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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 Jordan Aquistapace – November 14, 2023

Tesla Decides It Won't Sue Customers $50K For Reselling T...

Just as quick as they announced the reseller rule, Tesla revises its agreement in light of customer response. After causing waves in the automotive world by threatening Cybertruck resellers with legal action and a $50,000 fine for breaking the Motor Vehicle Order Agreement, Tesla has redacted its legal notice and re-wrote the purchase agreement. With such a high demand for Tesla's upcoming first-ever EV truck, the world-renowned automaker is trying its best to protect car buyers from the rather familiar scenario of astronomical MSRP mark-ups. The change in the agreement now states that Tesla may grant customers the ability to sell their Cybertruck with the manufacturer's written consent. Along with asking permission directly from the source, Tesla also has the choice to buy back the Cybertruck for a discounted rate. The vehicle value is determined by a deduction of $0.25 per mile, plus normal wear and tear, and any other additional services or repairs needed. If Tesla decides that your Cybertruck is better off in other hands, you may then source a third-party buyer, whether it be a private individual or business. As the Tesla Cybertruck begins mass production in 2024, we cannot wait to see the futuristic EV truck on roads all around the world. View all Tesla EV models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Tesla For Sale Source: Tesla

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 13, 2023

Tesla Announces It Could Sue Cybertruck Resellers Up To $...

If you have a Tesla Cybertruck on order, you better plan on keeping it for a while! The surge in demand coupled with a shortage in supply has led automotive manufacturers to overhaul the traditional car-buying process, implementing stringent rules and regulations. These measures aim to curb the activities of resellers who seek to profit from flipping high-demand new cars, trucks, and SUVs, ensuring that these vehicles reach genuine customers and enthusiasts at fair market prices. While Tesla has long since kept up with the high demand for its popular lineup, the EV conglomerate is starting to face the sad reality of automotive resellers with upcoming deliveries of the highly-anticipated Telsa Cybertruck. Tesla recently re-wrote their Motor Vehicle Order Agreement to state that any customer who disregards the "No Resellers; Discontinuation; Cancellation" portion of the contract could face legal action from the world-renowned EV automaker. While other OEMs have tested this security strategy with other popular and exclusive sports cars, most stress a customer stop sale as the worst-case scenario. For Tesla, the punishment of selling your Cybertruck before the grace period could result in an additional $50,000 fine on top of never having the opportunity to purchase another model from the brand. For those who locked in pricing upon its initial launch and have already capitalized on the increased pricing for the self-driving option, ownership will have to take place for an extended period of time before legally selling the EV Cybertuck. The new section of Tesla's Motor Vehicle Order Agreement stipulates that the resell clause is implemented "For Cybertruck Only." View all Tesla EV models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Tesla For Sale Source: Tesla

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 02, 2023

Unplugged Performance Creates A Tesla Model Y Police Car

Unplugged Performance shakes up the police vehicle market with their new Tesla Model Y UPfit.

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 22, 2023

Can The Tesla Cybertruck Drive On Ice?

With a new snow testing photo revealed, the Cybertruck may be exiting winter hibernation.

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By Tyler Rampersaud – May 02, 2023

These Three 0-Mile Tesla Roadsters Were Hidden Since 2010

This incredible time-capsule find shows the beginning of an electric vehicle revolution.

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By Gabriel Vega – March 06, 2023

Tesla Drops Model S and Model X Prices By Up To 10,000

The Plaid sedan and SUV are now performance bargains.

By Andrew Nabors – November 06, 2020

Tesla Tequila Is High Voltage Relaxation

Oh Elon, you never miss a unique opportunity to support your brands. From the Boring Company flamethrower to a carbon fiber surfboard, their latest promotion combines aged Agave with a hand-blown bolt of lightning. If you need the perfect gift for the Holidays, Tesla Tequila is high voltage relaxation. Limited Edition Tesla Surfboard: Sold Out! Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, you will encounter notes of dried fruit, vanilla, and cinnamon. It is rated at 80 proof and the presentation has landing legs borrowed from SpaceX. It is a collaboration between Nosotros Tequila and imported by Speakeasy Company. The retail price of $250 includes FedEx shipping, although each order is limited to 2 bottles. Click here to learn more, and needless to say, you should only partake when you don't need to drive. Click the button for great offers on pre-owned Teslas and stay with us for more great gifts from your favorite automakers. Browse Tesla For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – November 22, 2019

Tesla Cybertruck Unveiled by Elon in L.A.

