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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 – December 06, 2019

duPont REGISTRY 2019: All 12 Issues For A Great Price

You've been good all year, so you deserve a dozen of the world's best car magazines. We have been the most trusted resource in the exotic car world for 35 years, and we could not do this without your steadfast support. As we approach the Holliday season, we wish a Merry Christmas to you and yours. Click the button below to place your order, and safe travels. Click Here To Purchase All 2019 for only $29.99

By Andrew Nabors – December 04, 2019

Lamborghini Huracan EVO Expedition Cruises Through Malibu

A great recipe for advertisement it to place celebrities in your products. Your goal is to tell us how many people you recognize from this quick trip. In their latest upload, a Lamborghini Huracan EVO expedition cruises through Malibu. In my humble opinion, the Huracan EVO Coupe & Huracan EVO Spyder offers the convenience and reliability of a daily driver, along with supercar performance. Browse All Lamborghini Huracan For Sale No turbos, superchargers, or hybrid assist. This is a bulletproof V10 sending power to all wheels. Great visibility along with rear-steering makes it easy to drive, and the price won't break the bank. Click the button above to experience one for yourself. " width="680"> Related: Lamborghini Huracan EVO Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – November 26, 2019

Porsche Cayenne Coupe Airlifted to Top of Mountain

Sugarloaf Mountain, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was missing something at the top of it. It seems Porsche knew this because they placed an example of the new Cayenne Coupe on the top of the mountain. This was not a simple task for the team. Sugarloaf Mountain is situated on the coast and juts out into the ocean. With no easy way up other than a gondola, the cayenne Coupe had to be airlifted up via helicopter. Check out the operation by clicking play down below. SEE ALL PORSCHE CAYENNES FOR SALE " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 25, 2019

Tesla Cybertruck Pulls Ford F-150 Uphill

Alright, so the Tesla Cybertruck has been unveiled and the reaction has been... interesting. The angular truck has caused a lot of buzz and just about everyone has talked about it. There are two aspects that people have talked about: its style and the glass breaking during the presentation. This is a bit unfortunate because people should at least be mentioning the 14,000+ lbs towing capacity of the tri-motor AWD version and its range of over 500 miles. To give you an idea of what the Cybertruck can do, Elon Musk uploaded a video of it dragging a Ford F-150 uphill during a tug-of-war battle. You can see it below. SEE ALL TESLAS FOR SALE https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1198751258384818176

By Andrew Nabors – November 22, 2019

ICON 4x4 Uploads BR Bronco Configurator

Jonathan Ward and his team have been restoring Broncos for decades. A majority of their customers want every option, and there are dozens to choose from. From hard top, half-cab, soft top, and the bikini, you have four body styles to start with. From there, your Bronco can be one of a few million configurations. That's why we listed almost every option here for you: Model: Trim Levels: New Shcool Fabricated, Old School, Or Derelict Color: Any Color You Desire Wheel & Tire Tell us how you would build your BR Bronco, and stay with us for more ICON updates. Build Your Icon Bronco Here " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – November 20, 2019

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee: November 2019

We work between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. If you have ever experienced unpredictable weather, we got you beat. Nevertheless, nothing except a hurricane has ever canceled our monthly gathering. While we had two displays at the Tampa Auto Show, our devoted fans arrived before dawn. What began as a humid morning allowed dew to form on even the best of paint jobs. That's why our dealers kept some cars idling to prevent condensation. Many of our regular muscle car fans stayed home, but it was a good turnout from exotics. We have to thank Dimmitt (McLaren, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Rolls-Royce & Aston Martin), Elder Ford, Paddock1, Bert Smith and everyone else who helps make this show possible. Hopefully, next month will be clear and warm. So, we'll see you in December!

