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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 – October 31, 2018

MOPAR Unveils the 1,000 HP Hellephant Super Charger at SEMA

What happens when designers and engineers are unleashed? Fiat-Chrysler asked their team at MOPAR Performance to put a modern twist on a 1968 Dodge Charger. Digging into the Challenger Hellcat's inventory yielded modern accessories and an evil demeanor. The "Super Charger" has a modern interior with unique logos found throughout. Built for SEMA, the "Hellephant" can be found on the fuel filler, steering wheel, and other areas as hidden Easter eggs. The significance of the logo is the beast under the hood. Using the supercharger from the Dodge Demon, they have pushed the legendary 426 HEMI to 1,000 horsepower. This 7-liter monster is a modern interpretation of the Mopar V8 that was banned by NASCAR for winning every weekend. The car might be a concept, but the engine and its controls are now for sale. Dodge SRT Challenger Hellcat Specs, Price, Photos & Review The Hellephant crate engine arrives with all the electronics including O2 sensors, a gas pedal, and the complete Can-Bus system. Designed for use with the Challenger's stock six-speed manual transmission, you will have 950 lb-ft of torque at your command. If your slant-six or 440 is tired, send it to the crusher and head over to cratehemi.com for all the details. Learn More https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=RoTSnElu6s8

By Andrew Nabors – June 29, 2018

Dodge Unveils 2019 Challenger SRT Redeye

It was a sad moment when we saw the final 2018 Dodge Demon and the last Viper sell at Barrett Jackson Northeast last week. But our sadness was ended by a press release last night. Dodge's SRT division has been hard at work taking lessons learned on the Demon to develop the new SRT Challenger Hellcat Redeye. It arrives with 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. This allows it to reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and run consistent 10.8 quarter mile times at 131 mph. If you stay on the skinny pedal, you will reach a top speed of 203 mph!2019 Dodge Charger Hellcat Updated and MoreUnlike the Demon, it doesn't come with a crate of tools, and it can't be ordered without carpet or seats. And it will not have the ability to run race fuel. Nevertheless, Dodge claims it is the fastest Grand Touring car in production.If you don't need Redeye power, the regular Challenger Hellcat arrives with 717 hp and 656 lb-ft of torque. A new dual-snorkel hood on all Hellcats takes inspiration from the classic 1970 Dart Swinger and the original 1971 Demon.The next level down is the Challenger Scat Pack. It now receives the widebody treatment from its big brothers. It also gets the power bulge hood from last year's Hellcats. The lineup is rounded out by the traditional 5.7-liter Challenger R/T and the efficient V6 powered GT models.Browse Challenger Hellcat For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=o9utmZvcdd4

By Andrew Nabors – August 18, 2017

Dodge Viper: Goodbye Old Friend

Yesterday at the Connor Avenue Assembly Plant, the final Dodge Viper was completed. Forgive us for being sentimental here, but the Viper has been a part of our magazine since its inception. From its beginning in the 80's as a collaboration between two legends, Lee Iacocca and Carroll Shelby gave Americans another choice for a domestic supercar. I have always been a Chevy fan, but my eyes were opened by the mean snake when Hulk allowed us to take the 1993 Hulkster around the country.Sure we've had late model examples here also, and each one has stayed true to its roots. Every Viper has a big naturally aspirated V10 engine. It essentially an evolution of the 440 Magnum, so it revs quickly and makes power from 500 rpm to past 5,000. A brutal clutch pedal is also a trademark, but it is predictable and easy to launch. The Viper doesn't have stability control, active differential, or an optional automatic transmission. It has a steering wheel, short throw six-speed shifter and more grip than you will ever need. Fiat Chrysler is trying to focus on Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati in the US, so they can no longer justify the hand-built beast or it's dedicated assembly plant. Posing in for a photo opportunity, FCA VP Ralph Gilles uploaded a few shots to his Instagram page: So long... #Viper A post shared by @ralphgilles on Aug 16, 2017 at 6:38am PDT The skilled workers of Connor Avenue Assembly face an uncertain future, and Dodge dealers have lost the centerpiece of their showrooms. The Viper died at 25, a shame if you ask us. As you are reading this, the final new Dodge Vipers are on their way, so check with our dealers before they are gone forever. The End

