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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 – May 12, 2017

Lamborghini Gets Stunned by Insane Nissan GT-R

I have tried to understand racing from a rolling start but it never seems to make sense. Nevertheless, GTBoard.com has a knack for finding unlikely comparisons, and this one is perfect for the weekend. Somewhere in Europe a Nissan GT-R received a ton of aftermarket upgrades and decided to take on a Lamborghini Huracan. Both are AWD with dual clutch transmissions. Both have launch control and powerful software so it would be great to see this happen at a 1/2 mile drag strip. It takes serious willpower for a V6 to call out a V10, but the GT-R has a few tricks up its sleeve.Also Check Out Our Hottest Cars Of The WeekE85 is a wonder fuel that is much maligned by the oil-funded press. Made from corn or sugar cane, it is essentially 200 proof moonshine with a hint of gas to keep us from indulging. It offers a few horsepower on naturally aspirated engines, but turbos love it. That's because the alcohol cools the intake charge more efficiently than any intercooler. Cooler air is more dense, which allows for more boost. It also has an octane rating of around 110, allowing cars to run much more ignition advance. More boost, more torque, and much more fun! This GT-R is rated at 863 horsepower and 833 lb-ft of torque, but we don't know if that is engine or wheel horsepower. The Huracan makes 610 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque at the engine (assuming it is stock). Would you drive a stock Lamborghini over a modded Nissan? Tell us why in the comments below!

By Andrew Nabors – April 10, 2017

Nissan's Trail Warrior Is One Mean Rogue

The New York Auto Show is just around the corner, so Nissan has built two wild concepts based on their best-selling Rogue. Inspired by a dystopian future devoid of roads, the Trail Warrior is wrapped in camo and equipped with Dominator tracks from American Track Truck. They are 48" long and 15" wide for the ultimate in go-anywhere fun. A Warn 4k winch is integrated into the front bumper to pull lesser vehicles out of bad situations. Our specialty is selling exotic cars, but you can't deny the appeal factor of this rugged rig.Power is from the regular production 2.5 liter four making 170 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Those might not sound like thrilling numbers, but given the gear reduction of the track system, it will be great fun. Also retained is the Continuous Variable Transmission that offers fuel efficiency and smooth operation. The roof features a full-width LED bar and a cargo rack to hold your gear. We don't know the details of the other concept just yet, so stay with us for more Nissan News and coverage of the show.

By Edward Jones – April 07, 2017

Nissan GT-R Police Car: Won't Run Away From This One

The cop cars you see on the road may be fast, but they're definitely not as quick as the Nissan GT-R. That being said, Nissan has gone ahead and created a GT-R police car to make sure nobody is running away from the boys in blue. Introducing "Police Pursuit #23."Okay, this car isn't actually going to be a real cop car, but it sure looks like it. Nissan created the car as a project vehicle as a way to envision what a police cruiser could look like if it was taken to the extreme.While we all know that underneath this car rests a monstrous twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine (565 hp and 467 lb-ft of torque), it's the modifications that steal the show. Per Nissan, these are the modifications made to its exterior: "carbon fiber/glass front wide-body fenders, carbon fiber rear fender flares. customized front bumper, a custom carbon fiber rear wing with custom wing mounts, carbon fiber side mirror housings, push bar and special window tint." The 22-inch wheels installed on the car are also quite bizarre, meant to mimic the steel wheels on common police cars. Also, they have spikes.Related - Shaq's New Police Car is a Freakin' Hellcat Of course, a bunch of carbon fiber isn't going to turn a GT-R into a cop car. To make that happen, Nissan installed a long list of modifications that include lights that are installed on just about every surface, graphics, loud speaker and, of course, a siren.If you'd like to see this car for yourself, it will be around New York next week, but will not be on the 2017 New York International Auto Show floor.Sports Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 27, 2017

2017 Nissan GT-R Track Edition Revealed Before Official D...

The third model in the GT-R lineup for 2017 will be the new Nissan GT-R Track Edition. Nissan states in a press release that the new Track Edition was "designed to deliver a higher level of performance than the GT-R Premium," while using elements of the top-of-the-line GT-R NISMO.“The new GT-R Track Edition gives buyers a specialized model, one true to GT-R heritage and available only by special order,” said Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “Building on the major upgrade to every GT-R for 2017, the Track Edition is an amazing package inside, outside and under the skin.”

By Andrew Nabors – February 03, 2017

Reviewed: 2017 Nissan Titan Pro-4X

If you have been out of the full-size truck market for a few years, the hottest race in half-ton pickups is taking place offroad. Everyone seems to be adding rugged suspension and mud tires to otherwise stock trucks for aggressive looks and confident prowess in 4WD situations. Chevy unleashed the Colorado ZR2 to answer the latest Ford Raptor, and Dodge let us spend a week with their Ram Rebel. Not to be outdone by American offerings, Nissan has added a Pro-4X trim level to the Titan.You might find it interesting that every Nissan Titan has been built in Canton, Mississippi. It might be more American than our domestic brands, so they sent us a new one for a week of review. Titan has never seen a V6, and every model is powered by a 5.6 liter V8. It makes 390 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. Single cab models start at $29,500 which makes Titan one of the most powerful vehicles under 30 grand. The Pro-4X package is a mid-level offering aimed at those who need to get dirty once in awhile. Starting at $45,020, it adds Bilstein shocks and 18"x8" wheels wearing 275/70 all terrain tires. Skid plates are added to the radiator and transfer case, and the latter is 2 speed with electronic shift on the fly. Projector fog lights integrated into the new lower bumper will illuminate the trail ahead, and a class IV receiver hitch will keep your cargo under control.Driving the latest Titan is easy. With a nice bump in ride height, traffic is easy to see. Riding on 70 series tires is a throwback to a simpler age. Having so much sidewall between the wheels and the road, cornering feels like something from the Disco era. But they soak up speed bumps and potholes like nothing else, so take your 24"s somewhere else. Nothing remarkable about a seven-speed automatic transmission, and the tall tires made for a deep overdrive. Power is adequate, invoking the locking differential for a proper smoke show. Sure it could use more power, but not at the expense of fuel economy. City mileage is rated at 15 mpg, but we couldn't achieve it on a lap of St Petersburg. At almost three tons, Titan is a victim of too many amenities. Like a plague on all full-size trucks, they seem to think we need dual zone climate control, 120v inverters, and climate controlled seats. Please stop the optional overload! The Pro-4X should have a 5-speed manual, crank windows and no carpet. But the Nissan Titan Pro-4X is a great truck in every circumstance, so stay with us for more Titanic news & reviews.All Nissan Titan For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 10, 2017

Nissan Unveils Stunning Vmotion 2.0 Concept

Everyone loves a glimpse of the future, so Nissan has pulled the wraps off their latest concept at the North American Auto Show. As a preview of styling which will appear on upcoming models, Vmotion 2.0 has innovative and appealing aspects. Debuted alongside the new Rogue Sport, the pair made for a press pandemonium. Nissan has sold over 1.5 million vehicles for two consecutive years, and styling has much to do with the success.(Related - Audi Reveals Bizarre-Looking Q8 Concept)Up front, the Vmotion 2.0 grille makes the corporate logo seem to float in 3D. Air inlets that will hopefully be functional on production cars are meant to evoke the "emotional geometry" design language. This involves crisp lines and sharp angles to make the long wheelbase sedan appear smaller than it is.A panoramic roof stretches from windshield to trunk lid, for a "floating roof" design. The A-pillars and roof frame are one piece from dash to trunk. It is a bold move, but often times these fail to meet federal rollover tests. Boomerang tail lights are another cue to emphasize the width of the car. A nice finishing touch is a rear diffuser with subtle LED lighting. Having such a bold shape down low will help with safety at night. Chief Creative Officer and Executive VP Shiro Nakamura stated in the press release: "Technology is evolving. SoChief Creative Officer and Executive VP Shiro Nakamura stated in the press release: "Technology is evolving. So is design. At Nissan we see design as the ultimate expression of how customer see themselves, but also an expression of the vision and values of our brand,". "Vmotion 2.0 previews what the future designs from Nissan will be. And it is an insightful proposition of what the future sedan could be in the coming years."Search Sports Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 14, 2016

Alpha Performance Alpha-G GTR Sets New World Record

One of the most contested world records out there and one that switches hands all the time has to be the Nissan GT-R quarter-mile record. Since I've been writing about cars, I've seen the record broken on countless occasions, but each new record is just as exciting as the last. (Related - Modified Lamborghini Huracan Hits 236 mph, Breaks Record) The latest car to break the record was the Diamonds By Wire Alpha Performance Alpha-G Nissan GTR, driven by Gidi Chamdi. The record-breaking run happened at Milan Dragway new Detroit, Michigan where the track temperature was 58 degrees, which is far from an ideal temperature. But, that didn't stop the 2,500+ hp monster from getting work done with a pass of 7.14 @ 212 mph. You can view the run and Chamdi's fantastic reaction in the video below. The entire run is also detailed in AMD Performance's blog post, so be sure to check it out. All Nissan GT-R For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 26, 2016

2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo Price Unveiled

A decade of dominance is cause for celebration. Nissan's GT-R has been with us for ten years, and for 2017 the NISMO edition will receive a few exclusive upgrades. The engine now makes 100 hp per cylinder from only 3.8 liters. Twin turbochargers are used to deliver 600 hp and 418 lb-ft to all wheels via a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. A new titanium exhaust system allows the turbines to spin up earlier than the Premium edition. Other goodies only found on the NISMO edition include a new hood and "V motion" grille along with a dry carbon rear spoiler.A new 8" screen allows the number of switches to be reduced to 11 from 27. Premium models have more Alcantara on the inside while NISMO editions have leather wrapped Recaro seating. For better handling Nissan has strengthened the car's unibody by adding more bonding adhesive between the panels. Spot welding is giving way to full length panel adhesion these days, and it can be seen in the aftermarket also. The new Premium edition will set you back $109,990, and the NISMO starts at $174,990. The GT-R offers something for everyone, so please check out the listings from our dealers below and stay with us for all Nissan news.Nissan GT-R For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – April 08, 2016

Nissan GT-R Performs World's Fastest Drift- Literally

In the Middle East, Dubai specifically, Nissan is known for breaking records. In fact, this new record marks the car company's fifth record in the region.On an airstrip at Fujairah International Airport, an MY16 Nissan GT-R, driven by famed Japanese drifter, R. Masato Kawabata, beat out the previous GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for fastest drift. Kawabata hit speeds of "304.96 km/hr (189.53 mph/hr) and 30 degrees angle," in the GT-R, according to a press release from Nissan.Regarding the record, Samir Cherfan, Managing Director of Nissan Middle East stated:"The Nissan GT-R is one of the world’s most iconic supercars, proving time and again the incredible breadth of its capabilities, and has clearly demonstrated its performance leadership by beating the best drift cars out there. The fact that this achievement was set here in the UAE makes it even more special for our region. Setting this incredibly difficult world record was a clear demonstration of the excitement we are bringing to the Middle East with the Nismo brand." Nissan GT-Rs For Sale

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