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 Jordan Aquistapace – February 15, 2021

An Exclusive Supreme x Sea-Doo Spark TRIXX Release For Sp...

When it comes to Supreme collection releases, the accessories are the highlight, as the New York streetwear brand collaborates with companies to create truly unique products. The much anticipated Supreme Spring/Summer ’21 Collection set to release soon, just got a lot more interesting with the addition of the Supreme x Sea-Doo Spark TRIXX watercraft. Although it’s not the first power sports release, history reveals that the limited production item will be the most popular piece of the drop, resulting in a favorable investment for any streetwear collector. The personal watercraft created as a freestyle machine combines a lightweight and nimble design with a Rotax 900 Ace-90 horsepower engine to easily maneuver throughout the water. The exclusive Sea-Doo is styled using a sticker pattern of Supreme’s most iconic designs, with the infamous Supreme script incorporated into the seat and front facia of the watercraft. No matter the outcome, we hope to see Supreme x Sea-Doo Spark TRIXX on the water this summer. Pricing and production quantity has yet to be announced, so check back in on more release information on the Supreme Spring/Summer ’21 Collection. Supreme For more Gear news, Check out How To Buy: Puma x Porsche KING Platinum 911 Legacy Soccer Cleats

By Andrew Nabors – February 11, 2021

Mercury Marine Unveils 600 HP V12 Verado

Don't blame your old inboard for leaving you stranded, be happy that Mercury Marine has unveiled a 600 horsepower V12 Verado. Nothing about this is conventional, and it is that mentality that has kept them on top for the past 60 years. Starting at the top, we pop the hood (no cowling, the hood is electric) to find a 7.6-liter V12 with quad cams. It sends power to a 2-speed transmission and on to the steering gear. While the powerhead is bolted rigidly to the transom, the foot can steer 45 degrees off the centerline. Not only do you have 30 more degrees to maneuver, but this beast can also be mounted much closer to its siblings. Low gear gets you on plane and then the downshift cuts the rpm by 20% to offer nice fuel savings. A double-roller timing chain never needs to be serviced, and all maintenance can be done in the water. Would you take four of these or the Ferrari Hydroplane for sale?

By Andrew Nabors – August 31, 2020

Pershing to Unveil All-Aluminum 140 in Monaco

Reaching 140 feet is a milestone for any Naval Architect and a skilled shipyard. While their first 140 was an exercise in several metals, Pershing is set to unveil their first all-aluminum 140 in Monaco this weekend. This gorgeous yacht has an ingenious cathodic protection for years of oceangoing pleasure. While the prototype had a movie theater, the owner commissioned this ship to have a full-width bedroom accessed by a private lounge. Piero Ferrari, head of the Ferretti Group worked with architect Fulvio De Simoni for over a year to finalize the details. Here is what it takes to build an aluminum yacht: " width="680"> Three fold-out sides make a nice beach for tanning and an easy way to moor tenders and PWC's. It is the first-all aluminum ship by Ferretti's Super Yacht Yard at Ancona. The Ferretti Group Private Preview is by invitation only from Sunday to Tuesday in Monaco. Literally making waves around the world, their third keel is already laid, with the shipyard planning to launch next spring. Click the button below to learn more and stay with us for all your luxury yachting news. Learn More

By Edward Jones – March 10, 2017

Bugatti Chiron Yacht is a Masterpiece

There are few cars more extreme in terms of luxury and power than the Bugatti Chiron. With 1,500 horsepower on tap and a cabin fit for royalty, few vehicles compare to the Chiron...except for maybe Palmer Johnson's new Limited Edition Bugatti Niniette 66, inspired by the Chiron.This luxury sport yacht combines the heritage, power and exclusivity that both the Palmer Johnson and Bugatti brand's are known for. Each Bugatti Niniette 66 is crafted to the customer's desires. The website dedicated to this yacht states: "Myriad possibilities are available to achieve your desired level of customisation. Select from a countless selection of materials, colours and finishes. Let your choice make you."Only 66 examples of the Bugatti Niniette 66 yachts will be created, making them very exclusive. As far as prices go, nothing has been noted, yet.Supercars For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – November 03, 2016

Reviewed: Aston Martin AM37

Back in September, we received a press release about Aston Martin's nautical experiments. The AM37 was formally revealed in Monaco and we have been waiting to see it in action. We keep our reviews limited to land-based transportation, so we turned to Harry's Garage for a proper shakedown run. Initially, the boat was to be powered by twin Mercruiser 8.2 liter big blocks, but it appears that Aston Martin pulled out all the stops. Under the deck are twin 8.6 liter V8 engines (540 cubic inches) which are descendants of Chevrolet's legendary 572.(Related - St. Louis Auto Detail Protects Aston Martin Vulcan #19)If your boat has 1,040 horsepower, what would you do with it? Mulder Design builds the wildest watercraft money can buy, so they took an idea from Aston Martin and made it a reality. The cockpit is inspired by features found on the Vulcan and One77. Carbon fiber and teakwood are not normally found within close proximity, but it's clear to see the hand finished quality of every piece. Down below is a cabin lined with rosewood and leather. The front mounted TV is a nice touch, but we hope it's up for serious vertical motions in choppy seas.With an MSRP of 1.5 million GBP, we would keep it in fresh water to protect the investment. But to make sure it performs as well as it looks, Harry took it out into the Mediterranean for a few high-speed runs. The soundtrack from the exhaust is undeniably American, but the latest from Aston Martin looks at home along the European shoreline. No mention of production has been made, but perhaps a few examples will find a home on this side of the pond. If this project is given the green light, you will see it first here on Autofluence.Aston Martin For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 08, 2016

Lewis Hamilton Helps Debut Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder A...

This year's F1 race in Monaco brought out the spectators and the brands you'd expect, with Mercedes-AMG leading the way. Lewis Hamilton was met with a frenzy of fans and photographers before boarding the Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder AMG Monaco Concept, which was revealed at the race. Hamilton and fellow Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team member, Nico Rosberg, hit the waters to put their non-track driving to the test.(Related: New Mercedes-AMG GT3 Cigarette Boat Revealed)Combing Mercedes race concepts with nautical know-how, Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette racing combined forces to create the ultimate speed boat. The bullet-like race boat is fitted with twin Mercury Racing 1550 engines. The exterior was designed by a Mercedes-AMG design team while the nautical experts handled the power of the vessel.Check out more photos of the Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder AMG Monaco Concept below.

Articles

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe