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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 Jordan Aquistapace – December 01, 2020

Jacob & Co. Reveals Twin Turbo Furious in White Gold with...

Every luxury timepiece created by Jacob & Co. is viewed as a detailed work of art, including the Twin Turbo Furious model. The company recently took to its Instagram to reveal a new version of the Twin Turbo Furious featuring baguette-cut Green Tsavorites and White Diamonds throughout the entire case. The twin triple-axis tourbillons drive the 52mm collectors’ piece, which is elegantly styled in gold to stand out. The aspect of premium design and materials make its way to the leather diamond-stitched strap, which includes a matching gold clasp. This piece unique example is one of the many incredible designs to come out of the NYC headquarters of Jacob & Co. View all of the luxury timepiece collections from Jacob & Co. by clicking the link below. Shop Jacob & Co. Jacob & Co.

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 04, 2020

Jacob & Co. Releases An $884,800 Watch That Comes With A ...

Jacob & Co. timepieces pull inspiration for each complicated example from an array of areas, whether it be animals, hypercars, or other collaborations. The newest release from the New York City-based watchmaker derives its vision from the peak of Mount Everest. The Jacob & Co. Astronomia Everest features the signature double-axis gravitational tourbillon. An actual piece of rock from the top of Mount Everest, as well as water from the North and South Pole, collected by Johan Ernst Nilson, are incorporated into the dial design. The special edition watch comes in a Mount Everest designed case that plays audio of howling winds when it's opened. The Astronomia Everest collection is limited to 24 pieces, which signifies the 24 time zones on Earth. Jacob & Co. announced that they are donating 10-percent of each sale to an environmental charity. The lucky individuals who obtain the ultra-rare timepiece will also receive an expedition with Nilson to Mount Everest, where the materials for the watch were gathered. Shop the rest of the Jacob & Co. collection pieces by clicking the link below. Shop Jacob & Co. Source: Jacob&Co.

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 22, 2020

How To Buy The Jacob & Co. X Supreme Watch

Recently, we covered a story featuring the announcement of a Jacob & Co. X Supreme collaboration. The Jacob & Co. Time Zone Watch will be the face of the new partnership, coming in both a 40mm and 47mm option. The dial includes three worldwide time zones for New York, Tokyo, and Paris. The iconic Supreme box making an appearance as well. The Jacob & Co. X Supreme watch will be released with the Week 9 Fall/Winter 2020 drop. Date: October 21, 2020Time: 11 am ESTWhere: Supreme New York Website Source: Supreme Instagram Source: Supreme Instagram

By Edward Jones – October 16, 2020

New Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon by Jacob & Co. is Mesmerizing

The watch community recently was introduced to some remarkable timepieces created by Jacob & Co., including the $1 million-dollar Twin Turbo Furious “La Montre Noire” Bugatti Edition. The New York City based watch maker announced the release of a new collection collaborating once again with the hyper car manufacturer. The Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon collection features three unique styles of the complex design that incorporates the latest technology in watch making. The 44mm case and transparent dial emulates the engine housing of a Bugatti Chiron, showcasing the inner workings of the tourbillon. An array of precious metals and materials make up collection, utilizing the weight savings and extra strength for a more functional timepiece. The collection is presented in Sapphire Crystal, Matte Black Titanium, and Matte Silver Titanium. Shop the limited-edition Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Collection by clicking the link below. Visit JacobAndCo.com

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 08, 2020

Jacob & Co. Unveils A Cobra Inspired Piece Unique Watch.

Jacob & Co. has announced the release of yet another incredibly unique timepiece with inspiration derived from one of the most dangerous serpents in the world. The Astronomia Art Cobra features a rotating 3D designed snake entangled within the tourbillon movement. The piece unique example celebrates the strength and meaning behind the cobra while highlighting the beauty of the mechanism driving the watch. The 18-carat rose gold case compliments the blue large square alligator leather strap. The Jacob & Co. Astronomia Art Cobra is a collector’s piece that is sure to turn heads. Stay up to date with more news on the newest release from Jacob & Co. by clicking the link below. Shop Jacob & Co.

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 24, 2020

$1 Million Dollar Bugatti Edition Watch By Jacob & Co.

A watch company that collaborates with an automotive powerhouse like Bugatti has to reflect the same high standards and attention to detail. That is why Jacob & Co. is the best option for creating the perfect example using state of the art technology and design. The New York City-based watchmaker Jacob Arabo has announced a truly magnificent example celebrating the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupe, the world’s most mysterious automobile. Four of the chassis were produced with the only black version ultimately disappearing. The Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious “La Montre Noire” Bugatti Edition is a one-of-a-kind example sporting all-black just as the Type 57 chassis no.57453 did, accompanied by a price tag of $1 million dollars. The 46mm black titanium case houses the manual winding JCFM05 caliber and features a Double Triple Axis High-Speed Tourbillon. A transparent dial allows for the inner workings to be seen while still incorporating the various functions that the watch provides. The vibrant red Bugatti logo is placed in the center of the dial making it impossible to miss when gazing over the technical masterpiece. The aesthetically pleasing case is paired with a matching black Cordura strap. The clasp that brings everything together is made from an 18-carat black gold buckle top set with 18 baguette black sapphires and a black PVD titanium deployment clasp. The newest collaboration has been announced and will surely be acquired by a Bugatti enthusiast. Check out all of the Jacob & Co. collections by clicking the link below. Shop Jacob & Co.

By Edward Jones – June 16, 2020

New Jacob & Co Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ Watch Reve...

Jacob & Co. is back again with a fantastic timepiece that celebrates the groundbreaking Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. Named the Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+, this new timepiece is something any watch collector or Bugatti fan should own. Its forged carbon and black DLC Grade 5 Titanium and orange details match the paint scheme of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ beautifully. Within the 88-piece forged carbon case are a myriad of complications that make the timepiece tick, including the black titanium twin triple-axis tourbillon movement. A regulator system is in place to keep a perfect balance between these two tourbillons, ensuring the proper time and date are told at all times. As for other features, it has a decimal minute repeater, reference time indicator, integrated mono-pusher chronograph, 50-hour power reserve and a whole lot more. It comes with a price tag of $580,000 and is limited to just three pieces. To learn more, be sure to click the button below. Learn More https://www.facebook.com/jacobandco/videos/585294112094041/

By Edward Jones – April 08, 2020

Jacob & Co. Launch New Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, Sportin...

Jacob & Co. have just debuted a new watch that actually adds some horsepower to your wrist. The new Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon features a 16-cylinder "engine" that actually turns, prompting the 16 pistons to move up and down just like an engine. It even has two turbochargers that rest on either side of the engine block spin when the engine is running. The entire movement of this watch consists of 578 components, making it an incredibly complicated watch. Although, you really didn't need to know that in order to figure out this is a complex piece of art. It actually took Jacob & Co. just about a full year to develop this watch and its complex movement. Don't believe me? Check out the video below form Jacob & Co. where you can learn all about the watch. This is a watch that any Bugatti Chiron owner should add to their collection. Images via Facebook and YouTube/Jacob & Co.

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