Articles

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 Edward Jones – November 14, 2016

Alpha Performance Alpha-G GTR Sets New World Record

One of the most contested world records out there and one that switches hands all the time has to be the Nissan GT-R quarter-mile record. Since I've been writing about cars, I've seen the record broken on countless occasions, but each new record is just as exciting as the last. (Related - Modified Lamborghini Huracan Hits 236 mph, Breaks Record) The latest car to break the record was the Diamonds By Wire Alpha Performance Alpha-G Nissan GTR, driven by Gidi Chamdi. The record-breaking run happened at Milan Dragway new Detroit, Michigan where the track temperature was 58 degrees, which is far from an ideal temperature. But, that didn't stop the 2,500+ hp monster from getting work done with a pass of 7.14 @ 212 mph. You can view the run and Chamdi's fantastic reaction in the video below. The entire run is also detailed in AMD Performance's blog post, so be sure to check it out. All Nissan GT-R For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 14, 2016

Ferrari Launches 488 Passione Rossa for Ultimate Experience

Ferrari has channeled the "passion, adrenaline and pure joy associated with the 488 range" to create a new experience for their customers, according to a press release from the Italian automaker. Being called the 488 Passione Rossa, this experience gives Ferrari enthusiasts a chance to witness the true potential of the 488 GTB and 488 Spider.(Related - Report: All Ferraris to Have Hybrid Tech by 2019)The event took place at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where Formula 1 Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella took a group of participants onto the track. On the track was where he demonstrated the "unrivaled power, speed and exhilaration that the Ferrari 488 is capable of.There was no work in the press release as to future plans for this event, or if it will continue in other countries. But, if Ferrari announces more events like this, you'll hear about them here.You can check out the happenings of 488 Passione Rossa for yourself by clicking the play button below.All Ferrari 488 GTB For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 11, 2016

Gas vs Electric: McLaren 650S Spider vs Tesla Model S P100D

Going forward, the automotive industry is going to be focusing more and more on electric cars. Leading the path is Tesla, who has revolutionized how we look at electric cars with their Model S. I'll be honest, I was skeptical at first, but when I had the chance to see them in person before they were shipped to customers I was blown away. Even with electric power being so important in the future, I can't deny my love for the gasoline engine.(Related - Will.i.am's Custom Wide Body Tesla Model S is Everything)To display the power that both the gas-powered and electric-powered car has to offer, DragTimes has created a video of a McLaren 650S Spider taking on a Tesla Model S P100D in drag and roll races. Powering the McLaren is a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine capable of producing 641 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. In the Tesla are a set of electric motors that produce 503 hp in the rear and 259 hp in the front.You can watch the races below, but note that the Tesla was not using Launch Mode. Also, remember to follow your local traffic laws and never take your races to the streets.All McLaren 650S Spider For Sale | All Tesla Model S For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 11, 2016

Bugatti Chiron Premieres in Japan

After it made its debut in Europe, North America and Singapore, the Bugatti Chiron has finally made its way to Japan. In a press release issued by Bugatti, the French automaker detailed their new hypercars premiere in Tokyo, Japan.(Related - Bugatti Chiron Revving Sounds Savage)“Japan is Bugatti’s strongest market in Asia,” said Dr. Stefan Brungs, Member of the Board of Management of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. responsible for Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service, at the unveiling of the Chiron. “Japanese super sports car customers have a well-developed understanding and considerable passion for technological masterpieces of the highest quality and for the ultimate in luxury. This is why the resonance created by the Chiron here in Japan is outstanding.”Bugatti also points out in the press release that of the 450 Veyrons they sold, more than 10 are owned by Japanese customers. And now, with the release of the Chiron, about six percent of the total orders are coming from customers in Japan, exceeding the total sales of the Veyron.The Bugatti Chiron will be on display in the showroom of Bugatti Tokyo until November 16, but will be returning to in time for Christmas.All Bugatti For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 11, 2016

Audi R8 Star of Lucis for Final Fantasy XV

The video game series Final Fantasy has been around since 1987, being featured on too many gaming consoles to count. The latest release in the series, Final Fantasy XV, has been hyped up for years now, but is finally being released on November 29 of this year.To celebrate this game's launch, Audi has created the R8 Star of Lucis edition. This car actually appeared in the short Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV film, but is now being made in real life.So, what's with all the fancy design all over the car? On the car's minisite, Audi describes the pattern found throughout the car as an "Arabesque pattern," that is traditional to the fictional Kingdom of Lucis within the game. It stands for peace, blessing and well being. But, what's even more interesting than the pattern are the insanely detailed wheels, which even feature swords in them. Yeah, swords.Now, to get into the performance aspect of this car. Of course this special edition R8 is packing the 5.2-liter V10 engine. I mean, this thing has to be fit for a king, right? This means that the R8 Star of Lucis has 540 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque on tap.Interested in picking up one of these editions? Well, there is only going to be one ever made and it's selling for 50,000,015 yen or around $470,000 USD. Interested buyers will have to enter a special raffle on November 21.All Audi R8 For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 10, 2016

