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

Rolls-Royce News

Rolls-Royce news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Phantom, the Ghost, the Cullinan and the electric Spectre, alongside the Coachbuild commissions built in single figures. Our reporting takes in reveals, bespoke builds, first drives and the auction results that set values for the earlier cars. Rolls-Royce builds to order more than it builds to a model year, so each commission tells you where the brand is going. This is where our marketplace becomes useful. Many of the Rolls-Royces covered here are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which places the reporting and a genuine asking price side by side. For Rolls-Royce news today, and the luxury car market news around it, begin below.

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 01, 2021

Rolls-Royce Announces The New Boat Tail Display At The Co...

Unique coachbuilt Rolls-Royce 'Boat Tail' makes its first-ever public appearance. Since its debut, the new Rolls-Royce Boat Tail shocked the automotive industry with its state-of-the-art design and meticulous attention to detail. The chassis is a creative masterpiece from the professionals at the Rolls-Royce Coachbuilt division, alongside the lucky new owners of the ultra-exclusive model. As the spec continues to draw attention from automotive enthusiasts through media releases, Rolls-Royce is proud to announce that the Boat Tail will be on display for the first time ever at the prestigious Concours d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on October 2nd, 2021. MUST-READ: Rolls-Royce Boat Tail Revealed With Surprises Aplenty Boat Tail marks a seminal moment in the annals of Rolls-Royce, demonstrating the marque's commitment to coachbuilding as a central part of its future direction and portfolio. It continues and accelerates a contemporary coachbuilding movement that began with Sweptail, the first coachbuilt Rolls-Royce of the modern era, which also made its first public appearance at Villa d'Este back in 2017. Check out the magnificent Rolls-Royce Boat Tail on the Mosaic Lawn within the grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. View all the current Rolls-Royce examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Rolls-Royce For Sale Media/Information Source: BMW Group

By Edward Jones – September 29, 2021

All-Electric Rolls-Royce Spectre Announced

All Rolls-Royces will be electric by 2030. Having experimented with electric powertrain for years, Rolls-Royce is finally ready to announce the Spectre, the brand's first all-electric model. This announcement keeps a promise made by Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. He answered all who asked about an electric Rolls-Royce by saying it would be here this decade. Now, he's keeping that promise with the Spectre which is planned to start being delivered in the fourth quarter of 2023. As for the name, Rolls-Royce has been saving for this very car. What's more, it fits in perfectly with the Ghost, Phantom, and Wraith. Being a British brand, it makes sense that they went with the British spelling of the word. Regarding the specifications of the Spectre, that is all unknown as of right now, but keep an eye out for more information that will inevitably be released. Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Edward Jones – September 27, 2021

Bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantom Hood Features a Bee-autiful H...

This hood is the bees-knees. Rolls-Royce's capabilities in the bespoke category are truly phenomenal. When a customer comes to them with an idea, they always execute wonderfully. Their recent reveal is a perfect example of just how good they are at creating bespoke masterpieces. This reveal was of a Rolls-Royce Phantom that features a beautiful bee scene on its hood. Everything you see on the hood was handpainted by Allie Knight, one of Rolls-Royce's artisans in their Exterior Surface Finish Centre. The inspiration for this piece of art comes from Rolls-Royce's own experience with bees. Across their headquarters, there are six colonies of bees that total out to about 300,000 English honeybees. While having their own bee colonies is pretty neat, the fact that they create Rolls-Royce honey is even better. Another interesting fact about the bespoke hood is the Phantom Rose, which is a flower that can only be found at the Rolls-Royce headquarters. If you'd like to see this Phantom and its bee-autiful hood for yourself, it will be on display at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, London, during London Craft Week. See All Rolls-Royce Phantoms For Sale Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 21, 2021

The All-New Mansory Softkit For The Rolls-Royce Dawn & Wr...

The luxury styling of Rolls-Royce gets aggressive with help from the team at Mansory. When it comes to upgrading the world’s most exclusive and desirable supercars, Mansory is one of the leaders in the automotive industry. Mansory took to its Instagram page to launch the all-new Softkit for the Rolls-Royce Dawn and Wraith. Traditionally viewed as a luxury-focused brand, the Softkit reimagines the chassis with a more aggressive look and feel. The exterior of each vehicle features a lowered suspension and carbon fiber ground effects to eliminate wheel gaps while maintaining the premium ride quality that Rolls-Royce is known for. Mansory The configuration allows owners of the Rolls-Royce Wraith and Dawn the option to upgrade the wheels to a larger and more sporty option. The most noticeable aspects of the new kit from Mansory are the exposed gloss carbon fiber hood and trunk, transforming the look while improving weight savings. While aesthetics prove to be the main focus, Mansory also includes an available performance upgrade to the already high-horsepower output from the factory 624-horsepower twin-turbocharged 6.6L V12. The all-new Mansory Softkit for the Rolls-Royce Dawn and Wraith is currently available for owners. View all Rolls-Royce examples for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Rolls-Royce For Sale Media Source: Mansory

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 27, 2021

Check Out This Bespoke Rolls-Royce Dawn In Iced Twilight ...