If you must know one fact about Elon Musk, his ability to keep projects hidden is unparalleled. That's why the world was shocked when the Tesla Cybertruck was unveiled last night in L.A. Having nearly perfected the latest techniques in stainless fabrication, the Cybertruck will arrive with a cold-rolled exoskeleton. Capable of shrugging off 9mm rounds, he had a strongman attempt to tarnish it with a sledgehammer. As listed on Tesla's media site, the Cybertruck will feature the following: Range: 500+ miles 0-60 mph acceleration: <2.9 seconds Towing capacity: More than 14,000 lbs Payload: Up to 3,500 lbs Vault length: 6.5 feet Storage capacity: 100 cubic feet of exterior, lockable storage including the vault, frunk, and sail pillars. Suspension: 4” in either direction Touchscreen size: 17” Body: Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless steel. If there was something better, we’d use it. Seating capacity: Up to six adults Charging: Can be charged at home, at Destination Charging locations, and with our network of more than 14,000 Superchargers, including on our newest V3 technology, which is helpful for long hauls and towing It is worthy to note that the styling makes it appear larger than it actually is. Their benchmark for width and length was the Ford F-150. Three powertrains consist of a rear motor, dual motor (front and rear) and tri-motor. Hopefully, the latter will be able to supplement all four wheels, as this would be another game-changer for the industry. " width="680"> Related: Porsche Taycan vs Tesla Model S Drag Race Inside Tesla's Crash Facility

By Andrew Nabors – March 15, 2019

Tesla Model Y Unveiled as a Potent Electric Crossover

It took great sacrifice and ingenuity to get the Tesla Model 3 production up to speed. That included building a 2nd assembly line in the parking lot and input from the workers on how to improve their process. Using the same architecture as the Model 3, the Tesla Model Y was unveiled last night as a potent electric crossover. Starting inside, it offers seating for 7 adults thanks to an optional 3rd row. With 2nd and 3rd rows folded, you will have 66 cu ft of cargo capacity. A new 15" screen operates faster with higher resolution than other models. You will have 4 flavors to choose from. The performance model has dual motors and 20" wheels for a 3.5 second 0-60. The downside is a 280 mile range. Its counterpart is the Long Range AWD. It reaches 60 mph in 4.8 on 18" or 19" wheels. Top speed is limited to 135 mph compared to 150 mph on the performance. The long range RWD has the big battery and one motor for a 300 mile range and 5.5 second 0-60 time. Finally, the Standard Range base model reaches 60 in 5.9 seconds, with a range of 230 miles. Top speed is also limited to 120 mph. Production will begin early next year on the long range and performance models, and the standard model will arrive in 2021. Shop Tesla For Sale Related: Tesla Model 3 Standard Starts at $35,000 Tesla Unveils Dog Mode to Protect Your Pets

By Andrew Nabors – March 01, 2019

Tesla Model 3 Standard Price Starts at $35,000

Every time Elon Musk tweets, a host of haters try to rain on his parade. When the Tesla Model 3 first arrived, the factory couldn't keep up with demand. The solution was to build a giant tent in the parking lot and extend the assembly line. He hinted that the price would eventually drop once all the bugs were figured out. So yesterday the Tesla Model 3 Standard price of $35,000 shocked the world. It arrives with 220 miles of range, a cloth interior, and the same 5-Star safety rating that has made the Model 3 so popular. The Standard Range Plus starts at $37,000 and 20 additional miles along with an upgraded interior. Those prices are for black cars only, paint options start at $1,500. All of the hardware for autopilot is built in, but it costs $3,000 or $5,000 depending on the model. We used their configurator to learn that the panoramic roof is standard on both, as is Bluetooth and a 4 speaker audio. All Tesla models come with a tax credit of $3,750, and many of us prefer manual seats, well done Elon! Click the link below to find a Tesla near you. Shop Tesla For Sale

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