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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 – June 29, 2018

Dodge Unveils 2019 Challenger SRT Redeye

It was a sad moment when we saw the final 2018 Dodge Demon and the last Viper sell at Barrett Jackson Northeast last week. But our sadness was ended by a press release last night. Dodge's SRT division has been hard at work taking lessons learned on the Demon to develop the new SRT Challenger Hellcat Redeye. It arrives with 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. This allows it to reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and run consistent 10.8 quarter mile times at 131 mph. If you stay on the skinny pedal, you will reach a top speed of 203 mph!2019 Dodge Charger Hellcat Updated and MoreUnlike the Demon, it doesn't come with a crate of tools, and it can't be ordered without carpet or seats. And it will not have the ability to run race fuel. Nevertheless, Dodge claims it is the fastest Grand Touring car in production.If you don't need Redeye power, the regular Challenger Hellcat arrives with 717 hp and 656 lb-ft of torque. A new dual-snorkel hood on all Hellcats takes inspiration from the classic 1970 Dart Swinger and the original 1971 Demon.The next level down is the Challenger Scat Pack. It now receives the widebody treatment from its big brothers. It also gets the power bulge hood from last year's Hellcats. The lineup is rounded out by the traditional 5.7-liter Challenger R/T and the efficient V6 powered GT models.Browse Challenger Hellcat For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=o9utmZvcdd4

By Andrew Nabors – June 28, 2018

Koenigsegg CCX Sold Down Under

If you stood at Christian von Koenigsegg's factory in Angelholm, Sweden, you would be mesmerized by all the hypercars in production. Also, if you drilled straight through the center of the Earth, you would be in Melbourne, Australia. As the capital of Victoria, it is also the new home of Koenigsegg of Australia and New Zealand. Things are going well down under..... Congratulations to @koenigsegg_automotive_aus_nz and @lorbekluxurycars who, on their first day of operations, negotiated the sale of this CCX at an all-new WORLD RECORD PRICE for the model of A$3.1 million!! This is a wonderful compliment to the multiple orders they’ve secured for new Koenigsegg vehicles to arrive in future years. Impact! #fastcarsellsfast #koenigseggaustralia #koenigsegg #ccx #aboveandbeyond #fastestcarsintheworld A post shared by Koenigsegg (@koenigseggautomotive) on Jun 27, 2018 at 1:37pm PDT As the newest member of Lorbek Luxury Cars, they decided to commemorate the first sale at their new Coffee & Koenigseggs show. It happened on Saturday morning, which is Friday afternoon in the US, and a stunning CCX met its new owner. If you are interested in a new Swedish Hypercar, click the link below and stay with us for all your Koenigsegg updates. Browse Koenigsegg For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2018

Cannonball Run Remake Possibly In The Works

Possibly one of the greatest car movies ever made, Cannonball Run, could be back on the big screen. In an exclusive by Deadline Hollywood, Warner Brothers are negotiating with possible screenwriters and directors. It would be a new take on the same theme, get from downtown New York to LA as fast as possible.The best automotive writer of all time organized the original race. Brock Yates was our friend and the Editor of Car & Driver for decades. In 1974, the national speed limit was lowered to 55 mph; and he was inspired by Cannonball Baker's cross-country records from the early days of motoring. He partnered with Dan Gurney as co-driver in a Ferrari 365 GTB/4, and their first run was 35 hours 53 minutes.World Famous Cars That Are Illegal In The USHe named the race the "Cannonball Baker Sea To Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash". It inspired the 1981 film "Cannonball" which featured Burt Reynolds, Farah Fawcett, Sammy Davis Jr, Sir Roger Moore and Dom Deluise. It was also one of Jackie Chan's first major roles. The sequel added Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and other Rat Pack members in their final film.How To Finance An Exotic CarEach time the record is broken, the drivers are instantly famous and infamous. Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collins from Gas Monkey Garage, Alex Roy, Ed Bolian from VINwiki, and several others who will remain anonymous have made the run without incident. So tell us who you would like to see in on the screen and stay with us for all your Cannonball updates.Ferrari 365 GTB/4 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 25, 2018

