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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 – June 14, 2016

Audi R8 e-tron Spotted Testing in Germany

Someone has stolen Tony Stark's Audi R8 e-tron. Either that or he has a poor security system, or Audi borrowed the car for testing on a Bavarian back road. Spotted by the keen eyes of AutoTopNL, the wold's next electric supercar was spotted in the forest near headquarters in Ingolstadt. The German luxury automaker is known for long development programs, and we can vouch for that. I spotted the A3 e-tron wagon leaving Volkswagen Group's top secret test lab (two blocks away behind Burger King) back in 2013. The production version was finally delivered to us for a week of testing back in March, and it didn't disappoint. The R8 e-tron has been shrouded in rumor and speculation as to range, pricing and launch date, so we hope this footage is proof that its ready for sale. Downstairs in our showroom resides a V10 powered R8 Spyder, and it is as close to automotive perfection as we have encountered. Even if the e-tron is only RWD, it will be a resounding success. Audi For Sale P.S. The chase car is an insane 800 hp S8, so stay tuned for updates

By Edward Jones – June 13, 2016

Forza Horizon 3 Trailer Revealed, Release Date

Even those who drive the cars like to race them digitally. This is why I'm here to present our readers with the latest from Microsoft Studios' Turn 10 Studios: Forza Horizon 3.If you've played the first or second release in the spin-off series, you would know that this game is an open-world masterpiece that has you driving some of the world's most exotic cars. If you didn't, well, now you know. In each game there is always some sort of event going on, which blends both pop culture and the automotive world. I'm not exactly sure what the premise will be for third release in the series, but I do know that it will all take place in the Australian Outback. As a rally enthusiast, the sight of dirt has been excited.(Also Read: Cars of Transformers 5: The Last Knight) The star of the new Forza game is none other that the cover car of our May issue, the Lamborghini Centenario. This looks to be the first time the $1.9 million supercar has been featured in a video game, making the inclusion of it a bit of a big deal. If you need any further info to build hype, the Centenario is powered by the most powerful engine Lamborghini has ever produced. In the description of the just-released trailer for the game, it's noted that there will be over 350 cars included in the game. The trailer can be viewed below.Another neat "little" feature that Turn 10 Studios has added is four-player cooperative play. So, those who like to race together can do so across the Outback in Forza Horizon 3. Just don't get mad at them when your friend steers your car into a kangaroo...All of this will be available come September 27, with early access starting on the 23rd.Lamborghinis For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 13, 2016

Mansory Builds 1 of 1 Mercedes-AMG GT S

No build is too intimidating for the masters at Mansory, because they have made a name for themselves by improving on perfection. The Mercedes-AMG GT S is a potent machine, but one discerning enthusiast needed more. Turning his vision into reality, their creation is a bespoke GT S that can not be recreated.(Related: Mansory Aventador J.S. 1 Edition is Carbon Overload)Everyone knows Mansory for exaggerating and accentuating factory designs, but the owner asked for more. From turbos to tailpipes, the exhaust system is all new and unrestricted. Intake and tuning upgrades push horsepower to 720, and the top speed is now 205 mph. To provide stability at those speeds, more traction was required. Front tires are 9.5" and rears are 10.5 on 21" forged wheels. New fenders and quarter panels were handcrafted to flare the body around the rubber. Out back is a rear spoiler that would scare any Viper, with the carbon fiber finished in ruby red.The red theme continues through the interior, with hand-sewn seat covers and trim. We know little about the owner, except that his name is Bandar. We applaud his attention to detail and we hope to see this wild GT S in the future. Stay tuned for more wild Mansory builds!GT S For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 13, 2016

2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta For Sale - 1 of 499

File this one under car you will probably never see in person. More than simply a convertible version of the Speciale, it is actually 110 lbs lighter than the coupe. Production was limited to 499 cars, and they are the swan song for Ferrari’s naturally aspirated 4.5L V8. Stretching the limits of what a V8 can produce without the help of turbos or a supercharger, the engine masters at Maranello used technology from the Formula1 team to extract every last ounce of power. It revs to 9,000 to unlock 597 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. A compression ratio of 14:1 requires only the best fuel, but your reward is an amazing soundtrack from the exhaust.Evidently someone couldn't handle the power, because this Ferrari Certified example at Foreign Cars Italia of Greensboro, NC was brought in with only 392 miles clocked on its odometer. As usual with collector cars of this nature, it was ordered with a plethora of options. White with a black interior, it has AFS headlights, carbon fiber rocker panels, center caps, titanium exhaust and embroidered headrests.View Listing View All Ferrari 458 Italia News, Articles, Video

By Andrew Nabors – June 13, 2016

Maserati Unveils 2017 Quattroporte

Fiat Chrysler is in the middle of a Maserati makeover. Last week we had a chance to experience the Levante in person at the Greenwich Concours, and it was a show stopper. Along with a few updates to the Ghibli, 2017 welcomes a restyled Quattroporte. Much in the same way Ghibli's options will be split between luxury and sport, Quattoporte's new looks are augmented by two trim levels.Maserati Ghibli For SaleGranLusso is the luxury package which offers a cleaner exterior thanks to body-colored rocker panels and rear fascia. For the interior, Maserati turned to Ermenegildo Zegna for the best in materials. Only the finest silk was procured for the seats, door panels and visors. Open pore wood and powered sun shades along with four-zone climate control are the other highlights of GranLusso.For those who value performance over comfort, GranSport has more aggressive air inlets and 21" wheels. The exterior trades body colored accents for gloss black, along with red brake calipers. Inside the wood trim is piano black with heavily bolstered sport seats. Additional options for GranSport are carbon fiber trim and stainless pedals.As before, engines are built by Ferrari to ensure the best in acceleration. The 3.8L twin turbo from the California T offers 530 hp along with a 3.0L V6 twin-turbo V6 which is good for 410 hp. GTS models will have standard V8 power, with the V6 reserved for the S. Ordering is now available for the new sedan, so expect to see them arrive by the end of summer.Maserati Quattroporte For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 13, 2016

