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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 – November 08, 2016

Report: All Ferraris to Have Hybrid Tech by 2019

Fans of everything naturally aspirated and Ferraris may not like this news, but it looks like the Italian automaker is going full steam ahead with hybrid technology.Ferrari For Sale Houston, TexasIn a November 8 article from Automotive News, Marchionne was reported as saying that "all Ferraris sold from 2019 will have some hybrid elements." Yes, this means you're going to be hard-pressed to find a naturally aspirated Ferrari after 2018. Does this mean that hybrid-less Ferrari may see a jump in price in the coming years? Only time will tell, but this could be similar to how manual transmission Ferraris are so hard to come by.(Related - Jay Leno Drives David Lee's Epic Ferrari Supercar Collection)Additionally, the article touches on the amount of cars Ferrari hopes to ship. Marchionne told Automotive News that they are set to ship 8,000 this year and will raise that amount to 9,000 by 2019. What's more, he also notes that they could sell more than 10,000 by 2025.From this article, it looks like Ferrari is willing to ship more cars to their customers and put a major focus on hybrid technology. What do you guys think about this future for Ferrari? Let me know in the comments below.All Ferrari For Sale Related Video:

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 07, 2016

Mercedes-Benz Delivers One Million Cars In Six Months

This week the good news keeps rolling in for popular luxury and exotic car brands. Most recently, Mercedes-Benz is joining the ranks of high-performing brands with over a million cars delivered in the first half of 2016. This is a new record for the company and represents double-digit growth to the tune of 12.1 percent.A total of 1,006,619 vehicles were delivered in the short, six-month period, with 188,444 delivered in June alone. The company attributes much of this year's success to it's SUV line, which has recently undergone much renewal. The SUV sales represent one-third of total sales for the Mercedes-Benz family of vehicles. The success marks record sales months for 40 months in a row for the company. With the recent release of the Mercedes-AMG GT R, the luxury maker is well on it's way to another successful year. June 2016 Change in % Jan.-June 2016 Change in % Mercedes-Benz 188,444 +11.1 1,006,619 +12.1 smart 13,147 +16.0 73,510 +18.3 Mercedes-Benz Cars 201,591 +11.4 1,080,129 +12.5 Mercedes-Benz unit sales in the region/market Europe 86,657 +13.7 444,581 +13.3 - thereof Germany 28,790 +7.4 142,756 +7.8 Asia-Pacific 63,754 +16.4 346,220 +21.7 - thereof Japan 6,356 +0.4 32,120 -1.4 - thereof China 39,462 +21.4 219,999 +33.1 NAFTA 33,245 +2.4 189,512 +0.1 - thereof USA 28,473 +1.5 162,777 -1.3 Mercedes-Benz Vehicles for Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 06, 2016

Lamborghini Sets 2016 Sales Record

The first six months have proven incredibly fruitful for Lamborghini. With a record-breaking 2,013 units sold in the first half of 2016, Lamborghini exceeded it's previous six-month sales, and this was the first time the Italian carmaker saw sales over 2,000 units. This marks a total increase of seven percent.(See Also: Why You Should Buy a Lamborghini Aventador SV)Lamborghini attributes much of its success to the popularity of the Huracan model, which is responsible for 1,370 of the total 2,013 units delivered. In a press release, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, stated, "Thanks to the enlargement of the Huracán family, including introduction of the Spyder and rear-wheel drive version in markets worldwide in spring this year, we were able to deliver an exceptional sales performance in the first six months of 2016."He also noted the Huracan and the V12 Aventador have set up the company to beat previous sales records overall for 2016.Lamborghini Huracans for Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 02, 2016

Winners of the 2016 International Engine of the Year Awards

This year's Engine of the Year Awards have officially been announced, and we're here to give you the low down.This year's judging panel included a total of 62 judges hailing from all over the globe. In order to choose a winner for each category, each judge compared the shortlisted engines to each other in their prospective categories. Qualities like performance, fuel economy and noise, among others, were all taken into account. The maximum possible score for each category was a 15 while the lowest score was a 1.Last year's International Engine of the Year, the BMW i8's 1.5-liter three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid engine, was bumped out of first place by the Ferrari 3.9-liter biturbo V8 which powers the 488 GTB. In fact, Ferrari's 3.9-liter Biturbo V8 cleaned house, winning many of the awards it was eligible for.Here's a list of the rest of the winning engines: International Engine of the Year – Ferrari 3.9-litre biturbo V8 (Ferrari 488 GTB) Performance Engine – Ferrari 3.9-litre biturbo V8 (Ferrari 488 GTB) New Engine – Ferrari 3.9-litre biturbo V8 (Ferrari 488 GTB) Green Engine – Tesla full-electric powertrain (Tesla Model S) Above 4-liter – Ferrari 6.3-litre V12 (Ferrari F12 tdf) 3-liter to 4-liter – Ferrari 3.9-litre biturbo V8 (Ferrari 488 GTB) 2.5-liter to 3-liter – Porsche 3-litre six-cylinder turbo (Porsche 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4S) 2-liter to 2.5-liter – Audi 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo (Audi RS3, RSQ3) 1.8-liter to 2-liter – Mercedes-AMG 2-litre turbo (Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, CLA45 AMG, GLA45 AMG) 1.4-liter to 1.8-liter – BMW 1.5-litre three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid (BMW i8) 1-liter to 1.4-liter – PSA Peugeot Citroen 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo (Peugeot 208, 308, 2008, 3008, 5008, Citroen C3, C3 Picasso, C4 Cactus, C4, DS3, C4 Picasso / Grand Picasso, DS4) Sub 1-liter – Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo (Ford Fiesta, B-Max, Focus, C-Max, Grand C-Max, Mondeo, EcoSport and Tourneo Connect/Courier) Ferrari 488 GTBs For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 13, 2016

Porsche Just Had Their Best First Quarter, Ever

With an unprecedented 55,974 new vehicles officially delivered in the first quarter of 2016, Porsche has officially named this the best quarter in the company' history. The sales surpass that of the 2015 numbers by ten percent and the maker's new SUV, the Macan, accounts for nearly half of total sales. The company is calling the Macan it's most popular model at this stage in the year. The Chinese market was largely responsible for Porche's first-quarter success, with an increase of nearly a quarter in sales.The company, though, is more focused on job security (and let's face it, they treat their employees pretty well) and customer satisfaction, states a member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing, Detlev von Platen. According to a Porsche company press release, von Platen states, "We do not measure our success by record sales alone."Congrats to Porsche!Porsches For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – April 06, 2016

Mercedes-Benz Sees Highest Monthly Sales, Best First Quar...

With a total of 198,921 cars delivered in March 2016, Mercedes-Benz hit a company record, delivering more cars than ever in a one-month span in the company's history. This news comes after a record-breaking month in February as well. Among the top locations, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region both set records for Mercedes-Benz sales. According to a press release, "Mercedes-Benz was the premium market leader in Japan, Canada, Australia, Taiwan and Portugal in March."As if this record-setting wasn't enough, the high-end car maker also saw it's best first quarter ever, sweetening the deal. Models that sold best in March were the E-Class Saloon and the Estate. The C-Class Saloon and Estate were also popular.Congratulations to Mercedes-Benz!Mercedes-Benz For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – July 28, 2015

London Supercar Summer Coming Under Fire from Residents

There's no question about whether the number of supercars on the road has been growing. But with the growth in numbers comes a growth in noise, and some of London's residents aren't very happy about that.Those who are familiar with London in the summer know that it's a peak point in tourist season for the area. Paul Wallace, the personality behind Supercars of London, has amassed a large digital following by posting video and photos of the supercars in town to his channels, sharing one video on YouTube July 22 marking the beginning of the "Supercar Summer."You can see in the video how crowds gather to watch these cars go by and rev their engine - a thrill for the enthusiasts on the street, but a headache for those who live in the area. As more tourists from around the world, and particularly from the middle east, continue to arrive with their cars in tow, local councils are seeking a remedy to the noise. A July 26 report from the London Evening Standard tells us that the councils of Kensington and Chelsea have plans in the works to make loud music, rapid acceleration and engine revving criminal offenses, as well as driving in convoys, leaving a car running while stationary or honking the horn. Harrods, the famous department store just north of the River Thames, has particularly been noted as an area where this is problematic. Both the London Evening Standards' July 26 article and a July 22 article mention it as a spot popular for car spotting. Given the average price of a home within a five minute walk of Harrods, estimated in December 2014 to be £2.4 million, or approximately $3.74 million USD, you can assume residents are not averse to fine cars. But, understandably, that doesn't mean they like the roads outside sounding like a racetrack all the time. #SupercarsofLondon by @tfjj #Lamborghini #AventadorSV #London #Summer2015 #SOLdiers Follow my personal page @WallacePJW A photo posted by SupercarsofLondon (@supercarsoflondon) on Jul 28, 2015 at 3:58am PDT With a month of summer left to go, there's still plenty of time for car spotting even if this proposed plan should pass. And if it does, it doesn't mean the cars will be gone - just a little quieter. Stay with us for updates as they are released, and keep an eye on Wallace's page to see the supercars rolling through London town. (Source: YouTube, Facebook, The London Evening Standard, The Guardian) See More Automotive News

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