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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 – March 06, 2018

BMW Unveils Concept M8 Gran Coupe In Geneva

What happens when you leave BMW's M division run wild? They build the ultimate Bavarian sedan. Unveiled earlier today at the Geneva Motor Show, the new M8 Gran Coupe is their new flagship. With the recent restyling of another certain German sedan, this new design language is a nice departure from the current lineup."The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe is designed to stir things up, to polarise – it should move you emotionally," said Domagoj Dukec, Vice President of design.They chose to launch the racing version first, and the M8 GTE ran well at Daytona back in January. The press release also says many of its features like advanced LED headlights and carbon fiber roof panel are making it into production. It seems like only yesterday that the 7 Series was redesigned with its innovative carbon-fiber chassis, but BMW has undoubtedly raised the bar again. The Gran Coupe M8 is still technically a concept, but we hope this is close to the final design. And since the 6 Series coupe and convertible were axed, it is probable that the 8 Series will spawn versions of both.

By Edward Jones – March 06, 2018

2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport Specs, Prices, & Photos

The 2018 Geneva Motor Show is now underway and that means all of the hottest new cars are finally getting their day on the red carpet. From France comes the new Bugatti Chiron Sport, a faster and lighter version of their already famous hypercar.Bugatti has taken the Chiron, tweaked it and made it more capable on the track. While the power has remained at around 1,479 horsepower, it's the new mechanical aspects that make it hold more presence than before. To aid in its newfound agility is a stiffer suspension setup, as well as a new Dynamic Torque Vectoring System. Bugatti notes that the Chiron Sport will route the Nardo handling circuit five seconds faster than the base Chiron. It also helps that the weight was dropped on the car, albeit just around 39 pounds.2018 Bugatti Veyron Sport Specs: Horsepower: 1,479 hpTorque: 1,180 lb-ftWeight: 4,360 lbs0-60: 2.3 seconds60-0 Braking: 103 ft “We have developed the Chiron Sport for customers wanting an even sportier driving experience with their Chiron, with improved lateral dynamics on winding roads,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “What was important for us was to leave unchanged the unique character of the Chiron, its combination of ultimate performance, longitudinal acceleration and maximum speed with luxury, comfort and everyday usability.”2018 Bugatti Chiron: Price, Specs, & Review

By Andrew Nabors – March 05, 2018

Fusion Motor Company Unveils New Defenders

If you are in the market for a rugged SUV, you probably think the Land Rover Defender is off-limits. Land Rover's iconic design has been found all over the world, but they have been banned for purchase here for several years. The government bans importing foreign-market cars until they are 25 years old. We don't want you to feel like age is creeping up on you, but the 1991 Land Rover Defender is now legal to drive in the US.The process to federalize them is still complicated, so Fusion Motor Company stepped up to the challenge. Based in Chatsworth, California, they are the same team that builds and owns the rights for the Eleanor Mustang, Their ISO-level facility looks more like a 75,000 square-foot clean room than an assembly line. And that is because each build is done by hand. The Defender was in continuous production for decades, so this caused some of the molds and tooling to loosen up over time. Fusion takes each donor down to its shell to address issues like panel gaps and insulation.Drake Just Bought Himself a LaFerrari from Fusion Luxury MotorsThe press release also says many hinges and moving parts are now machined billet instead of cast metal. Premium leather and a 1,000-watt Pioneer system are complemented by piano-black trim. In its original form, the Defender 110 would have been powered by the Rover 3.9 liter V8. What began life as the Buick 215 was used by Rover until 2004. The problem lies in meeting modern emissions laws. So Fusion has turned to the 50-state legal Chevrolet LS3 V8. The 6.2 liter is rated at 430 horsepower and was found in Corvettes from 2008 to 2013, and it comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.The full-time LT230 transfer case is left in its original location, but buyers can opt for an Atlas case if desired. Other goodies include 285/65/18 Nitto Ridge Grappler tires, Fox Racing suspension and LED projector headlights. I had a chance to drive the prototype at last year's Orange County auto show, and it is flawless. Click the link below to view their impressive inventory, and stay with us for more masterpieces from Fusion Motor Company.View Inventory

