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 – September 01, 2017

Duo of Matte Blue BMW i8 and i3 on Lexani Wheels

The BMW i Series is an electric duo of cars that are really unlike anything else the German automaker has to offer. In fact, we're currently spending a week with the i8 and I can say that it has more than impressed everyone who has sat behind the wheel. Including me.To give both the i8 and i3 a new look, Lexani Wheels teamed up with West Coast Customs. To start it off, West Coast Customs wrapped the duo in a 3M Satin Flip Glacial Frost wrap and added Llumar tint to both. For the i3, they created a special one-off front lip spoiler.BMW Unleashes the 2018 M5 (Specs and Photos)Lexani added a new set of LF-761 wheels to each car. The i8 is wearing LZ Profile wheels, measuring 22x8.5 in the front and 22x9.5 in the rear. As for the i3, it has LF Profile 20x6 wheels all around.

By Edward Jones – August 31, 2017

What? A Rolls-Royce With a 2JZ Engine Swap

The Rolls-Royce Phantom comes packing a massive V12 engine, which makes sense: a big car deserves a big engine. But in the engine-swapping scene, nothing is off limits and this is precisely why there is a Rolls-Royce Phantom powered by a 2JZ engine roaming the streets of Tokyo.Toyota first introduced the 2JZ engine back in 1991, but it didn't become popular until it was slapped into the famous Supra sports car. SInce then, tuners have been having a heyday with the engine and have pushed insane amounts of power out it. For this particular Rolls-Royce's 2JZ, the engine was pushed up to 900 horsepower, meaning this inline-six engine is producing more than the V12. Most impressive.Check out the swap for yourself by clicking play below.

By Andrew Nabors – August 17, 2017

Liberty Walk Unleashes Pink Wide Body Lamborghini Aventad...

Production cars are limited in design by their management and also by law. Lamborghini, like most other supercar manufacturers, has to build cars that are legal to drive around the world, and many countries have strict laws regarding aftermarket parts. So the Japanese artists at Liberty Walk take pride in offering upgrades for high-end cars, and every component they produce is scrutinized to exacting standards. Get Lamborghini PricesIf your Lamborghini Aventador SV looks too normal in your daily commute, allow us to offer some inspiration. By extending and improving the lines of the original design, Liberty Walk has transformed an Aventador SV into the Countess Carbon. Leaving the hood and doors in stock form, every other body part is formed of either fiberglass reinforced plastic or dry carbon fiber. Going even further, the entire car was wrapped in pink and lowered a few inches. The inboard suspension makes it easy to adjust ride height, but their optional air suspension kit makes it much more convenient. In order to get the process started, browse from our Aventador SVs for sale and give Liberty Walk a call. Stay with us for more wild custom builds.

By Andrew Nabors – August 10, 2017

Singer Vehicle Design Joins Forces With Williams For New ...

When Porsche's GT1 race cars needed more power, Hanz Mezger delivered a masterpiece. Not only did he design the original engine for the Porsche 911, his revolutionary water-cooled flat six began life on the track and ended up on the street. That is why he was tapped to be a consultant on the latest project from Singer Vehicle Design. Rob Dickinson founded Singer to bring classic 1989 to 1994 (Porsche 964 series 911) cars into the modern era. The name is a nod to Norbert Singer, who led Porsche to 16 overall victories. If you haven't seen a Singer 911 restoration in person, you are missing out on a masterpiece. Every aspect of the cars is perfected. Instead of steel, the body is formed of carbon fiber, with power coming from a resto-modded 911 air-cooled engine. The original dimensions of the block and cylinders are good for 400 horsepower all day long. One of their return customers is 911 collector Scott Blattner, and he asked for something more. Considering the GT3 RS makes 500 naturally aspirated horsepower, Singer turned to Hanz Mezger and Williams for something new. The new engine is 4.0 liters of perfection. Starting at the top, Mezger and Williams devised a carbon fiber intake that will replace the quarter windows. The tuned-length runners and resonators are designed for massive torque in the mid-range, and they work in conjunction with tuned headers made of Inconel. A perfect mix of fuel is provided by twin injectors. One fuel rail is aimed at the back of the intake valves and the other is upstream in the trumpet. This allows for efficiency and a perfect air/fuel ratio at all speeds. Inside the crankcase, you will find titanium rods, priority oiling with twin feed circuits, four valves per cylinder and no water. The air-cooled beast makes 500 horsepower with a red line above 9,000 rpm. Computational Fluid Dynamics were used to create the perfect cooling fan to keep the beast reliable. No mention of price was made, but we suspect our publisher might be interested in retiring a certain leaky 2.4 liter in the Targa downstairs. Be sure to stay with us for all your Porsche news, and more updates from Singer Vehicle Design.