Six Lucky McLaren Fans Ride With Bruno Senna

If you are going to ride shotgun, why not do it in the world's most anticipated supercar? Yesterday McLaren uploaded photos of six fans who got the ride of a lifetime. They were able to experience the new McLaren Senna with Bruno Senna behind the wheel. Surely no one would pass up such an opportunity, and perhaps they are prospective buyers. McLaren Senna in Full Carbon to Make Waves in Geneva Looking at the photos, the angle of the rear spoiler is a dead giveaway at how fast the car is going. Not only does it allow the fans to feel 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque; it gives McLaren engineers the opportunity to set the car's suspension with a passenger onboard. The car doesn't pretend to play nice and it makes no apologies. And that is why our dealers already have deposits for the first batch. If you don't need something quite that wild, check out these great incentives on the 720S below and stay with us for all your McLaren news. Button Text

By Andrew Nabors – June 22, 2018

Lamborghini Restores The Miura SVR

As you might know, Lamborghini only built 763 examples of the Miura. Built between 1966 and 1972, they were offered in various horsepower and trim levels. The Miura SV or SuperVeloce is among the most coveted model, and only one example was built to race from the factory. The only Miura SVR is one of one, and Lamborghini's Polo Storico (Historical) division spent 19 months restoring it.One-Off Miura-Inspired Lamborghini Aventador SV RevealedIt was delivered to the Turin dealership in 1968, and after a few owners it ended up in Germany. Heinz Straber wanted to go racing, so he sent it back to the factory in Sant'Agata to be transformed from a Miura S to the Miura SVR. This process was 18 months, and when it emerged it was so sensational that it was purchased by Hiromitsu Ito and shipped to the land of the rising sun. It was and is so wild that it inspired a 1:18 model by toy company Kyosho. It has also been a major plot device in the manga series "Circuit Wolf".A Lamborghini press release this morning says it was discovered in Japan and returned to the factory- this time in pieces. Working from the original build sheet, the car was rebuilt from the ground up. The only modifications are racing seats and a roll cage in order to be legal for vintage racing classes. No mention was made of the new owner, but if you have been considering a raging bull, click the link below to find your Lamborghini.Find Your Lamborghini Here

By Andrew Nabors – June 22, 2018

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Unleashed in Portugal

In a move of total brilliance, the engineers at Jaguar have stuffed their most powerful engine into their smallest sedan. We have been teased by the XE SV Project 8 for two years, but the last time we saw it in action was at Goodwood in July of last year.Under the bonnet is the same supercharged 5.0L V8 found in the F-Type SVR and the Range Rover SVR. It delivers almost 600 horsepower, which puts it in the crosshairs of the CTS-V and the C63 AMG. It makes twice the power of the 1996 XJS, which had a 6.0L V12! But unlike the competition, Jaguar is only building 300 examples for the entire planet. It has the largest brakes and most aggressive aerodynamics they have ever offered.Jaguar XE SV Project 8 In Action, Proves its WorthAn active center differential keeps the AWD system sending most of the power to the rear wheels, but it also uses the front end to keep you glued to the corners. I have mine reserved so you will have to fight everyone else for the remaining 299 cars. If you are interested, click the link below to find our Jaguar/Land Rover dealer near you and have a great weekend!Browse Jaguar XE For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 22, 2018

Chevrolet Unveils 2019 Blazer

Everyone has a story about Chevy's popular SUV, and the Blazer is back for 2019. In a video uploaded to their media site last night, Design Director Mike Pevovar shows us the details of this impressive SUV. It was released at a special event yesterday in Atlanta, and we've learned some nice details about this Camaro-inspired family hauler.It will arrive in two trim levels, RS and Premier. The standard engine will be the 2.5L four, and the optional 3.6L V6 will allow it to tow 4,500 lbs. Not only does the grille borrow Camaro's menacing look, the interior also shares the innovative AC controls and the 8" touchscreen. Other standard goodies include a cargo management system, led exterior lights, and 4G LTE connectivity. We don't normally write about SUVs, but you can't deny how impressive this new Blazer is, inside and out. If you can't wait for it, our dealers have plenty of classic ones to choose from. See the USA in your Chevrolet

By Andrew Nabors – June 20, 2018

Porsche Joins Forces With Rimac

If you can't beat them, join them. You can't deny the abilities of Rimac's electric sportscar. It combines aerodynamics, composites, and a powerful battery into a safe chassis. As seen on The Grand Tour, Richard Hammond walked away after the car went off a cliff. Perhaps that is why Porsche issued a press release this morning.The New Electric Porsche Has a Name: TaycanWhat's recently got our attention is that Porsche purchased 10% of Rimac Automobili. The company was founded in 2009 by Croatian genius Mate Rimac. He might be only 30 years old, but his electric hypercars have shocked the world. The crash by Hammond put him on the world stage and allowed the company to significantly improve their design. The Rimac C2 was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and the 2,000 horsepower beast is capable of 256 mph. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume & Mate RimacEvery manufacturer has a skunkworks, where the reverse-engineer their competitors. Porsche probably dissected a Rimac and found something revolutionary. This also coincides with their 70th-anniversary celebration. Young engineers have changed the world, and it was 18-year-old Ferdinand Porsche who built the first gas-electric hybrid in 1900. This new partnership is destined to build something wild, so stay with us for all your Porshe & Rimac news.Have You Driven The New Panamera?

By Andrew Nabors – June 13, 2018

2019 GMC Yukon Graphite Edition Unveiled

If you like it dark, GMC has two new Yukons for your consideration. The Graphite Edition is available on the Yukon and the Yukon XL, and it has many features found on the Denali. Starting where it counts, it borrows the 6.2 liter V8 from the Escalade. It offers 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque to a 10-speed automatic.The differentials have 3.23 gears for the perfect balance of economy and acceleration. You can have two of them if you opt for 4WD. If you don't need an active 2-speed transfer case, Graphite is also available in 2WD. Magnetic ride control and Bose active noise cancellation will make you forget the world outside. The instrument cluster and the infotainment have their own 8" screens. Other goodies include a 170 amp alternator to power your family's devices and an integrated trailer brake controller. Don't let the name mislead you the Yukon Graphite will be available in Onyx Black, White Frost Tricoat, and Dark Sky Metallic. Click the link below to find a GMC dealer near you. Browse GMC For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 11, 2018

Rolls-Royce Hosts Inaugural Cars & Cognac Meet

If the letters VSOP mean nothing to you, you should probably disregard this post. But if you fancy the finer things in life, Rolls-Royce held the first Cars & Cognac meet last Friday. In a press release this morning, they dish out the details of this new event.An evening of fine dining at the Soho Farmhouse Private Members Club included a new Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge. It was fitted with a new aero cowling and was a nice contrast to another Dawn from the Adamas Collection. Taking center stage was a new Phantom fitted with a unique picnic hamper. In it was a cognac sommelier with tasting practices and notes.Rolls-Royce Unveils The Adamas CollectionRolls-Royce Regional Director Julian Jenkins said: "The ‘cars and cognac’ meet demonstrated the wonderful spirit of our customers as well as their deep passion for the brand. This evening was reflective of the rich dialogue between Rolls-Royce and its patrons; a truly unique and extremely rare relationship, one which we are privileged to nurture." Guests could either stay at the club after the event or choose to have a chauffeur drive them home in a new Rolls-Royce. Our fans will probably stick to coffee, so join us this Saturday for Cars & Coffee here at duPont REGISTRY.Browse Rolls-Royce Dawn For Sale

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