Articles

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 Jordan Aquistapace – June 09, 2023

LEGO Announces A New 2022 Dakar Rally Audi RS Q e-tron Bu...

Those who love rally cars can put their skills to the test as they build this LEGO Technic Audi RS Q e-tron model.

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 31, 2023

The 2024 Q8 e-tron Is Audi's New Flagship Electric SUV

Audi opens a new chapter for its electric lineup.

By Gabriel Vega – March 30, 2023

The Audi Activesphere Is A Rugged Off-Roader That Augment...

This concept event has a usable bed out back.

By Andrew Nabors – April 30, 2021

Audi Sport Unveils Six Bright Shades of the R8 LMS GT2

Taste the rainbow! Monza was fun for almost everybody this year, and Audi dominated the event. To celebrate the prowess of the latest R8 LMS, six new colors have been added to the program. This celebrates 13 years of the R8 racing around the world, and their latest GT2 car is tough to beat. It arrives with 640 horsepower to all wheels, unencumbered by street-legal civilities. Two weeks ago we saw a double-victory at Monza. It prompted Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport Customer Racing to say: “With one model per color, our Color Edition guarantees pure individuality and will not be issued a second time like this. It is unique compared to our competitors and attracts attention – whether as a collector’s item or as a race car at track days and competitions.” In case you missed it, Audi Sport has revamped all the RS models along with a bit more power for the 2022 R8 lineup We invite you to see what makes the R8 so consistent and comfortable by clicking the button below, and stay with us for all your Audi news. Browse Audi R8 For Sale Images (C) Audi Sport GMBH

Small 8433 2022AudiRSe tronGTEuropeanmodelshown

By Andrew Nabors – April 19, 2021

2022 Audi RS e-tron GT Making U.S. Debut in Malibu

This one was worth the wait! Next Saturday in Malibu we're going to witness the future of Audi. Malibu Cars & Coffee is the setting, and we'll see the first Audi RS e-tron on this side of the pond. It will only be shown from 10 to Noon, so it's time to camp out. As a new flagship for the brand, it arrives with 637 horsepower and 612 lb-ft at all wheels. It's enough to launch you to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, just as fast as an R8 V10. Because it borrows the 800v renewable energy system from the Taycan, your new e-tron can be charged at any Porsche/Audi dealer or their nationwide network of Electrify America stations. DC fast charging will have you at 80% in 22 minutes, and fully charged you will have a range of 238 miles. Our dealers have all the options and pricing, so click the button to learn more and stay with us for all your Audi news. Shop Audi E-tron Image (C) Audi AG

By Andrew Nabors – November 05, 2020

2022 Audi RS e-tron GT Is Ready For Production

Going electric has been hard on many brands. While lesser automakers have struggled to make the leap, Audi Sport enjoys a challenge. Thanks to extensive testing by engineers and their Formula E team, the 2022 Audi RS e-tron GT is ready for production. 2020 Audi e-tron Sportback is Ready for Summer Lucas di Grassi won the first Formula E race and has since become an authority on electric power. That is why the press release shared his insights on the upcoming car. When reaching the end of a trip, the car offers charging suggestions to the driver and responds by warming or cooling the motors and battery. Suspension borrowed from the Porsche Taycan includes triple airbags and rear-wheel steering. Finally, the system easily offers 270 kW at each end for a total of 684 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque. The first examples to arrive are already spoken for so click the link to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Audi updates. Browse Audi For Sale

7654-2021AudiRS6AvantRSTributeEditioninNogaroBlue

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 09, 2020

The 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant "RS Tribute Edition"

The Audi RS Avant will be touching U.S. tarmac for 2021 in the form of a special edition RS 6 model. The Audi RS 6 Avant RS Tribute Edition will pay homage to the 25th anniversary of the original RS 2 Avant that rocked the automotive world in the early 1990s. The release will be limited to 25 chassis for the true Audi enthusiasts, each designed to mirror the visual aspects that made us fall in love with the RS 2. The RS Tribute Edition will be presented in Nogaro Blue Pearl with a black shadow line trim seen from the top roof rails to the bottom diffuser and everywhere in-between. Separating the RS 6 Avant from the road are silver 22-inch 5-spoke aluminum wheels paired with bright red-painted brake calipers. Grip and braking are essential to control the performance from the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 capable of 591 horsepower. The Audi Valcona S Sport seats feature carbon twill balanced with classic denim blue contrast stitching to reimagine the past and present of Audi interiors. The iconic RS logo is throughout the interior, including the sport seats, steering wheel, and floor-mats. The Audi RS 6 RS Tribute Edition comes standard with the driver assistance and executive packages. The newest release from Audi is currently available with an MSRP of $136,800. For more information on the 2021 Audi RS 6 RS Tribute Edition, click the link below. Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – May 29, 2020

