Articles

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 – January 28, 2019

Two Tom Brady Signature Edition Aston-Martin Vanquish For...

If you are feeling Patriotic about the Big Game, we have two rare Aston-Martins for you. Only a dozen were built, and we have two Tom Brady Signature Editions Aston Martin Vanquish Volante for sale. Both are convertibles and both have low mileage so they would look amazing at the Valet Stand in Foxborough. Tom Brady said: “It was an easy decision to go with the Vanquish S for the special edition - it is an incredible car to drive and is truly a work of art. Going through the process of curating a unique Aston Martin has been fascinating. We started with a blank canvas and finished with this beautiful car. It’s been great to see it all come to fruition and I’m proud to share a name with it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!” I covered the announcement of this exciting collaboration two years ago, and our fans from New England went wild. Tom and his wife Giselle worked with Aston-Martin's Q department to design a gorgeous car. Aside from Tom's signature, these cars have custom colors inside and out. Our first example is from Bill Dean, at Dean Team Luxury Autos. It has 114 miles and is listed at $272,950 Click Here To View Listing The next one is from Cleveland Motorsports, and it only has 14 miles on the odometer. The ultimate ride for Patriot Nation, click these links to compare them. Click Here To View Listing Tell us your favorite Aston Martin in the comments below, and stay with us for all your Aston Martin news. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – January 28, 2019

McLaren Senna Breaks Records on The Grand Tour

We've been patiently waiting for Amazon to upload the 3rd series of The Grand Tour. Starting with the fastest McLaren to-date, Jeremy Clarkson chose to put it to the test. After a high-speed runway launch, he deemed it too fast for their small test track. Therefore he handed the keys to their expert driver Abbie Eaton. She pushed the machine to its limits to show the McLaren Senna Breaking Records on The Grand Tour. As a perfect homage to Ayrton Senna, this beast is powered by a twin-turbo 4L V8 making 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Because they test their cars under the meanest conditions, these ratings are conservative to say the least. Our dealers have all the info on this supercar, so click the link below to find a McLaren near you. View All McLaren For Sale https://www.facebook.com/thegrandtour/videos/376050253183955/ Related: Howard Panes' Vibrant McLaren Senna is a Must-see McLaren Senna by LEGO Speed Champions

Introducing the 2019 Corvette Drivers Series — special-edition

By Edward Jones – January 25, 2019

New 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Drivers Series Announced

Chevrolet has been teasing a new Corvette special edition, which have finally been unveiled. Introducing the 2019 Corvette Drivers Series special edition Grand Sport models. There are four different special editions in this series, each of which was designed with the Corvette Racing team and inspired by their racing drivers. Here's the breakdown for each of the four special editions for the Grand Sport 1LT, 2LT and 3LT trims: Tommy Milner Edition: Elkhart Lake Blue exterior with silver stripes and red hash marks. Black wheels with a red stripe and red brake calipers. Jet black Suede interior with red seat belts. Leather seats for the 1LT. Oliver Gavin Edition: Shadow Gray exterior with a Torch Red center stripe and matching hash marks. Black wheels with a red stripe and red brake calipers. Adrenaline Red interior with red seat belts. Jan Magnussen Edition: Arctic White exterior with Crystal Red stripes and gray hash marks. Black wheels with a red stripe and red brake calipers. Jet black interior with red seat belts. Red stitching on the 3LT trim. Antonio Garcia Edition: Racing Yellow exterior with "Jake" stinger stripe and red hash marks. Black wheels with a red stripe and red brake calipers. Jet Black interior with yellow stitching on the 3LT trim. Each of these models also come with a plaque that commemorates the driver and its edition. The 2019 Corvette Driver Series packages will be ready this Spring and will come with an additional MSRP of $4,995 for 1LT and 2LT trims and $5,995 for the 3LT trim. view all corvettes for sale

2020 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Dual Rear Wheel

By Andrew Nabors – January 23, 2019

GMC Unveils the 2020 Sierra HD

Its cold in Flint, Michigan, but they have some hot news for us. After a 1.5 Billion investment by GM, they will soon start production on something new. GMC has unveiled the 2020 Sierra HD with a host of improvements. It will arrive in 2500 and 3500 ratings, with single or dually rear axles. Despite being longer and taller, the bed is 1" lower than last year. It shares the venerable 6.6L Duramax turbo diesel with its Silverado HD cousins, but Sierra will feature the all-new Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. Other firsts include 15 cameras, this allows for a transparent trailer in the rear view display. Not only will passing be much easier, backing and maneuvering will be an ease. Towing is a breeze because it easily surpasses the 30,000-lb rating of its predecessor. Chevrolet Unveils 2020 Silverado HD A 15" Heads Up Display will keep your eyes on the road, and the iN-Command system is ready to control every system in your trailer. If you want to take this beast offroad, the AT4 package includes Rancho suspension, skid plates, and an Eaton locking rear diff. You will have 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque with the options for open pore wood & full leather interior in the Sierra HD Denali. View All GMC For Sale " width="680">

