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 Andrew Nabors – October 26, 2018

TECHART Unveils new Porsche Macan Upgrade Packages

If you haven't noticed, the market for super SUVs is hotter than ever. This has led Porsche to build the Macan Turbo with a whopping 440 horsepower. The unassuming small SUV packs a punch from the factory, but the looks and throttle response could be more defined. That's why our friends at TECHART have developed new Sport and Sport+ packages for 2019. Thanks to their careful engineering, these upgrades are available for standard, GTS, and Turbo Macans. Great Incentives on Porsche 911 GT3 Here! Compared to a normal Porsche Macan, their appearance package makes a bold statement. From the front end, the changes to the rocker panels, mirrors, roof and rear spoiler make for a comprehensive aerodynamic and aesthetic improvement. Lighter and stronger than factory rollers, the Techart Formula IV wheels will reduce unsprung weight. This improves handling and ride comfort in any situation. Moving inside, the new 14" steering wheel is smaller and uses the finest hand-stitched leather. If you want more than just styling, the 'Powerkit' offers 80 additional horsepower and 73 lb-ft of torque. If your Macan needs to stand out from the crowd, click the link below to see what TECHART has to offer. Click Here To Learn More

By Edward Jones – October 24, 2018

TECHART GrandGT Selective Edition Debuts in Black and Blue

TECHART's new GrandGT is getting a new level of personalization courtesy of the new Selective edition. This new edition is based around the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo model and it sets next near the top of the TECHART GrandGT equipment lineup. Its exterior of the car has been spruced up with new full carbon fiber attachments. These include the aero hood, side mirrors and rear panel. There are also carbon-coated attachments that include the front apron, rear apron, front splitter, rear diffuser, air outlet panel and extensions. The GrandGT Selective's exterior also features titanium tailpipes with carbon fiber coating, and TECHART 22-inch Formula V alloy wheels.Inside, TECHART can personalize the cabin to the customer's liking. For its power, TECHART can equip the car with their Powerkit for the Panamera Turbo. This kit turns the power up from 550 hp to 640 hp, and 568 lb-ft of torque up to 664 lb-ft.To introduce the GrandGT Selective, TECHART debuted a black and blue example of the car. The exterior is primarily black with striking blue accents. Inside, this color scheme continues across the Alcantara interior. Seriously, there's a lot of Alcantara in this example. Even the floor and trunk mats are made of a wool/Alcantara combo.To learn more, visit TECHART.de.

By Edward Jones – October 15, 2018

Hennessey Trackhawk: Now the Fastest SUV in the World?

Everything is bigger in Texas. Seriously, I didn't believe this until I saw how prevalent 3-liter bottles of Dr. Pepper were in the state. And, as if I needed more proof than a big bottle of Dr. Pepper, Hennessey Performance just laid down a massive claim that's backed by real numbers. According to the Sealy, Texas-based tuner, their Jeep Trackhawk with the HPE1200 Supercharged Upgrade can accomplish the following: 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds 1/4 Mile in 9.6 seconds @ 145 mph 200+ mph top speed What are the Fastest SUVs in the World? Find out Here. Those three figures are downright incredible and you can see it all in action in the video below. To make those kinds of numbers happen, the HPE1200 upgrade adds a lot to the already potent SUV. The resulting output of the Trackhawk with the upgrade is 1200 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque at the engine, 1,003 hp and 892 lb-ft at the wheels. That's quite a bit over the stock output of 707 horsepower. You can learn more about this wild SUV by clicking here.