Audi RS 5 Behind the Scenes

For many years, Audi has kept their hottest models in Europe. That was because the relatively small number of RS enthusiats were not enough to justify the process to federalize the cars. Now with Audi's popularity at an all-time high, the RS Series are hard for dealers to keep in stock. Offered as a coupe and Sportback. Both start at $74,200, which is a bargain considering the 2.9-liter twin-turbo offers 444 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. Using the latest in Quattro AWD, it leaps to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 174 mph. Click the button for great incentives from our dealers and stay with us for all your Audi news. Browse Audi RS 5 For Sale

Making-of-RS--How-Audi-Sport-GmbH-shapes-the-character-of-its-RS-models--7368

By Andrew Nabors – May 26, 2020

How Audi Sport Develops the RS Lineup

Most luxury automakers have a high-performance division. While most performance cars are simply a sprinkling of chassis & engine tuning, Audi takes performance to an unprecedented level. Look in the door jamb of any R8 and you will notice something unique. Audi's top-level cars are built by a separate company: Audi Sport. What began as "Quattro GMBH" has been the R&D center for all VW brands. By divorcing luxury and performance brands, each company is held accountable for their separate goals. Top 50 Best Exotic Cars & Sports Cars Of All Time Of course, most of this is trivial to the average enthusiast. The only way to purchase Audi Sport models is at Audi dealers, but your experience will be more refined. Inquiring about an RS model alerts the staff that you mean business. You want a car that has been tested wide-open on the 'Ring. Audi Sport Manager Oliver Hoffmann had this to say: "RS vehicles have a strong and unique character: spontaneous maximum performance wherever and whenever desired, and effortless performance on long journeys. An RS is a true Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde. It is important for every kilometer, no matter how it is driven, to be an experience. This is achieved thanks to breathtaking design, high-end look and feel, and outstanding quality." Click the links below to find yours and stay with us for all your Audi news. RS 3 For Sale RS 4 For Sale RS 5 For Sale RS 6 For Sale RS 7 For Sale RS Q8 For Sale R8 For Sale

Tech-talk--How-Audi-plans-to-bring-20-all-electric-models-to-market-in-the-next-five-years-7026