By Andrew Nabors – July 03, 2017

Viper ACR Heading To The 'Ring

Going out on top is the wish of any athlete, and a dedicated group of Viper fans are giving the snake a proper farewell. FCA has announced that production of the Viper will end in August. The dedicated crew at the Connor Avenue Assembly Plant have built a world-class sports car. But the plant doesn't have a paint shop. Keeping up with paint technology is expensive for automakers, which is why Prefix Automotive has hand painted every Viper panel for years. Each panel is sanded, painted, cleared, and buffed in a state-of-the-art facility in Auburn Hills before traveling down the road to meet the assembly plant. Prefix is not about volume, but their goal is to produce show quality cars in limited numbers. That's why the film industry and many of the big manufacturers turn to them for movie cars and concept builds.With so much of their business centered around Viper culture, they spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign for a trip to the 'Ring. Aiming for a new track record, the Viper ACR Extreme has backing from Kumho Tire USA, The Viper Exchange, BJ Motors, and Viper owners around the world. The list of supporters has been hand painted on two white Viper ACR Extremes with blue stripes. “Prefix has a long history with the Viper and with the many Viper club members around the world.” explained Prefix Sales & Marketing Director, Jhan Dolphin. “This is a huge challenge, but regardless of the outcome, supporting this effort is a great way to celebrate the car and our passionate friends who drive them.” Transporting cars and a support team from Detroit to Germany might seem easy for the factory teams, but we can't imagine the logistics of this. Godspeed to Team Prefix, bring the record home with you.

By Andrew Nabors – May 23, 2017

Dodge Releases Pricing for the Demon

What would you pay for the luxury of lifting your front wheels? Drag racers spend countless dollars and hours trying to perfect their launch, but Dodge's new Demon is capable of a wheelie right out of the box. When the Hellcat hit the market, unscrupulous dealers made tidy profits by gouging buyers. The manufacturer has stated that this practice will be kept under control by the order process. Jalopnik discovered production is limited to strictly 3,000 cars, so Dodge is winding back the clock and building them to order. Only four options exist, and they cost $1 each.A base price of $84,995 is a bargain for such performance, but a Demon at that price will arrive with 808 horsepower, one seat, only front carpet and without the crate of performance parts. Inside the $1 magic box are the parts needed to unleash 840 horsepower and 770 lb-ft of torque to the factory mounted drag radials. The crate's most powerful tool is an engine computer tuned for race fuel. It has optimized ignition advance and fuel injector settings to handle more boost.If you can spare the extra price, a fully loaded Demon will be $84,999. This will probably go down as the best kept automotive secret because Motor Trend VP David Freiburger said the Demon was finalized almost two years ago, and Dodge made everyone involved sign a strict confidentiality agreement. On paper, the Dodge Demon is $500 cheaper than a new Porsche 911 Carrera. They are not exactly competitors, so tell us which one you would choose and stay with us for Demonic updates from Dodge & SRT.

By Andrew Nabors – April 12, 2017

Dodge Finally Unleashes the Demon: World's Fastest Quarte...

Yesterday the internet was ablaze with rumors of the new Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. To put an end to the speculation and strike fear in the competition, the Demon was revealed on its own microsite "ifyouknowyouknow.com" After the live stream, Dodge threw up a redirect to pull the teaser site on to their main page. The video speaks for itself, and a press release this morning outlines the finer points of this historic achievement. Everyone figured it would be a modified Hellcat, but the Demon makes a sharp departure from any notions of street civility. A four point harness holds you in the driver's seat because that is the only seat installed on the assembly line. As far as the engine is concerned, only the cylinder heads are shared with its predecessor.View the Dodge Demon SpecsStarting with a new block, the supercharger now displaces 2.7 liters and is chilled by a larger intercooler along with a shot of cool air from the A/C. This allows boost to reach 14.7 pounds at launch. And the launch is the most brutal acceleration ever offered in a production car. Last week we learned that it will be the first production car equipped with a trans-brake. They are banned in many racing classes because it allows the driver to preload the drivetrain and it simplifies the launch. The results are shocking. The Demon is the first street legal car to pull a wheelie at launch and even set the world record for the longest wheelie from a standing start by a production vehicle. Certified by the Guinness book of world records, both front tires are in the air for 2.92 feet. Made possible by drag radials and a ton of VHT, 840 horsepower and 770 lb-ft of torque will have you at 60 mph in 2.3 seconds. It only takes 9.65 seconds to cover a quarter-mile, going thru the top end at 140 mph. It is so fast that the NHRA immediately banned it from competition. Unlike the Super Stock competition cars of the old days, Dodge is covering the Demon with a 3-year limited warranty with 5-year powertrain coverage. Only 3,000 cars will be built for the US and 300 for Canada, which will make the Demon a hot commodity. This is great news for all of us looking for a Hellcat for sale because Dodge dealers will be inundated with demonic deposits. Tell us what you think of it in the comments below and stay with us for all your Dodge & SRT updates.View All Dodge News, Review and Pics

By Edward Jones – April 10, 2017

Did Someone Just Leak the Dodge Demon's Horsepower? Over ...

Everybody loves a good leak unless it's a vacuum, water or gas leak. This leak, unlike those, is a good one that might tell us just how much horsepower the upcoming Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is packing.Instagram account @thedarkestride claims that they have the actual power figures for the Demon and they are as follow: Power Mode 1: 757hp Power Mode 2: 815hp Power Mode 3 1023hp We're not exactly sure what these Power Modes are, but in their revealing Instagram post they go further into detail about the car. They note that in order to access all 1,023 horsepower, you'll need to be running 100-octane or better fuel, have the Crate PCM that's purchased separately for $3,000, and have Drag Mode initiated. The post also states that the car will be able to run 9-second quarter-mile sprints, while 8-second runs are possible with a "few modifications."This Instagram account also posted a picture which seems to be a photo of the Demon. In the photo, we see the wide fenders, large hood scoop and, of course, the Demon logo.Some of the info in this Instagram post has also been published in other places such as motor.es and Crank and Piston's Instagram account.Dodge has yet to release the official numbers, to this information has not been confirmed. Stay with us for more information as it's released.https://www.instagram.com/p/BSqnQimgcCb

By Edward Jones – April 07, 2017

The Final Dodge Demon Teaser is Here, Launch Date Revealed

The 14th video teasing the upcoming Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is the final one, as the automaker has announced an official release date in the coming days.In the video titled "Judgement Day," Dodge went for an incredibly dramatic approach and made the revealing of the Demon more prophetic. In the video, the announcer says: "You will always remember our name and what we did here today." As he finishes up this statement, a printout for what looks like a quarter-mile comes onscreen. I assume Dodge is trying to either foreshadow the car's official quarter-mile time or just the car's overall abilities on the track.However, we will know the answer to all of our questions when the car is released on April 11.Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 06, 2017

Dodge Demon Will Run 100 Octane or 91 Octane Fuel, First ...

Here it is, the 13th video for the upcoming 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and it's all about fuel.Why fuel? Because Dodge has announced today that the Demon will be the first factory production car that can run on either 100+ high-octane unleaded fuel or 91-octane unleaded fuel...on demand. How is this possible? Here's how according to Dodge:The keys to unleashing the SRT Demon’s full fury are in the Demon Crate shipped separate: Direct Connection Performance parts that include a new powertrain control module (PCM) calibrated for the high-octane fuel and a new switch bank for the center stack that includes a high octane button.The SRT Demon leaves the factory with a PCM configured for premium unleaded pump gasoline, which delivers top level performance.The switch to the Direct Connection controller enables the supercharged HEMI engine to extract the maximum power from the knock-resistant high-octane fuel by optimizing spark timing. Drag racers will see big changes in elapsed time (ET) with the high-octane fuel.Wait a second, what if you happen to combine different octane fuels? Dodge says not to worry, as the mixture won't hurt the engine. However, they do go on to say that the high-octane function won't work if the combined fuel octane is too low. What's even more interesting is that the car will display a message in the gauges that lets the driver know what fuel calibration it will be using until the engine is shut off. This information is gathered through the knock sensors.And, as a quick side note, the Demon will have two fuel pumps, unlike the Hellcat that only has one.Sports Cars For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 23, 2017

Is This The Dodge Demon Test Mule's First Public Quarter-...

One of the main reasons I have hearing damage is the Gator Nationals. The annual gathering of the world's fastest cars takes place in Gainesville, Florida and it was the perfect opportunity for Dodge to summon their sinister creation. Florida Car Culture was quick to recognize a Demon test mule car in the staging lanes and recorded the first quarter-mile pass of the upcoming monster. With sounds of a healthy camshaft, it will be imposing to any competitor. Outfitted with Hoosier slicks and almost no exhaust, Dodge is redefining what we thought was street legal for a production car. One of the most anticipated muscle cars in recent history, the Demon has been teased on YouTube as part of a campaign known as "If You Know, You Know'. Each film has a press release outlining more information on the car, and this morning we learned it will arrive with a TransBrake.If you aren't into drag racing, a TransBrake is a lock inside the automatic transmission, giving it launch control. Some hardcore racers see it as cheating, so they're banned in "foot brake" racing. Usually controlled by a spring-loaded switch, Dodge has integrated it into the shift paddles behind the steering wheel. Since the engine is held at 2,350 rpm, the supercharger is awake and delivering 40% more torque than foot brake cars. I am glad someone got paid to come up with such nonsense because anything that lines up next to a Demon will have a custom torque converter and probably blow its doors off. The Demon will be a great car for those who don't plan on modifying their cars. I never thought they would dive so deep into drag racing so it will be interesting to see how the Super Stock classes respond to the news. No mention of price has been made, but we have several Hellcats for sale if you want to build your own. If you race, tell us if your thoughts on TransBrake vs foot brake in the comments below.P.S. If anyone can decode the license plate by Saturday night we will send you a Cars & Coffee T-Shirt!

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