Cadillac announced that starting today customers can now request

By Andrew Nabors – January 15, 2019

Preorder Your Cadillac CT6-V Before They're Soldout

GM didn't start 2019 on the right foot, so this is promising news. In a press release this morning, we've learned the finer details of the new Cadillac CT6-V. We've reviewed several versions of the CT6 since it arrived in 2016. Honestly the twin-turbo 3.0 doesn't lack power in this big sedan, but more power is always welcomed. You better act fast to preorder your CT6-V before they are sold out. Cadillac is only building 275 examples this year. We're sad to see the CTS-V come to an end. It has grown larger & more powerful with each generation, but customers found the six-digit price a bit hard to justify. Thankfully, the new big sedan has a starting price of $88,790. Caddy President Steve Carlisle said: “The 2019 CT6-V marks the expansion of the V-Series sub-brand and is the proof point of Cadillac’s commitment to build high-performance vehicles as we continue our product offensive." Their goal is to release a new model every six months until 2022. Reviewed: 2018 Cadillac CT6 The new V will be powered by an all-new V8. The. 4.2L Blackwing is a 550 horsepower beast with 627 lb-ft of torque. It is Cadillac's first DOHC to use reverse-flow heads and twin turbos mounted in the valley. That price comes with a 2-day course at Spring Mountain in order to learn how this power is sent to all wheels. Due to the complexities of going head-to-head with BMW, Audi and Mercedes-AMG, Cadillac is probably not bluffing on the limited production. So click the link below to find our dealer near you and get on the list. Stay with us for all your Cadillac news. View All Cadillac CT6 For Sale Related: Cadillac Reveals CT6 Plug-In Hybrid

Cadillac furthered its recent product blitz today with the revea

By Andrew Nabors – January 14, 2019

Cadillac Unveils Their First EV at the Detroit Auto Show

Today marks the opening of the North American International Auto Show. It will be a week of new car reveals, and the first one happened last night. Cadillac unveiled their first *fully electric vehicle. I have to add that caveat for those who might have forgot about the ELR. While it was limited by the ties to the Chevrolet Volt, this new model marks GM's next generation of battery powered cars. Cadillac will be the first to use a new modular chassis. It can be configured for front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive, with various battery capacities depending on the target audience. Also unveiled was their new XT6 crossover and a few hints of the new Escalade. Cadillac is committed to releasing a new model every six months. Cadillac Unveils 550 Horsepower CT6-V As a CTS-V owner, I look forward to the CT6-V and hopefully a new generation of the ATS. GM has a lot riding on their upcoming products, so let's hope they get it right. Stay with us for full coverage of this year's NAIAS, and click the link below to find great incentives from our Cadillac dealer near you. Find Your Local Cadillac SHoiwroom Related Video: " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – January 10, 2019

Lamborghini Huracan Evo Configurator is Live

If you need Performante Power along with rear-wheel steering, the new Lamborghini Huracan Evo Configurator is up & running. We broke the news about the latest Lambo on Monday, so follow along as we fall down the rabbit hole of colors and options. We were greeted by 40 paint choices that are divided into solid, metallic, pearl, matte, and special metallic. What makes the special metallic worth the extra coin is thanks to the multiple layers of tinted clear and color sanded metallic. The car needs to be seen for miles, so we chose Rosso Bia. While cast aluminum wheels are great on your daily driver, a car of this magnitude deserves forged center-locks. Two cast designs are offered as standard equipment, but the Narvi 20" in gloss black has Y-spokes. This design theme is also seen in the headlight LEDs and throughout the interior, so why not? Next were the finer details of the body. We chose yellow brake calipers because the other 11 choices didn't seem right. Three exterior packages are available, ranging from high gloss black, body color, and full specs. The last one includes a rear diffuser and the matte finish engine cover, so it was a no-brainer. Now its time for the interior, and I am thankful for leather. Alcantara is fun to say, but it isn't comfortable nor easy to clean. If I am buying a raging bull, I want to make sure the other cows know I mean business! That is why I chose inverted stitching on the red & black hides. Carbon Skin is the name for their new interior trim, and it is 28% lighter than Alcantara. We chose the complete package that covers the center console, door panels, upper dash, and the knee pads. Red piping on the floor mats and red stitching on the steering wheel were chosen from 16 thread colors. Both seats are powered and heated, with dual lumbar adjustments on each side. We opted for embroidered headrests. The base model interior has black chrome for the door handles, shifter plate and switch guards, but Forged Composites look much better. The small forged composites package is simply the grab handles, air vents, and shift paddles. The Big Package adds the center console, switch guards and sill plates. Lamborghini Unveils the 2020 Huracan Evo Lastly, my Alcantara annoyance was eliminated by opting for leather A-pillars and headliner. We think Mr. Balboni would approve, so stay with us for his comments. The only final option is for the Sensonium. This 10-speaker audio system has 4 tweeters, 4 mids and 2 subs, which are completely not needed in a V10 supercar. From there we move onto the unseen hardware. A 128-gig hard drive seems redundant since phones are already in the terabyte territory. Telemetry is crucial to better lap times and front axle lift...because Florida. A five year warranty and included maintenance offer peace of mind, so its worth the extra money. Ambient lighting is standard, hooray! After this final step you are presented with a summary. Huracan Evo Summary Now you have a choice. You are presented with a six-letter code for your unique build. Choosing to share opens every social media network along with an email prompt. Brochure compiles the entire car as a PDF. Now it is time to get on the list. Using your Zip Code on our website will locate the closest Lamborghini dealer. You can email them your code, but it might also be wise to print the PDF. Some of these options might have a price you don't agree with. That is the beauty of the configurator. This information arrives in Italy as soon as the handshake, and your car is transformed from binary code into a 640 horsepower asphalt assault weapon. Click the link below to browse Lamborghinis for sale and stay with us for all your Huracan updates. Find A Lamborghini Near you " width="680">

Large-10302-McLarenAutomotive-FifthLongtail

By Andrew Nabors – January 09, 2019

McLaren Teases Longtail, Could Be New 600LT Spider

Last year McLaren Automotive made a bold statement. Their Track-22 business plan evolved into Track-25, which is a clear message to the automotive world. It represents the goal of introducing a myriad of new models by model-year 2025. The Speedtail is a long-awaited successor to the F1 and the P1, and this morning we have seen a glimpse of the next new car which just may be the new 600LT Spider. McLaren 2018 Sales: Another Record Year! In their latest press release, McLaren has teased a new Longtail. It will be formally unveiled next Wednesday (January 16th) at 8AM EST. The 5th McLaren to carry the Longtail name, it will be a track-focused supercar. It will surpass the 600LT, which has served the flagship of their "Sports Series". It has top-mounted exhaust tips that erupt into flamethrowers at wide open throttle. McLaren 2018: A Year of Dominance The press release mentions less weight and more power, so you might think it will be a new member of their Super Series. But after we scrutinized the video and the single image, it looks to be a 600LT Spider. We're certainly ok with that, because putting the top down on 591 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque will be exhilarating. If you can't wait a week for all the details, our dealers have several 600LT coupes in stock. Click the link below to find yours and stay with us for all your McLaren news. View All McLarens FOr Sale Also Check Out: Check Out The Sultan of Brunei's Collection!

By Andrew Nabors – January 07, 2019

Brabham Automotive Announces Street-Legal BT62

David Brabham won the F1 Championship in 1990 and '94. His prowess behind the wheel allowed him to easily become a dominant driver in the American LeMans Series. After winning his class at Daytona in 2003, he moved to Peugot to win LeMans outright in 2009. Last year he announced the formation of Brabham Automotive to build a new race car. The BT62 has been caught testing around the world, and each time they have reiterated it would be a "track only" machine. But a press release this morning has put fear in the world of street legal supercars. For those who want a screaming 5.4L V8 and a light chassis, it can be ordered to meed EU and Australian regulations. Brabham Automotive Unveils the BT62 Newspress.co.uk reported this morning that the UK model will add £150,000 (or $191,566) to the window sticker. Also mentioned is their intention to make the car available in markets around the world. To make it more practical, they started by raising the static ride height. Axle lifts front and rear will offer additional clearance, and an optional Air Conditioner will keep you cool. The steering rack has more range for easier parking, and a security system is standard equipment. More details will be released Thursday at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, England, so stay with us for all your Brabham updates. Exotic Cars For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – January 07, 2019

Mercedes-Benz Teases Their 2020 CLA

Five years ago Mercedes-Benz shocked the US. They took the styling of the CLS and cut it down into an attractive compact sedan. The CLA-Class made big waves with a starting price of $29,900, and the factories strained to keep up with the massive demand. We hope the new price is just as appealing, because Mercede-Benz have teased the 2020 CLA on their Facebook page 2019 Brabus A-Class is a Compact Sledgehammer Sedan Now it's time for an encore performance. The 2nd Generation Mercedes-Benz CLA will be formally unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas tomorrow. We hope their turbocharged four-cylinder engine is available without the AMG package because our friends at BRABUS already know its secrets. Tell us what you would like to see in the new CLA in the comments below and stay with us for all the details. View All Mercedes-Benz CLA For Sale https://www.facebook.com/MercedesBenz/videos/311243049599145/

Articles

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe