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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 – November 18, 2020

Home of the Day: Exceptional Modern Art Mansion Offered a...

Presented by Shana Rohde-Lynch | Compass - Location: Tiburon, California Address: 1865 Centro West St Price: $13,900,000 Bedrooms: 5 bedrooms Bathrooms: 6 total bathrooms Square Feet: 6,960 total square feet View Listing An incredible work of modern art. An unparalleled, all concrete and steel residence, encompassing approximately 6,960 +/- square feet of living space and set on a ½-acre site, featuring 5 bedrooms, an office, and 5.5 bathrooms and only minutes to downtown Tiburon. The world-class 180-degree panoramic views span San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Belvedere Island to Mount Tamalpais. Impeccable design, extraordinary quality and a paramount location. Designed by renowned architectural firm Cheng Design this luxury residence is by far, the most modern and contemporary architecture on the Tiburon Peninsula. The meticulous craftsmanship and authentic building materials are recurring themes best exemplified by the widespread use of concrete and steel, a floating staircase with glass and steel railings, European white oak hardwood flooring, St. Luis honed limestone flooring, and Vitrosca and Fleetwood doors and windows. Setting the bar for luxury and elegance in this masterfully designed residence complete with a state-of-the-art kitchen, media room, family room, fitness/ golf room (or alternative theatre), wine cellar, and elevator. The intricately designed outdoor living spaces offer a modern paradise with a tiered 24” reflection pond outside the living room, lush level lawn (possible pool site), an outdoor kitchen complete with Lynx barbecue, honed concrete counter, refrigerator, & kegerator, large St. Luis honed limestone patios, Corten fire bowl with integrated fire ring, stainless steel Diamond spa, Pietra Grigio slate ping pong table, and upper area with turf and built-in trampoline. Equipped with cutting edge technology, all features of the home are controlled by smart systems and a photovoltaic solar power system with Tesla Powerwall back-up batteries. 3 car parking capacity with a Harding steel SUV XL lift with a 6,000 lb capacity. This prime location is only a few blocks to Tiburon’s Shoreline park and downtown Tiburon’s Main Street with San Francisco and Angel Island ferry service, waterfront restaurants and trendy shops, and the Boardwalk shopping center. View Listing Shana Rohde-LynchCompassC: (415) 264-7101 | O: (415) 789-9999SRL@Compass.com1610 Tiburon Blvd, Suite 100Tiburon, CA 94920CA DRE# 01079806www.go2marin.com Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – October 16, 2020

Home of the Day: Luxury Trackside Villa at The Thermal Club

Location: Thermal, California Address: 61969 Fullerton Dr Price: $3,450,000 Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms Bathrooms: 6 total bathrooms Square Feet: 7,409 total square feet View Listing https://player.vimeo.com/video/398071891?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 Luxury Trackside Villa at The Thermal Club Welcome to Motorsport Heaven! Luxury Trackside Villa at the World-Class Thermal Club Private Motorsport Facility Unparalleled Views and Amenities This three-level Villa with four gorgeous bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half baths, features a twelve-car garage for family fun and racing. Enjoy your spacious rear entertainment deck and watch the excitement on the racetrack below. Or, simply unwind after a thrilling day on the track and watch the sunset over the mountains. The Thermal Club offers 5.1 miles of track on three separate circuits, karting and autocross for the motorsport enthusiast. Club amenities include a gourmet restaurant and bar in the beautiful Tower Building complete with a four-story observation deck. A Trackside Storage Garage and Tuning Shop are available for your mechanical and storage support. Unlimited seat time for members. Guests are allowed with certain restrictions. The Motorsport Village also includes a Fuel Island and Car Wash. Members Club Campus includes swimming, tennis, fitness and a Poolside Grill. Spa services are available for off-track relaxation. A 48-room hotel accommodates overflow family and guests. Located just minutes from Highway 111, the Thermal Club is close to world-class golf, tennis, shopping, dining, hiking, biking and all that the desert has to offer. View Listing Sheri DettmanSheri Dettman & Associates | Keller Williams760-668-2838760-799-2182Sheri@YourResortHome.comwww.yourresorthome.com Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – September 23, 2020

Home of the Day: 36-Car Picturesque Remodeled Estate

Location: Danville, California Address: 1080 Finley Rd Price: $5,998,800 Bedrooms: 6 bedrooms Bathrooms: 4 total bathrooms Square Feet: 8,000 total square feet View Listing Live grandly without sacrificing comfort in this one-of-a-kind estate tucked in Danville's picturesque Tassajara Valley. Brimming with updated finishes, outstanding amenities, Smart home features and lots of extras, an impressive property like this rarely comes on the market in such a mint condition. Add the masterful craftsmanship of R&J Construction and attention-to-detail and you have a masterpiece that happens to be home. Enjoy utmost privacy on this more than five-acre sprawling, gated estate dotted with multiple 100+-year-old oak trees and a park-like setting, while still having the convenience of shopping and dining at the Blackhawk Plaza three miles away and easy access to freeways, airports and top-rated schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District schools. More than 7,200 square feet of living space on two levels showcases refinished red oak hardwood floors, extensive millwork and trim, plantation shutters, custom cabinetry and more. There are six generous-sized bedrooms, four full and four half baths, elegant living and dining rooms, an executive office, a family room, fabulous home theater and a gourmet eat-in kitchen. A main-level master suite is a sumptuous retreat with a fireplace, sitting room, access to front and back gardens and a custom-designed 230-square-foot dream walk-in closet. A bonus room, flexible loft space and three bedrooms, including a guest suite with a private balcony, are on the upper floor. In addition to a six-car attached garage that includes a gym is a 672-square-foot apartment above the 6,100-square-foot shop designed to accommodate as many as 30 cars. Six commercial-grade roll-up garage doors in addition to a drive-through bay with extra height for RV parking are featured. Behind the gated entry is a park-like setting with lush gardens, sprawling lawns, and even a romantic gazebo overlooking a seasonal creek. Play to your heart's content in the pebble tec pool and spa, the lighted tennis court, the custom-designed playground with play structure and specially planned go-cart racetrack. Multiple venues for entertaining and relaxing include a spacious logia, built-in barbecue and heated pergola, pool cabana with fireplace and an additional pergola adjacent to the courts. View Listing Joujou ChawlaCOMPASS | Chawla Real Estate Team3840 Blackhawk Rd, Suite #100510.406.4836joujou.chawla@chawlarealestate.comwww.chawlarealestate.com Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

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By Alyssa Mammano – September 02, 2020

Home of the Day: Contemporary Comforts in Paradise Setting

Location: Sarasota, Florida Address: 1886 Prospect Street Price: $1,499,000 Bedrooms: 4 bedrooms Bathrooms: 4 total bathrooms Square Feet: 3,444 total square feet View Listing If you are looking for a touch of paradise with a dash of serenity, look no further. This exquisite home is located in a highly desirable location: West of the Trail. Upon entering this coastal contemporary home, you will be greeted with an abundance of natural light, soaring ceilings and custom features throughout. The dining room features a dry-bar equipped with dual wine refrigeration and plenty of bottle storage on the decorative wall. The gourmet kitchen boasts top-of-the-line appliances offering dual ovens, sinks and dishwashers to make for easy entertaining. Solid surface countertops, gorgeous lighting and large windows are just a few upgrades. The great room offers high-end light fixtures, recessed art lighting and a contemporary electric in-wall fireplace and sleek travertine floors throughout. The master bedroom is located on the main floor with an extravagant ensuite featuring dual vanities, walk-through shower with dual shower heads and a soaking tub. The master suite also offers a large walk-in closet with a bonus storage space. The second floor consists of a junior suite and two additional bedrooms and a guest bath. As you step out to your personal tropical oasis, you are welcomed with significant tropical foliage, a stunning pool and spa with the tranquil sounds of nature stemming from the custom water feature. Outdoor entertaining at its finest with a cabana equipped with misters, a wolf grill station, sink and refrigerator. This amazing home is truly one of a kind. View Listing Preferred Shore Real Estate Group - MCW PropertiesMichelle Ward630 South Orange Ave, Suite 102Sarasota, FL 34236941-920-2460michellecward22@gmail.comwww.viewgulfcoastfloridahomes.com Have an incredible property to share with our audience?Click below Showcase Your Listing

By Alyssa Mammano – November 04, 2019

Black Book International is the Epitome of Luxury Real Es...

