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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 – January 16, 2017

Life-Size Batmobile Built Out of Over 340,000 Legos

Many kids dream of the Batmobile and many kids dream of having 340,000 Lego pieces to build with. Now, Chevrolet has made both of those dreams comes true with a life-size replica of the Batmobile used in The Lego Batman Movie, built out of Legos.(Related - Batmobile Future Concept Is The Car Gotham Deserves)This crime-fighting, brick-built car measures in at 17-feet long and weighs a hefty 1,695.5 lbs-- it's no joke. It was created to help promote the new movie at the North American International Auto Show. Here's are some quick facts on this car: It’s 83 inches (6.92 feet) high, 204 inches (17 feet) long and 111 inches (9.25 feet) wide. Total weight is 1,695.5 pounds. Each tire is just over 100 pounds. The interior frame is made from more than 86 feet of square tube aluminum and weighs 282.5 pounds. Total number of LEGO® bricks used to build the Batmobile: 344,187 Total number of LEGO® colors used: 17 The LEGO® Batmobile took 222 hours to design and 1,833 hours to build. The LEGO® Batmobile was designed and assembled in the LEGO® Model Shop in Enfield, Connecticut, by LEGO® Master Builders. To work on the LEGO® Batmobile with Warner Bros. is an absolute thrill for us at Chevy,” said Paul Edwards, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “Many of the themes in ‘The LEGO® Batman Movie,’ like imagination, family and community, align perfectly with our Chevy brand values and add to the value of the partnership.”

By Andrew Nabors – January 09, 2017

Dodge Challenger Hellcat vs Ford Mustang GT350

Many Police departments choose to run Ford vehicles due to reliability and performance, not only in the US, but around the world. We don't condone evading the law, but the only acceptable cars for outrunning an interceptor are Junior Johnson's 1940 Ford or a Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Our friends in the Netherlands have been planning this comparison for some time, since the Shelby GT350 is a rare car in Europe. It makes 526 hp at a screaming 8,200 rpm. The main disadvantage of the flat-plane engine is only 429 lb-ft of torque. In order to leave the fuzz in the dust, any habitual offender should consider the Challenger Hellcat. It offers 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.Numbers don't lie, but the Dodge has a weight penalty of almost 800 lbs. Applying such tremendous power on anything other than a straight line has been problematic, and compared to the carbon fiber wheels on the GT350, it's safe to say the Police have an advantage in the corners. If you are a Mopar fan, you should watch the 1971 film "Vanishing Point". It will put the Hellcat's abilities into perspective. We applaud the American loving nature of this film from hartvoorautosNL, and we look forward to more great comparisons from them. Our dealers will help you find the perfect Mustang or Challenger for you, so please take a look at the listings below.Search Shelby GT350 For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 04, 2017

Faraday Future Finally Reveals the FF 91, Faster Than Tesla

After what seems like years of waiting, Faraday Future has finally unveiled their flagship car: the FF 91. This autonomous car's specs not only live up to expectations, but they seem to have exceeded them.First and foremost, performance. The powertrain used is modular and will be used in the company's entire lineup. This new system's monocoque combines the chassis and body into a single form. Within the monocoque is an all-wheel drive system that is powered by multi-motor setup that's capable of 783 kW, that's 1,050 hp. Faraday Future notes that the FF 91 will accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.39 seconds- that's just barely quicker than the Tesla Model S P100D's time of 2.4 seconds. All of this power also can lead to a range of 378 miles.Next up, we'll talk about the car's safety features, including autonomous driving. The FF 91 comes packing 10 HD cameras, 13 long and short range radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors. These allow the car to park itself after exiting the vehicle. For example, the driver could pull up to the grocery store's entrance, get out and tell the car to park itself. When shopping is finished, the driver can summon the car to be picked up at a specific location. Of course, this will all be subjective to legislation when it comes to public use of this feature.With technology abound within the powertrain, you must also assume there are some tech leaps made when it comes to creature comforts, right? Luckily, Faraday Future unveiled some of those features to the public. When entering the car, the FF 91's "Arrival Interface" will use facial recognition to allow the driver to unlock the car without a car. Yes, you have become the key to your car. Additionally, this technology will be used to recognize the user and adjust interior settings to their preferences. But it's not just facial recognition that the cameras will recognize. Faraday Future says that the cameras will pick up on facial expressions and moods, and adjust the music, temperature, scent, content massage (yes, the seats come with a massaging function) and more to make the driving experience more pleasurable.If the Faraday Future FF 91 interests you, they are currently asking for refundable $5,000 down payments on the car on FF.com.

