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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 Nicole Slaughter-Graham – August 22, 2016

Revealed: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante

Pebble Beach, aka one of the most exciting car events of the year, is a great place for reveals, and Aston Martin used the opportunity to debut their Vanquish Zagato Volante.(Also Read: Cadillac Escala Concept Revealed, Shows Future Design)Limited to 99 units, the new Zagato Volante will be created as an answer to "overwhelming customer interest for the previously revealed Coupe." The new Zagato model will hold true to the brand's lineage and maintain many of the design elements the compilation is known for. According to a company press release:"The Vanquish Zagato Volante shares its proportions with the Coupe, a quintessential Aston Martin form with a classic Zagato twist, evoked by round tail light reflectors that use the same 'bladed' LED technology as the Aston Martin Vulcan supercar. The twin cowls on the rear deck blend into the leading edge of the luggage compartment, concealing a bespoke folding hood derived from the mechanism used in the Vanquish Volante. Carbon fibre sills around the lower body create a pronounced horizontal emphasis that runs from front to rear."Vanquish Zagato Volante Specs Engine: 6.0-liter V12 Horsepower: 592 hp 0-60 time- 3.7 seconds The interior of the vehicle is held to Aston Martin's high standards. Options for customization for the ultimate in aesthetics and style is provided by the automaker's 'Q' division. Offered is an array of high-quality materials, which include herringbone carbon fiber and the finest leather available.Price and full specs have not been released at this time, but stay tuned for updates. Deliveries are set for 2017, though no concrete time frame has been established.View All Aston Martins For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 26, 2016

Aston Martin Bids Farewell to the DB9

Aston Martin's factory in Gaydon, England is tooling up for their new DB11. The new model is the successor to the DB9, so we all knew this day was coming. In a late night post to their Twitter page, they announced the final nine cars are ready for inspection. With one of the longest runs in the world of exotic cars, we first saw the DB9 back in 2004. Designed by Henrik Fisker, it is powered by a 6.0L V12 making 510 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. Built as a coupe and convertible (Volante), the engine and body are built by hand using methods passed down from master to apprentice. We have been fortunate to sell quite a number of them along with having them as the centerpiece of our events. The DB9 is as close to automotive perfection as you will find. Farewell to an icon. The last nine Aston Martin DB9s are now ready for final inspection. pic.twitter.com/arpi2NPus7 — Aston Martin (@astonmartin) July 22, 2016 Hand sewn leather and wood are the best form of holistic stress relief. The rear mounted automatic transmission offers more cockpit room than competitors along with a more balanced weight distribution. Nothing else sounds as refined and powerful as the big 12-cylinder when provoked. Yes the new model will be an amazing performer, but everyone here has fond memories of the DB9. If you have never considered an English supercar, we implore you to experience one for yourself- you won't be disappointed.Search DB9 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 22, 2016

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Heading To Production

Aston Martin and Zagato have been collaborating for years, and their latest concept has sent every other designer back to the drawing board. First unveiled at the Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este, we figured the complex carbon fiber body would be limited to the concept only. But last night Aston Martin shocked the world by confirming a limited production run.Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Specs Engine: 6.0-liter V12 Horsepower: 591 hp 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds Production Run: 99 examples Body Construction: Carbon Fiber Release Date: Q1 2017 The press release states that only 99 examples will be built. Aston Martin's factory in Gaydon has more in common with Zagato than any other facility. Both companies choose to build cars by hand. More than a new body, Vanquish Zagato will arrive with more power and an Italian tuned suspension. Hopefully, this means no power steering and stiffer springs. What we do know is that Aston Martin upped their 6.0-liter V12's power up to 591 hp, creating a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.Various design aspects of the new Vanquish Zagato were borrowed from various Aston Martin cars. For example, it features the "bladed" LED lights from the Vulcan and wing mirrors that resemble the ones on the One-77. This car really is a culmination of everything great Aston Martin has created in the past years. For the construction of the car, the English automaker opted to comprise the bodywork entirely from carbon fiber.Stay tuned to see this masterpiece in action once they arrive at our dealers. In the meantime check out great offers on 2016 models:Vanquish For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 20, 2016

Street Legal Conversion For Aston Martin Vulcan

Track cars are great on the track, and street cars are fun on the street. But crossing between the two worlds is often nearly impossible. A few Aston Martin enthusiasts have derided the Vulcan as being an illogical purchase since it is not street legal anywhere in the civilized world. Those fortunate enough to have purchased them are relegated to having the car transported to and from events.Even Mr. Spock had to use the transporter every once in awhile, but now there is an alternative. Based in Northamptonshire, RML (or Ray Mallock Limited) is a racing & motorsport engineering firm that has been a dominant force in Touring Car racing for three decades.By working with Aston Martin engineers they have developed a conversion process to make them street legal in the UK. If you can spare your car for three months, the metamorphosis will produce one of the meanest cars on the street.Since track cars have no need for pollution, cleaning up the exhaust is a great starting point. This will undoubtedly involve the addition of catalysts along with a more conservative fuel tune. Crash test simulations will be done in the virtual world, as crashing a production model would be incredibly expensive. Improved lighting and convenience features will be addressed, all while keeping Vulcan ready for the track.Our friends at Cleveland Motorsports have the only Vulcan for sale in the US, so we hope this conversion will be legal on this side of the pond. RML hopes to have the first conversion done shortly, so stay tuned to Autofluence for more Aston Martin updates.

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