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 – April 30, 2018

Range Rover 6x6 Arriving Later This Year

If you own a Superyacht, why would you have a normal Tender? You need something to run errands and haul provisions back to the dock, so a 6WD Land Rover is the perfect runabout. The German Naval Architects at T. Fotiadis Design spend most of their time building ships for the wealthy.Range Rover Velar is the World's Most Beautiful Car Their creations and style is forward thinking to say the least, so they decided to turn their talents to Range Rover's Autobiography. Starting with the long wheelbase model, the rear bodywork was clipped and extended to become an enclosed cargo area. It kinda resembles what Land Rover would build to compete with the Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6.Under the hood will be the same supercharged V8 found across the Jaguar/Land Rover SVR series. Images were uploaded to their Facebook page, and the concept has been dubbed the SLT or Superyacht Land Tender. It will be formally unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show later this year, so stay with us for all the updates. Tell us if you think they went too far, or not far enough in the comments below!Browse Range Rover For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 04, 2015

Red Bull Land Rover Combines Stealth Jets With Partying

I can't imagine any of you will be contracted with hosting a stealth party in the near future, but if you are, Red Bull has created the perfect mode of transportation in case you are. According to an article from Carscoops.com, this new SUV was built around a Land Rover Defender 130 and packs a couple secrets.On the outside, this SUV looks like your everyday 4x4 that was designed around the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Actually, when's the last time you saw an SUV look this sharp? It features the Red Bull logo that contrasts against a thematic matte black finish. Honestly, it looks like it came straight out of a military program.Range Rover UsedBut, the neat thing about this SUV is that it has some "pop-up" features that will turn any parking lot into an instant party. I'm not exactly sure how they pop up, but somehow a DJ deck, speakers and a large TV emerge from the SUV's roof, transforming it into a club stage. Essentially, this is as close as you'll get to Soundwave from Transformers - minus the guns, of course.The real question is: where would you take this party-mobile? Let us know in the comments below.Land Rover Defenders For SaleGallery (Image and News Source: Carscoops)

By Edward Jones – November 06, 2015

Arkonik: Bringing Land Rover Defenders Back to Life

First established in 2007, Arkonik quickly became the United Kingdom's leading independent retailer of Land Rover Defender vehicles. Today the company is known globally for its friendly and informative approach to customer services and its ability to cherry-pick and holistically prepare, rebuild and restore used Defenders to the very highest, show class quality.Arkonik scours the European and UK markets for Defenders in tip-top mechanical and structural condition. They then test, restore and improve each of these vehicles, allowing them to offer a wide range of made-to-order services for customers.They sell and ship vehicles to customers all over the world, predominantly 25-year-old fully restored platforms to North America. Wherever you are, Arkonik can source and prepare a Land Rover to suit your exact requirements, and can provide full Land Rover export, shipping and importation services - right to your very doorstep.After you purchase a Defender from Arkonik, they'll also offer post-sale technical support when you're in need and will help you into what they call "the hacky world of Land Rover Defender ownership."If you're looking to start a journey with a Defender, visit Arkonik.com or click the button below.More Info

By Caitlin Duffy – September 25, 2015

Khan Flying Huntsman 110 6x6 Defender Double Cab Pickup U...

Khan Design, known for creating stunning wheels and innovative takes on some of England's finest vehicles, has released the latest model from their Flying Huntsman brand, and it is an impressive thing to see. The Khan Flying Huntsman 110 6x6 Defender Double Cab Pickup may have a long name, but for such a long vehicle, it's more than fitting. As a news post on Khan's website Sept. 21 describes, this new pickup was introduced at the Land Rover Owners' show over the weekend of Sept. 19. A special edition of the Land Rover Defender, this Double Cab Pickup showcases the abilities of Khan Design. The Defender 110 base version will start at a price of £99,875, or approximately $151,724 USD according to current exchange rates, and will feature a 2.2-liter diesel engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. Other options include a 4-speed or 6-speed automatic transmission, with both lefts- and right-hand drive versions. Only 20 models of this vehicle will be built each year, meaning demand will undeniably be high. (See Also: Stand Out at SEMA 2015 with Free Tire Customization) The Flying Huntsman's Facebook page shared a few photos of this new creation Sept. 19, while a video of the concept version's unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show was shared with YouTube March 6 by Kahn TV. Check out the photos below and video above, and find your own Land Rover creation from our exclusive listings. Gallery (Source: Khan Design, Facebook) See More Aftermarket News

By Edward Jones – August 21, 2015

STRUT's New Land Rover and Range Rover Grille Collection

This month, STRUT announced two new grille collections for the 2016 Land Rover and Range Rover Sports, in both fiberglass and carbon fiber.These new collections include a front grille made of a diamond-weave mesh with a STRUT shield located dead-center. Also, a hood vent, matching vents and a STRUT shield for the rear lift gate are also included in the collections.(Related: STRUT Takes Teslas to the Wild Side)For the Range Rover Sport collection, two new bumper grilles can be personalized with custom paint options and three finish options, including chromed stainless steel, fiberglass grille surround or carbon fiber. They also offer LED lighting.Prices for the grille collection start at $5,250 for the fiberglass main grille only, and can go up to $24,250 for carbon fiber and LED illumination.For more information, visit STRUTLife.com.Gallery (Source: STRUT) See More Automotive Aftermarket News

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