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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 – February 06, 2018

Lexus Celebrates A Decade Of F Performance With 2 New Cars

It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since Lexus launched their F division. Their high-performance lineup debuted at the 2008 Chicago auto show, so in a press release yesterday they announced a special lineup for this year's show in a press release yesterday. The 2019 GS F and RC F 10th anniversary special editions will be unveiled at the show.They will be finished in Nebula Gray, the first matte paint since the wild LFA supercar. Multiple coats were applied to make sure it stands the test of time. Matte finishes can actually be polished to shine by automatic car washes and ill-fitting car covers. Blue brake calipers are seen behind 19" black wheels. They are wearing Michelin PS2 tires for the ultimate in grip.How To Sell A Ferrari 458 ItaliaOnly 240 examples of the RC F will be built, this represents the number of Lexus dealers in the US. They will have carbon fiber interior accents, and blue leather throughout. An embossed headliner and special edition badges round out the package. Under the hood is the familiar 5.0 liter V8 making 467 horsepower and 389 lb-ft of torque.The GS F is limited to 100 cars, but it has blue leather on the back seats also. It does without the embossed headliner, but the blue trim remains in all the soft spots. The same V8 and automatic transmission are shared between both cars. The GS F arrives with a torque-vectoring differential while the RC F gets a traditional Torsen locker. Additional options will need to be purchased to unlock the anniversary editions, and pricing has yet to be determined. As soon as it is, you will see it here first on Autofluence. Tell us which one you would choose in the comments below.Browse Lexus For Sale2018 Ferrari Portofino: Price, Specs, & Review

By Edward Jones – March 29, 2017

New 2018 Lexus NX Headed to Shanghai Auto Show

At the upcoming 2017 Shanghai Auto Show will be a new and refreshed 2018 Lexus NX model. This news was announced today by the automaker as we draw closer to the date of show, which will run April 19-28.This revamped "urban crossover" was first launched three years ago and Lexus says it has "exceeded customers' expectations globally since the model's launch." The new 2018 NX model will have a new exterior and interior, but there's no word on any new engines.Stay with us for more information on the 2018 Lexus NX as we draw closer to the debut at Auto Shanghai.All Lexus For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 06, 2016

This New Lexus is LIT...Literally

A refreshed body is being introduced for the 2017 Lexus IS series, so in order to highlight the new design something bright was needed. Last year they used electroluminescent paint on the RC-F which displayed the driver's heartbeat. We thought nothing could top that build, but they have wowed us again. A new IS was covered in 41,999 LEDs, essentially turning the body into an HD display. Recording Artist Dua Lipa's latest music video features the car in action, responding to gestures and beats of the music.“A car as visually striking as the LIT IS required an equally dramatic debut,” said Brian Bolain, Lexus general manager of product and consumer marketing. “A music video was a perfect place to launch the LIT IS and working with Dua Lipa allowed the concept to come to life, putting a spotlight on the Lexus IS in an entirely new way.”When the IS gets fully "LIT," the car produces 175,000 lumens of light. If laid end to end the LED strands would stretch over a half-mile. The computer controlling the system has three operating modes. Attract mode uses curving gestures to highlight the contours of the new body. Music Viz takes cues from the soundtrack, turning the car into a brilliant oscilloscope. Gesture mode uses motion control from a gaming console to interpret and interact with movements of humans around the car.This level of electronic wizardry undoubtedly takes a toll on the 12v system of the car, but hopefully the current draw is under 1.21 gigawatts. In building concept cars, Lexus have always taken the road less traveled. We don't know how the LIT IS will be surpassed, but rest assured you will see it here on Autofluence.Lexus IS For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 16, 2016

Lexus Has Created a Spicy Car: the Sriracha IS

Sriracha has become one of the most popular sources of edible heat in the United States. In fact, it's become so popular that you can find Sriracha in all sorts of forms, including salt, lollipops, chocolate and so much more. But we've never seen the hot stuff turned into a car...until now.Yeah, I'm not sure how this happened, but I'm kind of glad it did.“I feel so humbled to see my Lexus and Sriracha friends’ love for my hot sauce,” said David Tran, CEO and founder of Huy Fong Foods. “The Lexus Sriracha IS is really the perfect mix for a ‘hot’ and ‘spicy car’ – just the way I like it.”In a press release issued today, Lexus unveiled that they had taken the 2017 IS sports sedan and made it "spicier" through a slew of special features. Below are the features as the press release details them:Official Sriracha IS Paint Job Lexus experimented with a range of mixtures and methods—including adding Sriracha sauce to the paint itself—to create the Sriracha Red color, complete with flecks of chili-like flakes. The custom paint job was designed to mimic Sriracha sauce inside the bottle and topped with a clear coating.Sriracha-Injected Steering WheelA Sriracha-like liquid was cast in resin, then formed into a Lexus steering wheel, complete with a warning for “Hot Handling.”Sriracha Temperature SettingsThe settings for the seat warmers and AC/heating system have been upgraded to go from cool to Sriracha hot. Sriracha Driving ModeSriracha mode tunes the powertrain for faster gear changes and more dynamic throttle mapping.Handcrafted SeatsPlush leather seats are hand-embroidered with the Huy Fong rooster logo, the Sriracha IS logo and green accents.Sriracha IS BadgingCustom badging on the side, rear and door wells identify this model, while illuminated callouts under the passenger and driver’s doors add a level of exclusivity.Sriracha Green AccentsTouches of green are a signature element of official Huy Fong Foods products. Bottle-cap green details throughout the car include: Spindle grille outline Hand-painted calipers Interior cabin mood lighting Chrome side view mirror accents Hand-stitching on the seats Fully Stocked Trunk The trunk is stocked with 43 bottles of Sriracha for emergency condiment situations.Key Fob with Remote Emergency Sriracha Activation The key fob includes an emergency chili button that dispenses the sauce from a nozzle on the fob, so drivers are always prepared.All Lexus For Sale

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