By Andrew Nabors – August 08, 2017

RIP Headphones: Hennessey Mustang GT350R Screams on the Dyno

Have you ever wondered how exotic cars are able to rev to 9,000 rpm? The screaming exhaust of Ferraris and Lamborghinis comes from the most fundamental parts of the engine: the crankshaft. Traditionally, V8 engines have used a cross-plane design, which balances left to right in an even order. Somewhere along the way, the idea of a flat plane V8 was devised from two inline four-cylinder engines. Americans had little experience with engines like these until Ford dropped a bombshell on the industry.The Mustang GT350 and GT350R were unveiled in the summer of 2015 with a 5.2-liter flat plane V8. I didn't believe its claims of 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque until I got behind the wheel. It makes every bit of that power, albeit above 6,000 rpm. It takes a day or two to become accustomed to shifting at such wild RPMs, at least for a muscle car fan. Once you learn how to access the power, your left foot will become very active with double-clutch downshifts. The GT350 and its R version are fast as heck if you keep them wound up. If you want to have your cake and eat it too, the perfect solution is forced induction. In order to have a 9,000 rpm redline, the GT350 has cylinder heads that flow a massive amount of air. At lower rpm, it feels sluggish because the slow air speed isn't optimized for the huge intake and exhaust ports. So why not pressurize it?Hennessey HPE800 Mustang Will Kill Your HeadphonesJohn Hennessey and his team installed a supercharger that measures large by huge on top of the engine. On Shell 93 octane, the dyno showed gains of 311 horsepower and 193 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels. A critical part in supercharging any car is choosing the right pulley for the blower. The smaller you go, the faster the rotors spin and more boost is the result. But if your engine is already at 8,000 rpm, a small pulley might spin the supercharger into meltdown. That's why Hennessey Performance digs into the bypass valve and other critical components to make sure they are up to the task. The result is 787 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. Since the torque arrives at only 3,200 rpm, you won't need to work overtime to downshift for power. I am a die-hard LS fan, but this Mustang is incredible. Click here for more information and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance Engineering updates.

By Andrew Nabors – August 04, 2017

Twin Turbo Audi R8 Coming Soon from Hennessey Performance

Just in time for Forced Induction Friday, the team at Hennessey Performace just dropped an epic teaser. Their latest build involves adding twin-turbos to a late model Audi R8. If you thought they only built domestic power, you are mistaken. One of Mr. Hennessey's most famous builds was a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 that he transformed into the VR200. By taking on the most complex car of the 90's, it put Hennessey Performance on the map, and the rest is history. Also Read - How to Order the Hennessey Exorcist CamaroAudi's latest supercar is the R8 V10 Plus, and it offers 610 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. It does this thanks to direct injection and a 12.5 compression ratio, so adding boost might seem like a formidable task. In the old days, adding boost to such a high compression engine would be a recipe for destruction, but Hennessey has the magic touch to pull it off. Aftermarket parts companies have finally realized that the Lamborghini V10 isn't going anywhere, so performance parts like cams and pistons are getting easier to find. We hope the upcoming HPE Audi R8 will be a low-compression fire breather with massive cams, only time will tell. As soon as it is complete you will see it here first. Until then, take a look at these R8 for sale and have a great weekend.

By Edward Jones – August 01, 2017

STARTECH Bentayga Built - First of its Kind in North America

Tony Bet of Driving Emotions Toronto and STARTECH has commissioned STARTECH with the duty of creating a wild Bentley Bentayga. Well, today STARTECH sent us the images of the Bentayga and they show one of the fiercest looking Bentaygas we've ever seen and the first of its kind in North America.The modified Bentley features STARTECH's front and rear bumpers, giving it a mean look from the front and back. Other exterior modifications include the carbon fiber mirror covers, carbon fiber spoiler, 23-inch Monostar S wheels, and a lowering kit to finish it all off. Along with the look, STARTECH also made the sound of the SUV more aggressive with a new sports exhaust system.Also Check Out - 2017 STARTECH Maserati Levante True Refinement

