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

Polestarproductsustainabilitydeclaration001

By Andrew Nabors – April 07, 2021

Polestar Plans Truly Carbon Neutral Electric Car by 2030

Because offsetting carbon is a cop out Ad agencies have a tough job when it comes to selling electric cars. Promoting the benefits and range while maintaining a good image for their brand can be hard. Because electric car production puts a toll on the environment, Polestar is planning a truly carbon neutral electric car by 2030. Volvo's performance division has been spun off by the Chinese automaker Geely. Buying and trading carbon credits to offset your company's pollution can be seen as a sleazy move by those truly dedicated to keeping clean. Polestar's CEO Thomas Ingenlath says: "By pushing ourselves to create a completely climate-neutral car, we are forced to reach beyond what is possible today. We will have to question everything, innovate and look to exponential technologies as we design towards zero.” Last year we mentioned that technical support would be handled by Koenigsegg, so the Polestar 0 will be a fun machine. We have Volvos of all ages waiting for you, so tell us your ideas for a new Polestar in the comments below! Shop Volvo Images (C) Geely Motors

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 05, 2021

Shop The Period Correct Spring/Summer '21 Collection Avai...

Period Correct is best known for taking the influential history of motorsports and incorporating it into its apparel collections for enthusiasts of all kinds to enjoy. The automotive apparel brand is proud to announce the release of its Spring/Summer ’21 Collection featuring an array of products and designs made to style any driver on or off the track. Made using premium materials, Period Correct focuses on producing jackets, sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, t-shirts, hats, and accessories that are designed to look and feel good. The vintage days of racing are highlighted using period-correct colors and patterns, just like the liveries on race cars competing to make automotive history. Whether it's re-imagining your closet or needing the perfect keychain for your own vehicle, Period Correct has you covered. Shop all of the apparel and accessories from Period Correct’s Spring/Summer ’21 Collection by clicking the link below. Shop Period Correct Image Source: Period Correct For more Gear news, Check out EveryDrive Carry: Ford GT Essentials

By Andrew Nabors – April 05, 2021

New 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS Arrives April 15th

The IRS is not amused! Get your deductions itemized because the new 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS arrives on April 15th. Their first battery-electric sedan is the cornerstone of a new EQ lineup. It rides on a modular chassis that will also underpin its siblings, the most capable of having a class-leading range of 478 miles. Both the front and rear engines de-couple from the road while coasting, the free-wheeling effect saves power A few million miles have proved the car's abilities, even if its limited to 130 mph. Officially rated at 516 horsepower, you will also have 419 lb-ft of torque at almost any speed. Buyers who want the most range will be riding on a battery rated at 107 kWh. It is also eligible for a Federal Tax Credit of $7,500, but we won't know the sticker price until the formal debut. Their goal is to be carbon-neutral by 2039, and the new EQS is a perfect starting point. Stay with us for all the details! Images (C) Daimler AG

By Andrew Nabors – April 02, 2021

Fast Financials: Porsche Posts Strong Start to 2021

Only a few cars short of the record! Economy cars and light trucks were hit hard by the pandemic, but Porsche saw a strong start to 2021. In their first-quarter sales report, we can see what our dealers have been singing. Deliveries in the U.S. are up by nearly 45% compared to last year. They saw 17,368 new Porsches find their owners, only 192 cars behind their Q4 of last year, their best quarter of all time. Model January-March Sales Year to Date 2021 2020 2021 2020 ALL 911 2,782 2,590 2,782 2,590 ALL 718 1,506 400 1,506 400 ALL TAYCAN 2,008 221 2,008 221 ALL PANAMERA 451 1,184 451 1,184 ALL CAYENNE 4,230 3,822 4,230 3,822 ALL MACAN 6,391 3,777 6,391 3,777 GRAND TOTALS 17,368 11,994 17,368 11,994 Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of PCNA: “Porsche passion is alive and well in the United States. These results are a testament to the drive of our dealers and colleagues as well as the strongest lineup of cars we’ve ever had – from the 911 to our first electric sports car, the Taycan. We are able to deliver exceptional experiences to our existing customers while also exciting new audiences. We have ambitious goals for the future and will continue to forge ahead, exceeding expectations along the way.” Browse New Porsche For Sale Image (C) Porsche Cars North America

Introducing VSS Imagine the first SpaceShip III in the Virgin Galactic Fleet 04 1200x674 c14bfda

By Andrew Nabors – March 31, 2021

Virgin Galactic Unveils the VSS Imagine

Sir Richard Branson has made Space Tourism a reality After 17 years of development, Virgin Galactic has finally unveiled the VSS Imagine. It is the first in a new class of spacecraft, and it will enter testing this Summer. It was towed onto the tarmac yesterday by a new Range Rover Astronaut Edition at their headquarters in New Mexico. Allowing commoners to leave the atmosphere will also slash travel times from hours to minutes, and their goal is to reach 400 flights per year. Much like its predecessor, it will be carried up to 50,000 by a mothership before a rocket shoots everyone to an altitude of 68 miles. Because it doesn't have the speed to reach orbit, it won't be exposed to intense heat on reentry. Over 600 tickets have already been sold thanks to the successful test flights of the prototypes, and the passengers will be in for a 2.5-hour ride. With a range of 2,600 nautical miles, it would be nice to have a transcontinental vacation getaway. We enjoy bringing you the best in travel and leisure opportunities, so hopefully, we will have a full review of the experience in the near future. Stay with us as the countdown approaches. Images (C) Virgin Galactic

By Andrew Nabors – March 29, 2021

Hennessey Mammoth 900 TRX Screams on the Dyno

This 4WD Demon Can Barely Be Held Back! How many safety straps does it take to contain a beast? All of them! The new Hennessey Mammoth 900 screams on the dyno in order to validate their latest offering, and it combines all the innovations unleashed on their Charger and Challenger packages. Starting with the top end, the team adds more fuel with new injectors to handle more boost. The supercharger is treated to a new snout with upper and lower pulleys before 200 miles of road testing. Once the tune was safe on the street the most successful dyno run yielded 728 horsepower and 679 lb-ft of torque. Almost 150 horsepower over what it made from the factory, you will keep Raptors in your rearview. Click the button to see what Hennessey Performance can do to your truck and stay with us to experience the Mammoth 100 and 1200 that are coming soon! Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2021

Dodge Offers Ingenious Security Upgrade For Hemi Cars

Thieves will think twice! Even if someone grabs your keys and cranks it up, Dodge is offering an ingenious security upgrade for Hemi cars. Owners of Chargers, Challengers, Hellcats, and Demons 2015 and up can stop by any dealer for a software upgrade. This will allow you to lock the engine's programming with a 4-digit code. Failure to enter the code or guessing incorrectly will set the self-destruct program....We could only hope... But in a more hilarious move, the car will be limited to idle at 675 rpm. Limited to a top speed of 3 mph will undoubtedly lead to a few (very) low-speed chases. Not only is this a great feature, its a good time for a warm-weather checkup since Summer is almost here. Your 808-horsepower Demon will be choked down to 2.8 horsepower and 22 lb-ft of torque. Browse Dodge Challenger Browse Dodge Charger Image (C) Stellantis

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2021

Fast Financials: Buy Your Tesla With Bitcoin

Last month the auto industry laughed at Elon Musk for allowing Tesla to purchase $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. Many have speculated that this one move did more to legitimize the currency than any other event, and the value speaks for itself. With the markets in turmoil and oil on the rise, crypto seems to have been a great investment. That's because he most recent tweet makes it easier to get in a new car. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1374617643446063105 This was followed by him explaining that Tesla doesn't need to convert your coins to cash, as their internal software is open-source and it operates Bitcoin nodes directly. Thanks to the visibility of blockchain transactions, Tesla can hang on to these coins until the perfect time to cash out. Who knows, perhaps this is a highpoint for the currency, in which case it would make sense to jump in an electric car before you are left holding the bag. Tell us your thoughts on Tesla in the comments below. Shop Tesla Bitcoin Chart by TradingView Image (C) Startech

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2021

How Fast Is the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupé?

Don't try to race it, you will lose! Understated performance is a hallmark of everything they do, so how fast is the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe? Alpina focuses on more than just power. Their goal has always been to offer a comprehensive enhancement of style, driving dynamics, and interior luxury. As such, their latest creation is much more appealing than the M8 it is based on. We're not going to load you up with the details because you would be here all day. It is pretty, it is competent, and it is an 11-second sedan. Starting with the cooling system, their intercoolers are 50% larger than those on the M850i. New exhaust, intake, and turbos allow it to cruise at 201 mph, and on your way there you will reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. This 2-ton sled loaded with every conceivable luxury launches harder than almost any other production car. It does so because you have 590 lb-ft of torque at only 2,000 rpm. Brake-boost the beast and 612 horsepower is unleashed. The 8-speed automatic has received hardened internals from ZF, and Eibach developed the suspension with optimal corner weights. Rear wheels can steer up to 2.3 degrees and xDrive can be left in RWD for incredible drifts. The finer options include a carbon fiber roof and 8 choices for interior wood trim. Perhaps the best news is the annoying safety nannies can be omitted to make it a more relaxing ride. Pricing starts at $139,990, a bargain for such a sleeper. Tell us your best BMW stories in the comments below. Browse BMW 8-Series For Sale Images (C) BMW

By Andrew Nabors – March 23, 2021

Mecum Glendale Tops $42 Million In Sales

Somehow they did it again. For an encore performance in Glendale, Mecum was the hottest auction in Arizona. Seeing a 14% increase over last year's event, they achieveved an 86% sell-through for $42.3 million dollars. This much action compressed into three days kept us glued to the live stream, and it is nice to see classics and exotics bringing impressive numbers. Big-block Corvettes are always worth a small fortune, but the L88 can't be cloned like the tri-power cars. Being a factory race car and having its original engine pushed the bids into record-setting territory. Other familiar faces include the Boss 429 Mustang and an SLS AMG, but we haven't seen a 550 Barchetta Pininfarina for a while. The Steve Todhunter collection drew bids from around the world, so we invite you to join us in Houston on the weekend of April 8-10. Browse Upcoming Mecum Lots 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe (Lot S122.1) at $2,695,000 2016 Ferrari F12tdf (Lot S105) at $880,000 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO (Lot S103) at $720,500 2006 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo (Lot S109) at $605,000 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 (Lot F123) at $495,000 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (Lot S101) at $451,000 2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina (Lot S106) at $440,000 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster (Lot F104) at $440,000 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback (Lot S114) at $385,000 2018 Mercedes-Benz G550 Brabus Edition (Lot S220) at $379,500 Images (C) Mecum Auctions

Articles

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe