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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 – October 29, 2018

Stunning Senna Delivered at McLaren Newport Beach!

If you are still waiting on your new McLaren Senna, it seems that customers with the most options are being served first. Our friends at McLaren Newport Beach had this one in the works for almost a year. Working directly with McLaren Special Operations, the owner's dreams came to fruition last night. Even if you are not a fan of the University of Florida, orange and blue make for a gorgeous combination. An ordinary blue wouldn't do, so the body is made of blue exposed carbon fiber. "McLaren Racing Orange" has been reserved for many of the "Speedy Kiwis", back to when Bruce was building them by hand. It can be found on the air inlets, brake calipers, and a few other areas. Before delivery, the entire body was treated to a protective film because the owner is planning to hit the road. The interior is almost entirely carbon fiber, with the racing buckets ready for a 5-point harness. McLaren Newport Beach can apply this to your McLaren, so click the link below to view their inventory and stay with us for all your Senna updates. Click Here To View Inventory

By Andrew Nabors – October 29, 2018

World Series MVP wins new Chevy Silverado Trail Boss

It took dedication and practice to for the Boston Red Sox to shut down the LA Dodgers. But Steve Pearce hit 2 home runs to become the 2018 Willie Mays World Series MVP. Boston is gearing up for a massive parade on Wednesday, and leading it will be Pearce in his new Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss. In a Press Release by Chevy on Sunday night, we learned that his new truck arrives with Ranco suspension that rides 2" above the base models.New & Pre-Owned Corvette Z06 For SaleAlso included are locking differentials, 18" wheels, and Goodyear DuraTrack off-road tires. Under the hood is Chevrolet's first straight six in almost 40 years. The 3.0-liter turbo diesel is the latest Duramax, and it delivers 282 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. Backed by their 10-speed automatic, it offers 7,800 lbs of towing and 28 mpg on the highway. Pearce hit .333 for the series, with 3 home runs and a double play. Chevrolet's Youth Baseball program is an outreach from local dealers to supply equipment and over 1,800 free summer clinics to help young players hone their skills. Congrats to Mr. Pearce on his win, and click the link below for great deals on new Chevys.View Chevrolet For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 29, 2018

BMW Unveils 2019 M4 DTM Turbo

If you have dreamed of watching new BMW M4s best battle it out on the track, you need to discover the world of DTM. Essentially it is a German version of NASCAR, with factory-backed teams trading paint in epic battles. For the upcoming 2019 season, BMW has dropped the V8 in lieu of a throwback, their 2.0-liter turbo four. The car was given a proper shakedown over the weekend, emerging from the Dingolfing plant with BMW Werks driver Bruno Spengler behind the wheel.2018 BMW M4: Price, Specs, & ReviewMotorsport Director Jens Marquardt said: "BMW Turbo Power has enjoyed success in motor racing for almost 50 years. In the first year with a BMW turbo engine, back in 1969, Dieter Quester was immediately crowned European touring car champion with the BMW 2002 TI. In 1973, the BMW 2002 turbo became the first German production automobile to feature a turbocharger. We are now adding a new chapter to this story in the DTM.It will take a few more revisions and prototypes before the car is ready for homologation. The Class 1 rules will involve changes to the inlets and aerodynamics, and it will be seen in a test race in Estoril, Portugal from November 11th to the 14th. The notion of a featherweight M4 with incredible handling and turbo power is music to our ears, so click the link below to find an M4 for you. Stay with us for all your BMW news. Find Your BMW Here!