Mercedes-Benz Plans for All Electrified Models in Future

Over the next two years, Daimler is slated to invest an unprecedented seven billion euro (approximately $7.8 billion in US) into what they are referring to as green technologies. Usually, such a large sum of money would be invested over a long period of time, but Daimler is leading the industry in doing so over a mere two years. By 2017, the car maker will offer all models with electrified engines.According to Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, a member of the Board of management of Dimler AG, stated, "...no other manufacturer offers a comparable range of electrified vehicles and solutions in the field of electric mobility. The spectrum ranges from the smart city runabout and attractive Mercedes-Benz passenger cars to buses, coaches, and trucks of the Fuso brand. We will electrify all Mercedes-Benz passenger car model series step by step.“(Also Read: Tesla Model X: 32 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Electric SUV)The Mercedes-Benz name will not be compromised by lack of power, as stated in a press release, but will instead offer customers a broader range of engine options, keeping in mind the specific needs of each model and the desires of the purchaser. Mercedes-Benz will offer a multitude of plug-in hybrids and expand carbon-free options by implementing emission-free vehicles into every realm of their model options including buses and commercial vehicles. The car maker recognizes a need for more innovative technology within the automotive industry though, and is making great strides toward the future.Mercedes-Benzs For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 10, 2016

Lamborghini Debuts Revamped Lamborghini Museum, Celebrate...

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Lamborgini Miura and the Miura Tour, the car maker's CEO Stefan Domenicali, officially introduced the new Lamborghini Museum to the public. The museum, which has been completely revamped to include new models, new interactive exhibits and new multimedia displays, is located in Sant'Agata Bolognese at the company's headquarters.In a statement, Domenicali said,"The inauguration of the new Museum on the same day as the Miura Tour sets off, sends out a clear signal on Lamborghini's commitment to honoring its history. The Museum, which has been designed as an authentic experience for visitors, will be a key attraction for an ever-increasing number of arrivals from around the world. The new layout now provides a richer experience of the world of Lamborghini where our history, engines, design and technology come together in a journey from the brand's past to its future."The new museum coincides with the Miura Tour, which celebrates the 50-year history of the classic supercar.Lamborghinis For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 09, 2016

Ride Along With Jay Leno in his 1954 Jaguar XK 120

if you have ever wanted to experience the thrill of blasting through the mountains in a classic Jaguar, virtual reality might be the closest you will ever get-- even if you don't own 3D headgear. Jay Leno is asking you to join him on a 10-mile excursion into the hills north of Burbank in a 1954 Jaguar XK 120. Instead of a full webisode, this serves as a teaser for the second season of the series which premieres June 15th on CNBC.(Related: Jay Leno Admits He Was Wrong About the Jaguar XJ220)Jaguar stopped building cars to concentrate on the war effort in 1940. As the blitz raged above them, engineers looked to the future and began work on the XK 120. Built from 1948 to '54, these nimble roadsters were powered by a 3.4L straight six. Since postwar England was devoid of steel, Jaguar was forced to place their hand formed bodies on a chassis of ash wood. This made the car light and strong, with a figure that impressed a young Mr. Leno. It will be a few years before we launch a 3D version of Autofluence, but stay tuned for more immersive automotive footage in the meantime.Jaguar XK 120 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – June 09, 2016

Porsche Teases A New Panamera

Porsche's advertising department never does anything half way. Somehow they are able to pull on our heartstrings to evoke fond memories and reminisce about our first experiences with their models. Its no surprise that their latest video has us on the edge of our seats awaiting the unveiling of the new Panamera.(Related: Spotted- Porsche Panamera...Hearse?)Somehow they were able to close the elevated section of Park Avenue that surrounds Grand Central for a brief history lesson. The Panamera has been in production since 2009, with minor updates since then. The video highlights major milestones in Porsche's past, such as the original 356 and 911 models, so there is no doubt about their dedication to the new sedan. Taking styling cues from the 911, the new design is a sharp departure from the current model. If we had our way it would be manual transmission and AWD, so stay tuned to see what the production version will offer.Panameras For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 08, 2016

Lewis Hamilton Helps Debut Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder A...

This year's F1 race in Monaco brought out the spectators and the brands you'd expect, with Mercedes-AMG leading the way. Lewis Hamilton was met with a frenzy of fans and photographers before boarding the Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder AMG Monaco Concept, which was revealed at the race. Hamilton and fellow Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team member, Nico Rosberg, hit the waters to put their non-track driving to the test.(Related: New Mercedes-AMG GT3 Cigarette Boat Revealed)Combing Mercedes race concepts with nautical know-how, Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette racing combined forces to create the ultimate speed boat. The bullet-like race boat is fitted with twin Mercury Racing 1550 engines. The exterior was designed by a Mercedes-AMG design team while the nautical experts handled the power of the vessel.Check out more photos of the Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder AMG Monaco Concept below.

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