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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 – August 27, 2018

Ferrari of Houston & Ferrari of The Woodlands: The Perfec...

If you are looking for an Italian exotic in East Texas, you have two choices. Ferrari of Houston, or Ferrari of The Woodlands. Both locations have their own unique clientele, but they are one dedicated team under the leadership of Guiseppe Risi. Buying a Ferrari is a good investment, especially if you buy it from George Foreman. No, not the boxing legend, his son George Foreman IV.Ferrari of Houston: Your One-Stop Ferrari ShopHumble is a small town on the Northside of Houston, and that is where the Foreman children were raised. It is there that their father taught them humility, as the family struggled to make ends meet. Their father retired in 1977, and they were forced to sell much of their estate to put food on the table. But after his comeback in 1987, he taught his 5 sons how to invest in cars. While he was home for the summer, George IV was sent around the country looking for cars his father was interested in. He learned the art of negotiation and how to research every mechanical and aesthetic detail before making a deal.It was helping to build his father's collection that made him pursue an automotive career. But of all the cars he has seen, nothing compares to Ferrari. His passion for the brand is based on the fact that 70 years is a long run for building the perfect automobile. His favorite example is the 70th Anniversary California T. It represents a dedication to history along with incredible power. Now that the Portofino has arrived, he is enjoying the challenge of transitioning his customers into the latest model. Having an Atelier room at each location allows George to satisfy his clients by building their own Ferrari.Because of the unprecedented success of the downtown store, Maranello granted them the freedom to make Ferrari of the Woodlands a truly unique location. The owner of both stores is Giuseppe Risi, who also owns Risi Competizione. The Woodlands focuses on Ferrari's racing history while also displaying multiple Team Wins and Drivers' Championships.The race team is intertwined with salespeople, and it makes for a fun & competitive atmosphere. When a Challenge car is sold, the owner must be fitted for their fire suit, and it is cause for celebration among the employees. Being able to show drivers just how capable their cars are, driver training at Circuit of the Americas is an option for every customer. With plenty of comfy seating, their lounges are a great place to watch the live streams of Ferrari races from around the world.Because their customers are taught to treat their cars as an heirloom, they have significant repeat business from trade-ins. That is why their Ferrari Approved pre-owned & certified pre-owned sales have outperformed many other Ferrari dealers. Mr. Foreman likes to be on the cutting edge of technology, and he said the Lusso T bridges the gap between practicality and power. Many owners use them as daily drivers, without worry of problems that plague lesser brands. It has the performance of a twin-turbo V8, but the boost is only injected when needed. Everyone should have an AWD 600 hp Ferrari with room for 4 adults.Value Your Trade-In HereGeorge learned business and cars from the lives and the legacies of boxing's greatest generation. Carrying this lifetime of knowledge into the showroom has clearly influenced both locations. The team has learned to anticipate their client's needs while fostering a relationship that keeps them coming back. And it is this innate desire to be the best, that is what allows Ferrari of Houston and Ferrari of The Woodlands to keep every other dealer on the ropes.Browse Their Inventories

By Andrew Nabors – August 22, 2018

Stealth Grey McLaren 600LT Heading to Pebble Beach

We honestly didn't believe McLaren would introduce 15 new cars by 2022. Their Track-22 plan has seen the debut of the 570 S coupe and convertible, 570GT, and the 540C which is not sold in the US. These Sports Series models will have a new boss when the 600LT arrives. To show us what McLaren Special Operations can do to your 600LT, they have built an amazing example for Pebble Beach. The press release mentions every aspect in detail, but we will be filming it for you on Sunday.How To Configure Your McLaren 600LTWhat sets them apart from the Super Series is not just horsepower, the Sports Series is not available with the hydraulic active suspension that shocked the world on the 12C. Instead, the Sports Series has traditional coil springs and sway bars. This actually a selling point for those who prefer the feedback from the car along with adjustable shocks.That doesn't mean MSO will withhold any of their creativity from the entry-level cars. So the spent countless hours building a 600LT with MSO Bespoke and MSO Defined upgrades. Stealth Grey and is a special order finish, and they used orange accents on the aerodynamic pieces. The ram air intake has an HD camera which is linked to the telemetry system. You can playback your laps with data to make the best use of the 592 horsepower. Ansar Ali is director of MSO and he says their only limit is your imagination. Be sure to stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages as our team will be streaming at multiple locations over the next four days.Browse McLarens For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 20, 2018

Aston Martin to Recreate James Bond's DB5

When Aston Martin announced a new run of their DB4 GT, enthusiasts and collectors pounced on the opportunity. It seems they tapped into a niche market that is willing to pay for new examples of timeless classics. The best agent of MI6 has always been 007, and he has driven the wheels off of them in 7 James Bond films.LEGO James Bond Aston Martin DB5 Kit AnnouncedSean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig have saved humanity thanks to the abilities of the DB5, so Aston Martin has caved to the world's demands. Working with EON Productions, they have announced in a press release that 25 new 'Goldfinger Continuation Edition' cars will be created. Each example will have working Bond gadgetry from the third film, along with Silver Birch paint.Production will begin next year at their Newport Pagnell assembly plant, the same location that turned out the original DB5 over half a century ago. A new DB5 can be yours, starting at $3.5 Million dollars. If you take into consideration what price the originals are going for, this is a bargain. Your MI6 pension will cover the taxes, but if you want the latest in technology click the link below and stay with us for all your Aston Martin updates.Browse Aston Martin DB11 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 20, 2018

Win a ride in a McLaren 600LT

If you have been contemplating a new McLaren for sale, they are offering an unprecedented experience. The latest model in their Sports Series lineup is the 600LT. It is the first Long Tail in the Sports Series, and it is the culmination of lessons learned on the 570S and 570GT. To experience it in person, McLaren have hidden a numeric code in 4 YouTube uploads.2018 McLaren 570S Spider: Price, Specs, & ReviewThe introduction of the car in North America is spearheaded by a campaign entitled "The Edge Is Calling". If you can decode the meaning of the code, you might win a chance of a lifetime. McLaren will provide airfare and dining for you to drive the 600LT across California's most scenic landscapes.From Joshua Tree National Monument, you will follow the San Andreas fault between September 27-30th. It is open to residents of the UK, Japan, Germany, and 48 states (except New York and Florida). Watch these films below and tell us what the numbers mean, and stay with us for all your McLaren updates.Browse McLaren For Sale Here

By Andrew Nabors – August 20, 2018

Pagani Raduno 2018: California Cruising

What began as a small Pagani meet in 2004 has shocked the automotive world. The Pagani Raduno has been held in Itlay and South America, and now it's time for California. In a recent Instagram upload. Pagani Automobili unveiled the logo for this year's event. Their intentions are to travel the length and breadth of the state, with all Pagani owners invited.If it happens before the end of the year it will be the second event of the year. An Australian event earlier this year culminated in the grand opening of the first Pagani dealer in the South Pacific. Three years ago they attacked the mountains of Japan in the "TougheRun".Pagani Huayra Specs, Price, Photos & ReviewPaganis will be seen en masse this weekend at Monterey Car Week, and we will be there also. Their Instagram page allows us to follow the trip. The starting point was the grand opening of Pagani Beverly Hills. From there, the convoy turned north to Malibu. Then they went inland through the Las Padres National Forest, up to Cuyama, then out to Cambria. The Pacific Coast Highway took them across the iconic Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, and they arrived in Monterey last night.As soon as we have video of Raduno California you will see it here first. Stay with us for all your Pagani updates.Browse Pagani For Sale in the USA

By Andrew Nabors – August 17, 2018

Bugatti Divo Teased Ahead of Pebble Beach

Albert Divo was one of Ettore Bugatti's best drivers. He dominated the 1928 and '29 Targa Florio in a Type 35, and brought home the win both years. Everyone knows Bugatti builds fast cars, but what about cornering? Both the Veyron and Chiron have the world's most capable AWD systems, but they also have a sixteen-cylinder engine behind the cockpit.Bugatti Divo Confirmed, Costs Over $5 MillionThe Divo is en route to Pebble Beach and Bugatti has teased it as a corner carving track machine. Only 40 examples will be produced, and the design was not influenced by its predecessors. Each one will be built to order, using traditional coachbuilding for the finer details. We will be at The Quail next Friday to see it in person, so be sure to follow our Facebook page for complete coverage.

By Andrew Nabors – August 17, 2018

Porsche Answers fan mail with a GT2 RS

You might think that writing a letter to Porsche would be like writing to Santa Claus. But Porsche wouldn't be at the top of the automotive world without input from their fans. They are celebrating seven decades north of the border with a new campaign, and this one will make you smile. For one youngster, his letter was answered in an epic way. Christian is 13 years old Candian and his dream car is the new 911 GT2 RS.2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Specs, Price, Photos, & ReviewHe mentioned a future in car design and we see a few of his sketches. You might be surprised at how Porsche responds in their latest YouTube upload, but it shows their dedication to encouraging the next generation. Decades of dreamers have turned from Porsche fans into their loyal employees, so we hope to see Christian at Porsche Design in a decade from now.Browse Porsche 911 GT2 RS For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 17, 2018

Aston Martin Celebrates 60 Years of the DB4

It is hard to believe one of the world's most iconic cars is 60 years old. David Brown and his team at Aston Martin unveiled the first example in 1958, and it shook up the sports car marketplace. To celebrate the anniversary, the Aston Martin Owners Club is calling for a DB4 reunion at Hampton Court Palace. There will be a Concours of Elegance show starting on the 31st and running until Sunday afternoon.2018 Aston Martin DB11 Specs, Price, Photos & ReviewThe guest list includes examples of each generation of DB4, including the GT, Zagato, and Bertone bodies. They will be joined by the new DB4 GT Continuation series which will be available soon. Of course, the factory is sending the latest DB11 and DBS Superleggera to show the DB bloodline is pure and potent. If you don't have plans for labor day weekend, pack your bags for England to see this epic gathering, or just stay with us for complete coverage.Find Your Aston Martin DB11 Here!

By Andrew Nabors – August 16, 2018

Stolen Car ALERT: 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing

Thieves are the worst part of our hobby, so please forward this to everyone you know. This is the ONLY 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL with a chopped top and ostrich leather interior. Hemmings is reporting this gorgeous black beauty is one of the 30 steel-bodied cars to have the NSL engine. This was the engine normally found in the alloy-bodied cars, and it has serial number 5500434.RENNtech SLS AMG: A Legend Re-BornIn 1999, the previous owner decided to chop 3" from the roofline, which isn't easy to do on a Gullwing. Maintaining all the right proportions, it includes roof bubbles for extra headroom. It was stolen Saturday night from the parking lot of the Dorint Am Nürburgring Hocheifel, a hotel next to the finish line of the historic track.Black Rudge wheels, the custom bumpers and Marchal fog lights make this car unmistakable even at a distance. Photographer Remi Dargegen knows the owner personally, so if you or anyone you know has information please contact us or Hemmings.com. A reward of $284,128 (€250,000) is being offered, so we hope this slimeball is apprehended quickly. If you have been dreaming of a Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, our dealers have over 40 examples of the SLS AMG waiting for you!Browse Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 16, 2018

Porsche Partners with Epic Games & Nvidia

One of the most popular video games in recent history has been Fortnite. It uses the latest Unreal platform by Epic Games to create lifelike gameplay. The software is so powerful that Porsche has announced a triple-alliance with Epic Games and Nvidia. Automotive News reported that their first video will be seen at the SIGGRAPH IT conference in Vancouver on Monday. "The Speed of Light" features the new Porsche 911 Speedster Concept looking as real as anyone could tell.Porsche is Celebrating 70 Years With New 911 SpeedsterThis new way of rendering a car (or anything) in 3D is known as Ray Tracing. It allows the user to move the light source to any point in the virtual realm. Then the car can be moved on all axes to see how light accentuates each curve and seam. This will create realistic shadows and effects never seen before. Nvidia's graphics hardware is among the best in the world, and they supply most of Tesla's processing power.Plato talked about such works in Sophist back in 360 BC, when a master artist paints two versions of the same object and tries to teach students reality from fiction (simulacra vs simulation).Porsche is challenging the entire industry by destroying how cars are shown, and the technology will undoubtedly help designers visualize the car before the first mold is made. If you want to experience the latest Porsches in the real world, click the link below and stay with us for all your 911 news.Porsche 911 For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Z85aPqqJzs0

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