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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 – April 06, 2021

Caterham Cars Purchased by Japanese Motorsports Group

Small, nimble & fast machines have a new home! Time travel has yet to be invented, but we have a way you can buy a 21st-century version of the iconic Lotus 7. In order to breathe new life into these purpose-built machines, Caterham Cars have been purchased by a Japanese motorsports consortium. The Caterham 7 is a modern interpretation of Colin Chapman's classic. Because VT Holdings is already busy importing Lotus and Royal Enfield to the Far East, this is a great decision to streamline their operations and retaining the Caterham Academy. CEO Kazuho Takahashi says: "VT Holdings is proud to welcome Caterham to the group. We have not only purchased a globally renowned performance car manufacturer but become custodians of a motoring legend. We will protect and develop the Seven to meet the legislative challenges that lie ahead.” This is great news to all enthusiasts, as Japanese innovation always seems to bring out the best in sports cars. Sports Cars For Sale Image (C) VT Holdings

By Andrew Nabors – January 04, 2021

Ken Block's Hoonicorn Mustang vs Chevy Van

For the latest drag race by the Hoonigans, we are delighted to see Ken Block's Hoonicorn Mustang versus a Chevy Van. While the notion of racing a van might seem laughable, this LS-powered beast is their merchandise hauler. As such, it is powered by an LS6 (5.7-liter) V8 making 420 horsepower. Ken Block’s Hoonicorn Mustang Price & Specs If you are new to the undefeated Mustang, it packs 1,200 horsepower, decent aerodynamics, and a fraction of the weight of the opponent. A tube-frame chassis and a twin-turbo Roush V8 make it one of the most potent cars in Forza Racing and in real life, so stay with us for the next episode of Hoonicorn vs The World. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – February 25, 2020

The History of Premier Financial Services by VINwiki

Leasing an exotic car before 1997 was akin to tapdancing in a minefield. Mitch Katz had two decades of writing leases that were traditionally favorable for the bank, but this rigid system left many possible enthusiasts without an opportunity to experience the cars they love. By introducing favorable terms and amortization schedules to dealers and drivers, Premier Financial Services changed the leasing business and created an army of loyal clients. Everyone loves to see a successful entrepreneur, and we have been proud to represent them for years. So without further adieu, here is the history of Premier Financial Services, by VINwiki. Contact Premier Financial Services Here " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 05, 2019

Mercedes-AMG G63 vs Porsche Cayman GTS vs Audi RS3

Top Gear has a history of unlikely comparisons, and their latest upload doesn't disappoint. These three have nothing in common, and they appeal to their own niche in the market. If you have ever wondered how they perform, here is a Mercedes-AMG G63 vs Porsche Cayman GTS vs Audi RS3. The first contestant is the latest G-Wagen. It packs a twin turbo V8 into a rugged 4WD chassis. Porsche's latest Cayman GTS uses a 2.5L turbocharged flat four cylinder mounted amidships. It offers 365 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Its cousin from Audi also sports a 2.5L, but its is an inline-4 with all wheel drive. It arrives with 394 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. How do these little guys compare to the 577 horsepower/627 lb-ft of the G63? Tell us which one you would pick in the comments below and have a great weekend! Browse Exotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 26, 2019

Ferrari P80/C: A Short Film on Ferrari's Wild New Car

All of a sudden, the Ferrari P80/C was dropped onto the world and it was a beautiful moment. Nobody really expected this car, but we're all so very glad that it exists in the world. It's a one-off track-only Ferrari that's as extreme as they come. Ferrari put out a short film that details the conception and creation of the new P80/C, which can be seen above. In the video, the people responsible for the car talk about the car's inspiration, the design process and a lot more. I'll say that you'll feel much more acquanted with the car after you watch the video. Also be sure to see all of the Ferraris for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com by clicking the button below. see all ferraris for sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 18, 2019