Presented by Black Book International - Black Book International is an elite brokerage whose clients are among the world’s wealthiest real estate investors. The firm is rapidly expanding throughout California with offices in San Francisco, the East Bay, and Beverly Hills. Douglas Manful, the company's founder and CEO, brings more than twenty years of experience to the business, having overseen real estate transactions in excess of $1 billion. Douglas specializes in luxury residential and commercial real estate, as well as property management and private loan facilitation. Black Book International’s excellent reputation and long-standing personal relationships are the foundation of its success. Thus, the firm has developed an impressive network of contacts around the world. visit blackbookfirm.com Pacific Heights Grand Mansion " width="680"> The Pacific Heights Grand Mansion is a newly-renovated 24,000-square-foot residence featuring a 22-exotic car garage. While keeping the Mansion’s old-world charm and elegance, every room has been crafted for modern comfort and will, nevertheless, take your breath away. The estate spans five floors, offering multiple kitchens, nine bedrooms, ten bathrooms and five powder rooms, as well as a private apartment with its own entrance. The mansion’s exquisite living room, the 2,500-square-foot master suite and the rooftop each showcase stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Notable features include an HD golf simulator room, a home gym with glass walls overlooking a basketball court, a yoga studio with spa and massage rooms and a 1,500-bottle wine cellar. Offered exclusively for private sale 1409 Sutter Street, San Francisco The Mansion on Sutter, formerly the Payne Mansion, is a 12-room boutique hotel. In keeping with its historical Victorian character, the entire hotel has been remodeled and restored to its previous stature. Upon entering the hotel you will be immediately drawn to the painstakingly restored Victorian-era woodwork, polished marble flooring and period art and antiques. Common areas include a restaurant and bar, gourmet kitchen, fitness facility and plans for an additional speakeasy. Each hotel room features a unique design and stunning décor. Since its complete renovation in 2018, the Mansion on Sutter is quickly emerging as the jewel of the neighborhood. 940 Reliez Station Lane, Lafayette The former Henry J. Kaiser residence is a sprawling, gated estate on 11 flat acres. Among breathtaking park-like grounds, this impressive property lies in the heart of the city of Lafayette, California. The estate presents a 13,000-square-foot primary home with mid-century modern character and a 6,000-square-foot guest residence. Offering expansive spaces for both formal and casual living, the home features an exercise room with dry and steam saunas, two pool sites, a tennis court, various workshops and multiple garages that accommodate more than 20 cars. Offered at $18,000,000 3130 Blackhawk Meadow Drive, Danville Behind double security gates and a winding private lane, this 25-acre resort in Blackhawk Country Club is a secluded oasis. Beautiful ponds and waterfalls lead to a six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom, 9,000-square-foot estate featuring a grand foyer and sweeping staircase, as well as a gourmet kitchen with commercial-quality fixtures and finishes. The compound also boasts a theater room, studio and gym overlooking a stunning wooded setting. The home has been renovated with many custom features, bespoke materials and unmatched craftsmanship displayed throughout. A two-bedroom guest residence, as well as a sports court, pool and spa, multiple garages, workshops and a caretaker unit, are among the numerous spectacular features of the estate. Offered exclusively for private sale visit blackbookfirm.com Presented by Black Book International A full-service brokerage firm specializing in luxury residential and commercial real estate, property management and private loan facilitation. Built upon a foundation of long term client relationships, BBI clients uniquely benefit from our comprehensive network of national and international connections and our extraordinary access to a wealth of private equity.

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