By Edward Jones – December 20, 2016

Say Goodbye to the Original Top Gear Test Track

It looks like we're going to have to say goodbye to the Top Gear Test Track that we have all come to know and love. According to BBC News, the Dunsfold Aerodrome, where the test track is located, it set to be torn down in order to make way for a housing development.(Related - The Grand Tour Hosts Quizzed While Racing Corvette)Instead of housing thousands of horsepower, the Dunsfold Park will have 1,800 homes, along with shopping areas, recreation areas, and a health center. Additionally, the roads in the area will be improved upon and a new bus service will be created for the area.Jim McAllister, Dunsfold Park chief executive, told BBC News: "The development of Dunsfold Aerodrome will provide homes for young families currently priced out of the area, direct development away from green fields, create new jobs and deliver a range of new community facilities and infrastructure improvements."We've had some great times at the track:

By Edward Jones – December 16, 2016

Remember This Car: First 2017 Ford GT Rolls Off Assembly ...

It's finally happening, ladies and gentlemen, the first 2017 Ford GT has rolled off of the assembly line. In a press release issued by Ford, they announced that the first road-going version of the new GT has rolled off of the line, marking the start of deliveries for the anticipated American supercar.(Related - Ford GT Caught Speed Testing, Sounds Like a Missile)“When we kicked off 2016, we had two primary objectives for our Ford GT supercar – to excel at Le Mans, and to start deliveries before year-end,” says Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development, and chief technical officer. “We’ve achieved both." Nair went on to thank the employees and suppliers that made this moment happen and boasted the GT's aerodynamics and EcoBoost engine.With this announcement, expect Ford GTs to starting being delivered very soon. This may be one of the best Christmas surprises Ford has ever given us.All Ford GT For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 06, 2016

Japan's Nissan R34 GT-R Highway Patrol Car is Real

The greatest GT-R unicorn spot could be this R34 GT-R filmed on the road in Japan. This, my friends, is a real Nissan R34 GT-R Japanese Highway Patrol car that is currently in operation. The uploader, Adam Zillin, notes in the video's description: "...complete with a uniformed and helmeted police officer pulled along side me on the highway tonight and cruised past on the Kan-Etsu expressway.(Related - 2017 Acura NSX vs 2017 Nissan GT-R: Which is Japan's Best Supercar?)He also went on to say that he's read about these cars and people have speculated that the car exists. However, he had only heard myths and legends about the existence of the car, but he can now confirm that the car DOES exist. Check it out for yourself in the video below.All Nissan GT-R For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 08, 2016

Americans Take Over Nurburgring: 1,000+ Ram Trucks Drive ...

Typically, the Nordschleife is covered in sports cars, supercars and luxury cars, but earlier this month a group of Dodge Rams took to the circuit to set a record.(Related - All-Wheel-Drive Dodge Hellcat Planned, Lineup Changes Come to Halt)According to RamWorldRecord.com, 1,152 Ram trucks came together to break the world record of the largest parade of pickup trucks. The previous record was 638 trucks, which is almost half of the record set on October 5, 2016.A video, uploaded by rallyeoberehe The Nürburgring & Rallye Channel, shows the entire parade and lasts for over half of an hour. In this video, the trucks can take the corners in a slow and steady manner, with no intention of setting and time records.Check out the video below to see the world record parade for yourself.All Dodge For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – November 04, 2016

5 Critical Tips For Breaking In A New Car

Great advances have been made inside of the engines of late model cars. Engineering Explained is a helpful YouTube channel that will leave you fascinated. He has 5 tips to be mindful of when you take delivery of your new car. Now for full disclosure, his scenarios are aimed at normal car engines and not the wild internals of Ferrari or Lamborghini. But this information is useful for a majority of daily drivers, so if you are considering a new car, you might want to take a few notes.(Related - Five Things to Love About the Lamborghini Huracan)For many normal cars, the engine's first hours of life are critical to long-term health. Most engines are not cranked until the end of the assembly line, then its weeks of sitting on a dealer lot without the common courtesy of letting the pistons become acquainted in their forever homes. So when you sign the purchase agreement, remember to go easy during the break in process. If you are breaking in a rebuilt older engine, the break in is much different. Before the 90's, many cars had flat tappet lifters on the camshafts. We will cover the break in procedure on classics in another post, so sit back and see what you have been doing wrong, then go apologize to your car. For more insights into new car ownership, stay with us here at Autofluence.Buy a Car to Break In

By Edward Jones – October 25, 2016

Here it is: Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class Truck Revealed

It's been rumored for a long time, but it's finally here: the Mercedes-Benz truck. Well, technically it's called the Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class. In the revealing press release issued today, Mercedes-Benz showcased the new concept with two examples, the stylish explorer and powerful adventurer.Daimler is planning on putting the truck under the Mercedes-Benz Vans product range, further expanding their options. What's more, Daimler is really putting a lot into this pickup truck basket, and by a lot I mean they're making investments in the high nine figures (euro) towards the new model by the time it's released.(Sports Cars For Sale)"We will open up and change the segment of mid-size pickups – with the world's first true premium pickup for the modern urban lifestyle", says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, in today's press release. "Our future X-Class will be a pickup that knows no compromise. Ladder-type frame, high-torque six-cylinder engine, and permanent all-wheel drive are compulsory for us. As an added value we bring safety, comfort, agility, and expressive design – in other words, everything that distinguishes vehicles bearing the Mercedes star. We will thus appeal to new customers who have not considered owning a pickup before."X-Class powerful adventurer The powerful adventurer example of the X-Class is Mercedes-Benz's take on a rugged off-road truck. With a height of 1.9 meters and 35x11.50 inch tires, it has plenty of presence. Adding to the rugged appearance is the electric winch, front and rear underride guards, carbon wheel arches and more.For a stylish take on the truck, there's the stylish explorer. This version is much more streamlined and elegant than the off-road-ish truck. On the outside, it seems almost bare when compared to the powerful adventurer, but it makes up for it with sleek edges and a futuristic rear light. Also, instead of the rugged tires and wheels, this version has large wheels with lower-profile tires.X-Class stylish explorer As for what will be powering the truck, Mercedes-Benz states that the top-of-the-line model will be housing a V6 diesel engine. Mated to this engine will be an all-wheel-drive system that has an electronic traction system, transfer case with reduction gear and two differential locks. The press release also goes on to say that this system has a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tons.The Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be launching in Europe come 2017 and it will be produced at the Nissan plant in Barcelona, Spain. The truck for the Latin American market will be created in Cordoba, Argentina in 2018. Unfortunately, there is no word of a North American X-Class.All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Mercedes-Benz Concept X-CLASS stylish explorer (right) and Mercedes-Benz Concept X-CLASS powerful adventurer (left);

By Andrew Nabors – October 20, 2016

Porsche Turbo S vs Nissan GT-R vs McLaren 570S vs Audi R8...

In another wild drag race, Top Gear has surprised us with an unlikely victory. Four of the world's fastest cars lined up for a quarter-mile shootout. Each contender has around 600 horsepower, but that is the only common factor between them. McLaren's 570S is the shining star of their Sports Series. It has a mid-mounted 3.8 liter V8 with twin turbos and rear wheel drive. The 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo S is also 3.8 liters, but in the form of a flat six with forced induction.(Related - Koenigsegg Agera R vs Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Drag Race)If you are noticing a trend, engines of this size are becoming the norm thanks to fuel economy regulations and clean air laws. Japan was represented by the revised 2017 Nissan GT-R which (shockingly) arrived with a 3.8 liter V6 and turbochargers. Audi's latest R8 is a 5.2 liter V10, being the largest engine in the race. All four cars have the latest in launch and traction controls, but the McLaren is at a disadvantage without AWD. If you prefer manual transmissions look elsewhere, the dual-clutch automatic is a great equalizer. While some might not agree with the winner, the numbers speak for themselves. Stay with us for more Top Gear updates.Supercars For Sale

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