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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 – February 01, 2018

2019 Corvette ZR1: Fastest Production Car At VIR

A week is an eternity when it comes to lap times. Unfortunately for folks in Dearborn, Chevrolet only allowed the Ford GT's time at the top to be short-lived. In a YouTube video uploaded earlier today, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 has lapped Virginia International Raceway in 2.37.25.This comes a week after Ford announced their time of 2.38.62Ford GT Sets New Lap Record at VIROur friends over at The Drive received an email from Ford that basically said they wouldn't be chasing lap records in their latest supercar. Meanwhile, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, mad scientists decided to refer to the ZR1 engine as BAS, an acronym for Big @ss Supercharger. These opponents could not be any different. Chevrolet uses a 6.2-liter V8 to make 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. The Ford GT is a 3.5-liter V6 that offers 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque.Ford turned to Multimatic for engineering and production, which is capped at 500 cars annually. The ZR1 rides on the Corvette's 7th generation chassis that has been in production since 2013. A press release from Chevy says the automatic ZR1 was stock. The only mods were the recommended track settings for wheel alignment and aero that are listed in the owners manual.2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: 10 Facts You Need To KnowVice President of Global Product Development Mark Reuss had this to say: “The Corvette ZR1’s lap record at VIR, arguably America’s most challenging road course, is a testament to its supercar status. On the racetrack, the ZR1 can compete with any supercar — at any price.”Aside from a slight difference in retail price, Chevrolet doesn't care who you sell your ZR1 to once you are tired of it. To add insult to injury, a Corvette Z06 was also tested, earning a lap time of 2.39.77. This is just over a second slower than the Ford GT. Whatever the Corvette plant is cooking up is bound to be just as impressive, so stay with us for the latest news from Chevrolet Performance.Browse Corvette ZR1 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 30, 2018

Lego & Bugatti Tease A NewCollaboration

Two days ago was Lego's 60th Anniversary. The iconic building blocks have influenced children around the world, and their Technic division loves to show off the inner workings of complex machines. It has also inspired new forms of cursing thanks to foot-induced trauma. We suggest keeping your bricks illuminated at all times, lest they migrate to the kitchen at night.LEGO and Ford Team Up at Le Mans With This Model In the same way the Lego-Porsche 911 GT3 RS used perfect scale replicas of the car's components, the Bugatti Chiron will be just as fun to assemble. A quick glance at the parts shows us two W16 engines, along with a few of the driveline components. As you probably know, the Bugatti Chiron is the successor to the record-breaking Veyron series. The 8.0-liter W16 engine has been updated with port injection in addition to the direct injectors. Instead of four equally sized turbos, two pairs of sequentials offer a much wider torque curve.2018 Land Rover Discovery Drives Over World’s Largest Lego Structure To make sure your children are safe, Lego will probably crash test this bug-sized Bugatti much like they did with the Porsche. It seems as if the talent of the Danish toymakers is nearly limitless, so tell us which kit you like the best in the comments below.Browse Bugatti For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 30, 2018

Lotus Teases Two New Cars and an SUV

Known for building small & nimble sports cars, Lotus is on the verge of a major revival. In an interview with England's CAR magazine, CEO Jean-Marc Gales spilled the beans on exciting new models. First will be two new sports cars, and the duo will be their first new offerings since the launch of the Evora.Lighter, Faster, & Stronger: Lotus Unveils the Exige 380He mentioned the less-expensive model will rely on their existing aluminum chassis because: "It’s still a benchmark for lightweight, crash resistance and longevity". CAR then alludes to a carbon fiber chassis, not unlike those used by McLaren. Lotus has recently come under the control of Chinese auto giant Geely motors. Among their other brands is Volvo, so these upcoming models might finally move away from the Toyota V6.Finally, Gales confirmed that a Lotus SUV is in the works. We're not sure how Colin Chapman would feel about this, so let's hope it is the lightest & most nimble utility ever built. If you need less weight and more agility in your life, our dealers have smoking Lotus leases for your consideration. Click the link below for more details and stay with us for all your Lotus updates.Browse Lotus For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 29, 2018

Ford Performance's 8-Car Shootout!

Just when we thought we'd seen it all, a press release from Ford this morning shows an 8-way battle royale between their top models. At a track near Barcelona, the participants included the new Ford F-150 Raptor; Fiesta ST, all-new Fiesta ST, Focus RS, new Mustang GT, Mustang GT350R, Ford GT road car and Ford GT race car for a staggered time trial around the 3.3-mile course.Top 10 Fastest Quarter-Mile Times!Most of these use the latest in turbo technology. Ford's EcoBoost turbos make massive power from small engines, while also offering superior fuel economy. The EcoBoost V6 powers the Raptor and both Ford GT models, while the Focus and Fiesta use inline fours. The most significant comparison is between the Mustang GT's 5.0 and the GT350's 5.2-liter V8. They are close in displacement, but the latter is the first to make use of Italian inspiration in an American production car. What is essentially two four-cylinders sharing the same block, it sacrifices low-end power to achieve a 9,000 rpm redline.What brought these models together was a tire test by Ford's Chip Ganassi race team. With drivers specialized in all forms of motorsport, their insights will be sent back to the factory for perfecting each car. Ford decided to shoot this film in 4k, so enjoy this test and tell us which one you want in the comments below.Browse Fords For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 26, 2018

Nissan Unveils Autonomous....Slippers

If you want to be polite in Japan, please leave your shoes at the door. Learning the ways of eastern culture can be overwhelming at first, so Nissan has developed self-parking slippers. If you arrive back to your hotel in Hakon, the sight of self-aware footwear might have you questioning how much Sake you had.That's because Nissan's ProPilot Park system has been scaled down from the Leaf in order to fit inside a sandal. Sensors in the soles and a micro control board are used to guide them back to where they belong. For now, the only Nissan vehicle to offer the system is their all-electric Leaf, and it was introduced for the 2017 model year.Nissan GTR For Sale: The Affordable SupercarIf you want to experience it for yourself, they are offering a free night at the ProPILOT Park Ryokan for one lucky pair of travelers. The press release says that in order to enter, contestants must tweet using the hashtags #PPPRyokan and #wanttostay between Jan. 25 and Feb. 10. The slick slippers will also be on display at Nissan Headquarters in Yokohama from February 1st to 4th. One day all cars will park themselves, but until then click the link below to find great deals on the GT-R and stay with us for all your Nissan news Browse Nissan GT-R For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 26, 2018

Jamie Foxx And His New Vanderhall Venice

This year is shaping up to be monumental for Vanderhall Motor Works. Their innovative & addictive three-wheelers are unlike anything else on the road. By using a small turbocharged four cylinder, they offer incredible fuel mileage and smiles per gallon.Actor and Comedian Jamie Foxx is known has a passion for unique cars, so last year he shocked us with a gold-wrapped Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. If that one didn't grab your attention, he also purchased the Beast from our friends at Revzani Motors. #newtoy the @vanderhall got that sexy 3 wheel motion #mysexylook #texasboy #standupcomedian #vanderhall A post shared by Jamie Foxx (@iamjamiefoxx) on Jan 25, 2018 at 9:48pm PST The Vanderhall is another great choice because the Venice spools up instantly and it has more grip than most supercars we get to drive. I had a chance to drive one around Anaheim last year, and it is the most fun you can have while offering clean emissions, heated seats, climate control, and a fast-acting stability system.Vanderhall Motor Works Groundbreaking New FactoryWe recently helped them unveil the Edison, which is an all-electric version of the Venice. If you need 200 miles of electric cruising for only $35,000, click on the link below to put your name on the waiting list. Congrats to Mr. Foxx on another fine purchase, and stay with us for all your Vanderhall updates.

