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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

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By Jordan Aquistapace – January 12, 2021

Seiko x NEIGHBORHOOD Announce A Limited Edition Prospex W...

Seiko continues to differentiate its classic collections with limited edition collaboration models that help introduce the watch world to new enthusiasts. Seiko Japan recently announced a collaboration project with NEIGHBORHOOD, an iconic Japanese streetwear brand founded in 1994 by Shinsuke Takizawa. The limited-edition example presented as a Seiko Prospex is a 44.3mm diving inspired timepiece with a design versatile for any occasion. The black stainless-steel case features a unique grey bezel and matching black dial with the NEIGHBORHOOD logo printed in vibrant red. The backcase includes the classic wave stamp, approving that it is a dive inspired timepiece, as well as an engraving signifying the limited edition collaboration. The Seiko x NEIGHBORHOOD Prospex SBDY077 is a Japan-only release with 1000 pieces limited to in-store availability on January 15th, 2021. For more Watch news, Check out Chopard Releases A Limited Edition L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit Of Shí Chen Timepiece

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 11, 2021

Chopard Releases A Limited Edition L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit...

When it comes to luxury hand-made timepieces, there is a fine line between design and state-of-the-art technology. Chopard is watch manufacture that tends to balance this equation perfectly with models such as the L.U.C Collection. The Swiss watchmaker is proud to announce a limited-edition model that stems from the Élégance branch of the collection. The Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit of Shí Chen is a 40mm Rose Gold automatic watch. The animals of the zodiac that symbolize the hours. They slowly rotate along on an Urushi lacquer disk featuring the symbol of prosperity and its god Lu Xing. The backcase of the timepiece includes a sapphire transparent case that features engravings signifying the limited edition release. A large black square alligator leather strap pairs well with the luxury watch, adding contrast to the rose gold and black dial. The Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit of Shí Chen is currently available through an authorized dealer. For more Chopard news, check out Chopard Celebrates Luftgekühlt With A Special Edition Mille Miglia GTS Watch

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By Jordan Aquistapace – January 11, 2021

Skagen Releases Falster 3 Smartwatch Collection By Intern...

As an international DJ, Norwegian artist Kygo has to stay connected throughout the day, which means that all of his essentials must keep up with his electrified lifestyle. The Denmark watch manufacturer, Skagen, is following that way of life with a new smartwatch collection. The Skagen Falster 3 by Kygo is the 3rd generation of connected watches, recently announced at CES 2021. The Falster 3 features a minimalist design incorporated into the 42mm stainless steel case. The latest Falster takes an evolutionary leap with proprietary battery-saving modes, double the storage, 1GB of RAM, and new speaker functionality. The speaker allows users, both Android and iPhone, to make and receive phone calls directly from their Bluetooth-enabled watch. The Skagen Falster by Kygo is currently for $295 with an array of colors and strap materials. Click below to shop the new release from Skagen x Kygo. For more Watch new, Check out Omega Releases Two New Gold 4th Generation Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Models Shop Now

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 07, 2021

Omega Releases Two New Gold 4th Generation Speedmaster Mo...

Recently, we covered Omega releasing its 4th generation Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, which includes two versions made from stainless-steel. The second round of Speedmasters added to the collection are made from Sedna (Yellow) and Canopus (White) Gold. The precious metal versions of the iconic watch worn during the first trip to the moon also include sapphire crystals covering the dial and transparent backcase. Each Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional features a matching gold bracelet and a newly designed clasp. The 42mm chronograph timepieces are currently available through Omega, the Sedna Gold version for $34,800, and the Canopus Gold for $45,300. For more Omega news, Check out Omega Releases Its 4th Generation Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Collection

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 06, 2021

Discover The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Self-Winding Chro...

The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Collection encompasses the perfect balance between luxury design and state-of-the-art timepiece technology. The only changes between each of the models that make up the current line are altering the precious metals and colors to ensure a version for all watch enthusiasts. The newest rendition of the Code 11.59 features a 41mm 18-carat pink gold case and white gold bezel, lugs, and caseback paired with a sleek black dial to contrast the design. The Audemars Piguet Self-Winding Chronograph is driven by an in-house AP 4401 Caliber, which holds a power reserve of 70-hours and a water resistance of 30-meters. A matching black large scale alligator leather strap pulls together the colorway, making it a daily wearable watch. The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Self-Winding Chronograph is currently available for $46,700. For More Watch News, check out Zenith Re-Releases The Original Chronomaster A385 Using 1969 Designs

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 06, 2021

Zenith Re-Releases The Original Chronomaster A385 Using 1...

When looking back on how far the watch industry has come, we have to take the time to appreciate the timepieces that paved the way for future examples. Zenith stays true to this thought by re-releasing the watches that built a foundation for the company. Zenith is proud to announce the release of the first El Primero with a Gradient Dial from 1969: Chronomaster Revival A385. The 39mm timepiece reflects the vintage design and styling using a brown ombre dial paired with a sharp-edged stainless-steel case. An El Primero 400 Automatic movement drives the six functions of the Chronomaster and holds a minimum power reserve of 50-hours. The Zenith Chronomaster Revival collection features a period-correct light brown leather strap and a version that comes with a traditional steel bracelet. The Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385 Collection is currently available and starts at $7,700. For More Watch News, check out Omega's 4th Generation Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Release

By Jordan Aquistapace – January 05, 2021

Omega Releases Its 4th Generation Speedmaster Moonwatch ...

The Omega Speedmaster continues to hold significant relevance within the community of watch collectors and enthusiasts, as it was the model worn when Buzz Aldrin first stepped on the moon. The Swiss watch manufacturer is proud to announce the 4th generation of the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Collection. The watch features an asymmetrical 42mm case in stainless steel covered in optional hesalite or sapphire crystal glass. Each model is driven by the Omega 3861 manual-winding chronograph movement with Co-Axial escapement. A power reserve of 50 hours and 50-meter water resistance makes the new Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional a perfect watch to wear daily. Although a traditional nylon and leather versions are still available, the stainless-steel bracelet is redesigned using a new clasp sporting the Omega logo. The 4th generation Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional is currently available via waitlist through the company site. Shop the new Speedmaster release from Omega by clicking the link below. Shop Now

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 21, 2020

Top Timepieces To Gift For The Holiday Season

The holiday season is just around the corner, which means trying to shop for the loved ones in your life. As a watch enthusiast, there are countless options for unique and exquisite luxury timepieces. We are making the job of shopping for a watch collector easier with the Best Watches for the Holidays special. A compiled list of the seasons' best watches brought to you by some of the most well-known manufacturers. This special should help free up some holiday shopping for the rest of the family. Click any of the links below to shop the styles and brands featured in this holiday special. Arnold & Son Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon Gold $35,000 Shop Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon is the quintessence of refinement, with its rich textural variation and the generous 29 mm diameter aperture looming over the dial that houses the shimmering 18-carat gold engraved moon floating in a blue guilloché night starry sky. Audemars Piguet Audemars Royal Oak Offshore Self-Winding Chronograph $37,300 Shop Audemars Piguet The watch’s black ceramic case is enhanced by a green ceramic bezel, a smoked green “Méga Tapisserie” dial decorated with Arabic numerals and a green textured rubber strap. Breitling Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 $10,990 Shop Breitling The classic Navitimer features a generous 46 mm diameter accentuating its presence on the wrist and enhancing the originality of its design, while optimizing the readability of the dial and the circular aviation slide rule. Eberhard & Co. Eberhard & Co. Chrono 4 $8,337 Shop Eberhard & Co. Chrono 4 is the first chronograph in the history of watchmaking whosecounters are arranged in one row. It’s a genuine innovation both aestheticallyand functionally, and it’s a real revolution also from a technical point of view. Sofar, the world has never seen a dial whose minute, hour, 24-hour and small-second counters were arranged horizontally abreast of one another. Hublot Hublot Big Bang Unico King Gold $39,900 Shop Hublot The Hublot Big Bang Unico King Gold features the recent patented technology, creating Magic Gold, which features the sparkle while staying scratch resistant. The watch is also equipped with Hublot's in-house Unico movement, which can be seen from the transparent dial and case back. IWC IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Spitfire $6,500 Shop IWC IWC presents a Pilot's Chronograph with a movement from the 69000-calibre family, housed in a reduced case size with a diameter of 41 millimetres. The IWC-manufactured 69380 calibre is a rugged chronograph movement with a classic column wheel design. Jacob & Co. Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti Baguette $1,000,000 Shop Jacob & Co. With its painstakingly hand-decorated and hand-assembled 832 components, the Twin Turbo Furious is a true Grand Complication Masterpiece that offers a singular combination of ultra-high-end mechanisms, all exclusive to Jacob & Co. MB&F MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO $167,000 Shop MF&B The Legacy Machine Perpetual, the award-winning and convention-breaking perpetual calendar conceived for MB&F by Stephen McDonnell, gains a new level of liberation with the LM Perpetual EVO. Omega Omega Speedmaster "Silver Snoopy Award" $9,600 Shop Omega The 42 mm case in stainless steel is presented on a blue nylon fabric strap, which features the trajectory of the Apollo 13 mission on the embossed lining. The silver dial has blue PVD angle-shaped hour markers and hands, as well as an embossed silver Snoopy medallion on the blue subdial at 9 o’clock. Panerai Panerai Submersible Carbotech $17,400 Shop Panerai The Carbotech™ case, crown-protecting device and unidirectional rotating bezel ensure extreme lightness and resistance. Carbotech™ has an uneven, matt black appearance, which varies according the cutting of the material: the result is that each watch is unique. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5168G $38,557 Shop Patek Philippe The very embodiment of modern sporty-chic, the men’s white gold “Jumbo” Aquanaut reasserts its young, dynamic style in a new khaki green design. This audacious choice of color evokes a sense of adventure and far horizons. The rounded octagonal case and bezel combines polished and satin finishes. Richard Mille Richard Mille RM 27-04 $1,050,000 Shop Richard Mille The case is made from a brand new material exclusive to Richard Mille: TitaCarb®. It is a high-performance polyamide that has been reinforced with up to 38.5% carbon fibre by the teams at Richard Mille and at its loyal partner, Biwi SA. Thanks to this injection of carbon, TitaCarb® offers an exceptional tensile strength of 370 MPa, (3,700 kg/cm2). Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Sottozero $173,500 Shop Roger Dubuis The skeleton single flying tourbillon is part of the highest complication in the world of Haute Horlogerie. Fans of fine mechanics can enjoy an incredible transparent view of the new RD508SQ hand-wound caliber with power-reserve indicator and the signature black Astral Skeleton. The flying tourbillon at 7 o’clock is rimmed by speedometer-like seconds counters enhanced with automobile-inspired pointers, while the multi-colored power-reserve indicator represents a cool nod to racing-car cockpit fuel gauge. Rolex Rolex Sky-Dweller $40,000 Shop Rolex An elegant watch for frequent travellers, the Sky-Dweller displays the time in two time zones simultaneously and has an annual calendar. The reference time, in 24-hour format, is shown via an off-centre disc, and the local time is read using conventional centre hands. The annual calendar, named Saros, automatically differentiates between 30- and 31-day months. Tudor Tudor Pelagos $4,575 Shop Tudor A magnificent example of a tool watch and the symbol of a lifestyle made up of aquatic adventures, Tudor Pelagos is one of the most complete traditional mechanical divers’ watches on the market. In 2015, this emblematic model has been updated with a movement manufactured by TUDOR and an additional color combination, a reference to the most glorious period in the history of the brand’s divers’ watches. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin Blast 45mm $46,000 Shop Ulysse Nardin

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 18, 2020

Jacob & Co. Unveils Four New Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Wa...

The Bugatti brand exemplifies the idea of pushing the limits of luxury, performance, and design, which is the same mantra that Jacob & Co. follows when creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted timepieces. The well-grown partnership resulted in various collaboration pieces with inspiration deriving from the same hypercars that roll off the Bugatti production line, like the iconic Chiron model. Jacob & Co. and Bugatti are proud to announce a limited-edition Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon collection featuring five new styles. The uniquely designed watch, released in April 2020, is meant to portray an engine compartment view of the quad-turbo W16 that delivers 1,500-hp to the Bugatti. The timepieces are driven by the Manufacture Jacob & Co. Manual Winding JCAM37 movement, which is held within the case by miniature Chiron-style shock absorbers. The current style features an 18K Rose Gold case with set White Diamond Baguettes. The four new watches include light and dark styled cases paired with precious metals. The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Collection by Jacob & Co. is limited to 52 pieces, making it a collector’s edition piece for any owner and enthusiast of the brands. View the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillons and all other collections from Jacob & Co. by clicking the link below. Shop Jacob & Co.

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By Jordan Aquistapace – December 16, 2020

The Blueprint Inspired Limited-Edition Zenith Pilot Type ...

As watch collectors and enthusiasts, we are often told stories behind the inspiration of our favorite timepieces, but until now we have never been shown the schematics. Zenith lets the process of constructing the limited-edition Pilot Type 20 Blueprint speaks for itself, as the dial is designed directly from traditional aviation blueprints for the watch itself. The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Blueprint is a 45mm stainless-steel case that features a vibrant blue dial showing the schematics and dial layout. A quintessential in-house automatic movement drives the timepiece, which holds a 50-hour minimum power reserve. A dark blue leather strap compliments the blue dial and sparkling steel case, while also providing comfortable wear throughout the day. The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Blueprint is limited to only 250 pieces for the price of $8,330. Shop the newest release from Zenith by clicking the link below. Shop Now

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