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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 – September 30, 2016

Revealed: 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

If your old race car is no longer competitive, Porsche has something for you. The 2017 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a new 4.0 liter flat six engine rated at 485 hp. Built to withstand a season of podium finishes, several new technologies are making their debut. Starting with a forged crank, this is the first 911 with priority oiling. To keep the oil from being whipped into foam in the corners, a small centrifuge is used as an air separator. Built to surpass the safety regulations of the FIA, it is the only 911 to offer a factory roll cage.(Related - Who Wins? Porsche 718 Cayman S vs BMW M2) Center locking 18" wheels and the the 72" rear spoiler have been carried over from the earlier 991 version of the Cup car. Running 270 mm wide tires up front and 310 mm on the rear will keep you on the track, and the 2600 lb curb weight will keep you in front of the pack. Each car will be built on the normal 911 assembly line in Zuffenhausen before final validation at the Weissach performance center. Racing is not new to Porsche, as they have been building cup versions of the 911 since 1999. Unfortunately the GT3 Cup will not be street legal, but hopefully they will sell the engine over the counter. To see the new 911 in action, be sure to catch the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup series next year. Stay with us for more updates from Stuttgart.GT3 RS For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 11, 2016

New Porsche 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Design Edition Pays Ho...

Porsche Exclusive has created yet another German masterpiece which they're calling the 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Design Edition. This new edition pays homage to the 356 B (T5) in 1960 and 1961 through a solid etna blue finish. This finish was the standard color for the 60's sportscar, as was the white gold metallic elements found on the new special edition model. (Also Read: McQueen-Inspired 1980 Porsche Bisimoto 911BR in Monterey) Contrasting against the light blue finish of the Porsche are the Targa Bar and 20-inch RS Spyder wheels, which are finished in the white gold metallic. Other exterior features include the black LED headlights, rear lid grille and tailpipes. Inside, the driver and passenger are presented with black anodized stainless steel entry guards, both of which include the name of the special edition model. As for seating, there are 18-way adjustable seats covered in graphite-blue leather. If the door sill and exterior logos didn't get the point across that this model is special, the dashboard dons the lettering: "Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur." Porsche 911 Turbo For Sale Wondering about its power? It has a 420 hp bi-turbo boxer engine in the rear. This special edition model will only be available for a short amount of time so be sure to visit your local Porsche dealer quick if you're interested.

By Andrew Nabors – June 21, 2016

Porsche Wins LeMans And Celebrates In Style

Porsche's 919 Hybrid won this year's 24 hours of LeMans, after a tragic engine failure by Toyota on the final lap. With only 18 wins under their belt, the engineers in Stuttgart know a thing or two about racing. That is why they chose LeMans to unveil the gorgeous Carrera S Endurance Racing Edition. With graphics inspired by the 919 Hybrid, this 911 Carrera S is available in 3 wild colors. Powered by a twin turbo 3.0L flat-six, it offers 420 hp and 368 lb-ft, but sadly PDK is the only transmission option.The Sport Chrono package is standard equipment, along with carbon fiber interior accents. An embossed center console and embroidered headrests set this Carrera S apart from lesser models, so we hope it will make it to the US. Atlanta has made no mention of availability over here, so stay tuned for updates.Search Carreras For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – March 31, 2016

Turn Your Tablet into a Porsche 911

In a world where technology is advancing at a rapid rate, brands are trying to make their non-online marketing efforts a little more enticing. Famed car maker, Porsche, is no exception. Porsche understands that their standard 911 ad might not be exciting enough to get to you stop flipping aimlessly through a magazine, so they decided to level up their tactics a bit.With Porsche's new ad for their iconic 911, you can now turn your tablet into a hologram-- a 911 hologram to be exact. Thanks to technology, all you have to do is pull the acetate prism (plastic piece) out of the ad, put it together with a few folds, place the plastic piece on your tablet and with the help of a video from Porsche, your tablet is transformed into a 911 hologram video.Adweek states over 150,000 of these prisms have made their way into production, 100,000 of which will be glass and delivered through the mail.Check out the video below for more information about the hologram.Porsche 911s For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – March 01, 2016

Revealed: 2016 Porsche 911 R

The 911 series keeps adding hitters and the Porsche 911 R is no exception. The 911 R's history begins in 1967 and the race car was "entered in rallies, in the Targa Florio and in world record runs," according to a press release. The new 911 R will keep the racing tradition alive and is composed of a "systematic lightweight construction" coupled with high-level performance and a focus on driver experience. 2016 Porsche 911 R Specs Price: $184,900 MSRP (excludes $1050 destination charge) Engine: 4-liter flat 6 Horsepower: 500 hp 0–60: 3.7 seconds Top Speed: 200 mph Transmission: 6-speed manual The 911 R's focus is the track, which is exhibited in its ability to hand corners thanks to "specially tuned standard rear-axle steering which offers direct turn-in response and precise handling while maintaining a high level of stability," according to a press release. The race car comes in at 3021 pounds, shaving off 110 pounds than that of the 911 GT3 RS. Interestingly, the car comes without AC or a stereo system, but Porsche is glad to add these features at no cost. The 911 R is limited to just 991 examples so if this one is on your list, you'll need to act fast. Stay tuned for more Geneva Motor Show updates. Porsches For Sale

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