Acura

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 – September 23, 2021

2022 Acura NSX Type S Looks Magnificent in Motul Livery

This needs to be done in real life. To celebrate Motul's 50th anniversary of its 300V racing oil at the 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the French oil company created a digital livery for the new Acura NSX Type S. During the event, Motul will also be debuting its new 300V formula on the track as well. As for the livery, it features graphics that were inspired by Motul race cars from the past and it looks phenomenal. Joining the livery are brushed gold HRE Vintage FMR 527M 2-piece wheels that match the "50" graphics on either side. Unfortunately, this is simply a digital livery but I hope that one day this will become a reality because it looks amazing. See All Acura NSXs For Sale Source: Motul

By Edward Jones – August 12, 2021

The 2022 Acura NSX Type S is the Most Powerful NSX Ever

Faster and quicker than ever before. The new 2022 Acura NSX Type S has been revealed and it's a true treat for the automotive world. While it may be the last year for the second-generation NSX, it will at least be sunsetting with an incredible edition. Acura revealed the new NSX Type S at Monterey Car Week where thousands of automotive enthusiasts are enjoying the Californian sun and an incredible display of automotive excellence. The new NSX Type S has more power and quickness than before thanks to a list of powertrain upgrades. These upgrades include turbochargers shared with the NSX GT3 Evo race car and a retuned 9-speed automatic transmission. Power has been increased to 600 horsepower (+27 hp) and 492 lb-ft of torque (+16 lb-ft). Acura has also increased its battery capacity by 20 percent, as well as its battery output by 10 percent. Other upgrades for the NSX Type S include the new split 5-spoke wheels that are have increased track in the front and back, new Pirelli P-Zero tires designed specifically for the new model, a new exterior design that provides better cooling than before, new aerodynamics package that includes an NSX GT3-inspired rear diffuser, carbon fiber roof and more. Acura will also be offering the 2022 NSX Type S in the new Gotham Grey matte metallic paint, but it's limited to just 70 of the total 350 examples in the worldwide production run (300 are destined for the U.S.). While this is a lot, Acura is also offering an available Lightweight Package that includes carbon ceramic brakes, a carbon engine cover, and carbon interior trim. This package will drop the weight of the NSX Type S by around 57.8 lbs. Just 300 examples of the new 2022 Acura NSX Type S will be coming to the U.S. The base NSX Type S will have a starting price of $169,500 while the supercar with the Lightweight Package comes to a starting price of $182,500. See NSXs For Sale

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 04, 2021

First Acura NSX Type S Will Be Auctioned For Charity Duri...

Acura donating all proceeds from auction to charity, including the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) to support STEAM youth education across the U.S. The Acura NSX plays a key role in supercar history ever-since its first release in November 1990 as a Honda chassis. Acura today announced that it will auction off the very first serial production 2022 NSX Type S during Monterey Car Week. The first NSX Type S ever available outside of Japan, VIN #001, will be sold to the highest bidder at Mecum Auction’s Monterey, California event, on Aug. 14. All proceeds from the sale of the exclusive supercar will benefit charity, including an innovative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) education program for underserved youth nationwide in partnership with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI). By auctioning the NSX Type S, Acura and COSI will provide more than 20,000 award-winning COSI Learning Lunchbox STEAM Kits which are delivered alongside community organizations to help feed hungry minds and lives for at-risk and in-need students across the country. Targeted at kindergarten through 8th grade, COSI Leaning Lunchboxes are STEAM learning kits filled with educational activities and resources for engaging children and families through experiences in science. Check back in for the results of the 2022 Acura NSX Type-S auction at Mecum’s Monterey event. View all Acura NSX models for sale through duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Acura NSX For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 03, 2021

2022 Acura NSX Type S Announced for Final Model Year

Acura is wrapping up the second-generation NSX's production with a special model. Production on the second-generation Acura NSX is wrapping up as the automaker has announced 2022 as its final model year. To celebrate the end of production, Acura has announced the new NSX Type S. This limited edition supercar will have a production run of 350 examples, with 300 being offered in the United States. Acura notes that the entire model year 2022 NSX will be a Type S and will feature an "enhanced" version of their twin-turbo V6 engine and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system. The global reveal of the new 2022 Acura NSX Type S will occur on August 12 at Monterey Car Week. On that day Acura will also be taking customer orders online. Be sure to check back on that day to learn all there is to know about this new NSX. Source: Acura

By Andrew Nabors – April 21, 2021

What Makes The Acura Type S So Irresistible?

You know you want one Name a lineup that offers reliable acceleration, healthy resale value, and fun. As the performance division of Honda, Acura builds what Mr. Honda always tried to achieve: perfection. They make incredible daily drivers by shrugging off any issues well past 300,000 miles, so your dollars go farther. You can't beat the hybrid power and AWD found in the NSX, and it's built by hand in Ohio. My most recent experience was profitable, as I found a beat-up RSX Type S, and an Acura enthusiast bought it from me before the paint was dry. So click the button to find your Acura, and tell us your best Type S story in the comments below. Shop Acura For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 09, 2019

2020 Acura NSX Debuts in Indy Yellow Pearl

The 2020 Acura NSX is on its way, but it will debut in a paint that pays homage to the first-generation NSX. Covering the new NSX is the Indy Yellow Pearl paint, which pays homage to the Spa Yellow/Indy Yellow paint that was an option for the first-generation NSX. Around 20 percent of the classic NSX's had this paint applied. For the new 2020 NSX, this new paint will shine when it's debut during the Monterey Car Week. It will be at the Concours on the Avenue in Downtown Carmel. Sitting alongside this NSX will be an NSX GT3 EVO race car in a custom yellow and blue livery. Want your own 2020 NSX in the Indy Yellow Pearl paint? The base price for a 2020 NSX starts at $157,000. browse all acura nsx for sale

By Edward Jones – July 11, 2019

Acura NSX and NSX GT3 Evo Face Off

Surprisingly enough, the Acura NSX road car and NSX GT3 Evo race car have quite a bit in common, as is explained in Acura's latest video. In the video, found up above, we get the chance to see how these two cars stack up against each other. Trent Hindman, race driver from Meyer Shank Racing, takes out his #86 NSX GT3 Evo and an NSX out for tests. He did this to show just how impeccable the road-going NSX is when compared to its racing brethren. Due to restrictions in racing, the race version of the NSX is limited in various ways where the standard NSX isn't. Many may think that the race car would outperform the NSX in every way, but that's definitely not true. For example, the NSX absolutely destroys the GT3 version when it comes to 0 to 60 mph runs. See it all for yourself up above. see all acura nsx for sale

By Edward Jones – February 06, 2019

Acura NSX Celebrates 30th Anniversary

On February 9, 1989, the Acura NS-X Concept was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show. This model would be the precursor for the production NSX that we would eventually see. During the NS-X Concept's unveiling, Acura's R&D team was at the Suzuka Circuit testing the car. Joining them was the legendary race car driver known as Ayrton Senna. He noted that the car was "a little fragile." That led the team to put the test car through hell, Green Hell that is (Nurburgring Nordschleife) and came up with solutions to create a more rigid car. Of course, the car would change its name from the NS-X to NSX. But where did that name come from? New. Sportscar. Unknown world. Okay, so that would make the name NSUW, but "X" is used as a mathematical symbol for a variable or unknown value... and it fits. NS-X at 1989 Chicago Auto Show After naming was finalized and the VTEC V6 engine was chosen as the powertrain, the NSX was set for production. Now, 30 years later we've through multiple generations of the NSX and Acura is celebrating the car's 30 years of existence. 2017 Acura NSX: Price, Specs, Review and Photos Acura NS-X Concept Want to celebrate as well? Check out the Acura NSX for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com by clicking the button below. Or get a taste by scrolling down below. view all acura nsx for sale 1993 Acura NSX view price and listing 1995 Acura NSX view price and listing 2017 Acura NSX view price and listing 2017 Acura NSX view price and listing 2017 Acura NSX view price and listing

