Aftermarket

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 – February 08, 2021

Overfinch Announces New Restomod Division

Overfinch has just announced their new restomod division called 'Overfinch Heritage'. This new division of the famous Land Rover tuner will combine classic aesthetics with modern upgrades. These upgrades will include modern technology, enhanced engineering, performance options and Overfinch's exquisite signature styling. Overfinch also notes that every vehicle will come packing a modern crate engine, 12-month warranty and certification from Overfinch as standard. Alex Sloane, Vice President of Overfinch North America commented: “Overfinch Heritage will address a major opportunity to satisfy the demand for restomod Land Rover vehicles in North America. Remastering allows us to create enhancements and proprietary Overfinch upgrades that simply wouldn’t have featured in the classic production car. We intend for our customers to create something truly personal, while guiding them to retain the classically British character of the original vehicle." Just twelve examples will be created by Overfinch Heritage in 2021, making each and everyone one of these a rarity of the road. Overfinch does currently still have some open build slots, while the base vehicles have already been sourced and appraised. The restoration of the base vehicles is also underway. To learn more, be sure to visit OverfinchHeritage.com or click the button below. Visit Website

By Andrew Nabors – January 27, 2021

Brabus Unveils 24" Platinum Edition Monoblock Wheels

Rolling up to a fancy spot in a G63 is a recipe for a perfect night out. But if your original wheels are showing their age, Brabus has unveiled new 24" Platinum Edition monoblock wheels. Offered in 21", 23", and 24", they are the perfect addition to your G-Class. Available for purchase with or without tires, Brabus can also install new TPMS sensors to make them an easy upgrade. If you need something smaller, the 2021 Brabus B45 packs a punch! Browse Brabus For Sale Images (C) BRABUS

By Edward Jones – January 26, 2021

ICON 4x4 Reveals New "Old School Edition" FJ44

On the outside, this Eucalyptus Green Fj44 may look like it was kept in a time capsule since it 1972, but it's actually the latest Old School Edition build from ICON 4x4. With these builds, ICON 4x4 is able to bring preserve the original aesthetics of classics while also adding in a slew of modern amenities. These include the NEX 8600 multimedia system, backup camera, Apple Carplay, navigation system, Focal K2 speakers, and more. Powering this reborn classic is a 6.2-liter LS V8 that's capable of producing 403 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. Mated to this engine is an Aisin Warner AX15 five-speed manual transmission. Other mechanical upgrades include the Dynatrac Dana 60 rear axles, Dana 44 front axles, Atlas II two-speed transfer case, and Fox Racing coil-over sport suspension. For more info, be sure to check out ICON4x4.com. “Our Old School Edition builds present a unique aesthetic that many of our clients really respond strongly to these days,” comments ICON Founder and CEO Jonathan Ward. “With people spending a lot more time close to home, a lot of our owners are taking more time to adventure in our vehicles, which really resonates with us. Transportation has always presented the prospect of freedom, and seeing our trucks come off the line and hearing these fantastic stories about how they are being used has been incredibly rewarding. Taking a truck like this 1972 rig, restoring, rebuilding it, and then releasing it back into the wild to be used as it was intended is what ICON 4x4 is all about.” See All FJs For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 15, 2021

Ultimate Toys Announces the 2021 Ultimate Traveler

Presented by Ultimate Toys Pure Class. Pure Fun. The Traveler is, without question, the perfect choice for family vacations, entertaining clients, golf outings, tailgating with friends, and so much more. This versatile and luxurious all-purpose Sprinter, offered exclusively through Ultimate Toys, is loaded with amenities and unique features optimized to match and maximize your lifestyle. Beautifully handcrafted custom interiors, advanced electronics packages, superior ride quality, and so much more including the industry's largest rear bathroom means you're incredibly comfortable throughout your journey. With The Largest Bathroom In The Industry. A Sprinter with a bathroom is not easy to find, let alone doesn’t make you feel cramped or claustrophobic. The industry standard is small and practically unusable. It doesn’t give you a lot of room to move around. That’s why the Traveler’s exclusive floor plan has been engineered to offer you the extra space – not found anywhere else, but Ultimate Toys. So, no more searching for public restrooms or extra stops along the way to your destination. Last, But Not Least The Ultimate Traveler boasts an exceptionally sized storage area – large enough for luggage, golf clubs, sports equipment, kids’ toys, or your travel supplies - which you can access from either inside the cabin or through the back doors. What are you waiting for? View Price and Listing

By Andrew Nabors – January 06, 2021

Zyrus Engineering Unveils LP1200 Strada

Winter in Norway can be bitterly cold, and that is why Zyrus Engineering has unveiled the hot LP1200 Strada. Based on a Lamborghini Huracan LP600-4 for sale, this completely carbon fiber build offers 900 horsepower in a street-legal package. Catering to a tech-savvy target audience, most vehicle systems can be controlled by your smart device. For those who need unparalleled performance, 1,200 horsepower is unlocked at the push of a button. Other superlatives include dropping 172 lbs from the curb weight while offering 4,431 lbs of downforce at 124 mph. All you need is a Lamborghini Huracan for them to start with, so click the button below. Browse Lamborghini Huracan For Sale Images (C) Zyrus Engineering

By Edward Jones – December 22, 2020

XPEL Named Official Paint Protection Film Of Spring Mount...

Presented by XPEL - XPEL, Inc. (Nasdaq: XPEL), a global provider of protective films and coatings, announced today its designation as the “Official Paint Protection Film” of Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club and the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School. Located just 55-miles west of Las Vegas, Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club boasts the longest racetrack in North America at 6.1 miles, with over 50 track configurations designed to appeal to car enthusiasts worldwide. As the home of the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School, the “Official High-Performance Driving School of Corvette” provides first-time owners of a new and unused Corvettes with the opportunity to attend their exclusive two-day 8th generation Corvette Owners School, partially subsidized by Chevrolet, to experience the excitement of the highly anticipated mid-engine Corvette. XPEL will install ULTIMATE PLUS 10 on the school’s Corvettes. The 10 mil paint protection film will cover and protect the full hood, front fenders, front bumper, headlights, side mirrors, rocker panels and aero blades. ULTIMATE PLUS is constructed from an elastomeric polyurethane and is designed to prevent rock chips and light scratches. It is self-healing, and when exposed to heat, fine scratches and swirl marks will disappear over time. Film for each area will be precisely cut from XPEL’s expansive pattern library housed in its Design Access Program. “We are excited to announce this new partnership with Spring Mountain and the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School,” said Robert Bezner, Vice President - Brand for XPEL, Inc. “New Corvette C8 owners are a core target audience for XPEL. Showcasing ULTIMATE PLUS 10 at the driving school will introduce the product to the school’s attendees, and is expected to generate significant buzz about the performance of our strongest paint protection film in the ULTIMATE PLUS product line-up. “We’ve made a significant investment in our Corvettes and after each vehicle logs a few thousand miles around our track, we want them looking as new as the first day we took possession,” said Todd Crutcher, Director of Marketing at Spring Mountain. “Working with XPEL to install ULTIMATE PLUS 10 on our Corvettes will help maintain the original factory paint finish and drive maximum resale value after each C8 has met its useful life on our track.” Visit XPEL.com

Ford Raptor XPEL STEALTH PPF FUSION PLUS Ceramic Coating 1

By Edward Jones – December 17, 2020

Ford F-150 Raptor Treated With STEALTH PPF & FUSION PLUS ...

Presented by XPEL - The Ford F-150 Raptor will undoubtedly go down as a future classic in the years to come. One of the most powerful vehicles ever to roll out of a Ford Motor Company assembly plant, the Raptor is designed to be a Baja racer for the street. This is a pickup truck using over 400 horsepower to break speed limits over any terrain using FOX Racing Shocks that provide over 13-inches of suspension travel. A truck that dealers will say you can’t jump followed by a wink and a smile. The first Ford F-150 Raptor debuted in 2010 using a 6.2-liter "Boss" V8 cranking out 411 hp. The second and current generation debuted in 2017, sporting fewer cylinders with a 3.5-liter V6, backed by a twin-turbo set up to produce 450 hp and a ten-speed automatic transmission. Recent news confirms there will soon be a third-gen Raptor boasting over 700 hp thanks to a supercharged 5.2-liter "Predator" V8 borrowed from the Shelby GT500. Its main target will be to reclaim the throne as the most powerful off-road pickup truck recently taken by the 702 hp 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. A truck like this deserves to be taken care of, yet it is built to get dirty. Is there a way to have it both ways? There is with XPEL. The video below shows a recent client who wanted to protect their F-150 Raptor's Magnetic gray paint from debris on the street and off-road. They opted for a full wrap with XPEL STEALTHTM . The installation transformed the factory gloss paint into a matte finish which will fully protect the truck from rock chips and other elements it will face in harsh terrain. Visit XPEL.com Immediately following the STEALTH installation, the Raptor was further protected with FUSION PLUSTM Ceramic Coating. FUSION PLUS bonds to factory finish paint and paint protection film on a molecular level to create a sealed barrier to protect it from paint-toasting UV rays, acid from dead bugs, and other environmental containments. FUSION PLUS is also available for wheels and brake calipers, upholstery, plastic and trim pieces, and glass, ensuring the entire vehicle will look showroom fresh in between trips to the car wash. FUSION PLUS can increase paint color depth and enhance resistance to scratches, thanks to its hydrophobic properties. Check out our Installer Locator tool to find the certified XPEL installation center near you.