By Edward Jones – March 05, 2018

2018 Geneva Motor Show Preview

It's that time of year again. When every European manufacturer decides to throw down and head to Geneva with this year's most anticipated cars. For their 88th year, the Swiss have brought old rivals under the same roof while also embracing newcomers to the industry. We've covered these cars in recent weeks, so click on the links below for all the details. Aston Martin DB11 Volante Aston Martin Vantage GTE BMW M8 Convertible BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe Ferrari 488 Pista Hennessey Venom F5 Italdesign Zerouno Roadster Jaguar I-Pace Lamborghini Aventador SVJ McLaren Senna Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door Mercedes-Benz G-Class Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 Copyright Motor Trend Porsche 911 GT3 RS Rimac Mystery Supercar Rolls-Royce Cullinan TECHART GrandGT Techrules Ren RS Toyota Supra Tell us which one you think will steal the show, and stay with us for full coverage of this year's Geneva Motor Show.

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2018

2019 Corvette ZR1 Configurator is Now Live!

When new car configurators launch, we spend a bit of time at the office building our own models and comparing them with each other. Today, we're building new 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 examples thanks to the launch of the car's configurator.This new configurator has a pretty large amount of options for the ZR1 and gives you an idea of how expensive the options are. Chevrolet has introduced a decent amount of colors for the ZR1 within the package, including my favorite, Sebring Orange Tintcoat. In total, there are 10 different standard colors and two Premium colors. 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: 10 Facts You Need To KnowTwo different packages are also available for the ZR1: ZTK Track Performance Package ($2,995) and ZR1 Sebring orange Design Package ($6,995). A few other interesting options are also available, like the car cover that makes the ZR1 look like a C7.R, the option to pick up the car at the National Corvette Museum and the Corvette Engine Build Experience-- you can help handbuild your ZR1's engine and get a personalized nameplate!Build one for yourself by clicking here and post your creation down below!Build a ZR1

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2018

Lamborghini Huracan Performante Breaks 8 Circuit Records

Remember when everyone was hyped up about the Lamborghini Huracan Performante being the fastest around Nurburgring? I do. Remember when the Porsche 911 GT2 RS came out shortly after and beat the Huracan Performante's time? Yeah, me too.At least now Lamborghini can lay claim to eight different circuit records across the world, thanks to the Huracan Performante. The Italian automaker has just announced these record lap-times for production cars with the supercar and the publications that accomplished the times:07/03/2017 Vairano (Quattroruote) – 1’09”.4308/03/2017 Balocco (Auto) – 2’38”.0708/29/2017 Contidrom (Auto Zeitung) – 1’29”.609/25/2017 Mira (Autocar) – 1’05”,0309/28/2017 Wroughton (The Grand Tour) – 1’16”.810/09/2017 Boxberg (Auto Motor und Sport) – 42”.311/06/2017 Le Mans Bugatti (Sport Auto) – 1’42”.4911/14/2017 Anneau du Rhin (Sport Auto) – 57”.5Not a bad follow-up to that whole Nurburgring shenaniganry.

By Edward Jones – March 01, 2018

2019 Jaguar I-Pace Revealed: First Electric Jag SUV

The new 2019 Jaguar I-Pace has officially joined the English automaker's line-up as their first electric SUV. The I-Pace comes in as the third SUV model, joining the ranks of the E-Pace and F-Pace. For this model, Jaguar put all their eggs into an electric basket and the result is their most technologically-advanced vehicle yet.Powering the I-Pace is a 90kWh battery that has an estimated range of up to 240 miles. For power, the electric drivetrain produces 394 and 512 lb-ft of torque. A press on the accelerator will send all of this power to all wheels for a 0-60 mph time 4.5 seconds. 2019 Jaguar I-Pace Specs Power Source: 90kWh BatteryRange: 240 milesHorsepower: 394 hpTorque: 512 lb-ft0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds If you've spent all of the juice in the I-Pace, charging it back up is a quick task. Using a 100kW DC fast charger will allow for a 0-80% charge in 40 minutes. Those using a 230V AC wall box can expect a 0-80% charge in just over 10 hours. While charging, drivers can pre-condition the battery temperature for maximum range and also heat or cool the cabin before they hop in for a drive. Jaguar has also equipped the I-Pace with regenerative braking, allowing the SUV to achieve optimum efficiency and range.2018 Jaguar Project 8: Price, Specs, & Review

By Edward Jones – March 01, 2018

Updated Pagani Huayra BC Macchina Volante Revealed Before...

Kris Singh of Florida has another hypercar in his collection, the Pagani Huayra BC Macchina Volante. We first covered the car back in August 2017, but the car only spent seven days in the United States. Since then, Macchina Volante has been in Italy getting a new wing according to Singh's Instagram account posts. Now, Singh has noted that his one-off Pagani will be attending the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in all of its carbon fiber glory. Before its time in Geneva, the car went through some shakedown runs in Italy where it was photographed by @denismphoto. Photo by @denismphoto About the car: The name comes from the inspiration Horacio Pagani has drawn from Leonardo da Vinci over the years. Macchina Volante translates from Italian to flying machine in English. One of da Vinci’s most famous creations was his flying machine, an invention that would be a source of inspiration for centuries to come. Singh notes in the video below that he chose the name Macchina Volante because his new Huayra BC has flaps and a massive wing like the original flying machine. Photo by @denismphoto Photo by @denismphoto Photo by @denismphoto Photo by @denismphoto

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By Edward Jones – March 01, 2018

Bentley Bentayga Mulliner: "Inspired by the Sport of Kings"

Bentley and The Jockey Club have an ongoing partnership that has resulted in the creation of a very special Bentayga. Called the Bentayga by Mulliner, Inspired by The Festival™, this SUV is a complete one-off commission that will never be replicated. In the press release for the one-off luxury SUV, Bentley notes that this Bentayga drew inspiration from the world of equestrian sport.This Bentayga has an exterior finished in "Spruce" paint that is Bentley's take on the classic British Racing Green paint. Small amounts of black are introduced to the body through the Blackline Specification features and 21-inch black wheels. Inside the cabin is bespoke tweed with Cumbrian Green and Saddle leather, as well as light blue contrast stitching on the doors and seats. To top it all off is a golden horse graphic on the passenger-side veneer.2019 Bentley Bentayga: 10 Facts You Should Know “The Cheltenham Festival is widely recognised as one of the finest horseracing events in the world, and The Festival’s unique sense of occasion is a perfect showcase for the world’s most exclusive SUV, the Bentayga," says Uday Senapati, Mulliner’s Head of Technical Operations. "The Mulliner team has been deeply inspired by the equestrian lifestyle, and this has encouraged us to use new materials and techniques for the first time on a Bentley in developing this one-off commission.”Used Bentley Coupe

By Edward Jones – February 28, 2018

Mercedes X-Class Truck With V6 Diesel Headed to Geneva

Mercedes-Benz continues to build up the new X-Class with the addition of a new V6 diesel engine variant that will be landing at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. This new 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine produces a decent amount of power at 258 horsepower, but it's the torque rated at 406 lb-ft that's a bit more impressive. This new variant will have the model name "X 350 d 4MATIC". Notice that 4MATIC at the end? That's because Mercedes will be implementing permanent all-wheel drive in this new truck.Coming with the new V6 is also the Dynamic Select system that has five different driving modes: Comfort, Eco, Sport, Manual, and Offroad. The Offroad mode will go well with the truck's all-wheel drive, the capability to ford depths of 23.6 feet, maximum ground clearance of 8.7 inches and the ability to climb gradients up to 49-degrees.Why a Truck Needs to be the Next Addition to Your Collection

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