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2018

2019 Acura NSX Updates Announced

The new 2019 Acura NSX is coming in with a few upgrades that spice up the sports car for the new year. Most notable, Acura's engineers were hard at work making the NSX more responsive than before. Through updates to the chassis, tires, and software, they seem to have accomplished their goal. How do I know that? Well, they've at least state that the car's Suzuka Circuit lap time has now been cut by two seconds.For the cassis, the front and rear stabilizing bars have had their stiffness increased (26 percent up front and 19 percent in the rear). Additionally, the rear toe link bushings are now 21 percent stiffer and the rear hub rigidity has been increased by 6 percent. Basically, the engineers made this car a lot stiffer all around. Additionally, the 2019 NSX now sports new Continental SportContact™ 6 tires that were developed specifically for the model.2017 Acura NSX: Price, Specs, Review and Photos 2019 Acura NSX MSRPii Change 2019 Acura NSX $157,500 +$1,500 Exterior Paint Standard Colors (three available) Std Premium Colors (three available) $700 Adds Thermal Orange Pearl Andaro Colors (two available) $6,000 Wheels Signature Y-Spoke Std Exclusive Interwoven $1,500 Tires Continental SportContact™ 6 Std Replaces ContiSportContact™ 5P Pirelli Trofeo R $1,500 Brakes Iron Rotors w/ Black Calipers Std Iron Rotors w/ Red Calipers $700 New Carbon Ceramic w/ Black Calipers $9,900 Carbon Ceramic w/ Silver, Red, or Orange Calipers $10,600 Adds Orange Caliper option Gloss black exterior trim Std Gloss black replaces matte Black Aluminum Roof Std Gloss Carbon Fiber Roof $6,000 Gloss Carbon Fiber Decklid Spoiler $3,000 Gloss carbon replaces matte Gloss Carbon Fiber Exterior Sport Package $12,600 Gloss carbon replaces matte; now includes Carbon Fiber engine cover Interior Seating Semi-Aniline Leather w/ Alcantara, 4-way power sport seats Std Previously $1,500 option;adds Indigo blue option Milano Leather w/ Alcantara™, Manually adjustable sport seats No Cost Option Previously standard Semi-Aniline Full Leather,4-way power sport seats $1,000 Previously $2,500 option;Adds Full Red option ELS Studio® Audio + Tech Package ELS Studio® Premium Audio System Acura Satellite Navigation Proximity Sensors Std Previously $2,800 option Aluminum Sport Pedals Std Previously included with Carbon Fiber Interior Sport Package ($2,900) Carbon Fiber Interior Sport Package $3,800 Adds Black Alcantara Headliner, previously a $1,300 option

By Andrew Nabors – August 14, 2017

Acura Testing New NSX Model at the 'Ring

It is hard to believe the 2nd generation Acura NSX has been in production for over 2 years. As the successor to one of the iconic 90's supercars, it had large shoes to fill. Instead of being produced in Japan, Honda and their Acura luxury division chose to develop and build the latest NSX in Ohio. It uses a 3.5 liter V6 and three motor/generators to offer 573 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque. Enthusiasts and the motoring press have lauded praises for its innovative hybrid system and the advanced materials used to build it.Acura NSX Hot Laps POVBut NSX fans who love the first generation have been as being soft and getting away from the car's performance roots. Sure the 2nd generation can easily outrun and out maneuver its predecessor, but some customers don't want an AWD hybrid. So it looks like something new is in the works. Our friends at Supercarsfromeu spend countless hours camped out with cameras in hopes of catching prototypes in action. And in their latest YouTube upload, an NSX sounds like nothing we've heard before. Subtle changes to the front styling and a meaner exhaust note might imply the return of the NSX-R. Notions of a new variant have been circulating, so this could potentially be a RWD version without the hybrid system. With wheels spinning coming out of the carousel, the new NSX could also be the drift missile that could reinvigorate the Japanese performance market. Don't quote us on any of this because we don't have confirmation, so stay with us for all your NSX news.

Acura

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe