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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 – June 02, 2020

Hublot Drops the New Big Bang E Smartwatch

Fans of digital watches and Hublot can rejoice as the watchmaker has just debuted the new Big Band E Black Ceramic. This new "connected" watch comes after Hublot introduced their first of its kind back in 2018. Now, the new E Black Ceramic builds upon Hublot's engineering capabilities and reputation by being the most stylish digital watch out there. The microblasted and polished black ceramic case measures in at 42 mm, which is joined by a matching bezel. Hublot has also introduced a titanium version of this watch as well, where titanium replaces the ceramic. Holding the watch onto the wearer's wrist is a rubber strap that matches the black case perfectly in both color and design. Additionally, this strap can be swapped out easily thanks to Hublot's patented one-click system- no extra tools needed. As for the dials, those are all Hublot digital faces and there's a wide variety. The technology itself runs on Wear OS by Google so you can answer calls, use your payment cards and everything else you'd expect from a smartwatch. For the first time in Hublot's history they are offering the new Big Bang E Black Ceramic and E Titanium for sale online. The E Black Ceramic comes in with a price of $5,800 while the E Titanium has a price of $5,200. For more information, click the button below. View on Hublot.com Source: Hublot

By Edward Jones – April 24, 2020

Hublot Debuts the Big Bang GMT All Black Yohji Yamamoto

May 2020 marks the official grand opening of Hublot's new flagship Boutique in Ginza, Tokyo. So what better way to celebrate than to collaborate with world-renown designer Yohji Yamamoto to create a limited edition Hublot Big Bang GMT All Black Yohji Yamamoto. Yamamoto is known for his work with the shade of black, especially for having created "the Shock of Black." His ability to create a visual masterpiece with black is on full display across this new Hublot timepiece. "We are honored to celebrate the opening of our new flagship Boutique in Tokyo with fashion designer super star Yohji Yamamoto," said Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot CEO. "This All Black limited edition we created together expresses a simple beauty through the fusion of Yohji Yamamoto’s black design signature and the complicated GMT manufacture movement." For the watch's movement, it is equipped with the Hublot Unico manufacture movement HUB1251. This allows it to display two different time zones, an important feature for Yamamoto. "This watch can easily display the time zones of the two cities where I'm based, Tokyo and Paris," said Yamamoto. This movement is encapsulated in an all-black case with, you guessed it, black hands, a black dial, and even smoked sapphire crystal. Yamamamoto's signature can be found right on the six o'clock of the watch. This watch will be limited to just 50 examples and will be exclusively available at Hublot Boutique Ginza. Learn More Technical Specifications REFERENCE471.CI.1114.RX.YOY20Limited to 50 pieces, only in Japan with limited availability at Hublot Boutique Ginza CASEMicro-blasted and polished black CeramicDiameter: 45mmThickness: 15.85mmWater resistance: 10 ATM (100m) CASE-BACKMicro-blasted black CeramicEngraved “SPECIAL EDITION”XX/50 BEZELMicro-blasted and polished black Ceramic DIALBlack Sapphire dialSatin-finished black PVD plated appliques with black luminescent MOVEMENTHUB1251UNICO Manufacture self-winding GMTFrequency: 4Hz (28’800 A/h)Power reserve: 72 hoursNo. of Components: 328Jewels: 41 STRAP & BUCKLEBlack Rubber strapBlack plated Titanium deployant buckle clasp Source: Hublot

By Edward Jones – January 22, 2020

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Meca-10 Announced

Hublot has announced the new Spirit of Big Bang Meca-10, a fusion of the Meca-10 calibre with a 10-day reserve and Spirit of Big Bang design. The very popular Meca-10 calibre was reworked in order for it to be combined with the Spirit of Big Bang 45 mm collection. Hublot is launching this new watch with three different versions: titanium, black ceramic and King Gold alloy. "As the first fusion between our popular Meca-10 calibre manufacture and the iconic Spirit of Big Bang design, this new watch—with an extraordinary power reserve of 10 days that is displayed in an innovative way—completes a collection that is gaining importance at Hublot." -Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot The Big Bang Meca-10 comes with all the features you'd expect from a watch in the Big Bang collection in a barrel shape. In order to fit the Meca-10 calibre, the engineers had to revise the entire construction of the movement so it could not only fit comfortably in the new case but also harmoniously in a design aspect. The result is a stunning new addition to Hublot incredible line of timepieces. Prices are as follows: $23,100 for the titanium version, $27,300 for the black ceramic version and $44,100 for the King Gold version. Learn more by clicking here. Source: Hublot

By Edward Jones – January 14, 2020

Hublot Reveals Big Bang MP-11 Red Magic

Hublot has just announced the new Big Bang MP-11 Red Magic timepiece, which features their exclusive red ceramic. This ceramic, which is protected by three patents, is exclusive to Hublot. Before Hublot developed and produced this ceramic, only black and white ceramics had been used in watchmaking. This watch comes with a power reserve of two weeks thanks to the seven visible barrels. As for its mechanics, it utilizes the Hublot calibre HUB9011 manual-winding skeletonized movement. This movement is incredibly complex and consists of 270 components and 39 jewels. Keeping the timepiece on the wrist of its wearer are black rubber straps with a black-plated titanium buckle clasp. Only 100 examples of the Hublot Big Bang MP-11 Red Magic will be created. For more information, click here. Source: Hublot

By Edward Jones – October 17, 2019

Emerald Green Comes to Hublot Big Bang MP-11

Hublot has just changed the watch game with the unveiling of their Big Bang MP-11 in green SAXEM, a brilliant emerald green timepiece that raises the bar. This watch actually marks the first time that SAXEM has been used in a watch. What is SAXEM? It stands for "Sapphire Aluminum oXide and rare Earth Mineral". Hublot combines aluminum oxide, which is actually a basic component of sapphire, with rare Earth elements like thulium, holmium and chromium. The result is a case that's harder than emerald and more brilliant than sapphire. But what about the mechanical bits inside the case? The Big Bang MP-11 runs on a manual-winding skeleton manufacture calibre (HUB3011) that's paired with a two-week power reserve. Wearers can observe the power reserve's seven barrels directly to the right of the date display. Hublot is planing a limited run of just 20 examples of the Big Bang MP-11 in green SAXEM. The price is set at $127,000. You can learn more at Hublot.com.

By Edward Jones – June 12, 2019

Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Shepard Fairey Watches Re-Released

In 2018, Hublot announced a partnership with street artist Shepard Fairey. You may know his work from the OBEY brand, which has been popular ever since it came into existence in the early 2000s. The result of the collab was the Meca-10 Shepard Fairey watch. When it was released, Hublot only produced 100 examples of the watch. Now, Hublot is re-releasing the watch with another 100-example run. The Meca-10 Shepard Fairey is a part of the Big Bang Meca-10 lineup, which is a newer addition to Hublot's family. It comes packing a manually-wound skeleton caliber with a 10-day power reserve. On the face, around the 3 o'clock, Hublot included Shepard Fairey's "STAR GEAR" logo. This logo reveals a red dot when the move is almost out of power. The Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Shepard Fairey comes in two different variants: Blue and Grey. Each comes with a $28,300 price tag. Source: Hublot

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