By Andrew Nabors – July 28, 2017

Hennessey Performance HPE1000 Hellcat Gets LOUD on the Dyno

You can't deny the abilities of the Dodge SRT Hellcat. It makes 707 horsepower at the crank, and thanks to an efficient transmission it puts 664 horsepower to the ground. That was the baseline measurement from the DynoJet at Hennessey Performance. In order to see how potent their HPE1000 package is, John decided to show us a before and after comparison. To make more power from an already potent machine, the car demanded more fuel and air. The Hellcat has half-inch fuel lines from the factory, but they weren't enough. So everything from the pump to injectors was upgraded.Also Check Out: Jeep Reveals Hellcat Powered Grand CherokeeAnd if you were wondering about the shiny object under the hood, the supercharger was also upgraded. The factory blower measures 2.38 liters, and it is a fine upgrade for any SRT V8. But if you need all the boost, the HPE1000 comes with a 4.5 liter supercharger. If your daily driver is under 4.5 liters in displacement, this car is probably not for you. It is the equivalent of force-feeding another V8 into the 6.2 liter Hemi. The results speak for themselves. At only 4,400 rpm the HPE1000 is making the same power as a stock Hellcat at its redline. You will have 863 horsepower and 770 lb-ft of torque at your disposal. Watch the Air/Fuel ratio display on the dash. We had no idea the car had this ability, and the team has it safely tuned around 10 to 11:1. The previous builds used a 4.0 liter supercharger because it was the largest available. It allowed the car to run reliable 9.90s at over 140 mph. Dodge is trying to discourage dealer markups on the new Demon, but its not working. So if you don't like paying the dealer a ton of extra cash, give Hennessey Performance a call. Find the perfect Dodge Hellcat for sale from our dealers, ship it to Texas, and you will have Demons begging you for mercy! Stay with us for all your Hennessey updates.

By Andrew Nabors – July 13, 2017

Ride Along UGR's Lamborghini Huracan During its World Rec...

Boosted cars run better in cool weather, which is why WannaGoFast invited half-mile racers to North Carolina back in May. Underground Racing's twin-turbo builds are popular in these events due to their reliability and performance. Gideon Chamdi is probably their best customer, as his cars are always pushing the limits. Originally started as a way to promote his jewelry business. "Diamonds By Wire Racing" has evolved into a record-breaking powerhouse. His Underground Racing Audi R8 reached 244 mph at the event, and we heard rumors of the Lamborghini's blistering pass.The car is owned by Mohammed Bourashid of Kuwait-based Drag965, and he put Gidi behind the wheel to make sure it broke the record.Also Check Out: Underground Racing Gallardo vs World's Fastest Corvette Z06In stock form, the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 delivers 602 horsepower and 412 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. Given a flat stretch of road and favorable winds, it will reach a top speed of 201 mph. But this isn't enough for some. That's why Underground Racing had to ditch the dual-clutch 7-speed automatic in favor of an air-shifted 6-speed sequential transmission. Air shifters use a tank of compressed air to slam shift each gear. Normally found on pro-mod dragsters, the systems are expensive and complex. We're amazed the camera stayed attached on this run, so hold on for a wild ride. Where do you draw the line between street car and track machine? Tell us how far you would go to push your car to a new world record, and stay with us for all your UGR updates.

By Edward Jones – June 28, 2017

Garage Italia's Work of Art, the Alfa Romeo 4C Hokusai, F...

Lapo Elkann has had the automotive industry and a great sense of fashion in his life since he was born. His grandfather was none other than Gianni Agnelli, the former head of Fiat and a man that influenced men's fashion worldwide. With such a pedigree, Elkann has put his knowledge to work with his own Italian coachbuilder, Garage Italia Customs.One of Garage Italia's finest creations is their Alfa Romeo 4C Hokusai, a sports car that has been inspired by Japanese art and culture.Hokusai's exterior has a handpainted interpretation of "Kanagawa-oki nami ura," also known as "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." The name of Garage Italia 4C makes more sense knowing that the artist behind "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" was Hokusai, a ukiyo-e artist. This painting is undoubtedly Hokusai's most famous work, and is also recognizable around the world. Being so influential, Garage Italia made a great decision to have their master painters recreate the work of art on their 4C Hokusai. "The livery hence becomes a metaphor of the feelings the driver experiences behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo with the technical characteristics and high-level performances of a 4C." - Garage Italia Customs Inside, the cabin of the 4C Hokusai carries on the Japanese influence. Kurabo denim, regarded as one of the world's finest denim, covers areas like the door panels, steering wheel, seat bolsters, and dashboard.Joining the famous denim is custom Foglizzo leather that was designed to mimic that of a khoi fish. Another incredible touch is Tsukamaki-style wrapping on the emergency brake level and top of the steering wheel. Tsukamkai is the art of wrapping a sword's hilt, typically found on Japanese swords like the katana.Each bit of customization that Garage Italia added to the 4C Hokusai was done with style, inspiration and craftsmanship, making it unlike any other 4C in the world. If you're interested in viewing it for yourself, the 4C Hokusai can be seen at the Curated showroom in Miami, Florida.View Listing

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