: 1940 South A1A Price: $29,900,000 Bedrooms: 12 bedrooms Bathrooms: 12 total bathrooms Square Feet: 27,588 total square feet View Listing A 7±-acre oceanfront compound with stunning new interiors and furnishings. Inspired by the Cote Sud, this offering icludes a Great House, Pool House, Carriage House and Guest House. Incredible grounds, gardens and a resort-style pool complete the property. State-of-the-art construction, includes geo-thermal air conditioning, a theater and smart-house technology. Nearly $39 million has been invested. Perfectly turn-key, it's a "must-see" for your discerning buyers! View Listing Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – April 16, 2020

Home of the Day: $32 Million Beachfront Bahamas Mansion

Location: Nassau/New Providence, Bahamas Address: Old Fort Bay Price: $32,000,000 Bedrooms: 8 bedrooms Bathrooms: 11 total bathrooms Square Feet: 20,000 total square feet View Listing Welcome to the Krystal House, an extraordinary beachfront masterpiece in the exclusive community of Old Fort Bay, New Providence in The Bahamas. Built in 2016 and designed by Alberto Suighi, this 20,000 sq. ft. residence flaunts Tuscan architecture with modern finishes and appliances, unparalleled ocean views and a plethora of tropical landscape. Grand double doors open to an elegant two storey foyer decorated with marble tiles, stately columns, two custom wrought-iron staircases and a hand-cut Czech crystal chandelier above, from which the home denotes it name. Luxurious furnishings and 12 foot ceilings compliment the spacious living areas. A bar and fireplace grace the living and family rooms. Opening to a circular breakfast room and the formal dining room, the impressive chef’s kitchen offers a large center island, custom cabinetry in neutral tones, granite countertops and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Krystal House spans three levels and has 6 well-appointed bedrooms, 3 half bathrooms, two family rooms, two kitchens and a home theatre. On the lower level, two large game rooms with billiards invite family entertainment. The ground level has a large-scale wine cellar, while each room on the first level lead to beautiful outdoor patios. View Listing Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – April 13, 2020

Top 5 Mansions of the Week

Our Top 5 Homes of the Week span the country boasting a variety of styles in architecture and design. Scandinavian minimalist décor is featured in our Park City, Utah listing, while a modern aesthetic is highlighted in our Hillsboro Beach, Florida property. Are you partial to a particular design style? Take your pick among our Top 5 Homes of the Week below! Tour our Top 5 Mansions of the Week and find more listings to suit your style by clicking below. View all 5 Mansions

By Alyssa Mammano – April 01, 2020

Home of the Day: Massachusetts Mansion for a Car Collector

Location: Weston, Massachusetts Address: 49 Possum Road Price: $7,950,000 Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms Bathrooms: 5 total bathrooms Square Feet: 6,434 total square feet View Listing This exquisite custom built estate nestled on 2.56 private acres in Weston's most desired Golf Club area boasts superb custom craftsmanship, unparalleled attention to detail and a floor plan that perfectly balances gorgeous public and private spaces. Magnificent windows and French doors to the terrace/gardens make cascading light and natural beauty part of the interior design, which features a living room with barrel ceiling and stunning wall of arched windows, formal dining room/butler's pantry, ultimate professional-level chef's kitchen with vaulted octagonal breakfast room and spectacular hand-crafted post-and-beam cathedral family room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. A marvelous first-floor master suite has a paneled library and bedroom with fireplaces, exercise room and spa bath. The fantastic game room/bar is plumbed for remodel as a second master, with three bedrooms on the second floor. The fabulous six-car heated/air-conditioned 1,799-square-foot attached car barn is perfect for an auto collector. View Listing Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – March 31, 2020

Architecturally Unique $40.5 Million Mansion with a "Batc...

Six standard-size lots combine to create the landscape for Residence 950; an architecturally unique residence adjacent to the famed Lombard Street in San Francisco. The 9,500-square-foot estate was recently listed for $40.5 million and sits hilltop with an expansive 270-degree view overlooking San Francisco and the Bay. Presiding over an entire city block, the home is designed for entertaining and can easily accommodate 300 guests. Beneath the original home, a subterranean level was excavated to create a sumptuous lounge and walk-out entertaining area. This level comes complete with a stunningly designed bar and exquisite limestone flooring. Also on this level, homeowners will approach a four-car garage through a "Batcave" lit tunnel. Once inside, the garage features a 360-degree turntable, Tesla charging station, catering accommodations and a dog wash. " width="680"> The five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom main home is connected to a one-bedroom, one-bathroom wellness cottage with spa amenities through a garden of lush greenery and outdoor entertaining accommodations. Outdoor dining is complemented by a retracting projector screen and hidden speakers. The cantilevered, four-sided infinity-edge pool also conceals underwater speakers. View Listing Presented by The Altman BrothersJosh Altman and Matthew Altmanwith Douglas Elliman Real Estate

By Alyssa Mammano – March 27, 2020

Spa-Like Retreat in an Idyllic Mountain Setting

Each home has a story, a vision, a dream. This was a forever home that envisioned precise specifications for luxury, comfort, livability. No detail was too big or too small. Each piece of the home has a purpose. Each element geared toward perfection. Asian design inspirations bring a sense of peaceful existence throughout the home. Monochromatic color schemes and simple lines make use of natural materials, patterns of light and space to a create harmonious experience. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the outside in year-round: a 270-degree panoramic view of the ever-changing, wild ranch lands below, to the granite faces of the Tetons. Striking sapele and redwood transitions create artful entrances from room to room. An impressive architectural staircase with bold lines and soft curves delivers you into the living room with stunning Teton views. Expansive windows provide 365 days of sunsets over the Tetons. The Library offers extraordinary views for a quiet place to work or relax. Acoustically perfect, this room has surround sound speakers for the perfect movie watching experience. Exquisite built-in bookcases hold hundreds of books. " width="680"> Interior elements artfully blend bold architectural elements such as custom lighting of Christian Liaigre to the soft details of New Zealand wool carpeting. Custom cabinetry by Wayne Williams incorporates organization systems in each cabinet to ensure absolute efficiency. The large professional kitchen with Wolf Sub-Zero and Miele appliances also includes a Butlers pantry, 120-bottle wine/beverage refrigerator, custom cabinet and drawer organizers, Sun Valley bronze cabinet pulls and black granite sinks. The spacious main level is perfect for entertaining. Enjoy the warmth of the four-sided fireplace masterpiece wrapped in bronze and custom designed glass doors that swing open, roll up or tilt for exceptional operational use. Downlighting highlights the reclaimed logging planks, creating a centerpiece like nothing else. The guest bathroom features Dornbracht-Tara Platinum fixtures, while the studio showcases fumed oak built-in cabinetry. A sandstone surround completes the fireplace, and full wall-to-ceiling windows provide an inviting ambiance. The rich colors in the sapele and redwood sapless paneling highlight the height of the rooms, only to find exquisite silver travertine as a striking contrast in each of the bathrooms. Allison Berger pendant light fixtures hang gracefully above the his and hers sinks. Beveled glass medicine cabinets provide ample storage for all your personal items. A steam shower complete with teak flooring provides for the ultimate spa experience. Chroma-fusion in the shower glass provides privacy. Tucked into the southern corner of the home are twin bedrooms. Light and bright mirrored rooms with built in furnishings are perfect for families or guests. Large windows provide plenty of natural light. Automated sheers and shades offer muted sunshine or darkness depending on the mood. Whimsical panels above the beds add color and a place for expression and art. The panels are interchangeable to grow with the occupants of the rooms. An adjacent bathroom is conveniently located for the twin bedrooms, including double sinks, glass inset shelving and large drawers. A family suite in the lower level has two oversized bedrooms and an extra large spa-style bathroom complete with two sinks, steam shower and large bathtub. Beautiful onyx panels offer a warm glow between the bathroom and guest rooms. A large walk-in closet will accommodate several guests. View Listing Ted DawsonBroker/Owner307-690-8170Ted@C21JH.comC21JH.com

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