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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 – December 04, 2015

Splinter: A Wooden Supercar with 600+ HP

At the Essen Motor Show 2015, there was a special supercar debut that was unlike any other. You see, this supercar is made of wood.Called "Splinter," designed by Joe Harmon, this car has a body and chassis that is built almost entirely of wooden composites. This includes woven strips of cherry veneer with a balsa core for the body and a laminated wood veneer monocoque. While it may be odd to see a car made of wood when there are materials like carbon fiber being used, you can't deny that the woodwork and design of this car is gorgeous.Being a supercar, you'd expect there to be some decent power being sent to the wheels. His website states that the included small-block 7.0-liter V8 engine will produce up to 700 bhp, definitely a good amount of power for a wooden supercar. This engine is placed in a mid-engine layout, with rear-wheel drive.The specification sheet for the car tells us of the background for the car, saying it started as a graduate project at North Carolina State University. Harmon then spent roughly five years building the car, with the goal of using wood in every possible application. He hopes that this will "lead to new ideas and perceptions of wood."Gallery (Source: JoeHarmonDesign.com)

By Edward Jones – November 19, 2015

New Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport is Too Extreme for the S...

Porsche has officially debuted the new race car that will be available for recreational or club racing: the Cayman GT4 Clubsport.The car, unveiled on November 18 through a press release issued by Porsche, is based on the already successful and exciting Cayman. It's a great addition to the Cayman range which sits between the Boxster and 911 ranges, and offers a thrilling ride for a great price.With 385 hp on tap, it sits below the legendary 911 GT3 RS (500 hp), but that is mostly because Porsche coins this car as a "mid-engine racer for motorsport newcomers," according to their press release. This power comes from a 3.8-liter flat-six, which exclusively features a six-speed Porsche double-clutch transmission with paddle shifters. Looks as though manual transmission fans missed out again.Being a race car, you'd expect a light weight. Right? Porsche notes that the Cayman GT4 Clubsport weighs in at 2,866 lbs, much less than the GT3 RS' gross vehicle weight rating of 3,792 lbs. The lighter weight was possible through the gutting of the car's interior. Inside the bare cabin, the German automaker added the necessary safety components, like the welded-in safety cage, racing bucket seat and a six-point harness.The press release states that the Cayman GT4 Clubsport is available for $165,000. Interested? You can order the car directly from Porsche Motorsport North America.Caymans For Sale (via Porsche)

By Andrew Nabors – November 18, 2015

Hennessey Performance CTS-V Now Packs 1,000 HP

Back in September we were "blown" away by the supercharged news from Hennessey Performance, when John Hennessey and his team of engineers took the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V from 640 hp to 800.In the meantime, they have pushed their Venom GT to only 1,451 hp. So the next logical step was to apply some of this knowledge into making the HPE 800 CTS-V even more powerful. Somehow, they are able to make 800 hp using the factory supercharger, which measures in at 1.7-liters of displacement. The recipe for more power involves more air, so they developed an all-new 2.9-liter blower. By force feeding almost three times the displacement of the Chevrolet Spark into the 6.2-liter V8, they have pushed the third generation to 1,000 hp at 6,300 rpm.Of course, to make this incredible level of power, a host of other modifications were made in order to make it a consistent and reliable system. Forged pistons and rods replace the cast units, and the camshaft is a proprietary grind. Because the larger supercharger makes exponentially more heat, the intercooler and heat exchangers are all new.Stainless headers and high-flow converters make it so everyone will hear you coming, wherever your destination may be.Each engine is professionally installed and dyno-tuned at their factory in Sealy, Texas. This allows them to offer a one year/12,000 mile warranty as part of the package.If you would like to be bothered by tire salesmen calling your house 24/7, the HPE 1000 CTS-V has the power to vaporize the best rubber that money can buy. As soon as video becomes available, you will see them here on Autofluence.CTS-V's For Sale (via Hennessey Performance)

By Edward Jones – November 16, 2015

Bugatti Veyron vs. Pagani Huayra vs. Ferrari LaFerrari vs...

The new hypercars have taken automotive enthusiasts over by storm, becoming the new dreams cars of today. These hypercars include, but are not limited to, the Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Pagani Huayra and Porsche 918 Spyder.YouTube personality, Salomondrin, has taken this group of cars, known as the "Hyper 5," and created a series of videos that pits them all against each other in a test of speed.Last week, they released a video of the preparation needed to create this new video series. And now, they have released a new video of the cars in action.The group of cars were driven around The Thermal Club's private track with James Sofranas of GMG Racing behind the wheel. In the video, he notes that he has never driven any of them track, taking out a possible variable.Be sure to check out the video above to see the cars in action and get ready for the final video next week.P1s For Sale ] Ferraris For Sale Veyrons For Sale (via YouTube) See More Automotive News

By Caitlin Duffy – November 10, 2015

Bugatti Veyron vs. Pagani Huayra vs. Ferrari LaFerrari vs...

It's not uncommon to see videos of one, two or even three supercars or hypercars taking each other on. But it's rare that you'll see five going head to head, especially when all five are still wearing stock wheels.But that's what Salomondrin and his team are in the process of doing. In one of the most impressive hypercar showdowns to date, YouTube personality Salomondrin and his community of supercar owners, the "CupGang," gathered five privately owned examples of the world's finest vehicles to see how they stack up.A video shared to YouTube Nov. 8 gives us a look at the first part of this showdown; titled "HYPER 5 - PART 1," the video features Salomondrin talking through the details and back story of each of the five cars involved. A Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, Porsche 918 Spyder and Pagani Huayra all take turns around the track with him behind the wheel, prepping for a show of force.Check out the race preview in the video below, then find your own hypercar for your collection from our exclusive listings.P1s For Sale Ferraris For Sale Veyrons For Sale (via YouTube) See More Automotive News

By Edward Jones – October 30, 2015

Chris Harris Reviews the Ferrari 488 Spider

Chris Harris has definitely taken advantage of the perks of being an automotive journalist and his video review of the Ferrari 488 Spider, uploaded today, is a perfect display of this.Right off the bat, he notes that the weather's terrible in England and this trip to drive the 488 Spider in Rimini, Italy was his way to spend a day in the sunshine.(See Also: P1 vs. LaFerrari vs. 918 Spyder 1/4 Mile: Part 2)During his drive, he talks about the rigidity of the car and its power, among other things."The performance of this thing leaves you wondering where everyone goes next," Harris says in the video. "It is much, much faster than the previous generation of super supercars. This thing would leave an Enzo for dead, no doubt about that."To see what he has to say about the 488 Spider for yourself, be sure to watch the video below and check out the Ferraris for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com.(via YouTube) More Ferrari News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 08, 2015

Supercars of Monaco Summer 2015 Compilation

It's no question that summer is the best season for supercar spotters, and it's well known that Monaco is one of the places where an inordinate amount of supercars can be found.Supercars For SaleSadly, summer has drawn to a close for the northern hemisphere, and there's a decent amount of time between now and the summer of 2016. To get you through the cold weather and lack of extreme horsepower, MDKSuperCars has shared a compilation of all their best spots from summer '15.(See Also: Ford GT Getting a New Front at Gas Monkey Garage)The 32 minute compilation video was shared on YouTube Oct. 7, and features almost every and any supercar, classic car, souped up car and aftermarket creation that you can imagine driving through Monaco's streets. Paganis? Check. Lamborghinis? Check. Ferraris, Bugattis, Porsches and Koenigseggs? Check, check, check and, yep, check.Watch the video to get your fill of summer supercar beauty, find your own supercar from our exclusive listings below and hold on tight until next year - we promise, summer will be back before you even know it.Editor's note: Do not attempt to recreate the driving methods seen in the video below - always be sure to obey local traffic laws when enjoying your supercars. Browse Listings (Source: YouTube) See More Automotive News

By Andrew Nabors – October 05, 2015

Checker, Maker of Iconic Classic Taxi Cabs, Announces 2 N...

Like a Phoenix erupting from the ashes, one of the most well recognized names in transportation is making a return to the road. In a Sept. 30 press release, Checker Motor Cars, the manufacturer behind the iconic American taxi cabs of yesteryear, announced two new models.Their last production model, the Marathon, was discontinued after the 1982 model year. Used almost universally by taxi and airport shuttle services, they featured incredibly rugged construction and remained relatively unchanged throughout their 22 year run.The first of their new models will be a sport pick-up crossover. It will have a truck bed blended with their new sedan for the ultimate in utility, with an appearance similar to the classic El Camino.Their next model will be a six-door Aerobus VI named the A888. Four rows of seating are accessed by four standard doors and two oversized rear doors. The third row will also fold flat for spacious rear legroom or cargo. Another welcomed surprise in the release is that the body is being configured for V8 power and all wheel drive.These two new Checkers will arrive with 120v inverters, composite body panels and all modern conveniences. As soon as more details become available, you will find them here at Autofluence.Checker Cars For Sale Gallery (Source: Checker Motor Cars) See More Automotive News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 02, 2015

10 Cars Tested In One Quarter Mile Drag Race

A Mercedes AMG GT S. The Bentley Continental GT3-R.Chevrolet's Corvette Z06, the Cadillac ATS-V, a Volkswagen Golf R and a Porsche Cayman GT4.A Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Mercedes-AMG C63 S. A Lexus RC F and the Cadillac CTS-V.Ten contenders from eight manufacturers, all launching off a starting line together. As Motor Trend says, it's the "World's Greatest Drag Race 5," and they did it because they can.All ten of these cars were lined up at the end of an abandoned airstrip at the El Toro Marine Base, and under the hot Southern California sun they hit the gas and shot off. Each was named one of Motor Trend's 2015 Best Driver Cars, and in their YouTube video shared today, they tested the 10 against each other to see which one can finish a quarter mile faster than the rest.Which one do you think is the winner? Which one is fastest off the line? Let us know in the comments, and then find your own version of the cars above from our exclusive listings. Browse Listings (Source: YouTube) See More Automotive Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – September 29, 2015

DeLorean Spits Monster Flames with Racing Exhaust

You're hard pressed to find a person who doesn't know the name "DeLorean." If not from a love of the automotive world, then they most likely have seen it on a screen as it accelerates to 88 mph before ripping through the space-time continuum in the "Back to the Future" movies.This DeLorean, however, can hit a higher speed than just 88 mph, and instead of leaving flames on the road, it's shooting them from the exhaust.After being gutted out and refitted with Weber carbs and race exhaust, this DeLorean now weighs just 2,500 pounds and creates 210 hp, as the caption of a Sept. 27 YouTube video from DtRockstar1 tells us. Putsch Racing is the team behind this DeLorean's refitting, and it's being prepped for international rally events.When the video was taken, it still had its stock engine, but once fitted with a racing PRV engine, it's expected to produce up to 280 hp.The video starts with a quick walk around of the DeLorean before a solid 30 seconds of some of the largest exhaust flames to ever come from one of these cars. It then takes you for a quick ride around town, though at some speeds we wouldn't recommend hitting on public roadways - remember, always follow local traffic laws, especially if your engine is better suited for the racetrack.Check out the video above, and then find your own DeLorean from our exclusive listings at the button below.DeLoreans For Sale (Source: YouTube via Autoblog) See More Automotive Videos

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