By Andrew Nabors – October 29, 2018

Porsche Classic's Project Gold Sells for $3 Million

Some of us thought it was crazy. Why would Porsche restore a car that is 20 years old? Project Gold is a statement to the world. Porsche Classic should be your first resource when looking for original parts. If you have wanted a new 1998 Turbo S, it was the highlight of RM Sotheby's 'The Porsche 70th Anniversary Auction 2018' in Atlanta over the weekend.Porsche 993 Specs, Photos, Prices & ReviewNo detail was overlooked in the year and a half build. Assembled by hand, it consists of 6,500 original parts that are available for every 993 series 911. In a press release this morning, we learned that it sparked a bidding war. Ten minutes of battle were silenced by the hammer. It signaled the net proceeds of 2.9 Million dollars are going to the (not-for-profit) Ferry Porsche Foundation.Painted in the same Golden Yellow as the 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series, it has two custom accents that are now available at your local dealer. The new aluminum gas cap and a blacked-out tailpipe will fit any 1980 to '98 example. This will serve as a statement to all owners and restorers of air-cooled classics. If you thought the market was a bubble, think again. Click the link below to find your Porsche 911 Turbo S and stay with us for all your Porsche news. View All Porsche 911 For Sale Here

By Andrew Nabors – October 17, 2018

Watch the Turbinator II go 503 MPH at Bonneville

Setting records at Bonneville Speed Weeks usually involves massive power and a bit of courage. The fastest cars use rockets or jet engines for propulsion. This doesn't require a transmission or differential, as the wheels are essentially casters like those on a shopping cart. But there exists a group of racers who choose to send power to the wheels. Don Vesco wanted to reach 500 mph the old-fashioned way. So he dropped in a turbine from a Chinook helicopter and sent the power to all 4 wheels.Connecting the wheels to the engine is easy, as the Chinook makes use of long driveshafts to transfer power front to rear. The problem is that salt has a limit when it comes to rubber tires. Just like our friends at Confederate Motorcycles, adding more power just creates wheelspin at top speed. Don passed away before his team could refine the aerodynamics, but in a YouTube video uploaded recently, their efforts paid off. Turbinator II used a strong tailwind to reach 503.322 mph, making it the fastest wheel-driven car. Unfortunately, to set a new world record they would be forced to run the opposite direction with only an hour of turnaround time. But the tailwind inevitably became a headwind, resulting in 493 mph. They took home a 2018 Hot Rod Magazine trophy for an average speed of 463 mph! Congratulations to Team Vesco on this momentous achievement!Browse Exotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 04, 2018

Japanese Electric Hypercar Aspark Owl Gets a Big Price Tag

The Aspark Owl is coming hot out of Japan as an electric hypercar that will run 0 to 62 mph in just 1.9 seconds. Its electric powertrain produces an astonishing 1,150 horsepower. That's quite the pedigree for new model out of the Osaka-based company.Now, according to Bloomberg, Aspark is taking pre-orders for the hypercar that'll require a non-refundable €1 million deposit, which equates to roughly $1.15 million in today's exchange rate. The entire cost of the car is set at around $3.6 million, but only 50 examples of the Owl will be created. Bloomberg learned this info at the Paris Motor Show, where Aspark is showing off the Owl. They note that the show car was essentially a shell and that the real test car was back in Japan.It may be a couple of years before the launch of the car, but the Owl's future is looking pretty bright.Related Video:

By Alyssa Mammano – September 27, 2018

James Dean's Former Home Listed for $3.9 Million

Once an entertainment hub for Hollywood Hills bigwigs, 6225 Quebec Drive in Los Angeles, California - the former home of superstar James Dean - has just hit the market for $999 per square foot at $3,995,000. Before he turned legend, Dean lived in the basement of the home owned by the former head of Warner Brothers, Hal B. Wallis, and worked as his personal handyman. One night during a party at the home, Dean was discovered by a casting director who thought his look was perfect for the big screen. Less than a month after he was spotted, Dean appeared in the film Rebel Without a Cause.Earlier this month, the home where he was first happened upon was listed with Eric Lavey of The Agency. The structure was first erected in a Spanish style in 1927 and has since been tremendously restored and updated to far surpass modern standards. Merging the traditional stylings with contemporary conveniences, the single family home has three bedrooms, four bathrooms and 4,000 square feet on a .27-acre lot.View LA Listings Source and Images: The Agency

By Edward Jones – September 21, 2018

Supercars Tied Up in Alleged $364 Million Ponzi Scheme

More than 400 people have been taken for a financial ride as three men (Kevin B. Merrill, Jay B. Ledford and Cameron R. Jezierski) have been indicted in an alleged $364 million Ponzi scheme. According to an indictment from the Federal prosecutors in Baltimore, the 400+ victims/investors were told the trio would be buying up consumer debt portfolios. They were told they would be making money when either the debt portfolios were sold to third-party debt buyers for a profit or they collected payments people made on their debts. Instead, the trio opened phony companies that resembled consumer debt sellers, told falsehoods about who they were buying debt portfolios from, created false records, and used $73 million of the investment to fuel their lavish lifestyle. This lifestyle included a number of real estate properties and a large number of cars and motorcycles. Here's a list of the cars the prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of from two of the defendants named in the indictment:Merrill's Cars 2014 Ford Explorer 2014 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster 2014 Mercedes-AMG S63 2015 BMW S1000R Motorcycle 2015 Harley-Davidson VRSCDX Night Rod Special Edition Motorcycle 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB 2017 Audi R8 5.2 Plus 2017 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder 2017 Land Rover Range Rover 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S 2017 Rolls-Royce Dawn 2017 Rolls-Royce Wraith 2018 McLaren 720S 2008 Bugatti Veyron 2013 Ferrari California 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe 2014 Ferrari F12berlinetta 2014 Pagani Huayra 2015 Mercedes-AMG S63 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV 2017 Lamborghini Aventador 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider 2018 Lamborghini Huracan Ledford's Cars 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB 2016 Tesla Model S 2015 Bentley Flying Spur According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Maryland, this Ponzi scheme is "one of the largest ever charged in Maryland." Unfortunately for some of these victims, they are still in the dark as to what's happened with their investment. "Most of these investors are just learning that they have been victimized," said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur in the press release. "We urge anyone who thinks they may be a victim to contact the FBI at www.FBI.Gov/MerrillLedford or e-mail MerrillLedford@fbi.gov."Sources: Justice.gov, BaltimoreSun.com, Image via Bugatti

By Andrew Nabors – September 17, 2018

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ at Estoril Circuit for 1st Time

Lamborghini's latest achievement is the Aventador SVJ. It is only natural that they tease us at Portugal's most famous racing circuit. Estoril circuit has been home to F1 and Grand Prix racing since 1972. The challenges of elevation and crosswinds are the perfect place to display the car's abilities. Using the second generation of their active aerodynamic system, it can transfer downforce to any corner and reduce drag for the ultimate top-speed run. ALA 2.0 improves on the patented system that debuted on the Huracan Performante. We're guessing they are aiming for a record at every track. Since it reset our notions of the Nurburgring, stay with us for all your Aventador updates!Browse Lamborghini For Sale Here! View this post on Instagram Speed is its natural element. The new Lamborghini Aventador SVJ at @Circuito_Estoril, Portugal, for the first time on a racetrack. #Estoril #AventadorSVJ #Lamborghini #CircuitoDoEstoril A post shared by Lamborghini (@lamborghini) on Sep 17, 2018 at 9:45am PDT

By Andrew Nabors – September 10, 2018

New Infotainment from Jaguar Land Rover Classic

3.5" Touchscreen 4 x 45 watts Built-in Bluetooth Microphone If your English classic needs modern connectivity, Jaguar Land Rove Classic have something for you. In a press release this morning, they have unveiled four new infotainment systems for older cars. Two Land Rover and 2 Jaguar designs are now available, and they pack the latest in Bluetooth, Navigation, and Satellite Radio into a traditional DIN size.European customers will also have receivers for DAB and DAB+, with 4 channels of 45-watt power. Jaguar examples are black and chrome, while Land Rover radios are silver or brushed aluminum. Memory storage for up to 1,250 contacts can be accessed by up to 4 Bluetooth devices, all without cutting your dash. Preserving your car's interior style and bringing it into the modern era is now possible, so check with your local dealer for more information.Browse Exotic Cars For Sale

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