This Bespoke Rolls-Royce Dawn will turn heads no matter what road its on. In the past, we’ve covered some truly unique vehicles released from the Bespoke division of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Rolls-Royce is proud to present its newest creation, a bespoke Dawn finished in a vibrant Iced Twilight Purple paint. The Rolls-Royce dawn embodies a luxury automotive experience for not only the passengers but also the driver. Allowing complete visionary control, clientele work closely with the professionals at Rolls-Royce Bespoke to sort every single detail, ensuring the perfect vehicle specification. In the case of this perfectly purple Dawn, the client chose to transport the idea of vibrant colors into the interior layout, which is finished in genuine Yellow leather with purple contrast stitching. Complimenting the yellow interior are other purple components like the steering wheel as well as the back portion of the seats. Alongside it being one of the most head-turning specifications, the Rolls-Royce Dawn has the ability to retract the top for everyone to see the mind-blowing color combination in full. This Rolls-Royce Dawn is the perfect example of the freedom and capability of the Bespoke team at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. View All Rolls-Royce Dawns For Sale Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Edward Jones – July 22, 2021

Ultra-Rare Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos For Sale

Your chance to buy a car with a mystery. Listed on duPontREGISTRY.com by Miller Motorcars is a truly rare ultra-luxury car that you have to check out. What I'm talking about is a 2021 Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos. Just 50 examples were created for the Kryptos collection, making this a true rarity in the automotive world. But it's not just the limited production run that makes this vehicle special. Each Wraith Kryptos includes a secret code. This is what Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, had to say regarding the code: “On closer examination, a series of messages are hidden behind a unique Rolls-Royce cipher. I look forward to seeing whether any of our clients will crack the code!” So, not only will you be getting a rare Rolls-Royce but also a puzzle. I can't imagine there are many vehicles out there that were created with a mystery for their owners to solve, so this is a special opportunity. For more information, be sure to click the button below. View Price and Listing

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 13, 2021

Rolls-Royce Creates A Bespoke Phantom & Black Badge Dawn ...

What better way to say I love you than a set of bespoke Rolls-Royce motorcars. While each Rolls-Royce chassis that rolls off the production line embodies luxury comfort and state-of-the-art technology, there is a segment of the brand where customers can create the vehicle of their dreams. To mark a very special moment in time, their 40th anniversary, Riverside California residents Glenn and Gigi Moss, have commissioned one of these rare and spectacular cars for themselves. The exterior of Mr. Moss’ Phantom Tempus is presented in a bright and stunning Crystal over Arctic White. The couple chose the bright color to signify the light and infinite nature of time in their marriage. This brilliant finish is highlighted by a hand-painted black coach line, and detailing. Upon opening the coach doors, an illuminated treadplate reads, ‘Phantom Tempus Collection – Hand-built in Goodwood England for Glenn L. Moss Sr.’ The interior of the Moss Phantom Tempus carries over the ‘light’ theme with Arctic White hand-crafted leather offset by black highlights, piping, and contrast stitching. The fascia is finished in black Sparkle Piano reminiscent of the deep darkness of space glittering with the timeless brightness of the constellations. Only 20 examples of this stunning Bespoke creation have been built at Rolls-Royce’s Global Center of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence in West Sussex, England. Media/Information Source: Rolls-Royce Motorcars In addition to creating a very personal Phantom Tempus, Mr. Moss asked the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to create a singular Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge for Mrs. Moss. With an exterior finish of Crystal over Bright Red, the vibrant swathe of color stands in stark contrast to the bright white hues of the Phantom Tempus. Equipped with a Bespoke Aero Cowling, the four-seater convertible quickly and stylishly transforms into a sleek two-seater roadster. Complementing the treadplate of Phantom Tempus, the treadplate for this Dawn Black Badge reads ‘Hand-built in Goodwood England for Gigi Moss’. This Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge commission provides a stunning, darker ‘after-image to the light and infinite nature of Phantom Tempus, leaving the couple with a lasting memory of their very special relationship. For more Rolls-Royce news, Check out Justin Bieber’s New Rolls-Royce is Out-Of-This-World

By Edward Jones – June 24, 2021

New Rolls-Royce Landspeed Collection Unveiled

Honoring British engineer Captain George Eyston. The new Rolls-Royce Landspeed Collection has just been unveiled, consisting duo of ultra-luxury special edition cars. The two models in the collection are a Wraith and Dawn Black Badge. Rolls-Royce created this collection to honor British engineer Captain George Eyston who set new 24-hour and 48-hour endurance speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1935. In 1937, he returned to the famous salt flats in Thunderbolt, an insane creation with three axles, eight wheels, and two Rolls-Royce R V12 aero engines. This was the year he set three world land-speed records. Rolls-Royce has equipped the duo in the Landspeed Collection with many features that honor Eyston and his accomplishments. For example, Eyston had to follow a black line across the salt flats in order to stay on a safe path. This black line is recalled via a perforated dark detail that runs from the upper center of the steering wheel and through the center-line of the driver's seat. Some of the other details include: "Fissures" found on the wood veneer that were digitally retraced from the salt flats. A silhouette of Thunderbolt on the front tunnel. A dashboard clock with Eyston's third and final land-speed record of 357.497 mph and the name 'Bonneville' engraved into the housing. Yellow accents that mimic the circle painted on Thunderbolt to aid in visibility at top speed. A starlight headliner that recreates the sky as it appeared over the Bonneville Salt Flats the day the third land-speed record was set. (Only in the Wraith) There will be 25 examples of the Dawn and 35 of the Wraith created within the Rolls-Royce Landspeed Collection. All of these examples have already been claimed by customers. See All Rolls-Royces For Sale Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Edward Jones – June 10, 2021

A Very Special Rolls-Royce Gets Well-Deserved Restoration

A 100,000-meter service! Rolls-Royce recently took in a very special car to give it a much-deserved restoration. This specific vehicle is actually a Rolls-Royce SRH electric car that was created for St Richard's Hospital, Chichester. Since it started its service in 2017, it has seen 2,000 children drivers behind the wheel. These drivers used the car as transportation from the ward to the operation theater. In total, it's traveled 100,000 meters through the hospital's corridors. Racking up so many meters means its been worn down a bit, so the team at Rolls-Royce restored it to its original condition. The story behind the little Rolls-Royce is heartwarming, to say the least. It all started when the hospital asked if Rolls-Royce could repair the original theater transport, which was a plastic Jeep. Rolls-Royce declined and offered to created a bespoke Rolls-Royce for the children instead. A small team spent around 400 hours creating the car that is most definitely up to Rolls-Royce standards. It features a fiberglass body shell that's reinforced by carbon fiber, real bonnet strips that were cut to length, a hand-made wooden seat, medical-grade vinyl upholstery, and a bevy of specially created parts. It can travel up to a top speed of 4 mph and has its own Spirit of Ecstasy. Source: Rolls-Royce

By Edward Jones – May 27, 2021

Rolls-Royce Boat Tail Revealed With Surprises Aplenty

A 19-foot long automotive masterpiece. The new Rolls-Royce Boat Tail has been revealed as a new creation from Rolls-Royce Coachbuild which seeks to bring back coachbuilding in a new and exciting way. The Boat Tail was inspired by, you guessed it, boats and everything nautical. From the wrap-around windscreen to the Caleidolegno veneer of the "aft deck," there are many nautical influences to be found within and around the Boat Tail. The exterior color of the example revealed is also perfect for the nautical theme, but it was picked as it was the client's favorite color. Rolls-Royce Coachbuild embedded the paint with metallic and crystal flakes, allowing it to shimmer like the ocean waters when in the sunlight. Upfront, the gradated bonnet can be found which is actually a first for Rolls-Royce. This bonnet starts as the body paint near the windshield and finishes in a deep and dark blue at the pantheon grille. Inside, the Boat Tail's leather appointments perfectly mirror the exterior with the front seats having a dark blue hue and the rear seats donning a much lighter tone. The crown jewel of the interior has to be the BOVET 1822 reversible timepieces that can placed on the fascia to act as a dashboard clock. Rolls-Royce worked with BOVET 1822 to create two timepieces, one for the lady and one for the gentleman, that can be worn on the wrist or placed on the fascia. To finish off the Boat Tail, Rolls-Royce Coachbuild did something very special. With just the press of a button, the aft deck opens up in a brilliant "butterfly" manner, revealing the hosting suite. This suite includes a chest that has everything needed for an al fresco dining experience, double refrigerator, cocktail tables and a parasol that can be deployed for a canopy. The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a truly wonderful return of true coachbuilt automobiles and we can't wait to see what's next. See All Rolls-Royces For Sale Source: Rolls-Royce

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