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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 – February 28, 2018

McLaren Senna in Full Carbon to Make Waves in Geneva

McLaren is bringing a special take on their Senna model to the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. This 'Carbon Theme' Senna was created by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and is one of five different themes developed by MSO for the Senna. This new theme consists of a gloss-covered body made of visual carbon fiber, combined with black Alcantara in the cabin. You may be looking at the body and wondering why they chose the yellow and green accents, but there's a very specific reason for that. McLaren chose those colors were chosen to honor the great Ayrton Senna. The Solar Yellow and Laurel Green detail echo the livery on the helmet that the three-time World Champion Formula One driver wore. The visual carbon fiber consists of 67 different parts and it took almost 1,000 hours to produce. For 250 of those hours, the specialists at MSO were working on the Solar Yellow detailing. Complete McLaren Senna Specs & Price With this example of the Senna, McLaren is also showing off a new wheel option for the car. While standard wheels can come in three different finishes, the new MSO 7-Spoke, Hybrid Carbon Fiber Wheel has a center-lock setup with an aluminum/carbon fiber rim. This wheel comes in at 10% lighter than the standard wheel. Stay tuned for more news from the upcoming 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Advertise with duPont REGISTRY

By Edward Jones – February 27, 2018

Jaguar Unveiling Their First Electric Vehicle

The upcoming Jaguar I-PACE is set to be the company's first-ever battery electric vehicle. This new SUV joins the PACE family that already consists of the E-PACE and F-PACE. However, this new model will have no combustion equipped. Jaguar notes that you'll be able to see it in its entirety comes March 1, 2018 at 1:00PM EST. Those interested will be able to see it across Jaguar's social media channels thanks to livestreams. Here's a link to the " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen> where it can be seen, so be sure to bookmark it.Top 10 Cars To Be Unveiled At Geneva“Since revealing the I-PACE Concept in 2016, we have been counting down to this moment," says Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design. "The all-electric I-PACE is not only a pioneer within our business, it promises to revolutionise the industry. Never before have I been so excited for a launch – the world is watching with great anticipation and I cannot wait for the world to see everything we have achieved with this car.”

By Edward Jones – February 27, 2018

New Rolls-Royce Collection Painted With Real Silver

Rolls-Royce is paying homage to the original Silver Ghost with a collection of very special models. The English automaker has announced that they will be creating a collection of 35 model year 2018 Rolls-Royce Ghosts that honor Sir Henry Royce’s ‘Silver Ghost’. The name is fittingly called the "Silver Ghost Collection."In the front of each car within the Silver Ghost Collection is a very special take on the Spirit of Ecstasy ornament. Crafted out of solid sterling silver, the iconic hood adornment is surrounded by a black-gold-plated collar with an insert of hammered copper. Engraved into the copper is "AX201", a callback to the registration plate of the original Silver Ghost. Each Ghost within the new collection will also be painted in Cassiopeia Silver, a bespoke paint that is imbued with particles of 100% silver. It takes Rolls-Royces craftsmen eight hours to apply this paint!2018 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge: Price, Review, & Specs

By Edward Jones – February 23, 2018

Porsche Offering New Vehicle Delivery in LA

Going to a dealership and picking up a new sports car is quite an experience. Having recently picked up my new car, I can say that hopping in and driving your new car away is almost surreal. But what if instead of driving the car home after you purchase it, you drive next door for laps around a race track? Well, that's exactly what's now available to Porsche customers in Los Angeles.Porsche Opens $100 Million Experience Center and HQ in AtlantaPorsche has announced that they are offering customers the ability to have their new cars delivered to the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles. It's here that the customers can take a new Porsche sports car to the track for a 90-minute session. They note that you won't be driving your exact car, but a model that matches your delivery car. After the orientation and hot laps, it's off to lunch for two at Restaurant 917, Porsche's own fine-dining experience.Grab the Wheel at the BMW Performance Center in Thermal, California"In a digital world, our brand embassies in Atlanta and L.A. are real, physical places where people can drive and feel the brand," said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA. "Introducing the New Vehicle Delivery program in L.A. is another touch point to personalize the ownership experience. There can be no better place than California, which has always had a special relationship with Porsche and where customers buy about one-quarter of all Porsche sports cars sold in the United States."

By Edward Jones – February 23, 2018

Next-Generation Porsche 911 (992) Gets Official Preview

An official sneak peek at the next-generation Porsche 911 (992) has been released by the German automaker. In the photos, we see a heavily camouflaged example of the new 911. While the camo does obscure out view of the car, we can at least see that the can does, of course, retain the iconic overall styling of the 911s before it.In the revealing article, there were also a few other interesting tidbits that were brought up. First is that Porsche is definitely considering electric power in a 911. August Achleitner, the engineer heading up the Porsche 911 line, said that he's had a "change of heart" regarding electric drive technology. “Two years ago I’d have said no way. Today I wouldn’t categorically rule it out.”Porsche Officially Unveils The 2019 GT3 RS

By Edward Jones – February 21, 2018

New Rolls-Royce SUV Sports Perfect Tailgate Seats

Pregaming before a sports event just became a lot more luxurious now that the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV can be equipped with the Viewing Suite feature.The Cullinan's Viewing Suite may sound like box seats in a stadium, and it kind of is, but its actually a pair of leather seats. Now, we're not talking about the leather seats inside the car. These rear-facing seats designed by Rolls-Royce can be deployed from the trunk of the car with the push of a button, giving two people fine leather seats to lounge on. In between the seats is a cocktail table that can be used to rest pregame beverages on. You know how on some cars the cupholders can be deployed with the press of a button? The functionality of these seats is similar to that but much more elegant, engineered and comfortable.Why You Should Buy A Rolls-Royce Phantomhttps://www.facebook.com/Autofluence/videos/1528139697298696/“The beauty of Cullinan’s Viewing Suite, the manner in which it deploys so effortlessly, the attention to detail, the finest leathers that match the interior of the customer’s Cullinan, and how it all comes together to bring beautiful furniture to the most remote places, all bear testimony to the unequalled Bespoke competence of the designers and craftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Royce," says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce. "It is a beautiful piece of furniture. Indeed, it is the best seat in the house.” Advertise with duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – February 21, 2018

Morgan Teases 50th Anniversary Plus 8 At Geneva

Fans of British Motoring rejoice! Morgan announced they will be unveiling the 50th anniversary of the Plus 8 at the Geneva Motor Show. Over 6,000 examples of the Plus 8 have been built over the last 50 years, and this special edition will be the last to feature the BMW 4.8 Liter V8. The press release states that each example will be numbered and badged to denote its significance.If you have never driven a vintage Plus 8, you might wonder why it sounds so American. Under the hood was the venerable Rover V8. It can be found under the hood of many British classics because it is nearly indestructible. But it started life as the 1960 Buick 215, one of the first all-aluminum V8 engines. Rover bought the tooling and design from GM and the Plus 8 used them until the engine was retired in 2004. Without an engine, the Plus 8 was also retired in 2004, and it wasn't until 2012 that BMW stepped up with a suitable lightweight V8.Late model Morgans are still handbuilt and follow the same body lines laid out by Peter Morgan. European manufacturers are being forced to downsize their V8 engines to lower the road taxes for their customers. So BMW is going to smaller V8 engines with forced induction, something that would not jive with the classic Morgan design. The press release also says it will be the last naturally aspirated Plus 8, so in an ideal world the next Plus 8 will arrive with the supercharged LT5 from the Corvette ZR1. Right?Tell us what their next engine should be in the comments below and stay with us for complete coverage of the Geneva Motor Show.Browse Morgans For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=lEpFEjHJe4I

By Andrew Nabors – February 21, 2018

Porsche Officially Unveils The 2019 GT3 RS

They did it again. Porsche engineers in Stuttgart have outdone themselves by offering 520 horsepower without turbos. The 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS will arrive with a top speed of 193 mph, and without any unnecessary weight. Torque is also improved with 346 lb-ft available at almost any RPM. In a press release this morning, they remind us that it is the 3rd street-legal GT car to be released in a year.Acceleration is even more brutal. The current 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 hits 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, and this new beast does it in 3 seconds flat. All suspension tuning and even their mounts have been optimized for the increased power. Even the smallest details inside the engine were revised to make more power. The cylinders are now lined in plasma to offer less friction to the piston rings. The oil galleries are larger, as are the crank & rod bearings.The seven-speed PDK transmission returns with slightly shorter gear ratios to make use of the increased power. If you opt for the Weissach package, the forged magnesium wheels and other light parts work to keep the curb weight at 3,153 lbs. For a base price of $187,500, you will have the most efficient naturally-aspirated car in the world. The Weissach Package for the sports car at a price of $18,000 and magnesium wheels for $13,000. Click the link below to find a dealer near you and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche 911 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 20, 2018

217 MPH in the Hennessey Performance Exorcist Camaro

Ok Firebird friends and Camaro comrades, how fast have you been in your car? If you are like us, we always obey the speed limits because our government has our safety as its top priority. But if you find yourself being attacked by Demons, sometimes you need to leave as fast as possible. That is why John Hennessey and his team have taken the Camaro ZL1 beyond what anyone thought possible.How To Build An Exorcist CamaroThe Exorcist is the culmination of countless dyno runs and a host of upgrades. We've shown you the build process and there is no doubt the car delivers 1,000 horsepower. It starts with a teardown of the top end and tossing the original camshaft in the scrap metal bin. The heads are CNC ported and topped by fuel injectors that rival Niagra falls. The crowning achievement is a giant supercharger that has more displacement than your car's engine.https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=260&v=idRbOoHoqIMLate model Camaros are as aerodynamic as a brick, ask me how I know. So it shocking to learn the Exorcist is faster than the Corvette ZR1. But the press release earlier today also reminds us that this wild Camaro is capable of outrunning a McLaren 720S, Porsche GT2 RS, Ferrari 812 Superfast, Lamborghini Huracan, every police interceptor, and every car at the Daytona 500. To achieve this top speed, the team from HPE headed from their base just west of Houston to Continental Tire's proving grounds in Uvalde. This massive track west of San Antonio is the same place they pushed the HPE750 Mustang past 200 mph on a 2015 episode of Jay Leno's Garage.John Heinricy Delivers Hennessey ZL1 1LE Exorcist CamaroInstead of a manual transmission, this car was ordered with the bulletproof 10-speed automatic that was co-developed by GM & Ford. It offers a wider gear ratio spread than the stick shift, and each shift only drops a few hundred RPM. So with full boost available at almost any situation, the V-Box telemetry recorded 217 mph in 9th gear. To make it even more unbelievable, the run was performed on stock wheels & tires in lieu of Hennessey's optional upgrade package.We don't know if the car was limited by the differential gear ratio or by aerodynamics so it would be neat to swap in a set of vintage 2.14 gears and tape up the front end for a land speed record. For $119,950 you will have a car that can cross texas faster than a tornado and keep any Demon far behind you. So click the link below for more information and stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance Engineering updates.Learn Morehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BfbYHWpg9CY/

By Edward Jones – February 20, 2018

Four-Door Mercedes-AMG GT Shows Off Green Flames

The upcoming four-door Mercedes-AMG GT keeps on getting teased, but these more recent teaser shots are pretty hot. Because, you know... it has green-flame camo.There honestly wasn't a whole lot to this recent release from Mercedes other than the images. Granted, this camo is one of the hottest we've seen yet... Alright, I'll stop with the "hot" puns.Mercedes-AMG Teases AMG GT Sedan With Test PhotosMercedes says these images show the new Sedan testing in diverse driving conditions, including city streets, country roads and race track tarmacs.Check back with us for the car's release at Geneva on March 6th.

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