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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 Caitlin Duffy – September 23, 2015

Peugeot 2008 DKR16 for the 2016 Dakar Rally

From Jan. 2 to Jan. 16, 2016, the countries of Argentina and Bolivia will see one of the world's greatest rally races take place, and Peugeot has released the two-wheel drive beast that will be carrying their name to the finish line.The Peugeot 2008 DKR16 has been designed to be the ultimate "go-anywhere" car, capable of taking on "sand dunes, river beds, and huge rocks," as a Sept. 22 press release from the French manufacturer explains. Given the terrain that this car needs to cover, these abilities are absolutely crucial.The rally covered a distance of 5,600 miles in 2015, and the event's website tells us the 2016 course will span the same distance through South America. To handle the back-to-back days of rough terrain, heat and a lot of driving, Peugeot modified the car used in the 2015 rally with the help of a few rally winners.A 3.0-liter V6 twin turbo diesel engine has been restructured to create more power, while its carbon exterior has been smoothed to create better airflow. The suspension was redesigned, and magnesium one-piece wheels with lighter Michelin tires help reduce and redistribute weight.Keep an eye out for news about this all-terrain machine as the 2016 Dakar Rally draws closer, and take a look at the photos of it in the gallery below.Gallery (Source: Peugeot)

By Edward Jones – September 10, 2015

Rezvani Beast Speedster: An Agile Homage

Rezvani unleashed the production model Beast back on June 15, a wild 500 hp sportscar from America. Now, they have created a tamer variant focused on handling, light weight and agility: the Beast Speedster. Unveiled Sept. 9 in a press release, the Beast Speedster is said to channel "the history and performance of iconic roadsters past" and act as an homage to them. Just like the original Beast, it comes with a body crafted almost entirely from carbon fiber, which sits on top of a modified Ariel Atom 3 carbon steel chassis. Also carrying over is the supercharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, but instead of 500 hp, like the original Beast, the Speedster has 300 hp. Even with the 200 hp decrease, the Beast Speedster can still manage a 0-60 mph time of just 3.5 seconds. (Also Read: New Batmobile Arrives at Warner Bros. Studio) “We really wanted to put the emphasis on agility over speed,” said CEO Ferris Rezvani in the press release. “To compliment our 500-horsepower Beast, the Speedster focuses on handling, and pure open-top performance for the road.” Inside, the new model also received a few upgrades. This includes leather padding for the carbon fiber seats, steering wheel and shift knob. Along with the reduction in power comes a more affordable price. While the Beast costs $165,000, the new Beast Speedster will come in at only $139,000. What's more, Rezvani also announced that a third Beast variant will be out before the year's end. So, be sure to stay with us for more information as it is released. Gallery (Source: Rezvani Motors)

By Edward Jones – September 02, 2015

2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review

If you're looking for something practical, functional and capable, the 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a great option. It comes with an attractive exterior, a spacious interior and a drivetrain that makes the SUV more economical than ever before.On the outside, the Highlander Hybrid is quite the looker, thanks to a refresh Toyota gave the SUV back in 2014. Instead of a bulky appearance, it's now more sleek and sharp, with more graceful design lines.

By Edward Jones – August 18, 2015

Koenigsegg Agera R Goes Insane in Monaco

If you follow the automotive world, you've more than likely heard of the supercars that constantly roam the streets of Monaco. And it doesn't matter if the sun's out or the moon has settled in for the night, these supercars will come out to play.In a video uploaded by JvDSupercars today, we get to see just how crazy it can get out in Monaco. The video shows a driver taking a Koenigsegg Agera R and some passengers out for a wild ride through streets on the French Riviera.The driver of the car happens to be Carina Lima, a Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe racer. Needless to say, she can handle the Agera R with ease thanks to her high-speed experience on the track.Check out the video below and see the latest Koenigsegg news, video and pictures.Koenigseggs For Sale Editor’s Note: Do not attempt to recreate anything seen in the video below unless on a closed course under professional supervision. The editors at the duPont REGISTRY do not condone any illegal street activity, and remind you to always obey local traffic laws. (Source: YouTube) See More Koenigsegg News, Pics and Videos

By Andrew Nabors – August 01, 2015

duPont REGISTRY 2015 Exotic Car Buyers Guide Editorial Di...

Since beginning his racing career in 1988, Justin has achieved many significant racing accomplishments, including clinching the 1997 FIA GT2 World Championship, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998, second place finishes in Le Mans and Daytona, and a pair of SCCA Trans-Am wins on his way to becoming the 2001 Rookie of the Year. Perhaps Justin Bell’s fast wit was honed at 200 mph on the racetrack along with his racer’s reflexes. Offering exuberant insight behind the wheel and in front of the camera has become Justin’s trademark. Justin Bell and his father DerekHow many hosts do you know of that can win a race and Webby award for outstanding work in a single outing? As fast on his feet as he is in a car, Justin has become a go to personality for live television work, lending his insight to over 100 hours of broadcast work each year for benchmark events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Barrett-Jackson Auctions. He’s also become a household name hosting Fox Sport’s ??Shut Up and Drive?? and World’s Fastest Car Show on Motor Trend. Being as creative as he is competitive, Justin also co-founded Bell & Ammo with Nicolai Iuul, a boutique production company based in Los Angeles that has gained a reputation for relevant and entertaining automotive content.Publisher’s Note: duPont REGISTRY is pleased to introduce our 2015 Exotic Cars Buyers Guide Editorial Director, Justin Bell. He brings a new and fresh perspective to our writing as he has sat in the driver’s seat of many of these luxury and exotic vehicles featured on our pages. Look for Justin’s signature on the articles he has contributed to this edition. Be sure to stay tuned to Autoflunce for teasers of next year's Exotic Car Buyers Guide.

By Caitlin Duffy – July 28, 2015

London Supercar Summer Coming Under Fire from Residents

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

By Caitlin Duffy – June 18, 2015

Ferrari 488 GTB on the Track from 3 Different Perspectives

Few people have had a chance to see the 488 GTB in person, and fewer still have seen it from the driver's seat, but thanks to a new feature on Ferrari's website, you can see it from a few entirely new angles.See From 3 Perspectives Click the button above, and you'll find yourself on a specially created page from Ferrari's website. If you hit play, the video will start, with three buttons on top of the screen allowing you to choose which perspective you watch from. Start to finish, you can watch this 660 hp Ferrari fly through the Fiorano test track from the "Driver View," "Track View" or "Rear View." The first puts your perspective between the driver's and passenger's seats, the second sits at the front of the hood, just a few inches above the track, while the third is from a car behind the 488 GTB. The only way this digital experience could be any better is if it can incorporate your custom design into the video. Of course, the footage is raw, straight from the track, but imagine watching the 488 GTB you created in their online configurator from these angles. No way you're not buying that car when the video ends. (See Also: NASCAR'S Jim France Visits Ferrari in Maranello) Check out the video above and let us know in the comments which vantage point was your favorite. If you can't quite wait for the 488 GTB but still want a Ferrari, be sure to take a moment and browse our exclusive listings at the button below. Ferraris For Sale (Source: Ferrari) See More Ferrari News

By Andrew Nabors – June 16, 2015

2015 Shelby Super Snake Unveiled

In a press release issued earlier today, Shelby American announced the return of their most lethal Mustang: the Super Snake. Based on the new Mustang GT, this Mustang Super Snake for sale will pack more than 750 hp and offer an automatic transmission for the first time.The supercharger gives the Snake a boost from Ford Performance, while the exhaust was designed by Alex Borla and the forged aluminum wheels by Weld Racing. At this level of power, we were expecting a solid rear axle, but Ford Performance suspension parts are utilized in order to keep the axles independent. This will help to make the car a formidable competitor on road courses and drag strips alike.(Related: 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Exhaust Modes in Action)Revisions to the automatic transmission to handle this power are not mentioned, but having an auto-box option opens the Super Snake to a much wider audience than before.As always, Shelby American cars are 50-state legal and serviceable at any Ford dealership. Only 300 units are planned annually, with pricing for the package starting at $49,995. We think Carroll would approve of such a mighty Mustang.Stay tuned to Autofluence for more Super Snake and Shelby updates.Gallery (Source: Shelby American) Click Here For More Mustang News

By Edward Jones – June 16, 2015

Chris Evans Named New Top Gear Host

Top Gear announced in an article on their website today that Chris Evans will be the lead host for Top Gear's new season. Evans, not to be confused with the actor that portrays Captain America, is a British TV personality that has been in the broadcasting business since he was a teenager.On being selected, Evans is quoted in the article as saying, "I'm thrilled, Top Gear is my favorite program of all time. Created by a host of brilliant minds who love cars and understand how to make the massively complicated come across as fun, devil-may-care and effortless. When in fact, of course, it's anything but and that's the genius of Top Gear's global success."(Related: McLaren P1 Tested by Motor Trend on Top Gear Test Track)For those fans who are a worried about someone other than Clarkson leading Top Gear, Evans says, "I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward."The article breaking the news also mentions that production of the new series will start in the next few weeks. In the meantime, check out the video below of Evans' try at hosting Top Gear and Clarkson giving him some pointers. (Source: Top Gear) (Image Source: Twitter)

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By Caitlin Duffy – June 08, 2015

458 Speciale vs. P85D 1/4 Mile Drag Race

Ferrari and Tesla may seem like they're in completely different realms of car development, one furthering the development of beautiful engines, one eliminating the engine completely, but the end result of both processes is the same: a beautiful car capable of insanely impressive performance.But when you match the two up against each other, which one proves to be more powerful? Combustion, or electricity?The P85D from Tesla is undeniably powerful, and has brought the electric vehicle up to par with today's supercars. The 458 Speciale from Ferrari is one of the most powerful models the marque has ever produced, and an even more impressive iteration of their naturally-aspirated V8 sits under the hood. The Speciale is lighter, almost half the P85D's weight, but the P85D has all the torque on its side - almost twice the Speciale's.(See Also: The BHP Project's Top Speed Run in their Koenigsegg One:1)Gumbal shows us the two taking each other on in a video added to YouTube June 7. A quarter-mile drag race was set up at the EuroSpeedWay to test the two. It's a pretty fair match, though the caption says the 458 Speciale used in this video has been customized by JP Performance GmbH. Check out the spec comparison of the two below to decide for yourself which will win, then watch the video at the bottom to find out if you were right. Engine: 4.5-liter V8Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutchHorsepower: 630Torque: 398 lb-ftDry Weight: 2,843 lbs0-62 mph: 3.0 secondsTop Speed: 202 mphView 458 Speciale Listings Engine: N/A Transmission: N/AHorsepower: 691Torque: 687 lb-ftDry Weight: 4,936 lbs0-60 mph: 3.2 secondsTop Speed: 155 mphView Model S Listings(Source: YouTube) See More Automotive Videos

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