By Andrew Nabors – January 25, 2018

McLaren Special Operations Delivers 10 Wild 570S Coupes

The Rolex 24 at Daytona is almost here, so endurance racers from around the world are heading to Florida. In order to pay homage to their 570S GT4 program, McLaren Special Operations have built ten 570S coupes inspired by their race team.Known as MSO X, some of them are sporting liveries last seen on the F1 GTR in the mid 90's. On the roof is a carbon fiber "gooseneck" which is an air intake for the engine. Other historical tributes include the front dive planes, the MSO titanium sports exhaust, and a GT4 hood with functional intakes.McLaren 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint Added to LineupJoylon Nash is the Executive Director of Global Sales, and he said: “The MSO X collection is the perfect example of the rich vein of bespoke service offered by McLaren Special Operations. Customers come to us with their thoughts and ideas and MSO works with them to set boundaries within which they can then let their imaginations run wild. What could be better than a McLaren buyer playing the role of ‘race engineer’ in briefing the MSO team and directing them to test and validate those ideas to create a race-bred road car such as this?”On the inside, the track-oriented interior is unlike anything in their Sport Series cars. From the exposed carbon fiber Monocell to the carbon shell racing seats, it is ready for the track. All ten cars have a color-matched harness bar to hold the 6-point harnesses. And of course, the normal seat belts are included. That is because they are still street legal, and have lost none of their conveniences. The parking sensors, front-end lift, and air conditioning are all standard.Project MSO X was commissioned by McLaren Newport Beach, and the cars were delivered to their owners at a private event in Las Vegas. Being the most successful McLaren dealer in the US, take a look at their inventory in the link below, or allow them to unleash the talents of McLaren Special Operations. Which car looks the best? Tell us why in the comments and stay with us for all your McLaren news.Check Out McLaren Newport Beach

By Andrew Nabors – January 25, 2018

BMW 8 Series Prototypes Testing In Italy

Italians head to the 'Ring to break records, and the Germans are testing their new models in Italy. In order to build the Ultimate Driving Machine, BMW announced the 8 Series is in the final stages of testing. A teaser silhouette was uploaded to social media earlier, and it was accompanied by a press release. A private track outside of Aprilla is home to Bavarian engineers who are hard at work calibrating the various systems and beating the snot of the test cars.BMW M8 GTE In Final Testing For DaytonaThese are big shoes to fill because technology has made giant advancements since the last 8 Series was built. This new car will make us forget about 1999, and Y2K, and it's quirky V12 engine. In an unorthodox move, the first 8 Series to reach the USA is already in Daytona. The M8 GTE is preparing to battle it out at the Rolex 24. It will hopefully give us a better idea of the production car, which is slated to arrive later this year. Tell us what you think it will have under the hood, and stay with us for all your BMW updates.Advertise with duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – January 24, 2018

Land Rover To Unveil 2-Door Range Rover At Geneva

In order to celebrate 70 years in the business, Land Rover has commissioned their Special Vehicles Operations department to build something iconic and modern. The original Range Rover launched as a 2-door SUV back in 1970. So in a press release this morning, they announced a limited run of Range Rover SV Coupes.Sports Cars For SaleChief Design Officer Gerry McGovern said: “The Range Rover SV Coupe is a highly compelling design with peerless refinement and uncompromised sophistication from its breathtaking exterior proportions to its sumptuous, beautifully appointed, interior. This is a vehicle that will resonate on an emotional level,” Only 999 examples will be built, which includes left and right-hand drive models.The image shows a gorgeous interior with stitching worthy of royalty. Wood and 2-tone leather should be standard on every SUV, so we applaud them on this project. With such a limited production, these are destined to be instant collectibles. Tell us what you think it will resemble in the comments below, and stay with us for the live stream unveiling and all your Land Rover updates.Browse Range Rover For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 23, 2018

BMW Group Announces Record Sales For 2017

It is lucky number 7 for the brands of BMW Group. For the 7th consecutive year, they have recorded ever-increasing annual sales. The core brands of BMW and MINI were the big winners, but the M Division and BMW i also had record numbers. For those who prefer two-wheel action, BMW Motorrad sold a record number of bikes.How To Sell A Ferrari 458 ItaliaBMW's core brands are split between cars and the BMW X series of SUVs. Cars saw a 4.2% increase, and the American-built X series is up by 9.6% from 2016. The launch of the innovative 5 Series Sedan with its carbon composite structure saw a jump of 6.3%.The press release also contained shocking news. BMW set a goal of selling 100,00 electrified cars for the year. Sales of the i Series along with the electric MINI models combined for a total of 103,080 cars. If you haven't driven an i8, you are truly missing out. The future is here, and it can be found at your local dealer. This achievement has spurred them to aim for over half-million examples on the road by the end of 2019.Reviewed: 2017 BMW i8Not to be outdone by voltage, the M Division also ended the year on a high note. One caveat is the M Performance versions are tallied along with the M2, M3, M4, etc. Sales are up by 19.1%, which is attributed to the first full model year of the M2 along with M Performance versions of the new 5 Series. Tell us which BMW piques your interest in the comments below, and stay with us for all your BMW news.

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