By Andrew Nabors – December 15, 2020

Hennessey Venom F5 Production Car Revealed

Years in the making, a new supercar has emerged in central Texas. The Hennessey Venom F5 production car was revealed this morning at their headquarters near Houston. Starting with a carbon fiber monocoque, their 6.6-liter Chevrolet V8 uses twin turbos to offer 1,817 horsepower and 1,193 lb-ft of torque. Limited to 24 examples, each one has a dry weight of 2,998 lbs at a price of $2.1 million dollars. " width="680"> F5 is an homage to the world's most powerful tornados, with theoretical wind speeds up to 318 mph. Given this impressive power-to-weight ratio, Hennessey Performance needed a proficient driver. That's why SCCA Champion and GM High-Performance Director John Heinricy was brought onboard to sort out the dynamics. Launch to 124 mph happens in 4.7 seconds and their top speed target is above 311 mph. If you need to be going 186 mph in 8.4 seconds, the Bugatti Chiron will be 5.2 ticks slower. Our hats are off to John Hennessey and his team on the great achievement, stay with us for all your exotic car news.

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2020

Joey Logano’s Custom Built ’71 Mach 1 Mustang Gets The Fu...

Presented by XPEL - Having a custom-built car is the stuff of daydreams. The idea of building or having one built to your exact specifications right down to the rim size is often a goal many car enthusiasts strive for. NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano got to experience that moment first hand and on camera. At the start of 2020, Discovery Channel's "Car Kings" featured Galpin Auto Sports building a resto-mod 1971 Ford Mustang for Logano. The finished car was then presented to him at Daytona Beach, Florida, just before the Daytona 500. This Mach 1 Mustang packs a supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote V8 with custom graphics showcasing Logano's racing number No.22. The iconic muscle car wears aftermarket wheels with a matte black paint job, a personal favorite of Logano. Many of the vehicles in his collection sport matte black. Owning a custom car is excellent, but it does come with its fair share of ownership anxiety. Most of this mood spoiling anxiety comes from continually worrying about the paint being ruined by a sudden rock chip or parking lot mishap. “I was extremely hesitant to take it out because the body on this model rolls under the bottom side of the vehicle and I didn't want to mess up the amazing matte black paint job. After researching what would be the best solution, I came across great reviews about the products XPEL had to offer.” – Joey Logano That's why Joey Logano wasted no time to completely cover his custom 1971 Mach 1 Mustang in a full XPEL STEALTH wrap. Bumper to bumper, this matte muscle car is coated in a virtually invisible protective shield against flying road debris, bird bombs, and careless car door operators in parking lots. STEALTH also makes matte black, and any other paint finish, easier to wash and stay clean. Now that the XPEL paint protection film has been applied to my Mach 1, my fear of driving it on the streets is gone. Once the XPEL paint protection film was applied, I think I took the Mach 1 to three car shows in two weeks!” said Logano, after spending time with STEALTH satin protection film on his Mustang. Besides having the Mach 1 dressed in STEALTH, Logano also had its side and rear windows fitted with XPEL PRIME XR PLUS window tint. The tint works to protect against 99 percent of harmful UV rays while offering 98 percent infrared heat rejection while adding style to an already cool car. Using nano-particle technology, PRIME XR PLUS keeps car interiors cool and windows dark without sacrificing visibility using multilayer nano-particle technology. A personal vehicle is more than just a means of transportation. So much of our week is spent driving to work, running errands, and using them to escape the daily grind during the weekend. It's hard not to become sentimentally attached to a vehicle. Whether it's a high-performance sports car, late-model luxury car, a family-hauling SUV, or custom Mach 1 Mustang, it's natural to want to protect it. That is the driving force behind all XPEL products. Our products are designed to keep your vehicle looking car show ready any day of the week while protecting it 24/7 from life's everyday variables. From paint protection films suitable for any paint finish to DIY track-day ppf wraps, XPEL adds peace of mind to vehicle ownership. Visit XPEL.com

Himalaya Defender Kodiak Series II Plane Staged

By Edward Jones – December 11, 2020

Himalaya x Kodiak Offering the Ultimate Adventure Package...

A new package from Himalaya and Kodiak is perfect for anyone looking to go on the adventure of a lifetime. Within this bespoke package, priced at $3 million, is a customized Kodiak 100 Series II plane, a fully-loaded Himalaya Defender 110 and a trip to Himalaya's experience center in Alpine, Wyoming. It's at the experience center that guests can experience back-country guided tours, snowmobile and snow bike riding, and more off-road adventures. "When we first built this Experience Center, our goal was to emphasize exactly what the HIMALAYA brand is all about, which is the desire to seek-out adventure," says HIMALAYA President Greg Shondel. "In partnering with a legendary aircraft brand like Kodiak, we’ve established another element that sets us apart." Only a handful of K110 Series II planes have been created with the custom Himalaya branding, making this package truly exclusive. For more information, be sure to visit DriveHimalaya.com.

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