By Edward Jones – October 12, 2018

New Porsche 911 GT3 RS TECHART Carbon Sport Pack

TECHART is adding some carbon flair to the normal Porsche 911 GT3 RS 991.2 for sale with their new Carbon Sport Package. This new package adds visual enhancements German sports car, making it stand out from the standard models. Within this package is a long list of parts that can be included in the package, as customers can choose if they want the entire set or just parts of it. The list includes: TECHART carbon-coated Front Spoiler Airblades Front Air Outlets Louvers Side Air Intake Trims Side Skirts Rear Lid Cover Sport Design Mirror Window Triangle Diffusor Rear Apron Shaft Panels TECHART Carbon Fiber Parts Aero-Front Lid Roof Spoiler Rear Wing Panels Rear Spoiler Winglets NACA Air Intakes Pricing on TECHART's new Carbon Sport Package changes depending on what configuration is selected. They provided a few price examples: aerodynamic visible carbon front lid starts at ~$7,799, front air outlet louvers cost ~$1,450, front spoiler costs ~$3,224 and the diffuser costs ~$1,837. All of these prices are excluding VAT. For more information, click the button below. Learn More About This Pkg

By Edward Jones – October 11, 2018

2018 ROUSH F-150 Nitemare: Anything But a Bad Dream

ROUSH Performance has just launched its new Roush F-150 Nitemare truck. It may be called the Nitemare, but unlike a bad dream, you want to have one of these. This new truck from the legendary tuner is a true performance-oriented truck. Extra power has been added to the 5.0-liter V8 engine thanks to the ROUSH TVS R2650 Supercharger package. This brings the power all the way up to 650 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque. ROUSH pointed out to us that their previous Nitemare model could do a 0-60 mph run in 4.2 seconds (making it the unofficial quickest production truck on the market) and that this one will only be faster. 2018 Roush Ford F-150: Price, Specs, & Review Along with the added supercharger, ROUSH Performance includes a list of other modifications to the Nitemare that make it a beast on the streets. The ROUSH Performance Exhaust System adds a more aggressive note to the newly supercharged V8 engine. If you want to tame the Nitemare growl, you can select between four different exhaust settings: touring, wide-open, sport and custom. 2019 Roush Stage 3: Ready to Rumble With 710 HP Something with the name "Nitemare" wouldn't be the same if it didn't look the part. That's where the new exterior components come in. The 22-inch ROUSH wheels, new grille, front bumper cover, and graphics all give the Nitemare the appearance it deserves. Each 2018 Roush F-150 Nitemare comes with a 4-year, 36,000-mile limited warranty. The price starts at $16,999 over the base vehicle's price. Learn More About the Nitemare

By Edward Jones – October 09, 2018

Overfinch's New Refined Range Rover Sport

Overfinch has just dropped a new Range Rover Sport enhancement package that takes the SUV to new levels. This new package was designed around keeping the original model's intact, while further enhancing it through new components.The body pieces included in the package are created out of carbon fiber in a herringbone weave. This includes the new front and rear air dams, extended spoiler, side vents and grille. Another modification within the package that adds presence both visually and audibly is the Overfinch exhaust system. This exhaust system also has the ability of being controlled via Bluetooth. Inside, Overfinch has the ability to customize the Range Rover Sport to the customer's liking. There are also two exclusive designed available for the Sport: a "contemporary" take on the diamond quilt design and a modern hexagonal stitch. For owners of SVR models, there's an additional interior available that includes diamond quilted paneling, contrast micro-piping and stitching.As with all Overfinch packages, there are long lists of paint colors, upholsteries, and more that customers can pick from. For more information, visit Overfinch.com.

By Edward Jones – October 04, 2018

Superformance "Future GT Forty" Blends Old with New

Superformance, a manufacturer of continuation sports cars, is introducing a one-off GT40 MkI at SEMA 2018. The car was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Le Mans, where the GT40 MkI P1075 took first place. Called the "Future GT Forty," this vehicle combines the design of the old GT40 with the current GT and implements the same EcoBoost V6 that Ford currently is using in the GT. As for its livery, it dons the current Ford GT endurance racer's livery, featuring a red, white and blue design. Mechanically speaking, the Future GT Forty is rock solid. The proven EcoBoost engine powers the car, while HRE Wheels, air suspension, a Quaife 5-speed transaxle, Magnaflow exhaust and more make it a formidable race car all around. You can view the Superformance Future GT Forty at the Magnaflow Booth at SEMA starting October 30. View Ford GTs For Sale Ford GT Specs

By Edward Jones – October 03, 2018

Shmee150 Tests the 1000 Horsepower Hennessey Jeep Trackhawk

Hennessey Performance is in the game of taking vehicles that are already powerful and turning them into all-powerful monsters. For instance, they've gone ahead and added more power into the Jeep Trackhawk, an SUV that's already powered by the Hellcat's supercharged 6.2-liter V8. Why in the world would they add more power to an SUV that's already packing 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque? Because that's what Hennessey does and I hope they never stop creating these beautiful machines. Shmee150 recently had the chance to drive the HPE1000 Trackhawk at Hennessey's testing ground. This specific SUV has been modified to create 1,026 horsepower and 969 lb-ft of torque. That's not a typo. In the video of him driving the SUV, found below, he notes that this Trackhawk is packing more power than a Bugatti Veyron hypercar. That's... insane.

By Andrew Nabors – September 26, 2018

Brabus 700 Widestar Unveiled at Monaco Yacht Show

Life is too short to drive anything slow. You might not associate SUVs with supercar performance, but the latest from Brabus will change your mind. When Mercedes unveiled the new G-Class, the aftermarket jumped at the opportunity to unlock more power. But Brabus' engineers took a little longer to make sure their offerings were the best. So in a press release, we saw the first glimpses of their 700 Widestar. BRABUS Tunes the Mercedes G500 to 500 Horsepower Using the G63 AMG as a potent starting point, they unleash a host of upgrades. Both in aesthetics and in power, how would you like 700 horsepower and the world's finest leather? The process begins by uploading their proprietary software. This allows the turbos and wastegates to reach their full potential. You will also have 701 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 to 3,500 rpm. This allows it to reach 62 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed limited to 149 mph. This isn't because of aerodynamics or power, it is limited to keep the heavy-duty axles and running gear from approaching their critical speed.The carbon and composite body panels are styled to accent the 23" Brabus forged monoblock wheels. Let that sink in.. each wheel starts a solid block before burning up a few thousand dollars in CNC tooling. The time to make each one allows it to be a work of art. If you need the ultimate in power, they offer the same upgrades to the C, E, and S Class models. Click the link below for more info and stay with us for all your Brabus updates.Click Here To Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – September 25, 2018

Hennessey Unveils the Goliath 6x6

If Chevrolet's new Silverado is too small for you, Hennessey Performance Engineering has the only answer. The 2019 GOLIATH 6x6 rides on all-new suspension that is 8" higher than stock. Based on the Trail Boss Z71, it arrives with 37" BFG off-road tires and Hennessey 20" wheels. Named after the meanest Philistine, it is doubtful a slingshot will do much damage to this giant.A Hennessey-fabricated roll bar to include front and rear facing LED strips, and six massive brake rotors will keep you safe. Your choice of differential ratios will be turned by 705 horsepower. The 6.2-liter V8 offered in the Silverado is essentially the same engine as the base-model Corvette and the Camaro SS. Give it a little boost and it responds with massive gains. Their 2.9-liter supercharger makes 7 psi, which translates to 675 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. Even with power split between 6 wheels, the 0-60 time is estimated to be in the mid-4 second range.This doesn't mean the Velociraptor 6x6 is ending, John Hennessey said: “We are very excited to offer our new GOLIATH 6X6 alongside our VELOCIRAPTOR 6X6 truck,” said company founder & CEO, John Hennessey. “These are very exclusive and unique vehicles that make a huge statement anywhere our clients go – whether its Rodeo drive or the sand dunes of the Sahara desert.” Due to the complexities and the build time needed, only 24 examples will be produced. The price of $375,000 includes a new Silverado along with a 3-year/36,000 warranty. Come to see our Hennessey display at the Nashville Auto Show from the 12th to the 14th at Music City Center and stay with us for all your Hennessey updates.Click Here To Learn More

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