Porsche Introduces New Panamera Models

Porsche is expanding the Panamera lineup with a slew of new models that will be presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Included in these models are the new Executive models, and the revamped Panamera and Panamera 4.The new Panamera and Panamera 4 will be coming in with a new turbocharged V6 engine. Power of this engine raises the horsepower of the Panamera up by 20 hp for a total of 330 hp. At the same time, Porsche was able to reduce the consumption of the engine by 0.26 gallons per 62 miles.With this new engine, Porsche is able to create the ultimate Panamera Executive editions. With a wheelbase extended by 5.9 inches and a myriad of exclusive features, the new Executive models will sit at the top end of the Panamera model line. These features include a panoramic roof, heated seats, adaptive air suspension, rear window sunblinds, a newly developed large rear center console and more.As of now, the Panamera range consists of ten different models with power ranging from 330 to 550 hp.All Porsche Panamera For Sale Panamera 4S Executive Panamera Turbo Executive

By Edward Jones – November 09, 2016

Austin Mahone's Rust-Wrapped BMW i8

Typically, you never want your car to be covered in rust, but when it's a wrap and not actually oxidization it's another story. Take Austin Mahone's BMW i8 for instance, it's been covered in a very special "rust wrap" designed by @zachonthat and applied by MetroWraps.While it may look like the car has been sitting underneath a sprinkler for ages and is made out of iron, it's actually just a well-done wrap. To make the appearance even more grandiose are the golden Vossen wheels.But, what do you guys think about this wrap? Hot or not? I think it's pretty wild, in a good way. While everyone focuses on making sure their cars look like mirrors, Mahone wanted his new i8 to look like a rust bucket without the damage. And what's great is that the colors, including the gold and black trim, go together so well with the wrap. But, then again, everyone has their own tastes. Let me know what you think in the comments below.All BMW i8 For Sale Austin Mahone got crazy with this one! MetroWrapz #rustedi8 #vossenforged #vossenPosted by Vossen Wheels on Monday, November 7, 2016

By Edward Jones – November 08, 2016

Americans Take Over Nurburgring: 1,000+ Ram Trucks Drive ...

Typically, the Nordschleife is covered in sports cars, supercars and luxury cars, but earlier this month a group of Dodge Rams took to the circuit to set a record.(Related - All-Wheel-Drive Dodge Hellcat Planned, Lineup Changes Come to Halt)According to RamWorldRecord.com, 1,152 Ram trucks came together to break the world record of the largest parade of pickup trucks. The previous record was 638 trucks, which is almost half of the record set on October 5, 2016.A video, uploaded by rallyeoberehe The Nürburgring & Rallye Channel, shows the entire parade and lasts for over half of an hour. In this video, the trucks can take the corners in a slow and steady manner, with no intention of setting and time records.Check out the video below to see the world record parade for yourself.All Dodge For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 08, 2016

Report: All Ferraris to Have Hybrid Tech by 2019

Fans of everything naturally aspirated and Ferraris may not like this news, but it looks like the Italian automaker is going full steam ahead with hybrid technology.Ferrari For Sale Houston, TexasIn a November 8 article from Automotive News, Marchionne was reported as saying that "all Ferraris sold from 2019 will have some hybrid elements." Yes, this means you're going to be hard-pressed to find a naturally aspirated Ferrari after 2018. Does this mean that hybrid-less Ferrari may see a jump in price in the coming years? Only time will tell, but this could be similar to how manual transmission Ferraris are so hard to come by.(Related - Jay Leno Drives David Lee's Epic Ferrari Supercar Collection)Additionally, the article touches on the amount of cars Ferrari hopes to ship. Marchionne told Automotive News that they are set to ship 8,000 this year and will raise that amount to 9,000 by 2019. What's more, he also notes that they could sell more than 10,000 by 2025.From this article, it looks like Ferrari is willing to ship more cars to their customers and put a major focus on hybrid technology. What do you guys think about this future for Ferrari? Let me know in the comments below.All Ferrari For Sale Related Video:

By Edward Jones – November 08, 2016

Most Exclusive BMW Motorcycle, Ever: The HP4 RACE

At this year's Milan Motorcycle Show, BMW Motorrad revealed a peek at their most exclusive motorcycle they've ever created.Being called the BMW HP4 RACE, this new motorcycle will be created by hand in a very exclusive limited series. BMW Motorrad wasn't sure just how much the prototype shown at the show would reflect what the final product would look like, but the revealing press release notes it will be incredibly similar.(Related - Motorcyclist Wheelies All Over Lamborghini Gallardo)“The HP4 RACE will feature the full carbon fiber main frame and carbon fiber rims as shown here," said Stephan Schaller, President BMW Motorrad, in today's press release. "We will reveal more about this model next spring.”For those interested in their own BMW HP4 RACE, you'll have to wait until the second half of 2017 to get your hands on one. Until then, be sure to check back here for more info on BMW most exclusive motorcycle ever.All Motorcycle For Sale

Articles

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe