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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 – October 06, 2017

McLaren 720S vs Ferrari F12tdf & Porsche 918 Spyder

One of the biggest drag racing events this year is happening in Bradenton, Florida this weekend. In order to be a proficient racer, it is wise to study the competition to see if you stand a chance. We've heard rumors that McLaren's last few Super Series cars are able to punch above their weight, but perhaps it's simply superior engineering. The new 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 certainly sounds different than the predecessors, so maybe the 720S is something revolutionary.McLaren 720S Rev BattleCall it what you want to. Sandbagging is a brutal tactic, designed to trick everyone into believing you are at full power. To see it in action, McLaren San Francisco invited a Ferrari F12tdf and a Porsche 918 to Thunderhill Raceway. As a control for the experiment, a 675LT was also brought along. A German, an Italian and two English superheroes meet up for battle in the Central Valley. No spoilers here, except the active ones on these supercars. Tell us what is happening below and who builds the fastest cars in the comments below.

By Andrew Nabors – October 04, 2017

Skiing Over 100 mph Behind a Jaguar Sets World Record

It is the fourth of October and snow is already falling out west. If you are waiting for fresh powder, Jaguar is ready to get you there. The XF Sportbrake was unveiled along with the 2018 lineup last week in Detroit. It was chosen to set a new speed record for towing a skier, with Guinness World Records on-hand to officiate the event.Reviewed: 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR ConvertibleThe XF S Sportbrake combines supercharged V6 power and AWD, along with room for your active lifestyle. Olympic Skier Graham Bell decided to hitch a ride, so the Sportbrake was equipped with a tow harness and GPS data logging. Holding on for dear life, Driver and Skier reached a new record speed of 117.4 miles per hour. Once Mr. Bell had thawed out, Guinness Officials presented the team with the award. This is just a small preview of the XF S Sportbrake's abilities, so stay with us for more updates on Jaguar's new models.

By Andrew Nabors – October 03, 2017

Toyota 2JZ Powered Rolls-Royce Phantom

If your car taxes are based on engine size, what happens when you need more power? The Rolls-Royce V12 is force-fed by twin turbos. It makes enough power and torque you could ever need, but rebuild parts can get pricey. One Japanese owner decided to infuse their car with some home-grown power, and TheSpeedHunters encountered a unique Phantom. Under the hood lurks a 2JZ-GTE engine purported to make 900 horsepower. Inline-6 engines have been embraced by Japan's automotive industry from the beginning. The indestructible reputation of the FJ series was due in-part to the Chevrolet stovebolt 6 Toyota built under license.Gordon Ramsay's LaFerrariCountless Toyota sedans and performance cars used straight 6 power. From the Cressida, to Celicas and Supras, they are known for smooth running & low maintenance. The JZ series was made popular by the 4th generation Supra and several early Lexus models. Only the Supra offered them in forced induction, with two sequential ceramic turbos. To make monster power, the complex system is usually dumped in favor of a single larger turbo, and this Phantom has a compressor the size of a watermelon. Although the block is cast iron, a fully dressed engine is probably half the weight of a V12. Thankfully the Phantom rides on air suspension that can adapt to keep it level. The idea of losing weight and gaining power should appeal to everyone, so click below to find a good starting point. This reminds us of a Tokyo drifting movie that swaps a straight six into a classic Mustang...It is a proven formula for success, so tell us what you think of this swap and stay with us for more overpowered luxury cars.Rolls-Royce For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=57&v;=0Mg34Cu40Ds

By Edward Jones – September 25, 2017

Marvelous kode57 Supercar Visits Jay Leno's Garage

Ken Okuyama is credited with designing the Ferrari Enzo and the Maserati Quattroporte, and now the kode57. His new car pays homage to the year 1957, which Okuyama says was an iconic year in automotive manufacturing. See Leno's Classic Car & Exotic Car Collection Jay Leno invited Okuyama and his kode57 to his garage for the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage. The kode57 was designed from the ground-up as a stand-alone model that is completely street legal. Okuyama tells Leno in the new episode that the kode57 sits between a production car, race car and show car. He also says that while the car must look good and drive, it also must perform at full speed. To allow the supercar to perform on the road is all-new suspension and large V12 engine. This powerplant gives the kode57 612 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque to place with. There is also an optional NOVITEC upgrade for the engine that brings the power up to 692 hp and 472 lb-ft. As for what's handling the power, that is left up to a six-speed automatic transmission. Check out the video below to learn more than ever before about the rare and beautiful kode57. If you're interested in purchasing a kode57 for yourself, be sure to contact Fusion Luxury Motors.

By Edward Jones – September 22, 2017

World's Greatest Drag Race: Seventh Edition

Motor Trend is back with the seventh edition of the World's Greatest Drag Race.For this race, they chose twelve different cars: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Aston Martin DB11, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, Ferrari 488 GTB, Lexus LC500, McLaren 570GT, Mercedes-AMG GTR, Nissan GT-R Nismo, Porsche 718 Cayman S, Porsche 911 Turbo S, and, last but not least, the Tesla Model S P100D.As for the location, the cars sprinted down the 15,000-foot airstrip at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Having witnessed cars race down the equally long airstrip at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center, I can say that this drag race must have been glorious to see in person. I'm not saying I'm jealous...well, yes, I am. Since I can't turn back time, the video below does a fine job of bringing the drag race to us all.Who Wins the World's Greatest Drag Race #6?