By Edward Jones – November 14, 2019

2020 Audi S8 Revealed: A Lesson in Luxury and Power

Coming soon to the United States is the all-new 2020 Audi S8. This new sedan comes packing a powerful 4.0-liter TFSI biturbo V8 engine, which packs 571 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Audi says it can run from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, a feat that's possible thanks to the quattro all-wheel-drive system and quattro sport rear differential. As expected from an Audi with an "8" in its model name, the interior is spacious and luxurious. Some four-door sedans may have to worry about second-row space, but not the S8. Rear passengers have a multitude of features that Audi says "provide for a first-class atmosphere," including optional reclining, heated and ventilating seats. Interested? The 2020 Audi S8 has a starting price of $129,500, but there are plenty of options to choose from to make that price go up. For more information, be sure to find your local Audi dealer by clicking the button below. SEE ALL AUDI'S FOR SALE

By Andrew Nabors – November 13, 2019

2020 Jack Roush Edition Mustang Unveiled

Ford shocked the world with the latest Shelby GT500 Mustang. Having 760 horsepower and 625 horsepower is amazing, until Cactus Jack pulls up next to you. We witnessed the 2020 Jack Roush Edition Mustang being unveiled, and it is not for amateurs. Instead of using the 5.2 block found in the Shelbys, they developed a new Roushcharger for the bulletproof 5.0 V8. Jack himself designed the intake system. He is one of the true automotive geniuses that can see airflow more precisely than any computer modeling. This has resulted in 775 horsepower and 670 lb-ft of torque. Instead of a dual-clutch transmission, you have one clutch-operated by your left foot! Yes, manual transmissions can be built to handle such power, it is clearly evident in how his NASCAR teams never seem to lose a gear. Browse All Roush Mustang For Sale A total of 70 cars will be built, 60 for the U.S. and 10 for the world. The price for such power is $50,995 in addition to a new Mustang GT. This makes it a hair more expensive than the GT500, but it comes with more power and three pedals. Other parts included is their active exhaust, active rear spoiler, and closed loop cooling for the oil, transmission and differential. Click the button above to find an authorized Roush dealer and stay with us for all your Roush Performance updates. https://www.facebook.com/ROUSHperformance/videos/2409941575927983/

By Andrew Nabors – November 12, 2019

Lotus Exige Sport Recreates Historic Hillclimb

One of the best drivers of all time was Jim Clark. He was a master behind the wheel, and amassed dozens of wins for Lotus. Before winning two F1 titles in '63 and '65, he attacked the Bo'ness hill in Scotland. Somehow the footage of the even has been lost to time, so a new Lotus Exige Sport for sale was used to recreate the historic Hillclimb. To make it as authentic as possible, Lotus fitted their latest model with Jim's license plates and racing number. Commentary by legendary racing reporter Graham Gauld is the perfect soundtrack. Browse All Lotus For Sale Because every Lotus is built as light as possible, it is easy to carve the perfect line up the mountain. In fact, having too much power will keep you from hugging the corners. That is why driving a Lotus is unlike anything else you will experience. Kudos to Lotus for building such nimble machines. Click the button above to find one near you and stay with us for all your Lotus news. " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 12, 2019

Aspark Owl Revealed: World's Quickest and Most Powerful P...

After a long wait, the new Aspark Owl from Japan has been unveiled and the automaker has a lot to say about it. More specifically, they're saying that their new Owl hypercar is both the fastest accelerating car and the most powerful electric hypercar for sale in the world. If these statements are true, then that would make the Owl the next benchmark car. First, we'll start off with its powertrain, the source of the Owl's maddening speed. There are four electric motors powering the Owl, which produce a total of 2,012 horsepower, just a tad more than the 1973 hp Lotus Evija. What's more, the Owl has a max of 15,000 rpm. For the battery, a centrally-mounted lithium-ion battery holds onto a total power of 1300 kW. It can also be charged in 80 minutes with a 44kW system. Now onto the previously mentioned accolade regarding speed. First up is its acceleration. According to the automaker, the Owl will run from 0 to 60 mph in 1.69 seconds. That's... insane. This number would actually put it above the Tesla Roadster 2.0's touted 0 to 60 time of 1.9 seconds. Secondly, it has a top speed of 248.5 mph. These numbers would not only the quickest production car ever, but a groundbreaking car in general when it comes to electric car top speeds. Only 50 examples of the Aspark Owl will be created for the entire world, each being completely customizable. The base price is set at €2,900,000, which is about $3,194,000 USD. One can reserve the Owl with a deposit of €50,000, roughly $55,000 USD. Production of the electric hypercar will be taking place in Turin, Italy with deliveries expected around Q2 2020. You can learn more by clicking here. see all exotic cars for sale Source: Aspark Co. Ltd

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