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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 Edward Jones – March 16, 2017

Spend Some Time Configuring a McLaren 720S

If you ever find yourself bored during the day, one of the best ways to be unproductive and pass time is to hop on a car configurator. Unfortunately, if you're like me, you've exhausted your options of new configurators. Luckily, the McLaren 720S configurator is now live for the world to use.This new configurator gives us all a chance to kit out a 720S to our liking. There are 34 different exterior paint options available, as well as option packs and individual options.I spent some time configuring my own McLaren 720S and ended up with what may be my dream car. I finished it in the MSO Defined paint called Fistral Blue and covered the exterior in every carbon fiber options, except for the hood. For wheels, I went with the Five Twin-Spoke Lightweight option, finished in Satin Diamond Cut. Inside, I chose the Scoria Grey with McLaren Orange. I picked this because I've always thought teal and orange go so well together (honestly, this color combo all started back in Halo 2 when I could customize armor).On top of all of these choices, there was a myriad of practical, safety and other options that I had the chance to pick from. The entire process was enjoyable and I even got a neat little PDF to go along with my finished McLaren 720S.You can configure your own McLaren 720S by clicking the button below.Configure Your McLaren 720S

By Edward Jones – March 16, 2017

The Dodge Demon Sounds Insane, Unreal and Downright Scary

When the Dodge Demon is finally released, it will most likely be regarded as the most insane production automobile that the American automaker has ever created. Unfortunately, we don't have the specifics on what the Demon's power will exactly be, we now know that all of the power translates into one of the most ferocious exhaust sounds I've ever heard.The video uploaded by Dodge is titled "No Pills." In the video, we see the rear of the Demon as it launches at a dragstrip. The raw sound of power coming from the exhaust is more powerful than that of the Hellcat, which is regarded as the best sounding muscle car on the road today by many. If you don't believe me, click play on the video below to hear it for yourself. If you're like me and hit "replay" a few times, don't worry, because you can download an official ringtone of the car.All Dodge Challenger For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 16, 2017

The Dendrobium is a Bizarre, 1,000 bhp Electric Hypercar

More and more electric hypercars are going to be released over the years, thanks to the advancements made in powerful car batteries and charging technology. One such car that made its debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show is the Dendrobium. If the name sounds familiar to you, then you must know your flowers quite well, because that's actually the name of a genus of orchids. I'll get to why the name is relevant in a few.Before the car made its appearance in Geneva, DRIVETRIBE had a chance to visit Williams Advanced Engineering, where the car was located. It was there that they got up close and personal with the bizarre hypercar.They learned that the car's electric powertrain packs over 1,000 bhp and has a promised 0-60 mph time of just 2.6 seconds. Top speed? The creators at Vanda Electrics say it will top out at over 200 mph.While the design overall of the car is quite different, it's the way the doors open that steals the show. When the doors electronically open, they do so in a fashion that's reminiscent of an orchid blooming--- it's quite the show.Check out DRIVETRIBE's video below to see the car for yourself and stay with us for more news on the car, because the creators say they plan on producing the car if the reception is positive.Supercars For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 15, 2017

Koenigsegg App Locates Where All Hypercars Are

Owning a Koenigsegg allows you to be in an exclusive club of hypercar owners that consists of only a few members. Not only do owners of Koenigseggs get together with other owners and invade towns, they also have an exclusive app according to Carbuzz. When Carbuzz chatted with Christian von Koenigsegg at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, he informed them of a new venture. Being called the Koenigsegg Owners App, this app provides owners with important information regarding their car and much more. This includes racetrack stats, software updates, GPS locating and much more. However, Christian von Koenigsegg has a special version of the app that allows him to see where all of the Koenigseggs are located at any given time. Before everyone cries "Big Brother" over the surveillance, he noted to the website that he has this ability because he "cares deeply about his customers, their cars and their ownership experience." Through the information provided, he can learn from their experiences and habits, and ultimately form a better customer experience in the long run. Supercars For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 15, 2017

"The Professor" Becomes Most Expensive McLaren P1 Ever

Known as "The Professor," this McLaren P1 was commissioned back in 2013 by a discerning buyer. He designed and purchased the car with the intent of driving it for a couple of years, selling it and then donating the proceeds from the sale to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in order to fund a professorship.Last week in Amelia Island, the car was auctioned off by Gooding & Co., and it ended up selling for a record amount.With the hammer price coming in at $2,392,500, it has become the most expensive McLaren P1 sold, not including the P1 GTR. When offered, there was no reserve set, but it still outsold its estimate of $2-2.3 million.Related - McLaren 720S Fully Revealed: Price, Specs and The Full StoryThe car is finished in what is called "Professor 2 Blue," a paint that was adjusted several times before it was to the owner's liking. Joining the blue exterior are red accent stripes, and wheels finished in matte black and silver. Inside, The Professor is one of just two P1s that were fitted with specially molded seats that were designed after the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona's seat pattern. The owner also had McLaren install a passenger side vanity mirror, which isn't standard, with the phrase "You look beautiful" etched into the mirror for his wife.All McLaren For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 14, 2017

Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance 2017

Dealing with adversity is essential to surviving a week of automotive delights. The weather of Amelia Island has more in common with Mid-Atlantic states because it is the northern-most part of Florida. Being a native, I can attest that rain is a way of life during Winter and Spring. duPont REGISTRY has been a sponsor of the Amelia Island Concours d'Eleagance since it began 22 years ago. In those two decades, the main event on Sunday has been host to bad weather, but nothing like what was in the works for last weekend. As the forecast deteriorated, founder and chairman Bill Warner made an unprecedented decision to move the show to Saturday.Saturday is normally host to a large Cars & Coffee show along with Festivals of Speed. Gooding & Company, RM Sotheby's, and Bonham's had planned for a day of auctions and fun as everyone prepared for Sunday. So once the announcement was made, everyone was sent in hopes of making Saturday one for the record books. We are not new to car shows, so with slight adjustments to the itinerary, we spent Friday showcasing the Aston Martin One-77. Taking place next door to us was a Porsche Werks Reunion with more air-cooled goodness than we have ever seen.Due to the accelerated schedule, our publisher decided to place our show cars directly on the field as they arrived. Confederate Motorcycles arrived with the latest P51 Combat Fighter and it has a few nice improvements from the prototype we saw at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. Airstream arrived with a Mobile Lounge version of their Interstate, and it was nice to have seating for nine with Bluetooth on the 1st fairway. Next to it was a pristine Porsche 911L from our collection. While most of Friday was spent getting ready for the show, we still found time to check out the auctions and reconnect with our fans. The sun tried to make an appearance Saturday morning, but the winds of change were blowing.The foreboding weather didn't keep the public away, as this year's show had incredible attendance. We were given a prime location next to the entrance to make sure everyone received our latest issue. By noon the clouds gave way to cool and windy weather, which made for a perfect event. The meteorologists were correct as Sunday was dark & stormy. We were able to think on our feet and make the best of a compressed schedule, and it turned out better than anyone anticipated.

By Edward Jones – March 13, 2017

Woah: The BMW M8 Supercar is Actually Happening

You may have never heard of it, but there was once a one-off vehicle called the BMW M8. This car looked similar to the M1, but had a massive 5.0-liter V12 engine capable of 550 horsepower underneath its hood. The M8 also had a six-speed manual gearbox, rear wheel drive and liberal amount of carbon fiber. Unfortunately, there was only one M8, which wasn't enough to rule them all. Thus, shortly after, most forgot about the M8 as it seemed as though BMW had retired the name.Until now.According to sources close to BMWBLOG, BMW will actually be creating a new M8. Actually, there will be three different M8 models: Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe. BMW ConceptWill the new BMW M8 be the automaker's new supercar? Well, if the original is an indication, it seems likely. BMWBLOG guesses that the car will pack a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine. And, they also go on to note that an eight-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission and all-wheel drive will be likely.Unfortunately, the one thing we want to see the most and don't have our hands on yet are pictures of the car. What about the images in this article? These are BMW concept renderings by Giom Image Art.All BMW For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 10, 2017

Reviewed: 2016 VW Passat

Badge Engineering is an auto industry term. It implies that automakers sell us different versions of the same car from each of their brands. With a tidy freshening in 2015, the VW Passat is now much closer to the Audi A4. We already covered the A4 a few weeks ago so this review will be brief. In the past, Audi and VW used the best tricks available to make the brands unique. But considering VW group's current situation there just isn't much money available for playing dress up. Before the latest generation was finalized we encountered several camouflaged prototypes running around Tampa Bay. VW's hot weather testing lab is behind the Burger King next to our HQ, but the Germans don't take kindly to being made on public streets. They are the ones responsible for ensuring the MQB chassis is up to the rigors of city life.The B8 platform is the basis for a dozen models from Seat, Skoda, VW and Audi. Somehow they spent $60 billion dollars in development so it will probably be around for awhile. The Passat is a conservative midsize sedan with more interior space than the previous generation. At time of press, only two engine choices were offered. The 1.8 turbo four and a 3.6 liter V6 are both bolted to automatic transmissions. We spent a week with the four-cylinder version and it proved to be a great commuter car. Going from the Audi A4 to the Passat was like moving from first class to coach, but it made us consider the target audience. VW builds cars for common folk. People who don't know anything about cars and don't want to are comforted by the simplicity. It lacks the whisper quiet insulation of the Audi, but the infotainment and most interior bits are shared.In a lap of our urban test loop, it proved to be a solid sedan, without the compromises and quirks of lesser brands. It is not underpowered, but wide open throttle is needed in a variety of common circumstances. As we expected, the console and dash were peppered with blank buttons for options our car didn't have, even though we had an SE with Technology package. Other markets might not care, but we found it slightly tacky. Steering and suspension are numb and unpredictable, and the seats are not as soft as they appear. But the safety and connectivity are top notch so Passat makes a great choice for those you care about. Pricing starts at only $22,400 which undercuts almost every domestic sedan. If you need more style, the CC or an Audi version might be to your liking. Stay with us for more VW news and reviews

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 Edward Jones – March 10, 2017

BRABUS Reveals New Mercedes-Benz 4x4 Monster

The BRABUS 550 Adventure 4x4², based on the Mercedes-Benz G 500 4x4², is more capable and impeccable than ever before. Its exterior is more pleasing to the eye, its power has been ramped up and its interior is more luxurious.BRABUS has taken the four-liter V8 Biturbo of the original G 500 4x4², rated at 422 hp, given it the new B40-550 PowerXtra upgrade. With two new turbochargers and more, the SUV's power is upped by 128 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque, putting it at 550 hp and 590 lb-ft. With the power, expect the 550 Adventure 4x4² to run 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds and hit an eventual top speed that's electronically limited to 130 mph.

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