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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 Edward Jones – February 26, 2016

The Ultimate Track Day: P1 GTR, Huayra, 918 Spyder and More

Track days happen around the globe all the time, but some are more special than others. Mr JWW was recently at one track day that was most certainly a special one.Happening at the Bahrain International Circuit, this track day involved some of the rarest cars to ever roam the planet. This private track day brought cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder, Pagani Huayra, McLaren P1 GTR, Ferrari 488 GTB, Porsche 911 GT3RS and more.Being a lucky man, Mr. JWW actually had the chance to drive in some of these around the track. I can easily say that his time at the track that night will be something that he'll never forget.Check out the video below to see one of the most amazing track days to ever take place. Also, it wouldn't surprise me if a track day like this is a normal occurrence at the Bahrain International Circuit.Exotic Cars For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 25, 2016

Aston Martin Teases DB11

In a video that goes briefly scans the heritage of the famed Aston Martin's iconic DB line, viewers catch a short glimpse of how the Aston Martin has evolved over the course of its 100+ year history. The video is filled with bits and pieces of Aston Martin's prestigious history. And then... did you catch that? There's definitely something we've never seen before in the video.Go ahead, go back to 1:04 and hit pause. We do believe that's the long-awaited DB11. Aston Martin continues to tease us. Check out the full video below and make sure to stay tuned for updates on the DB11.Aston Martins For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 25, 2016

Ferrari 458 vs Lamborghini Huracan Rev Battle

The Ferrari vs Lamborghini battle has been going on for ages, and every person has their say on the matter. This rivalry is why we see so many videos of models from the two automakers being compared against each other.The latest video comes from NM2255, who recorded a Ferrari 458 Italia and a Lamborghini Huracan facing off in a rev battle. From the 458 we hear the power from the 4.5-liter V8 being poured out of the three exhaust tips. Beside it, the Huracan treats us all to the sounds of it 5.2-liter V10, courtesy of its quad-exhaust setup.Check out the video below and let us know which car you think sounded better in the comments below. Ferrari 458s For Sale | Lamborghini Huracans For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 25, 2016

Lexani Wheels on 2016 Cadillac Escalades

The 2016 Cadillac Escalade is already a stunning SUV on its own. It's stylish and sharp exterior is highlighted by a spacious interior that's fit for more than one king. Lexani Wheels decided to take the new Escalade to a new level of luxury by fitting a pair of the SUVs with some of their finest wheels and body kits from Next Nation. On the black example, they installed a set of 26-inch Competition Series wheels. On the white one Escalade are a set of 26-inch Concave Series wheels with a Rose Gold finish. Which do you like better? Let us know in the comments below.Cadillac Escalades For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 25, 2016

Koenigsegg Agera R Runs 200+ mph on Autobahn

Koenigsegg, the Swedish automaker, creates cars that are anything but tame. Their CCXR, Agera and Regera are all some of the most monstrous hypercars ever created.The Agera R, a hypercar produced from 2011 to 2014, is powered by a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine. With this powerplant, it has 1,140 hp and 885 lb-ft of torque on tap. That's good enough for a 2.8 second 0-62 mph time.There are a handful of places in the world where you can legally test the Agera R's capabilities, with the Autobahn being one of them. In a video uploaded by GTBOARD.com, we get to see an Agera R driver running the car at speeds over 200 mph on the German stretch of road. What's more, the video is in glorious 1080p at 50 frames-per-second.Check the video out below to experience speed like never before.Koenigseggs For Sale (Note: Attempting to reach speeds this high is a dangerous endeavor and should not be attempted unless on a closed course under professional supervision. Do not attempt to recreate anything seen in the video above. The Editors at duPont REGISTRY do not condone illegal activity on the roads. Be safe, and be smart.)

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 24, 2016

Who Wins? Bugatti Veyron vs Nissan GTR Nismo

When comparing a Bugatti with a Nissan, one would think the Bugatti would win without argument, but in a video posted to YouTube by GTBoard, the race doesn't turn out as clear cut one might think.At the start of the race, the GTR effortlessly speeds in front of the Veyron and looks as though it's in for an easy win, but the tables turn as the Veyron kicks into gear and sails past the GTR, all while the passenger of the Veyron records the race. As you can see, the Nissan's AWD and launch capabilities are top notch, but the high top end of the Veyron lays waste to the GTR.Check out the video below and tell us what you think. Did you expect the result? Veyrons For Sale | Nissan GTRs For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 23, 2016

Toyota Supra Walks Lamborghini Aventador in Race

One of the many things I've learned from YouTube is that a modified Toyota Supra is nothing to mess with, even if you're driving a Lamborghini Aventador.In a video uploaded by That Racing Channel to YouTube, we see a heavily modified Supra go up against an Aventador Roadster on a highway. And now is the point in the article where I state that we don't condone these actions and that you always follow your local traffic laws. Driving in this nature on a public road is a hazard to not only yourself, but others.The Supra in the video is running an engine built by Real Street Performance, including a Borg Warner 7687 turbocharger, AEM EMS V2 tune, 4-inch exhaust and an e-85 tune. Check out the video below to see what power a tuned Supra can hold, even when it's up against a supercar like the Aventador. Aventadors For Sale | Supras For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 23, 2016

Get to Know the 273 mph Koenigsegg One:1

The likelihood of spotting a Koenigsegg One:1 on the streets is slim to none, but so many Koenigsegg fans would love to catch a glimpse of one. Goodwood Road & Racing made that rare glimpse possible thanks to a video they posted on YouTube.In the video below, listen to the engine sounds, check out the exterior, take a peek at the interior and learn a few facts about the Koenigsegg One:1 along the way. Facts include top speed (273 mph), how much power the car garners (one megawatt) horsepower (1340) and more. Then, follow the supercar as it speeds down what looks like a rural highway and through a slim tunnel.Check out the full video below and tell us what you think!Koenigseggs For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 22, 2016

Inside David Lee's Ferrari Collection

David Lee, a well-known California-based Ferrari collector, has an impressive collection, and YouTuber, Shmee150, takes viewers on a tour of the collection with David Lee on hand. Starting with the "Ferrari Big Five", Lee tells us he acquired the Ferrari Enzo and then decided, after choosing to collect only Ferraris, to obtain the Enzo siblings. After the Enzo, he obtained the F50, followed by the F40, and then the 288 GTO-- which he states was the hardest to find, and finally, the LaFerrari. All of the aforementioned examples are finished in the famed Ferrari Rosso Corsa.Oh, and he acquired all these cars in 3 years.Next, Lee takes us to the amazing 1964 250 GTO Lusso Competizione finished in yellow with the racing stripes fashioned in the colors of the Italian Flag. This specific model is one of just a handful of competition examples made and was a regular in Norway races.Lee takes pride, not only in his collection, but also in keeping with color themes-- white for modern models, red for the Big Five, and black, silver or yellow for the classic models. He also hints to the Ferrari models he's expecting and which one is his daily driver (can you guess which model he drives on the day-to-day?)Check out the full video below.Ferrari For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 22, 2016

Hear the Pagani Huayra BC For The First Time

Last week, the most technologically advanced Pagani ever, the Huayra BC. This week, we get to hear and see the Huayra BC in action for the very first time. Well, this is the first time we've seen it in action without camouflage on. In a video, which looks to be created by SpeedHunters, the Huayra BC starts up and accelerated down a road on Mount Etna, letting us hear its twin-turbo V12 engine that was exclusively developed for Pagani by Mercedes-AMG. Behind that sound is over 750 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. Could this be the best sounding Huayra out there? Let us know your thoughts on the BC in the comments below. Related Video:

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