McLaren 600LT Spider Hot Laps with Kenny Bräck

Watching an artist at work is the purest form of catharsis. Kenny Bräck is McLaren's Chief Test Driver and a veteran of open-wheel racing. In order to prove a car is more than just a sum of its parts, Carfection latest upload is the McLaren 600LT Spider in Hot Laps with Kenny Bräck behind the wheel. For a quick refresher, the 600LT Spider is their latest long tail. It offers 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque along with flamethrower exhaust from the 600LT Coupe. Bräck formerly raced for Lazante, the same firm that transforms McLaren's race cars into street-legal beasts. With Henry Catchpole riding shotgun, multiple cameras were used to record a session at Arizona Motorsports Park. Tell us what you think of the latest McLaren in the comments below and click the link to find our dealer near you. Shop McLaren For Sale Related: Hennessey Performance McLaren 600LT Upgrade McLaren 600LT Spider Unveiled

By Andrew Nabors – September 13, 2018

2020 BMW Z4 M40i Attacks the Nurburgring

When Toyota and BMW announced their collaboration on a new 2-seater, we knew it would be fast. The Japanese version will be the 5th generation Supra, and BMW has unleashed a new Z4. Officially known as the Z4 M40i, it is poised to offer more performance than the legendary Z8.Check Out LeBron's Car CollectionThe first lucky drivers to film their experience are from the German magazine Sport Auto. While still wearing its camo wrap, they installed cameras and GPS telemetry to see what it could do. A symphony of six-cylinder power is combined with incredible grip and a close-ratio dual clutch transmission. The car also transmits much less road noise into the cockpit, compared to other lap videos. They will be arriving at our dealers soon, so click the link below to find a Z4 near you.Browse BMW Z Series For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 12, 2018

What? Mercedes CLK GTR Goes Rallying Through a Forest

I stand by the fact that the Goodwood Festival of Speed is one event that I need to attend in my lifetime. Why? Well, stuff like this happens.TheTFJJ captured an insanely rare Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster doing something you've probably never seen it do before. After a startup on the grass and a quick trip down the road, the CLK GTR found itself on a dirt road, traveling through a forest at a high rate of speed.Yes, you read that correctly. The CLK GTR Roadster, created only six times and worth over $2 million, was drifting on a drift road in between trees. If you don't believe me, click play on the video below to see the 612 bhp, V12-powered supercar in action

By Andrew Nabors – July 23, 2018

W Motors Fenyr Supersport In Action

If you ever needed to crash through tall buildings, the Lykan Hypersport was seen as a star on the Big Screen. W Motors came out of nowhere to challenge the world, and now they've done it again. In a YouTube upload by Mr. JWW, we've learned the details of W Motors Fenyr Supersport. For the ultimate in power, RUF supplies their 800 hp twin turbo 3.8L flat-six along with a revised Porsche 7-speed PDK.You will have 723 lb-ft of torque and the wildest rear-hinged doors of any production car. To make sure each example is perfect, W Motors has contracted production to Magna-Steyr of Graz, Austria. The same company that has built the Mercedes-Benz G Wagen, E-Class, Aston-Martin Rapide. Much like its predecessor, only 25 cars will be built and each one will have a base price of $1.4 Million. As soon as the concept moves to production you will see it here. Stay with us for all your W Motors updates.Looking For Something Exotic?

By Edward Jones – July 01, 2018

Lamborghini Huracan Performante Destroys Nurburgring Record

One of the true tests that every supercar must face is a Nurburgring Nordschleife lap. For years, automakers have been testing their cars on this track, tuning them along the way with the hopes to set new lap time records. Lamborghini has been hard at work testing their upcoming Huracan Performante at the "Green Hell," and it looks like their hard work has paid off. In a new video from the Italian automaker, they show, from start to finish, the new supercar's Nurburgring Nordschleife lap in its entirety. It took the Huracan Performante only 6:52.01 to make it from the starting line to the finish line. TO put this into perspective, the Porsche 918 Spyder's lap time was 6:57 and the Aventador SV did it in 6:59.71. That's a HUGE difference in time. You can see the lap by clicking play below. Lamborghini Huracan For Sale

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