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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 Andrew Nabors – August 10, 2018

When a Lamborghini Test Drive Goes Bad

If you have ever worked at a dealer in an urban setting, test drives are part of any deal. A decade ago I worked at a Lexus dealer, and everyone wanted to drive the IS300 (Altezza to you JDM fans). This was also the era of the 1JZ-powered SC300 and GS300, so everyone wanted to experience the mythical straight six. But almost a dozen "potential customers" simply wanted to beat on a new car.Lamborghini Gallardo Specs, Price, Photos & ReviewOur friend Ed Bolian was a sales manager at Lamborghini Atlanta, and he desperately needed to sell a Gallardo Performante that had been sitting for months. The regular LP550 Gallardo was always a strong seller, as it was priced as the entry-level Lamborghini. But many buyers couldn't justify nearly $300,000 in 2012 dollars for the Performante Spyder. You won't believe what happens to him when a customer asks to drive.Top 10 Fastest Quarter Mile Cars & Times (Production Cars)It was essentially a drop-top Gallardo Superleggera, being capable of 0-60 in 3.8 and 0-124 mph in 12 seconds flat. They are 3,200 lbs soaking wet, so the massive power, lightweight, and AWD is not a combination for novice drivers. If you are looking for a true collectible, find a six-speed manual Gallardo and keep the mileage low, it will be worth $$$ as manual transmissions keep disappearing. If you need something even more capable, click the link below to find your Huracan Performante and have a great weekend.Lamborghini Huracan Performante For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 16, 2017

John Cena's Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

Some celebrities like to drive incognito, for fear of being recognized. But our friend John Cena is not afraid of anything. His impeccable taste in cars makes his collection very diverse, and his garage is always filled with the best rides money can buy. But due to his intense schedule, it can be very hard to make time to enjoy each car.His larger-than-life persona is matched by an equally impressive collection. Featured on his wife (Nikki Bella)'s YouTube page, we've seen a Ferrari 360 along with an F430, a low-mileage Ford GT, and a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Lamborghini is represented by this bright greed (Verde Scandal) Gallardo, but it is almost a decade old. Now that the Huracan Performante is the king of the ring, Mr. Cena has decided to part ways with his immaculate Gallardo. In order to make sure it finds a loving home, it is for sale by one of the largest Lamborghini dealers in the world. Lamborghini Palm Beach has been a fixture in our magazine for years, and they know exactly how to market this car.Check Out John Cena's SLS AMGJohn's passion for all things automotive motivates him to care for each car with the same attention to detail. That's why this 2009 Gallardo has 79.3% clutch life remaining. It is the only Gallardo painted in Verde Scandal, making it 1 of 1. No options were spared, as it has quilted leather with contrast stitching, the Branding Package, along with optional black wheels. It has been on a battery tender since new, and shows no signs of wear inside & out. If Monday is giving you the blues, know that we have great deals on the cars you've always dreamed of. Stay with us for more Celebrity Classifieds, and updates from John Cena's Garage.Lamborghini Gallardo Price and Listings View Listing

By Edward Jones – October 18, 2016

Motorcyclist Wheelies All Over Lamborghini Gallardo

Imagine you're driving down the street in your Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder with the top down and you're enjoying the weather. Behind the sound of the wind flowing by and the rumble of the V10 engine, you suddenly hear the distinct sounds of a motorcycle. Then, in your peripheral vision, you see a BMW S1000RR pulling a wheelie right beside you while the rider is staring you down. What do you do?Well, this driver just went about his day wondering why in the world a motorcyclist was doing a wheelie beside him on a public road. I'll say this now, always follow your local traffic laws, including speed limits.After following the Gallardo for a bit and pulling off some more stunts, the motorcyclist and Lamborghini end up at a stop light together where they chat for a brief second and the rider hands the driver what looks like a sticker.2004 Lamborghini Gallardo For SaleCheck out the whole event in the video below and let me know what you would've done in the comments below if you were the driver of the Lamborghini.All Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 18, 2016

1,500 hp TT Lamborghini Gallardo Doing Snow Donuts Sounds...

When winter rolls around, you'd expect supercars to stay inside. But lately I've been seeing high-powered sports cars doing donuts in the snow left and right. For instance, we covered a Diablo VT and Ferrari 355 showing off their stuff in some fresh powder just yesterday.For today, we have yet another Lamborghini in the snow, but this one packs some serious punch.In a video uploaded by ChiMotorTrend, we get the chance to see a twin-turbo 1,500 hp Gallardo spinning both its tires and body in snow. The car was modified by EuroCharged. The specifics on what's under the hood of this car are unclear, but you can definitely hear the turbos whistling in the video. And boy does it sound lovely.Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 11, 2016

Astro Van Races Lamborghini Gallardo, Shocks The Crowd

You won't find a Chevrolet Astro van among the Ferraris, Lamborghinis and exotic cars we have for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com. But, a Gallardo did find one lined up against it during a drag race.Now, I have no idea what's underneath the Gallardo or the van, but I can tell you that there is some witchcraft under the latter's hood. For comparison's sake, the Gallardo is powered by a V10 engine, while the Astro has a V6 providing power. It goes without saying that the Italian sports car comes with much more of a punch than the van.But, whatever the owner of this van did, whether it be an engine swap or the aforementioned witchcraft, it worked. Check out the video below to see the incredible drag race and resulting times of each car.Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 09, 2016

Lamborghini Gallardo Performante Goes Swimming in Lake

With four wheels meant to roll on the ground, it's common knowledge that sports cars and supercars are meant to be driven on the road. But, sometimes, some people want a change of pace.Case in point, this Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Performante driver. He decided to take his supercar down to Lake Bonneville in Utah for a swim in the lake. It seems that a photo shoot was taking place and the drifting of the Gallardo was done for the photos.Being in Lake Bonneville, I can assume that the lake the car was driving in was quite salty, which could do extensive damage to a car, but thankfully they took the cars to a self-serve car wash immediately after for extensive car washes.It seems that this wasn't the first Lamborghini to go swimming. In fact, during the intense floods of California about a month ago, another Lamborghini Gallardo was seen driving through deep waters on the road.What do you guys think about these Lamborghini in the water? Blasphemy or just owners having fun?Lamborghini Gallardo For Sale

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