Alpine

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 Khris Bharath – June 30, 2026

Lacoste and Alpine Unveil a Bold A290 Rallye One-Off

Lacoste and Alpine revealed a one-off A290 Rallye, alongside a co-branded capsule collection, marking the second major fashion partnership for the French automaker in recent months. Back in May this year, Alpine announced Gucci as the title partner of its 2027 Formula 1 program. This latest project instead explores Alpine's competition heritage through one of France's most recognizable fashion houses, with a car that sits within a French rallying lineage that goes back decades. The Alpine A110 from the 1960s remains one of rallying’s all-time greats. Dubbed "Beware of the Crocodile," the one-off is based on the A290 Rallye, which is Alpine's most competition-focused version of the all-electric A290, developed for customer rallying. It features a reinforced chassis, rally-specific suspension, wider tracks, upgraded brakes, and dedicated competition software calibration, turning the compact electric hatchback into a purpose-built rally machine. <- Gallery -> The white bodywork carries Alpine and Lacoste logos, including backlit ones where you’d typically find rally lights upfront, with the raw carbon finish prominently visible on both bumpers. But the highlight by far is the translucent, ruby-red crocodile head that appears to sit atop the rear parcel shelf, the most literal expression of the Lacoste partnership on the entire car. Other highlights include the Lacoste name spelled out in the front bumper, along with color-matched white wheels, which further help this one-off stand out. Step inside and the tone shifts entirely: a monochrome red cabin, drawn directly from the red of Lacoste's crocodile logo. Lacoste's signature petit piqué fabric covers the seats and door panels, embroidered by Potencier, the workshop responsible for the brand's iconic polo shirt crocodiles, while 3D-printed lattice structures from ERPRO reduce weight in the rally seats without sacrificing comfort. The aforementioned capsule collection, including Polo shirts, T-shirts, lightweight technical pieces, and accessories, combines Lacoste's petit piqué heritage with Alpine's motorsport detailing, translating the car's red-and-white livery and crocodile branding. This collaboration, though, extends beyond the car itself. A short film titled "The Test" stars Pierre Niney, Lacoste ambassador and co-founder of Ninety Films, alongside current BWT Alpine Formula One driver and fellow Lacoste ambassador, Pierre Gasly. With 290 crocodiles reportedly hidden throughout the design, this one-off A290 Rallye combines Alpine's motorsport heritage and French motorsport tradition with contemporary fashion. View All Supercars and Exotic Cars for Sale Images: Alpine

Gucci Enters Formula 1 In 2027 As Title Partner Of Alpine

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 27, 2026

Gucci Racing Enters The Formula 1 Grid In 2027

Gucci is one of the most iconic, celebrated, and historic fashion houses in the world, with couture that has defined eras and a decades-long standing as a mainstay in pop culture. However, the legacy brand has entered a bold new era under the artistic direction of Demna Gvasalia, known previously for his iconoclastic tenure at Balenciaga, and for a house he founded, Vetements. Demna’s recent appointment as Artistic Director of Gucci was major news throughout the fashion world, and in the role, he’s already created several head-turning moments for the brand, like its recent Resort 2027 runway show, which took over Times Square in New York and had Tom Brady, among other celebrities, walk the runway. The latest move from Gucci, however, is especially interesting, as the Italian luxury house will be entering the Formula 1 grid come 2027. Dubbed “Gucci Racing,” the foray into motorsport comes through Gucci’s Title partnership of the Alpine Formula 1 racing team. Automotive collaboration is no stranger to Gucci, as the brand helped create a rare special edition Cadillac Seville in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and also worked with Fiat in the early 2010s on a luxe Gucci variant of the iconic Fiat 500. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GUCCI (@gucci) During his time with Balenciaga, Demna also launched a collaboration with Lamborghini, including ready-to-wear and a Lamborghini version of one of the house’s iconic handbags. The ‘Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One Team,’ as it will be called from the 2027 season, however, promises to be an even greater effort. It’s the first time a luxury fashion house will be the title partner of a Formula 1 team, and Gucci Racing is set to be a “new business and experiential platform built around the values of performance, precision, discipline and excellence at the intersection of luxury and sport.” Set to compete in Gucci colors, the collaboration was announced with a covered F1 race car, and the cover features Gucci’s iconic combination of black and gold, as well as its signature red and green webbing. With over a hundred years of history as a luxury fashion empire, and Alpine’s own decades of motorsport legacy with some of racing’s greatest icons, the new Gucci Racing partnership with Alpine promises to bring even more excitement to the Formula 1 grid come the 2027 season. View All Luxury & Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Alpine

The sleek Black Alpine A110 sports car, an Art Car masterpiece, proudly displays "Monochromatic" on its rear. It's parked on a glistening wet road, viewed from behind in stunning elegance.

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 25, 2024

Alpine Reveals New A110 Monochromatic Art Car

Alpine celebrates the beauty of grayscale. The Alpine A110, despite not being available in the United States, is one of the world’s most iconic sports cars, with a unique look, a long legacy rooted in French motorsport, and an exciting driving experience. However, at a recent event in Paris, the Alpine A110 took on a new artistic twist, as Alpine revealed its Art Car 2024, based on the A110. The new art car, designed in collaboration with celebrated Black & White photographer Mathieu Cesar, is a monochromatic rendition of the Alpine A110 that gives an illusion of the car being a stunning black-and-white photograph. The monochromatic body features artistic shading, exploring the surprising range of grayscale colors to create the unique visual effect. Another technique used to create the look of the Alpine A110 Monochromatic was the use of 3D printing, which was used to create the look seen on the back rests and door trims. In addition, the interior features aluminum elements, combining the motorsport inspiration of the A110 with the artistry of the monochromatic car. With a unique artistic reimagination, the new Alpine A110 Monochromatic is a bold, artful statement in a sports car. View All Alpine A110s For Sale Image Source: Alpine

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 14, 2024

Alpine Unveils New 740HP Hydrogen Alpenglow HY6 Supercar

Alpine’s new supercar is the cutting edge of hydrogen innovation. Years ago, the French manufacturer Alpine introduced the Alpenglow, its bold vision to evolve its longstanding racing legacy with a hydrogen-powered supercar. However, it quickly turned the Alpenglow into a reality, introducing a rolling Alpenglow prototype with a four-cylinder hydrogen combustion engine. Now, Alpine is wowing again at the Paris Motor Show, introducing the latest Alpine Alpine Alpine HY6 prototype. As its name suggests, the new Alpenglow HY6 features the manufacturer’s first hydrogen combustion six-cylinder engine, which, compared to the previous Alpenglow’s 340 horsepower, pumps out a massively-improved 740 horsepower, revving to 9,000 rpm. Retaining the Alpenglow’s signature blue carbon fiber bodywork, the design of the new HY6 version is modified to accommodate the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which is sizable compared to the previous 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit. Bridging the gap between the reduced emissions of hydrogen power and traditional combustion engines, the Alpine Alpenglow uses three hydrogen tanks to fuel a combustion engine, which preserves the feel and thrill of a combustion-powered supercar, with more power, efficiency under heavy loads and reduced cooling requirements compared to hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles. With its longstanding legacy in racing and pursuit of innovation in hydrogen-powered mobility in the performance world, the hydrogen-powered Alpine Alpenglow sits alongside Alpine Racing’s aspirations to enter hydrogen-powered cars into the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2028 and onwards. View All Luxury & Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Alpine

Alpine A110 R Ultime, the most high performance production car A110 ever created by Alpine (4)

