Rolls-Royce News

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 Khris Bharath – February 25, 2026

Rolls-Royce Makes Historic Debut at India’s Premier Classic and Vintage Car Gathering

After a widely noted launch in 2024, the second Oberoi Concours d’Elegance returned to The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, India. Held between February 20 and 22, 2026, the event assembled an international roster of classic automobiles and motorcycles dating from the early 20th century through later milestone eras. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars selected the banks of the picturesque Lake Pichola in Rajasthan for its inaugural participation in the event. A dedicated Pre-War Classics class for the brand showcased the brand's historic ties to India, when Maharajas commissioned highly personalized motor cars with custom coachbuilt bodies and elaborate specifications. <- Gallery -> The centerpiece display was a Black Badge Spectre, the all-electric super coupé built in Goodwood. The Spectre delivers 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, and can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Crucially, it carries an EPA estimated range of 291 miles and sits on the Architecture of Luxury platform, the same aluminum spaceframe underpinning Phantom and Cullinan. Ironically, Charles Rolls predicted over a century ago 1900, that electric propulsion would be “perfectly noiseless and clean.” Spectre now lives up to that statement production form "India occupies a unique and highly meaningful place in the story of Rolls-Royce, past, present, and future. We see a new generation of clients who bear a deep-seated appreciation for Bespoke craftsmanship and the depth of our heritage in equal measure. Oberoi Concours d’Elegance is an event that mirrors our own values of excellence and rarity, and it is a profound pleasure to engage with the Indian classic car community and meet so many enthusiasts and owners who continue to preserve the legacy of our motor cars. Their passion ensures that the spirit of Rolls-Royce remains as vibrant today as it was a century ago.” - Irene Nikkein, Regional Director Asia-Pacific, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The scale of that legacy remains visible today. In November last year, one of the most impressive collections of eight generations of the Phantoms hailing from India appeared at the opening day of the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE. It was a rare sight even by global concours standards. The Phantom nameplate, first introduced in 1925, marked its centenary in 2025, reinforcing its status as the company’s defining flagship for a full century. India has also become the fastest-growing Asia-Pacific market for the brand in 2025, recording four consecutive years of double-digit growth. Its presence in Udaipur reinforces a long-term strategy in the subcontinent, one grounded in heritage, engineering brilliance, and bespoke craftsmanship. View All Rolls-Royce For Sale Images: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 01, 2022

Rolls-Royce Unveils 'Cullinan - Inspired by Fashion' For ...

While fashion trends continuously change to keep up with runway standards, luxury car brands follow by incorporating inspiration from the year’s hottest and most popular styles. The House of Rolls-Royce is proud to showcase its ‘Cullinan - Inspired by Fashion’ campaign, featuring two prêt-à-porter collections that include the bold Re‑Belle and striking Fu-Shion. Presented by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective, high fashion plays a crucial role in the fine line of Cullinan examples that reflect vibrant hues and textures. The works of art are set to be unveiled to guests and clientele of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars during Art Basel in Miami. View All Rolls-Royce Cullinan For Sale The Cullinan Re-Belle is the ultimate statement piece by introducing head-turning exterior finishes such as Lime Green and Wildberry. Each interior offers pristine white leather as the base, while Lime Green and Peony Pink accents enhance the cabin with a splash of color. The fascia is finished with extraordinarily detailed handwoven stainless-steel fabric as a nod to the styles seen on the catwalk this year. The Cullinan Re-Belle also comes available in Gunmetal or Arctic White colors, depending on the selected interior. On the more aggressive Black Badge end, Rolls-Royce Cullinan Fu-Shion takes on an appearance reminiscent of evocative streetwear and its functional elements. Starting with the interior, designers at Rolls-Royce created two astonishing configurations, using combinations of Military Green, Navy Blue, and Mandarin or a blend of Arctic White and Cashmere Grey leather with Forge Yellow accents. Depending on the choice of interior, each Cullinan’s exterior can be commissioned in Military Green, Burnout grey, Forge Yellow, or Tempest Grey. The ‘Cullinan - Inspired by Fashion’ also introduces a new Starlight Tailgate, which takes over 22 hours and 192 softly illuminated starts to manufacture. Clients interested in the once-of-a-lifetime opportunity will also be invited to purchase matching luggage sets, compromised of the 24hr Weekender, 48hr Weekender, Holdall, Tote Bag, and Organiser Pouch. View all current Rolls-Royce Cullinan examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. View All Rolls-Royce Cullinan For Sale Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 19, 2022

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II Debuted in North America Fo...