By Andrew Nabors – May 06, 2020

Audi Announces Updates for 2021 Model Year

Audi never stops innovating, and they have a nice array of upgrades for 2021. If you have been on the fence about upgrading to their latest model, here are nice updates we can all appreciate. A4, A5, S4, S5 While being all new for 2020, this year the 4-cylinder models incorporate receive a power increase of 13 horsepower and a 12v mild-hybrid electric vehicle system. New for 2021, the A4 40 TFSI is now standard equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive, and an A5 Sportback 40 TFSI quattro is introduced. The Convenience package now includes a heated steering wheel and parking system plus (front and rear parking sensors). Perhaps the best news of all is that the Premium Plus trim is now standard equipped with adaptive cruise control with active lane assist, top-view camera system, and hands-on detection steering wheel. Heated rear seats are now standard on the Prestige trim across the A4/S4 model line and the A5/S5 Sportback. A4 For Sale A5 For Sale S4 For Sale S5 For Sale A6 & S6 Premium trim is now standard with 19-inch wheels with all-season tires (2.0-liter engine variants), advanced key, and integrated toll module. The top-view camera system and MMI Navigation High (10.1-inch display) has been added to the optional Convenience package available on the Premium trim. On the Prestige trim, the power rear window and manual side sunshades are now standard. The Black optic sport package is now available on all trims and adds black optic exterior accents, 20-inch bi-color wheels with all-season tires and sport suspension. The 2021 A6 for sale now includes Adaptive Cruise Assist including Audi active lane assist as part of the available Executive package on the Premium Plus trim. The S6 is now standard equipped with 21-inch wheels with summer tires, virtual cockpit plus, and carbon twill inlays now accent the cabin. Adaptive Cruise Assist including Audi active lane assist is now part of the available S6 Executive package on the Premium Plus trim. A6 For Sale S6 For Sale A7 & S7 Additional standard features and design offerings for 2021 include 20-inch wheels with all-season tires that are now standard on the Premium trim. The top-view camera system and MMI Navigation High have been added to the optional Convenience package available on the Premium trim. Adaptive Cruise Assist including Audi active lane assist is now standard on the Premium Plus trim on every A7 for sale The S7 for sale now comes standard equipped with 21-inch wheels with summer tires, virtual cockpit plus and carbon twill inlays. Adaptive Cruise Assist including Audi active lane assist is now offered in the optional S7 Executive package. A7 For Sale S7 For Sale A8 & S8 All A8 for sale now have 22-way ventilated front seats, the Audi phone box and top-view camera system with Virtual 360 view. The A8 60 TFSI is now standard equipped with the Sport style exterior kit, HD Matrix-design LED headlights and Valcona leather interior. The available Executive plus packages includes 20-inch wheels with all-season tires, the Driver Assistance package, Cold Weather package, front heated interior surfaces, rear heated seats, and a rear seat remote control. The S8 is now standard equipped with 21-inch wheels with summer tires and front heated armrests. The S8 Black optic package includes black exterior trim, black mirror covers, and 21-inch 10-Y-spoke bi-color wheels with summer performance tires. A8 For Sale S8 For Sale Q3 The Audi Q3 45 TFSI® is now offered exclusively in an S line exterior. On the Premium trim, power front seats with lumbar support are now standard, in addition to Audi lane departure warning, progressive steering, and shift paddles on the steering wheel. The available Convenience package now includes an auto-dimming interior mirror with compass, heated, driver auto-dimming, power-folding exterior mirrors, and an LED interior lighting package. On the Premium Plus trim, Audi cruise assist, the customizable LED interior lighting package plus, and a stainless steel trunk sill are all now standard equipment. The optional Technology package now includes a Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System and traffic sign recognition. New for 2021, an available Parking Assistance package adds a top-view camera and park steering assist. Q3 For Sale Q7 & SQ7 After a major refresh last year, some of the new features include additional driver assistance features. Audi side assist, pre sense rear and pre sense front are now standard on the Premium trim. The available Convenience package on the Premium trim (standard on Premium Plus) now includes a heated steering wheel and top-view camera system with a virtual 360 view. The newly available Executive package on the Premium Plus trim combines the Cold Weather, Warm Weather, and Driver Assistance packages. On the 2021 SQ7, a heated steering wheel is now standard on the Premium Plus trim. The optional Executive package on the Premium Plus trim now includes the leather package, including leather upholstered armrests. Q7 For Sale SQ7 For Sale Q8 Their flagship SUV is now standard equipped with additional driver assistance features and updated packaging. Audi side assist and pre sense rear are now standard on the Premium trim. The available Convenience package now includes a heated steering wheel and top-view camera on the Premium trim. The Premium Plus trim now includes a heated steering wheel. The newly available Executive Package, offered on the Premium Plus trim, includes Adaptive Cruise Assist including Audi active lane assist, HD Matrix-design LED headlights, heated rear seats, and leather upholstered armrests. Dynamic photo, Color: Daytona grey Q8 For Sale SQ8 For Sale TT The TT family has been updated to feature newly standard equipment as well as a refreshed color program. S sport seats in Fine Nappa leather, Audi smartphone interface, MMI Navigation plus, Audi Connect, Audi side assist, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system are now standard equipment across the model line. Interiors of the TT Coupe, TT Roadster, and TTS now feature extended leather interior elements as standard. The standard 18-inch wheels are now fitted with all-season tires instead of summer tires, and new 19-inch wheels with summer tires are available as a standalone option. The TT Roadster now features standard neck-level heating, and the TTS is now standard with 20-inch wheels with summer tires. TT For Sale These are only the major upgrades, so our dealers will have all the info. Stay with us for all your Audi news.

Articles

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe