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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 – March 16, 2017

The Dodge Demon Sounds Insane, Unreal and Downright Scary

When the Dodge Demon is finally released, it will most likely be regarded as the most insane production automobile that the American automaker has ever created. Unfortunately, we don't have the specifics on what the Demon's power will exactly be, we now know that all of the power translates into one of the most ferocious exhaust sounds I've ever heard.The video uploaded by Dodge is titled "No Pills." In the video, we see the rear of the Demon as it launches at a dragstrip. The raw sound of power coming from the exhaust is more powerful than that of the Hellcat, which is regarded as the best sounding muscle car on the road today by many. If you don't believe me, click play on the video below to hear it for yourself. If you're like me and hit "replay" a few times, don't worry, because you can download an official ringtone of the car.All Dodge Challenger For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 23, 2017

Dodge SRT Demon Will Officially Be a Drag Strip Monster

Dodge is no stranger to the drag strip and they plan to make that fact more evident with the upcoming SRT Demon. The American automaker announced today that the Demon is "made to absolutely dominate in Drag Mode."Related - Dodge Demon Will Launch Much Harder Than HellcatAs of right now, Dodge hasn't given the specifics on this Drag Mode, but they say that they will share more about it in the coming weeks. This mode, in cooperation with new suspension, excellent weight transfer, traction and control, will make the car an absolute monster on the drag strip. To make the aforementioned weight transfer as efficient as possible, Dodge used quick reacting springs up front, soft rebound front shocks, removed restrictions (sway bar) and increased compression in the rear shocks. What's more, Dodge says this is the first production car with "mechanical/electronic drag-race-specific suspension tuning."Stay with us for more on the Dodge SRT Demon as its released.Dodge Challenger For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 22, 2017

Dodge Viper ACR: Track Day Superstar

In early May 2015, Dodge issued a press release that surprised sports car enthusiasts everywhere with the release of the fastest street-legal track car to ever come from Dodge: the 2016 Viper ACR. With a design focused around improved aerodynamics, the Viper ACR comes equipped with the Extreme Aero Package, which includes an adjustable dual-element rear wing, rear carbon fiber diffuser, SRT hood with removable louvers, a detachable extension for the front splitter and four dive planes. The resulting downforce reaches nearly one ton, producing a top speed of 177 mph.Dodge armed this beast with some serious braking power thanks to Brembo’s Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes that use 15.4-inch two-piece front rotors and 14.2-inch two-piece rear rotors. These brakes pair with the largest brake pad area to ever come standard on a Viper, now ready to stop on a dime. If you have wondered about the suffix, ACR stands for American Club Racer. It has been the most track-focused version of the Viper to date.Powering this machine is a robust 8.4-liter V10 engine, guided by a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission. This winning combination generates 645 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, the most torque of any naturally aspirated car engine in the world. The results are sure to be an extraordinarily visceral driving experience, from the racetrack to the streets. For an even more in-depth experience with the Viper ACR, Dodge offers a “1 of 1” customization program, which allows the buyer to tailor their car while tracking the build process. Pricing for Dodge’s most ruthless supercar to date starts at $117,895. Our dealers have plenty of mean snakes to choose from, so stay with us for all your Viper updates.Price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $117,895Engine: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4-liter V10Horsepower: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645 hp0–60: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3 secondsTop Speed: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 mphTransmission: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-speed manualTorque: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 pound-feet

By Andrew Nabors – February 16, 2017

Dodge Demon Will Launch Much Harder Than Hellcat

In the latest preview of the new Dodge Demon, drag racing math is explained in detail. Every automatic transmission has a torque converter. It connects the engine to the transmission once you hit the gas pedal. New cars are built with fuel economy in mind, so they will start moving forward under 1,000 rpm. But the first rule in drag racing is to launch when your car makes the most torque. A custom torque converter is the first modification racers usually make. Dodge is taking an old-school approach by building the Demon with a racing inspired converter. Unlike the clutch in a manual transmission, a converter actually multiplies the engine's torque output when provoked. It takes years of experience and some intense math to build the perfect converter, and it can make or break your quarter mile times.(Dodge Demon's Wide Body Finally Revealed)Digging deeper for the perfect launch, the next logical upgrade is the differential. A higher ratio makes the car shift sooner because it goes thru the gears quicker. From personal experience, going from a 2.73 ratio to a 3.73 feels like adding 100 horsepower to your car. The Demon differential will be 3.09, a nice upgrade from the Hellcat's 2.62 gears. To put that power to the ground will be 18x11" rear wheels wearing 315/40 Nitto NT05R drag radial tires. Measuring in at 12.6" wide, these street legal racing tires will be a handful in the rain. The press release outlines each of these features as a percentage upgrade over the Hellcat, with the tires having 15% more tread width than before. The torque converter and differential both offer around 18% each, so it will be a monster coming out of the hole. As soon as we get our hands on one, expect to see some impressive 60' times at our local track, so stay with us for more Demon updates and muscle car news.Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 07, 2017

2018 Dodge Durango SRT: "Most Powerful 3-Row SUV"

Are you driving around in a Dodge Durango and find yourself wanting more power? Well, I've got great news for you: Dodge has just announced the new 2018 Durango SRT.The American automaker is noting that this new SUV is "America's fastest, mort powerful and most capable three-row SUV." How did Dodge make this happen? To put it simply, they threw their 392-cubic-inch HEMI V8 under the hood. This engine gives the driver of the SUV the ability to unleash 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Dodge notes that this engine will give the car a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.9 seconds.“The new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars Brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT – FCA North America. “This is what you get, when you take everything great about the Durango and combine it with the performance of the Charger SRT: a 12-second quarter mile, toy-hauling, three-row muscle car.”What's pretty awesome about purchasing this Durango is that every buyer gets a one full-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. This experience will allow them to really test out its "Track Mode" and unleash every ounce of power it has on tap.If you're interested in picking one up, they will be at Dodge dealerships in Q4 2017.Sports Cars For Sale 2018 Dodge Durango SRT

By Edward Jones – January 26, 2017

Dodge Demon's Wide Body Finally Revealed

Dodge has just graced the world with the first glimpse at the new Challenger Demon's wide body. In a press release and video perfectly titled "Wide Body," we see a new Challenger that is, you guessed it, wide.(Did Vin Diesel's Speech Just Leak the Dodge Challenger Demon?)In the press release, we learn that the new Demon rolls on 18 x 11-inch wheels that are shod with "Demon Branded" Nitto NT05R tires in the front and rear. These new drag radials were specifically created for the Demon and use a new compound and specific tire construction.These 11-inch wheels and fender flares add a total of 2.5-inches to the total width of the Demon, making it the widest Challenger yet. To see the body for yourself, click play on the video below and check out the featured image up top.All Dodge Challenger For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 19, 2017

New Dodge Demon Teaser Reveals More

The Dodge Challenger Demon is set to become more powerful than the Hellcat, but the American automaker hasn't divulged any details...until now.Alright, so the latest press release doesn't have the detail we've been wanting, but they'll do for now. Dodge announced in the press release that the Demon will be more than 200 pounds lighter than the Hellcat.That's it.That's all the press release stated.But, that's still some cool information. Accompanying the press release is a new video that shows "adjustments" made to the wheels, steering, suspension, brakes, interior and other components. The specifics aren't there, as it's quite vague.If you're really interested in this car, as you should be, Dodge notes: "Fans are encouraged to watch the 24-second “Reduction” video multiple times at www.ifyouknowyouknow.com for clues to follow the story of what’s next from Dodge and SRT."All Dodge Challengers For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 12, 2017

Dodge Teases the 2018 Challenger Demon, More Powerful Tha...

If you are growing bored of your Hellcat, Dodge has something even more powerful for the New York Auto Show. In a YouTube video uploaded this morning, an evil creature is seen escaping from a cage. A hellish cat undergoes a metamorphosis to unleash an inner Demon, who summons SRT fans to a new landing page. The first of a dozen scheduled videos, each one has a countdown clock ticking away until the formal reveal. With much of the US in the depths of winter, April seems far away. But we can already feel the heat. Maybe this signals an increase of displacement. Who wouldn't want to see the return of the 426 HEMI? Sending that power to the ground will require massive tires, so check out the flared fenders! Teaser From SRTA soundtrack of Fuel by Metallica is appropriate, given the Hellcat's 1/2" fuel lines. Engineers at the SRT division shocked the world with 707 reliable horsepower from a supercharged 6.2 liter HEMI V8. We know it is capable of more because our friend John Hennessey added twin turbos to build the HPE1000. With a name as irreverent as Demon, we pray for more details of the beast. Domestic but not domesticated is their tag line, and fans have embraced the ability to be bad. On the bright side, if the Demon is a significant increase in power, expect to find very competitive pricing on used Hellcats. And you know where to find them! Stay with us for more demonic updates.Used Challenger Hellcat For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 05, 2017

2017 Ram Rebel Black Unveiled

What began as a trim package for the Ram 1500 has spawned a special edition. The Rebel Black will be unleashed next week at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. We spent a week with a Rebel back in July, and one of the most polarizing features was the two-tone exterior. Our coworkers either loved it or found the two-tone exterior was over the top. Fiat-Chrysler must have been listening, because Rebel Black is exactly what it implies. The brush guards, wheels and fender flares are blacked out along with the interior. Although this package can be had on any standard Rebel color, the murdered out motif is most appealing.Only available in short wheelbase 4WD with a crew cab, Rebel Black is offered with three engine choices. The interior is accented by black chrome and anodized trim and black leather from our friends at Katzkin seats. The differences are mostly cosmetic, because Rebel packs some serious hardware. From the 33" Toyo all terrain tires to adjustable air suspension, it offers the best of both worlds in a daily driver and off road performance. The only option we would add would be the Hellcat 707 hp V8, but the transfer case would probably detonate. As soon as we can get our hands on a Ram Rebel Black expect to see a full review here on Autofluence.All Ram Trucks For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 07, 2016

The World's First AWD American Muscle Coupe: 2017 Dodge C...

We've been hearing about it, but now it's finally here: the AWD 2017 Dodge Challenge GT. The American automaker is touting this as the world's first and only all-wheel drive muscle coupe from the United States.In a detailed press release from Dodge, released today, we learned the specifics of this new car. First off, being a muscle car we have to talk about its powerhouse. Under the Challenger GT's hood is Dodge's award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine. This engine is capable of 305 horsepower at 6.350 RPM and 268 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 RPM. While those aren't Hellcat numbers, I'm sure there will be more potent versions on the way.Now, onto the new drive layout. The Challenger GT will feature the sale all-wheel drive system used in the Charger AWD, complete with active transfer case and front-axle disconnect. Sending the aforementioned power to all four wheels is the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. This AWD setup will be great for muscle car fans in the Northern states during the snowier seasons. To further the Challenger GT's abilities, Dodge has equipped the car with P235/55R19 BSW all-season tires and projector fog lamps.The 2017 Dodge Challenger GT will start production in January of next year and is scheduled to arrive at dealerships in Q1 It will come with an MSRP of $33,395, not including the $1,095 destination charge.Used Challenger Hellcat for sale

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