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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 Edward Jones – December 07, 2016

Lamborghini Centenario Spotted in Transformers: The Last ...

The upcoming movie "Transformers: The Last Knight" will be the fifth film in the Transformers cinematic saga. This film will be the final Transformers to be directed by Michael Bay, who has been behind all of the films since the beginning. One thing that he has always brought to the movies is action, great CGI and some radical cars.In "The Last Knight", we'll be seeing yet another great showing of cars, including the Lamborghini Centenario. While we've only been able to see the car from behind the scenes, the latest trailer shows us a glimpse of the Italian supercar in action. You can check out the trailer below to see the car for yourself.To see even more of the car, head to your theaters come June 23, 2017 when "Transformers: The Last Knight" is released.Get Movie Tickets Now

By Edward Jones – November 03, 2016

World Series MVP Ben Zobrist Presented With 50th Annivers...

They did it. That Chicago Cubs have won the World Series in a stunning fashion.If you didn't watch last night's game, you missed out. I'd have to say that it was one of the most exciting sports matches I've ever watched, and I watched the " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>.To put the Cubbies in the lead was Ben Zobrist, a former Tampa Bay Rays player. With a swing of the bat and a crack at the ball for a double, he sent home Albert Almora Jr., resulting in runs that would create history. Naturally, he was selected as the World Series MVP. Zobrist comes through in 10thWorld Series MVP, Ben Zobrist. #FlyTheWPosted by Chicago Cubs on Thursday, November 3, 2016 As with most tournaments like the World Series and Super Bowl, the MVP is always presented with a car. For Zobrist, Chevrolet presented him with a 50th Anniversary Edition Camaro SS Convertible.“In this historic matchup, Zobrist’s performance on the field truly embodies the same ‘Never Give Up’ spirit that drives the Chevrolet team to innovate every day and that has made us the Most Awarded Automotive Brand two years in a row,” said Paul Edwards, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet Marketing, in a press release issued early this morning. “We are proud to recognize the tremendous efforts of Zobrist with the MVP award and the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition convertible.”Making the 50th Anniv. Edition Camaro SS Conv. special are a slew of additional features, like the exclusive 20-inch wheels, unique grille, front splitter, orange brake calipers, black leather interior, badging and an RS Appearance Package.I'd like to take this time to congratulate Ben Zobrist and Joe Maddon, two former Tampa Bay Rays that we all love here at duPont REGISTRY, the entire Cubs organization. Of course, I also want to thank the Cleveland Indians for giving it their best and fighting until the very end. We won't see another World Series like this one ever again.All Camaro For Sale Cubs win 2016 World SeriesHistory.The Chicago Cubs win the 2016 World Series. #FlyTheWPosted by Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, November 2, 2016

By Andrew Nabors – August 29, 2016

Paul Newman's 1979 Porsche 935 Purchased by Adam Carolla

As a dominant force in the late 70's and early 80's, the Porsche 935 has a list of podium finishes over a mile long. Designed by Norbert Singer to compete on the world stage, crafty engineers found several loopholes in the rule book and built a legend. As the overall winner of Daytona and Sebring, this 1979 Porsche is among the most successful race cars we have ever seen. Our friends over at Rennlist.com pay close attention to factory race cars, and they discovered the identity of the new owner over the weekend. Adam Carolla has an eye for automotive investments, which is why he spent $4,840,000 at Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach auction. As the host of his eponymous Adam Carolla Show, he has surpassed Ricky Gervais to have the most downloaded podcast in history. We ran into him last year along the Monterey waterfront and he told us he was in the market for something significant. Being the predecessor to such greats as the 959 and 911 GT2, this car is destined to appreciate. For provenance and complete history, head over to Gooding & Co. here.

By Edward Jones – August 12, 2016

About Paul Walker's Cars and Richard Taylor

Back on July 14, we published an article about a lawsuit between Richard Taylor and Paul Walker’s estate that had been settled over Walker’s “stolen” vehicles.According to Mr. Taylor's representatives, he was actually a close personal friend of Walker and, at the time of his death, the two were co-owners of an LLC that owned the cars in question. After Walker’s death, Paul's lawyer requested that the vehicles be moved to a facility in Sun Valley. Although Taylor was not involved in moving the vehicles, storage fees for the vehicles at this facility were being paid by Walker's estate long before the lawsuit was filed. This contrasts with previous stories that said the cars were taken without authority and that the whereabouts of the cars was unknown. In fact, the cars are still located in that facility to this day.Unfortunately, different claims were made to the cars and their titles, between Paul Walker’s daughter and father. These claims between two parties, not including Taylor, lead to the lawsuit. This suit was settled in an amicable matter.

By Edward Jones – August 08, 2016

Entire Leicester City Team Given Blue BMW i8

According to Leicester Mercury, the entire Leicester City roster has been given a BMW i8 for winning the Premier League. The cars come from their chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who spent a rumored £2 million (approx. $2,600,000 USD) on the gifts.Why the massive gift? The Leicester City Foxes did the unthinkable last year and won one of the most coveted titles in soccer. Having just been brought into the English Premier League, nobody expected the team to come out on top, but they proved the world wrong.https://twitter.com/Coral/status/761542805479100416What makes the gift even better is the fact that each car is finished in blue, matching the team's color. AND the team also gets £6.5 million to split among themselves, courtesy of a bonus agreement from the Premier League.The team definitely deserves all the gifts they get, because their 2015-2016 season was a fairy tale to say the least. And now it's not too long before the next season starts back up again!All BMW i8s For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 02, 2016

Kit Harrington (Jon Snow) Introduces the Infiniti Q60 Coupe

You might know Kit Harrington from his role as Jon Snow on the ever-popular television show "Game of Thrones." In the show, he plays a strong and powerful character that has a world of potential bound within him. Well, it seems like Infiniti is trying to channel his character's strength for their new Q60 Coupe by featuring him in their latest commercial.Infiniti Q60 Coupe Specs Engine: 3.7-liter V6 Horsepower: 330 hp Torque: 270 lb-ft Transmission: 7-speed automatic Drive-Type: Rear-wheel drive In the commercial, uploaded to YouTube on August 1, Harrington takes the new luxury performance car for a spin as he recites William Blake's "The Tyger."Click play below to see the commercial for yourself and get ready for Game of Thrones Season 7 next year (seven episodes, starting late Summer 2017).

By Andrew Nabors – June 09, 2016

Ride Along With Jay Leno in his 1954 Jaguar XK 120

if you have ever wanted to experience the thrill of blasting through the mountains in a classic Jaguar, virtual reality might be the closest you will ever get-- even if you don't own 3D headgear. Jay Leno is asking you to join him on a 10-mile excursion into the hills north of Burbank in a 1954 Jaguar XK 120. Instead of a full webisode, this serves as a teaser for the second season of the series which premieres June 15th on CNBC.(Related: Jay Leno Admits He Was Wrong About the Jaguar XJ220)Jaguar stopped building cars to concentrate on the war effort in 1940. As the blitz raged above them, engineers looked to the future and began work on the XK 120. Built from 1948 to '54, these nimble roadsters were powered by a 3.4L straight six. Since postwar England was devoid of steel, Jaguar was forced to place their hand formed bodies on a chassis of ash wood. This made the car light and strong, with a figure that impressed a young Mr. Leno. It will be a few years before we launch a 3D version of Autofluence, but stay tuned for more immersive automotive footage in the meantime.Jaguar XK 120 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 08, 2016

Ken Block's New M-Sport Ford Transit Van

Say what you want about van culture, it is definitely making a comeback. Custom vans are no stranger to our in-house artists at BLVD Customs, as they have built a time machine and a mystery machine for celebrity owners. Hoonigan prefers to build rally-capable AWD monsters, but for their first Signature Vehicle something more practical was needed. Working with UK based M-Sport, they have unveiled the Ken Block Signature Ford Transit.Taking inspiration from their Ford Fiesta rally car, the murdered out Transit has several body enhancements to increase downforce. The exterior motif was designed by artist Felipe Pantone. Forged 18" wheels and lowering springs keep it planted in corners while occupants ride on hand stitched leather. The only van to feature a carbon fiber rear diffuser has been on a shakedown cruise through Norway, with Block putting it to the test. Final specifications on price and power should be released soon so stay tuned for updates.

By Edward Jones – April 04, 2016

Barrett-Jackson Aucitoning Off Hennessey Velociraptor Fea...

The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company is known for their charitable lots, most recently the first 2017 Acura NSX. Now, for the 2016 Palm Beach auction they will be offering the Hennessey VelociRaptor that Jeremy Clarkson drove on "Top Gear".This truck started off as a Ford Raptor with a six-speed automatic transmission and ended up as a truck worthy of the Cretaceous name. Its supercharged 5.0-liter V8 was pumped up to 650 hp and makes a 0-60 mph run possible in just 5.3 seconds. It was wrapped in Pennzoil Yellow, modified further with new bumpers, wheels and a light bar that Clarkson said was so bright it resembles a "collapsed sun."Barrett-Jackson will be offering the car at their Palm Beach event, at approximately 2:00 pm on Friday, April 8, 2016. One hundred percent of this truck's hammer price will benefit The Paralyzed Veterans of America charity.(Click image to play video)

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 08, 2016

The Rezvani Beast on Jay Leno's Garage

Ferris Rezvani, president and founder of Rezvani Motors, stopped by Jay Leno's Garage to talk with Leno about the boutique company's supercar, the 2016 Rezvani Beast. After a brief discussion about the affordability of the car (Rezvani stated that his Beast embodies all of the elements of a traditional supercar but has a price point more accessible to a broader population), Leno gets right to what's on the minds of car enthusiasts everywhere-- give us the specs. Rezvani states the Rezvani Beast offers 500 hp and weighs only 1,600 lbs. The supercar is based off the skeleton of the Ariel Atom and fully customizable. Rezvani goes on to say that the consumer chooses everything from the color and interior options to the color of the stitching. The body is completely carbon fiber, which lends to the amazing lack of weight. Thanks to this lightweight, aerodynamic body, the Beast boasts an acceleration of 0-60 mph in a mere 2.7 seconds. In an effort to make the Rezvani Beast the ultimate in driving experience, Rezvani states the car is completely manual-- and in the age of automatic transmissions, such a feature is quite unique. The 6-speed close ratio manual makes you "feel like your racing at 30 mph" as Rezvani states in the video. Check out Leno's full info sesh and review of the car in the video below. What do you think about the Rezvani Beast? Future of supercars? Let us know in the comments below.

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