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 14, 2024

Alpine Reveals The New 1-of-110 A110 R Ultime

This is the performance pinnacle of Alpine’s sports car icon. While their cars aren’t sold stateside, Alpine is well known among enthusiasts for its longstanding racing legacy and its Alpine A110 sports car, inspired by the French manufacturer’s decades of motorsport icons and celebrated sports cars from decades past. However, at this year’s Paris Motor Show, Alpine revealed the sportiest version of the Alpine A110: the Alpine A110 R Ultime. Like the rest of its lineup, the performance car isn’t coming Stateside, but even those in Europe will only see 110 examples of the car made, each for a price that roughly equates to $289,000. Setting it apart from the standard A110 are improvements like its 345 horsepower and 310 lb/ft of torque, a launch control function, aggressive aerodynamics, added downforce, and added personalization factor. The car is available with two grades: Atelier and Atelier Sur Mesure, collaborating with names like Poltrona Frau and Sabelt for an added library of finishes inside and out. 27 exterior colors are available, along with four Alcantara upholstery colors for the Atelier grade. Atelier Sur Mesure adds 9 additional Alcantara colors and 10 colors of leather. A special “La Bleue” launch configuration will see 15 examples made, making it the most unique Alpine A110 R Ultime bunch. However, its incredible personalization and more sporty character than any A110 before it makes the A110 R Ultime one of the best Alpine sports cars yet. View All Luxury & Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Alpine

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 20, 2024

Zagato Showcases The AGTZ Twin Tail With Couture At Chant...

Racing legacy and avant-garde style meet at Chantilly. Zagato and La Squadra’s new AGTZ Twin Tail is a collector-grade masterpiece of automotive design, using the modern-day Alpine A110 to evolve and pay homage to an iconic moment in Alpine’s longstanding racing legacy. Inspired by the historic Alpine A220 race car, and its transformation from a long-tail to a short-tailed race car, the AGTZ Twin Tail is described as “one car with two souls.” The performance car boasts transformational bodywork, with owners able to enjoy their AGTZ Twin Tail as a long-tail or a short-tail supercar. Production has already started on the AGTZ Twin Tail, and the order book for the unique collector-grade supercar is filling up fast. However, its appearance at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille is generating even more buzz. Combining unique supercar design from Zagato with high fashion, Vionnet Paris accompanied the car with four dresses whose designs reflected design elements and motifs of the automotive world. Four dresses were chosen from two different collections, curated because of their three-dimensional design that reflects the duality and dynamism of the AGTZ Twin Tail’s changeable design. The reflective and fluid fabrics the dresses are made out of also evoke the metallic look and contours of the car’s bodywork. Both brands with longstanding legacy, timeless elegance, and modern excellence, Vionnet Paris and the new Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail made a splash as this year’s Chantilly Arts et Elegance Richard Mille. View All Luxury And Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Zagato

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 24, 2024

The Alpine A110 Will Star In The New Largo Winch Movie Wi...

The iconic French supercar makes a cinematic splash. While it doesn’t sell cars in the States, there’s no doubt that Alpine is an iconic manufacturer with a longstanding and respected racing legacy and a legendary heritage of sports cars. The modern-day Alpine A110 is a beautiful and unique performance machine, with a mid-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive that imbues it with driver-focused character. Its instantly recognizable looks, French racing heritage, and sporty personality make it perfect for its latest cinematic role, which will see the Alpine A110 starring in the next installment of the Largo Winch film series. A French action thriller series, the Largo Winch series stars actor Tomer Sisley as the eponymous main character. Directed by Olivier Masset-Depasse, the new film, Largo Winch: The Price of Money, will be full of action, with the iconic Alpine A110 sports car right in the middle of it, finished in the elegant Thunder Grey Color, racing through the snow, nodding to Alpine’s heritage as a brand. The movie will chronicle an international adventure in which Largo Winch finds his kidnapped son, and in it, he will face James Franco. In France, the movie will be released on July 31. Largo Winch: The Price of Money is a must-see for moviegoers who love action-packed thrillers and those who want to see an iconic sports car in action. Finance An Exotic Car For Sale Image Source: Alpine

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 11, 2024

Alpine Will Debut The New Dynamic Alpenglow At Spa-Franco...

Innovative hydrogen power takes to the track. While the iconic brand doesn’t currently sell vehicles in the United States, automotive enthusiasts all over the world have celebrated Alpine for its racing legacy and history of iconic sports cars, and the new Alpenglow is a bold vision from Alpine of the future of high performance and racing machines. The concept version of the Alpenglow was first revealed in 2022, presenting a vision for a race car that was powered by hydrogen, and now, Alpine is proudly announcing that the first dynamic version of the Alpenglow is set to be revealed soon in a race track debut. The new car features a hydrogen-powered internal combustion and an all-new design, and its debut is set to take place on May 10. The venue for the debut is one of the world’s most revered and iconic race tracks: the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Known for its challenging bends and dramatic changes in elevation, the new dynamic Alpine Alpenglow will be revealed ahead of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps race on May 10, and on May 11, the Alpenglow will show off its own performance by taking to the circuit itself. With a new innovative hydrogen-fueled powertrain and a radically futuristic approach to automotive performance, the reveal of the new dynamic Alpine Alpenglow may be the automotive world’s first look at the next generation of performance cars, supercars and race cars. View All Exotic Cars For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 23, 2024

The New AGTZ Twin Tail Supercar Has A Detachable Long Tail

This historically-inspired new supercar has the ability to transform. Zagato has been known and celebrated for decades for creating avant-garde and striking automotive creations, and its latest, the new AGTZ Twin Tail, is a collaboration between Zagato and La Squadra, a renowned supercar distributor based in Katowice, Poland. Inspired by the forgotten Alpine A220 race car, which in the 1960s had hopes of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the unique design of the AGTZ Twin Tail is inspired by the story of the A220’s designers reviving the car by shortening the tail. Based on the modern Alpine A110, only 19 examples of the AGTZ Twin Tail will be made, priced at roughly $703,000 each. The unique aspect of the AGTZ Twin Tail is not only its historical inspiration, or its bespoke Zagato-penned look, but the fact that it combines two silhouettes in one. The long tail is removable, meaning that rather than cutting off the tail, the way it was done in the 1960s, the owner is able to detach and replace the tail at their whim. At the I.C.E. St. Moritz, the history of the A220 will be celebrated with classic examples of the car, in both its short and long-tail forms, being displayed at the Concours event. However, the AGTZ Twin Tail is set to make its full public debut in May 2024 at Lake Como, with customer deliveries set to begin in October. With this stunning new supercar, Zagato and La Squadra celebrate racing history and stunning design in an ingenious way. View All Exotic and Luxury Cars For Sale Image Source: Zagato

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 19, 2022

Alpine x Lapierre Create A New Collaborative Performance ...

It has two fewer wheels, but just as much legacy. French sports car manufacturer Alpine has spent decades building a reputation as a purveyor of unique, fun, and dynamic cars that exude the philosophy of French performance, and with its current A110 sports car, it proudly continues building that legacy. While in a different realm, the Lapierre bike brand is similar, with a strong foothold in the world of French cycling, and decades of legacy behind it as well, making the two brands perfect synergetic partners for a new bicycle project. MUST READ: Shop Porsche’s Newly Updated 2022 eBike Collection, Inspired By The Electric Taycan Named the AIRCODE DRS Alpine, Alpine and Lapierre’s collaborative bike is a stunning carbon fiber bike made for speed and performance, not unlike an Alpine car. With bodywork finished in Alpine’s signature blue, the bike is constructed from three kinds of unidirectional carbon fiber, and to honor the Alpine A110 R, made with similar values, the bike is limited to 110 units worldwide and is available at selected Lapierre stores. The price is 9,000 Euros, which roughly equates to $8,790 with current exchange rates, and that price includes VAT. If you’re ready to put the pedal to the metal on a different kind of Alpine, this is the bike for you. Source: Alpine

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