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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 01, 2017

Watch The Stig Rip the Aston Martin Vulcan Around the Tes...

Alright, so we're all pretty upset at that the old Top Gear test track is going to be bulldozed for housing. Why are we upset? Probably because many of us have spent years watching The Stig rip hundreds of sports cars around the track.(How to Get Stuck in an Aston Martin Vulcan)While we won't get to see The Stig drive new cars around the track, we still have hours of footage from the vault that will keep us occupied. For example, Top Gear loaded up a video of our favorite driver taking the Aston Martin Vulcan around the track.This video is bittersweet to watch, considering it reminds us of the old Top Gear, but it's still awesome to see the Vulcan being thrashed through the track.All Aston Martin For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 23, 2016

Going 200 mph in an Aston Martin One 77

To find out how many examples of a specific model were made, many have to turn to Google. But for the Aston Martin One-77, the exclusivity is in the names itself.With only 77 examples ever created, it's rare to see one in person (luckily for us, we have one resting in our showroom as I type this). But to see two in the same place? And to see them rip down a runway on their way to top speeds? Well, that's unheard of. Until now.(Related - Yellow Tang Metallic 2016 Aston Martin Vantage GTS Roadster For Sale)TheTFJJ was recently at an event where this exact scene took place: two One-77s showing off what they're capable of and pushing themselves to the limit. What's more, he even got the chance to ride along in one for an experience of a lifetime. The driver, with TheTFJJ in the passenger seat, pushed the English supercar's 7.3-liter V12 to the limit and got to 200 mph on the runway. You can view the entire run and more in the video below. View Aston Martin For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 13, 2016

Aston Martin DB11 Goes Wild on Frozen Lake

Learning to drive on ice is the best way to sharpen your racing skills. Many manufacturers offer Arctic excursions, but heading to colder climates in the dead of winter is simply unappealing to some. As the heat of summer makes northern latitudes feel like a rotisserie in the summer, our friends down under are in the depths of winter. Last month, Aston Martin invited a few select customers to join them at their Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. It was an unprecedented success that combined catered meals with instruction from professional drivers.It took place between August 22nd to the 28th on the frozen surface of Lake Wakatipu. The highlight of the event was equipping the new DB11 with studded tires for a twin turbo assault on the open ice. In a YouTube video uploaded Friday, Aston Martin compiled a teaser reel for next year's event with footage of the new car in action. With 600 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, their latest model offered brilliant drifting around the course. Registration for next year is now available on Aston Martin's Art of Living site, but pricing has yet to be released. Stay with us for updates on the event, and check out the DB11 in person at our dealers.Aston Martin DB11 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 12, 2016

Porsche 911 R and Aston Martin Vantage S Reviewed by Chri...

If you need three pedals in your life, your options for new manual transmission cars have been severely limited. The latest dual clutch automatics can shift faster than any human, but they are heavy and leave the driver disconnected from the road. In a comparison we thought would never take place, Chris Harris has brought together the latest in stick shift supercars. View Video In the latest installment of Chris Harris Drives, the Aston Martin Vantage S and the Porsche 911 R are brought head to head. Flying the Union Jack, Aston Martin has just released a seven speed manual with a vintage style dog-leg 1st gear. It channels 568 hp and 457 lb-ft from the 6.0L V12 to the rear wheels via a rear mounted transaxle. With a differential ratio of 3.72 it can apply that power in almost every gear. The Porsche 911 R has six fewer cylinders, but the 4.0L is borrowed from the potent GT3 RS. Instead of the seven speed manual found in previous Carreras, a new six speed box has been designed to handle 500 hp and 338 lb-ft of torque. If heel-toe shifts are not your thing, both cars offer rev-matching that can be disabled for a lively drive. As long as manufacturers build cars of this caliber, the death of the manual will be postponed. Tell us what your favorite transmission is in the comments below and stay with us for more Top Gear footage. View 911 Rs For Sale View V12 Vantages For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 14, 2016

Aston Martin Vulcan and Koenigsegg One:1 Driver Races...H...

Racing video games have been around for ages, giving everyone the chance to test their skills on the virtual track. Games like Forza, Gran Turismo and hardcore simulators have actually bred real-life racers. But how different is virtual racing from the real thing? Castrol USA decided to find out.(Also Read: Koenigsegg One:1 Testing It's Limits On Nurburgring)In the new video titled "Castrol EDGE Clone Rival," they put a supercar in a simulator where he would race the Aston Martin Vulcan and Koenigsegg One:1 around a virtual version of the track in Ascari, Spain. After their laps were recorded, they then sent him off to the real track, with the real cars.How did his real lap times stack up? Check out the videos below.Aston Martin Vulcan For Sale | Koenigseggs For Sale Koenigsegg One:1 Aston Martin Vulcan

By Andrew Nabors – April 18, 2016

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Blades Edition: Inspired By Flight

Five lucky Aston Martin owners have taken delivery of the most beautiful V8 Vantage S models we have ever seen. The Blades are a British Aerobatic team regarded as the best civilian aviators in the world. To showcase the abilities of Aston Martin's Q customization department, each V8 Vantage S was built to replicate one of the five stunt planes flown by The Blades. In a YouTube video uploaded earlier this morning, it is easy to see how potent the Vantage S really is.Aston Martin spared no expense for the new owners, as they were given training in an F1 simulator along with flight instruction in the team's chase helicopter. With each car serialized to a plane's tail number and the pilot's name on the rocker panel, they attacked the tarmac in a battle of air vs land. The V8 Vantage S has no problem outrunning performance tuned aircraft, but it makes for great entertainment.It looks as if there is no limit to what Aston Martin's Q division can accomplish, so stay tuned to Autofluence for more Aston Martin news.V8 Vantages For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – April 14, 2016

Aston Martin Dangles Over the City

We're pretty used to Aston Martins flying down the track, but in the air? Not something we expected. Apparently, Aston Martin and a London-based real estate firm solidified a partnership, and to show the world, an Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE race car was lifted onto the roof of a building, which just so happens to be a city skyscraper.In this short and sweet video, check out this Aston Martin racecar hover higher and higher over the London skyline. I was gritting my teeth the entire way up! How about you?

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

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