The designers at Rolls-Royce created Phantom to provide the ultimate ‘blank canvas’. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars operates as a brand that embodies ultimate luxury throughout its fleet of coach-built-inspired automobiles. With a rich heritage as a pioneer, each new release incorporates characteristics from the generational models that came before it. The Phantom Series stands out as a pinnacle model in the lineup, showcasing a state-of-the-art design, luxurious interior amenities, and industry-leading performance. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is proud to debut the Phantom Series II on North American soil at Monterey Car Week 2022. Introducing the new Phantom Series II and the vast custom design capabilities of its Bespoke program in perfect fashion, Rolls-Royce commissioned a bespoke build unveiled by CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars The most noticeable aspect of the new Phantom’s appearance is the newly illuminated Pantheon Grille, which extends the impact of the Starlight Headliner to the exterior of the vehicle. The ultra-bright headlights are lined with 580 laser-cut bezel starlights to further enhance the nighttime presence of the Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The exterior is finished in a classic Rolls-Royce two-tone colorway with Black over Monteverde green highlighting a bold, hand-applied Peony Pink coachline. Rolls-Rpyce Motor Cars Second ParagraphWhen stepping into the Bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II through its coach-style doors, the interior presents a stunning Scivaro Grey and Peony Pink cabin design. The Obsydian Ayous open-pore wood and canadel showcase a natural touch while creating a warm feel. Pulling together the design with a vibrant touch, the interior features a world-first unique embroidery design finished in Scivaro Grey and Peony Pink thread. The Phantom Series II ‘Maverick’ commission is part of the 2022 Pebble Beach Collection and features a personalized tread plate that reads, ‘Pebble Beach 2022’ Special Commission. On scene complementing the Bespoke Phantom Series II is the first ever Black Badge Cullinan in Forbidden Pink and Ghost in Crystal over Sagano Green. These commissions are offered exclusively through authorized Rolls-Royce Motor Cars retailers and will be on display throughout the weekend of Monterey Car Week 2022. View all current Rolls-Royce Phantom inventory for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle news and Monterey Car Week releases. VIEW ALL ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOMS FOR SALE Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 22, 2022

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London Hosts Its Exclusive Summer ...

A special Rolls-Royce event to celebrate the kick off of summer. With the warm touch of summer finally upon us, it's time to get outside and drop the top for an afternoon cruise in your favorite car. As family BBQs and summer activities fill weekend schedules, the team at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London is planning their very own summer kick-off event at the famous Hurlingham Club in London, UK. The exclusive invitation-only event is open to clientele, friends of the brand, and media. Since its opening in 1869, The Hurlingham Club, with its croquet and tennis lawns, and beautiful gardens, has been a sought-after destination for sporting and social activities. MUST-READ: Rolls-Royce Will Show A Selection Of Black Badge Models At The Goodwood Festival Of Speed Rolls-Royce chose to host at the Hurlingham Club as resides only a few miles from their flagship residence, making it the perfect location to offer a truly unique Rolls-Royce experience. On-scene during the celebration is the newly redesigned Rolls-Royce Ghost, featuring a stunning dark purple finish that shifts with changes in light. Guest in attendance will also enjoy an exquisite collection of bespoke motorcars and lifestyle accouterments, along with a special strawberry and champagne cocktail created especially for the event. View all of the current Rolls-Royce models for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury gear releases and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars lifestyle news. VIEW ALL ROLLS-ROYCE FOR SALE

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 06, 2022

The New Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II Visits The French R...

Invited guests enjoy an exclusive showing and test drive of the new Phantom II series. Being the pinnacle of the brand’s fleet of luxurious models, the Rolls-Royce Phantom holds significance as an industry leader since the rebirth of the Series II redesign. Providing aesthetic and performance upgrades to the automotive icon, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is proud to showcase the Phantom Series II at an exclusive event on the magnificent landscape of the French Riviera. Starting today June 6th, Phantom Rendezvous will set off as a global press drive for guests to experience time in the new Phantom throughout the Mediterranean coast. MUST-READ: Rolls-Royce Motorcars Adds Updates To The All-New Phantom Series II The event takes place at the Maybourne Riviera Hotel in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, which stunningly presents the Rolls-Royce chassis, overlooking breathtaking views of Monaco. Guests that attend the Phantom Rendezvous will also be able to view a pair of Bespoke Phantom models that showcase the talents and craftsmanship of the British automotive manufacturer. The Phantom Platino features a silver-white finish that mimics the world’s precious metal Platinum, while The Great British Phantom highlights a striking Magma Reg finish with bespoke artwork inspired by the Union Flag. View all of the current Rolls-Royce Phantom examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle releases and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars news. View All Rolls-Royce Phantom For Sale Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

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