By Andrew Nabors – September 20, 2017

Jay Leno Drives the Vanderhall Venice

If you thought 3-wheelers were just for kids, you need to experience the Vanderhall Venice. We were introduced to the brand two years ago, and they sent us a fully loaded Laguna for display in our showroom. At first, we thought it was missing its chain, until we discovered it was Front Wheel Drive. The man behind the machine stopped by Jay Leno's Garage to show the world what they are capable of. Check Out the Leno Car Collection Steve Hall and his team build the Laguna and the Venice in Provo, Utah. It is a 50-state legal example of American ingenuity. Powered by a 1.4 liter turbocharged four, it is capable of 40 mpg with responsible driving. It is supplied by GM along with their 6-speed automatic transmission. The Venice lacks the roof and doors of the Laguna, which is how it is able to sell for under $30,000. For 29k and change, you will have 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. The inboard suspension uses pushrods and coil-overs that are perfectly tuned to the chassis. We tried to get it out of shape, but both Vanderhall models have grip for days. You will see them at our duPont REGISTRY Live events this fall, so stay with us for all your Vanderhall updates.

By Andrew Nabors – September 06, 2017

Epic Showdown: McLaren 720S vs Lamborghini Huracan

Traction can make or break a race. That's why cars with incredible power are often seen racing from a rolling start. To see how the latest carbon fiber coupes compare to one another, Drag Times filmed a new McLaren 720S against a Lamborghini Huracan. Everyone knows the deserts of Mexico are a perfect place to race.Deadmau5 Buys McLaren 720SLet's look at this comparison in terms of powertrain layout. The Huracan is an evolution of the Gallardo & Audi R8 chassis. It uses a naturally aspirated 5.2 liter V10 and the world's most competent AWD system. McLaren's 720S is the flagship of their Super Series and the first model of its 2nd generation. A 4.0 liter V8 is boosted by twin turbos, but it powers the rear wheels only. At $331,000, it is 40 grand more expensive than the Huracan. Without the transfer case or front axles, it is also 320 lbs lighter. The Huracan is at a horsepower disadvantage of 108, but perhaps the torque of the V10 will make up for it. You might be shocked because the results speak for themselves. Stay with us for more wild footage from DragTimes.Lamborghini Huracan For Sale Indianapolis, IN

By Edward Jones – September 01, 2017

August Cars and Coffee Detailed in New Video

Our Cars & Coffee event for the month of August was quite a hit, bringing classic cars, exotic cars, sports cars, supercars, motorcycles, truck and just about everything cool that rolls on wheels to our headquarters. St Pete Films was on hand at the event to film the gathering and has provided us with an awesome video that can be seen above.Hummer H1 Alpha: A Legend RebornThe next Cars and Coffee event will be held on September 16, 2017 at the Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa, Florida. This will be our biggest event of the year and we expect a massive showing of cars and even airplanes! You can learn more about the event by clicking here. Expect to see Ferraris, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porches... I could go on naming off all of the supercars that will be in attendance.

By Andrew Nabors – August 24, 2017

Taking Bruce's Winning 1967 McLaren M6A Out on the Track

Fifty years ago, Bruce McLaren and his team built an amazing machine. The McLaren M6A was designed to dominate the Can-Am racing series. It used a fuel injected Chevy big block and aerodynamics way ahead of their time to keep everyone in the rear view. Most production cars and race cars had 4-speed transmissions up until the 1990's, but Bruce was an innovator. The M6A's 5-speed gearbox was built with close ratios to keep the big Chevy at maximum torque.A Minute Of Noise To Remember Bruce McLarenWhat did all those features add up to? The 1967 M6A only lost 1 race in the 1967 season. Other drivers probably had the same feeling a modern racer does when a used P1 shows up at the track. McLaren Automotive knows they owe it all to their founder, and that he would be happy watching his cars in action. So for the 50th Anniversary of winning the championship, Richard Meaden from Motorsport Magazine got behind the wheel.Floyd Mayweather Buys Bugatti ChironIn a YouTube video uploaded last night, watch and listen to this piece of history as it laps Donington Park. If you want a similar experience, we suggest finding a nice pre-owned McLaren, and then remove all exhaust after the turbos. Flip the downpipes 180 degrees and aim them at the sky. The first person to install hater pipes on their McLaren is getting a free 1-year subscription to our magazine, 2 years if it's a 720S! Stay with us for all your McLaren news.View McLaren For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 23, 2017

Ouch: Bugatti Chiron and Veyron Scratch Their Lips On The...

One of the worst feelings is when you're driving over a speed bump or out onto the street and you hear the awful grinding noise of your car's front lip scratching the pavement. Is that just the piece of plastic scraping against the road, or is it the front bumper itself? Do you keep going or do you back up before it gets worse? This situation is always a bad one. And don't get me starting about driving too far over a parking space bumper...Now, imagine that the car you're scraping up against the pavement is a Bugatti Veyron or Chiron? I can personally tell you my soul would drop out of my body and out of the car.G-E Supercars captured both of Bugatti's latest supercars scraping the concrete at the same exact place. The gasps from the crowd are audible and the cringing is visual. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any serious damage to either car.

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