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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 – January 23, 2017

It's a Sound Fight! Koenigsegg Agera vs Bugatti Veyron

When buying a car, many car fanatics always make sure their new ride will have a great sound or it has the ability to have great sound with some aftermarket parts. PRonTheRoad recently spotted a couple of cars that have a sound any owner would be proud of.(Also Check Out - Jaguar F-TYPE SVR vs Corvette Z06 Rev Battle)The cars he captured on film were a Koenigsegg Agera R and Bugatti Veyron. These two cars were spending some time having fun around the streets of Monaco and were joined by a few other exotic cars as well.While these two were the stars of the video, I have to say that the heavily modified Porsche Panamera sounded more to my tasting-- deep exhaust notes are my jam. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!Exotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 04, 2016

Koenigsegg Agera R vs Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse ...

Hypercar drag races will never get old. It doesn't matter which cars or racing, why they are driving, or who's driving. As long as the cars have over 1,000 hp, the race will be epic. One YouTube channel who specializes in races of the hypercar kind is GTBOARD.com. And their latest video shows off one of these videos. (Related - Ferrari 599 GTB vs Koenigsegg Agera R Drag Race) Uploaded today, this video pits the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse against the Koenigsegg Agera R. The two cars are similar in horsepower, with the Agera R having 1,140 hp on tap and the Grand Sport Vitesse sporting 1,200 hp. But, which car will run down the line quicker? To find out, click play below. View All Koenigsegg For Sale | View All Bugatti For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 09, 2016

Koenigsegg Regera Does 1,500 HP Burnout

What do you do when you have an empty road and a 1,500 hp Koenigsegg Regera? You push the pedal down and burn as much rubber as possible.You see, the Regera has a 5.0-liter V8 engine that has two turbochargers attached and electric motors. This powertrain is what gives the hyper-super-ultra-mega car it's power output of 1,500 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. But, what's even cooler than this power(I know, it's hard to believe), is the fact that the all of this power is routed through no gearbox. Seriously, it has one gear, meaning you don't have to worry about shifting as your hit ungodly speeds in the Swedish monster.To show off what it's like to lay down the Regera's power all at once, Koenigsegg uploaded a video of them destroying tires in the hypercar. You can check it out below.View Koenigseggs For Sale Did someone say party? We'll bring the smoke machine!!!!Posted by Koenigsegg Automotive AB on Monday, August 8, 2016

By Andrew Nabors – July 29, 2016

Koenigsegg CCX vs Porsche GT2 Race: Sweden vs Germany

Just because it's not the newest model doesn't mean its any less potent. In a showdown of supercars from yesteryear, cvdzijden was able to capture a Koenigsegg CCX lining up against a Porsche GT2. Both cars are forced induction but that's where the similarities end. The Swede is powered by a 4.7L V8 of their own design. Topped by two Rotrex superchargers it makes 806 hp and 693 lb-ft of torque. Made possible by 20 psi of boost pressure, it was their first model to not use Ford's modular V8.(Also Check Out - Who's Faster: Nissan GT-R vs Porsche 911 GT3 RS in Drag Race)The opponent in the far lane has the home field advantage, and the GT2 in stock form makes 620 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It could be a clone, but nonetheless adding two turbos to any 911 makes it a worthy contender. Racing at airports is easier thanks to less noise restrictions and concrete runways that are much smoother than a typical blacktop. Both CCX and the GT2 are destined to increase in value so take a look at these listings from our dealers.Koenigsegg For Sale|Porsche GT2 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 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 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

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