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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 – May 12, 2020

BMW Unveils Fully Armored X5 Protection VR6

In his N.Y. Times Best-Seller "The Art Of War", Sun Tzu said it is wise to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Given the current situation, I prefer my enemies to keep a nice social distance. Thankfully, BMW has our back, as they have integrated unprecedented strength to the X5. Using the latest NATO guidelines for safety, BMW has unveiled a fully armored X5. Although you can't tell from the outside, this beast can shrug off 30-06 Armor Piercing rounds and anything smaller. The overlapping door jambs and ballistic steel layers are rated to maintain ambient pressure even if 72 lbs of TNT is detonated 40 feet away. That's more than Wile E Coyote ever used against the Road Runner, so you will have incredible safety and the power from an X5M to reach 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. Just like every other BMW X-Series, they are built with pride by BMW USA in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Our dealers have all the information, so click the button below and....warn your friends about your enemies. Find Your BMW X5

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 17, 2020

Porsche Announces Virtual Live event featuring The Porsch...

It seems that live stories on social media platforms with featured guests have been trending during our time spent at home, keeping us up to date and entertained. Porsche’s Instagram media page (@Porsche_newsroom) has been spoiling the platform with incredible images and video post, but they have announced a live video session on the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and the 992 911 Turbo S. TV host Matthias Malmedie and test driver Lars Kern will be testing the incredible limits of both models for the public to view. The event can be viewed from the Porsche Facebook page on April 18th at 11am EST. Click Below for more information on the live event, as well as all news from Porsche!

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2020

Mercedes-AMG Coloring Book is Perfect for Staying at Home

We have been blown away by the automakers responses to this crisis. Realizing that families are spending time together, the Mercedes-AMG Coloring Book is perfect for staying at home. Audi released their book on Monday, and our fans really enjoyed it. Click here to download the Mercedes-AMG book and show us your creations on our social media accounts. Browse All Mercedes-AMG For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 19, 2020

Porsche to Live Stream Annual Press Conference

It will be an early morning for us, but news is news. That's why we're glad to learn that Porsche witll live stream their annual Press Conference tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM Eastern Time. Oliver Blume (Chairman of the Executive Board) will review the brand's performance in 2019, and preview improved efforts for sustainability and hopefully more electric models. It will be simulcast for their largest markets, so here is where you will see it: German: https://newstv.porsche.de English: https://newstv.porsche.com Spanish: https://player.gl-systemhaus.de/porsche/es/index.html Chinese: https://apc.chinatvservice.cn/porsche/index.html Tell us what you are looking forward to from Porsche this year, and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse All Porsche For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – March 13, 2020

Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Postponed to October 15-17

If you are reading this please don't worry, we are taking prevenative measures to make sure you receive the latest news in the automotive world. That being said, massive gatherings of all kinds are being cancelled and rescheduled due to the virus. Our friends at Barrett-Jackson strive to provide the safest environment for their auctions, so the upcomming Palm Beach event has been postponed to October 15-17. Quite frankly, we are glad they have such foresight. In the press release, Craig Jackson said “While every indication shows that our bidders, consignors and sponsors were behind our efforts to hold our auction, we’ve decided to follow the advice of the Florida governor and exercise an abundance of caution at this time.” If you have ever been to Palm Beach in April, the heat and humidity are not kind to those with respiratory issues. October will bring a cool change for their 18th annual no-reserve auction, so we will see you there. Browse Sports Cars For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – February 26, 2020

Pagani Previews Their Geneva Display

This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the Geneva Motor Show. We have been waiting to see Mr. Pagani's latest creations, so thankfully Pagani Automobili has previewed their Geneva display. With the 20th Anniversary of the Zonda behind them, the press release says they look to 2020 as the "Performance Year" for the brand. Their modus operandi of research and engineering is evident in cars inspired by Da Vinci's combination of art and science. 2021 Pagani Imola: Lighter & Faster Therefore, it will be the European debut of the Imola and accompanied by the Huayra Roadster BC. All 5 Imolas have been consigned, so this might be a rare opportunity to see one in public again. Designed to dominate on the track, the AMG V12 offers 827 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque. Since the car only weighs 2,747 lbs, acceleration is an understatement. As a tribute to his friend and first customer, the Roadster BC is named for the late Benny Caiola. The body is their first use of Carbo-Titanium HP62 and Carbo-Triax. These composites are woven in 3D to be lighter and stronger. It allows the Roadster BC to weigh in at 2,756 lbs. With 802 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque, it is a fitting tribute to Mr. Caiola. If you haven't experienced a Pagani in person, click the link below and stay with us for all your Geneva updates. Browse All Pagani For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – January 29, 2020

Singer Air-Cooled Masterpieces Heading to Ice Races

If I was planning to race my Porsche, I would chicken out if Singer arrives. Two of their immaculate 964 restorations are en-route to Austria, so everyone take notice: Singer Air-Cooled masterpieces are heading to the Ice Races. This year's GP Ice Races will be hotter than ever thanks to these two cars. Their first entry is a development mule for the DLS. Known as the Dynamics & Lightweighing Study, it was a cooperation with Williams to build a featherweight composite body powered by a 500 horsepower 4.0L naturally aspirated & air-cooled monster. Singer Celebrates 10th Anniversary at Monterey Their second car was commissioned to be street-legal, and it has tags and registration. Known as Wiesbaden it might be the only re-imagined 964 to pass Germany's strict TÜV regulations. Click the button below to find your classic Porsche 911 and stay with us for all your Singer news. Air Cooled Porsche For Sale https://www.facebook.com/singervehicledesign/videos/982659422129105/ Related: Porsche 964 Spece, Photos, Price & Review

By Edward Jones – January 24, 2020

Jannarelly Arrives in the UK With Five Special Edition Cars

Jannarelly Automotive, the luxury sports car based in Dubai, is arriving in the United Kingdom in style. Five different special UK Edition variants of their Design-1 have been unveiled to celebrate their arrival. The carbon fiber-bodied cars in this collection come finished in red, white, blue, green and grey. Each of them also has Union Jack decals on the side blades and a UK Edition metal plaque. These cars comes equipped with a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine that's connected to a six-speed manual gearbox. With a light build, plenty of power and an engaging connection to the drive, these cars look like a blast to drive. Jannarelly is offering the Design-1 UK Edition models for sale with a starting price of £115,549 (roughly $151,000 USD). For more information, click here.

By Edward Jones – November 26, 2019

Porsche Cayenne Coupe Airlifted to Top of Mountain

Sugarloaf Mountain, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was missing something at the top of it. It seems Porsche knew this because they placed an example of the new Cayenne Coupe on the top of the mountain. This was not a simple task for the team. Sugarloaf Mountain is situated on the coast and juts out into the ocean. With no easy way up other than a gondola, the cayenne Coupe had to be airlifted up via helicopter. Check out the operation by clicking play down below. SEE ALL PORSCHE CAYENNES FOR SALE " width="680">

By Edward Jones – November 25, 2019

Tesla Cybertruck Pulls Ford F-150 Uphill

Alright, so the Tesla Cybertruck has been unveiled and the reaction has been... interesting. The angular truck has caused a lot of buzz and just about everyone has talked about it. There are two aspects that people have talked about: its style and the glass breaking during the presentation. This is a bit unfortunate because people should at least be mentioning the 14,000+ lbs towing capacity of the tri-motor AWD version and its range of over 500 miles. To give you an idea of what the Cybertruck can do, Elon Musk uploaded a video of it dragging a Ford F-150 uphill during a tug-of-war battle. You can see it below. SEE ALL TESLAS FOR SALE https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1198751258384818176

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