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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 – October 28, 2019

Toyo Tires SEMA 2019 Preview

Loyalty to a tire brand runs deep for most of us. Finding the perfect blend of grip and treadwear can be trial and error if you haven't experienced the perfect tire. It took me a decade to discover what many already knew, so here is the Toyo Tires SEMA 2019 preview. It took Nitto drag radials to get my Camaro moving at the track, and I am thankful that Nitto is a Toyo brand. Boulevard Customs is a subsidiary of duPont REGISTRY, and our shop proudly sells more Toyo products than any other brand. Their rubber is simply superior on Florida's crumbling infrastructure. Being so popular has allowed them to expand their Toyo Tires Treadpass around the South Hall entrance to the SEMA show. Taking place November 5-8, you will encounter 30 incredible cars & trucks rolling on the world's best tires. Here are six that will leave you speechless. First up is the Baja 911. It began as a '91 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet before being transformed by Russell Built Fabrication. TJ Russell was the lead fabricator for Singer Vehicle Design before opening his own shop, so this one will undoubtedly take your breath away. Chris Ashton lives in Orange County, California, and he built the Ruffian Mustang in his two-car garage. This 1970 Ford Mustang Fastback is inspired by the Boss 302 that dominated the Trans-Am series, and the handmade steel fenders keep the massive tires tucked inside the body. The fronts are 18x11 and the rears are 19x12.5, mounted on Signature ONE wheels. The "Button Built BB355" was styled by Mitch Button. Last year his BB328 was the most-photographed car at SEMA, so this is a brilliant encore. This classic Ferrari F355 sports a body inspired by the Japanese Super GT series. The twin-turbo kit resembles the setup of the legendary 288 GTO, and it is just as powerful. Jonny Grunwald is known as TRMNL in the custom car world, and this 2020 Toyota Supra Widebody is a collaboration with Daniel Song. Pandem supplied the 17-piece body kit, and everything was painted in factory Turbulence Gray. Flexing your survival skills starts with proper transportation. That's why DEFCONBRIX built this '71 Ford Bronco. It was a 6-month build incorporating Detroit Steel Wheels, Bell Auto Upholstery, and Kreative Image in Phoenix. Also in Phoenix, TommyGun Fab built a 3-link front and 4-link rear suspension. It has a 5.0L Coyote V8, six-speed manual transmission and Atlas transfer case. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo has always been popular with those who must finance their car modifications, so this 1998 model has a "rare" Varis widebody kit and the 4G63 engine tuned to 450 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. To give you a proper preview, below is their booth from last year. We will have live coverage on Facebook this year, so stay with us for all your SEMA news. " width="680"> Related: 5 Wicked Custom Ford Trucks Heading to SEMA 2019 4Play Wheels Heading to SEMA 2019 With Special Debut

By Andrew Nabors – November 01, 2018

Superformance "Future Forty" GT40 is an evil EcoBoost

If you like the looks of the original GT40, Superformance is still cranking out exact replicas of the car that won LeMans. The proven chassis has seen every version of small and big-block Ford V8, but our friends at Superformance have cooked up something spicy. They have combined a new example of the GT40 MKI with the engine from a new Ford GT. Without need for noise or emissions compliance, the Future Forty has straight pipes from the turbos and wastegates. Ford GT Specs, Price, Photos & Review The first start of this beast shows a little blow-by coming from the catch can, but once the rings are seated it will undoubtedly run laps around Ford's latest supercar. Our friends at Motor1 uploaded this exclusive film, but horsepower and torque numbers have not been finalized. Considering that Ken Block's new Hoonitruck is almost 1,000 horsepower, it is safe to say the 3.5-liter EcoBoost is a versatile monster in any application. It is on display at SEMA in the Magnaflow Booth #23543. Click the link below to find your Ford GT and stay with us for more details on the Future Forty. View All Ford GT For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 31, 2018

MOPAR Unveils the 1,000 HP Hellephant Super Charger at SEMA

What happens when designers and engineers are unleashed? Fiat-Chrysler asked their team at MOPAR Performance to put a modern twist on a 1968 Dodge Charger. Digging into the Challenger Hellcat's inventory yielded modern accessories and an evil demeanor. The "Super Charger" has a modern interior with unique logos found throughout. Built for SEMA, the "Hellephant" can be found on the fuel filler, steering wheel, and other areas as hidden Easter eggs. The significance of the logo is the beast under the hood. Using the supercharger from the Dodge Demon, they have pushed the legendary 426 HEMI to 1,000 horsepower. This 7-liter monster is a modern interpretation of the Mopar V8 that was banned by NASCAR for winning every weekend. The car might be a concept, but the engine and its controls are now for sale. Dodge SRT Challenger Hellcat Specs, Price, Photos & Review The Hellephant crate engine arrives with all the electronics including O2 sensors, a gas pedal, and the complete Can-Bus system. Designed for use with the Challenger's stock six-speed manual transmission, you will have 950 lb-ft of torque at your command. If your slant-six or 440 is tired, send it to the crusher and head over to cratehemi.com for all the details. Learn More https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=RoTSnElu6s8

By Andrew Nabors – October 31, 2018

SEMA 2018: What to Expect

If your walking shoes are ready, head on over to the Las Vegas Convention Center for SEMA 2018. The Specialty Equipment Market Association is only open to members of the press and the aftermarket, and it is the best way to see what's new in the world of parts and vehicle customization. Our team is already on-site, so be sure to check out the live videos on our Facebook page. We couldn't do this without the support of our clients, so here is our guide to this amazing event. Lexani You might recognize Lexani as the leader of the wheel industry, but their artists in Corona, California have branched out into building incredible custom vehicles. Their booth is filled with custom exotics, pretty ladies, and the best wheels in the world. Hennessey Performance John Hennessey and his team are located in the Shell and Pennzoil booth. The big news for 2019 is the Velociraptor V8 along with the twin-turbo beast from the Venom F5. Starwood Motors Starwood Motors has taken their potent prescription for performance and infused it into the new Jeep JL. Stop by BodyGuard's booth to see the wildest Wranglers in the world! Fab Fours If you demand the best from your truck, Fab Fours has a booth that will keep you awake at night. Booth 30201 is loaded with American made accessories for all brands of trucks and SUVs. American Expedition Vehicles AEV is the first to patent a dual-sport suspension. Their builds include the Jeep Brute conversions, the Dodge Prospector Tray Bed, and they are Chevrolet's supplier for the Colorado ZR2 Bison. These aren't just pretty parts, they are engineered to tolerances that the OEMs have only dreamed of. Brand New Muscle Car If you don't have the deep pockets to purchase a 1969 Yenko Camaro, Brand New Muscle Car will build a new one for you. Their new 1969 Camaros are correct in every detail, and they can be seen in the Classic Industries display. Specialty Vehicle Engineering The Yenko brand has also been revived for late-model performance. SVE uses forced induction and proprietary tuning to unlock 1,000 horsepower in any new Camaro, Corvette and even the Silverado. Desert Power Wagons The original Power Wagon was a workhorse, but it was cramped and underpowered. That is why Desert Power Wagons adds 6" to the front doors and their cabs are hand-fabricated works of art. Details like the original Army winch are modernized with MileMarker internals, and the 1-ton axles can be locked electronically. Xpel Technologies If your Lamborghini Centenario is collecting dust, Xpel has the latest in paint protection film. Their warranty is the best in the industry, so they chose one of the most coveted cars on earth for a full body display. Vorsteiner Blending Haute Couture with forged aluminum, Vorsteiner shows how aftermarket wheels are more than a fashion statement. Their body enhancements will make your car stand out in a crowd, and they will change your outlook on the industry. Bend-Pak The only lifts we use here at duPont REGISTRY. Bend Pak is the leader is taking your collection vertical. Their options for drive on and 4-post lifts will leave you staring at the ceiling. Check out indoor booth #16415 in Westgate and outdoor booth #61007 in Silver Lot 1. Earthcruiser Innovation meets the outdoors with their innovative campers. Provide your own chassis-cab for the ultimate pop-up, or choose from their bed-mounted MOD series. Fittipaldi Wheels If you are in search of the perfect fitment, Fittipaldi Wheels have a wild display at booth 62130. Fittipaldi wheels are the brainchild of F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi. Having seen the best and worst parts of racing, every wheel in their lineup is cut from a solid billet of T6 alloy. Lighter and stronger than cast competitors, Fittipaldi wheels are your ticket to a podium finish. Moduline If your garage is in need of organization, Moduline offers the best in modular aluminum storage and workspace improvments. They are located in booth 10577 Shelby American with Pierre Ford The Super Snake has returned! Las Vegas is home base for Shelby American, so be sure to check out their display along with Pierre Ford, and several new Shelbys will be inside the Ford Performance booth. Car Capsule Nothing keeps your car safer than CarCapsule. Their showcases are inflated by a low-amperage blower and sealed tight so it doesn't use much power. Door dings, rodents, spiders, and mold are kept out of the positive pressure environment. They will be featured in several booths, both inside and out. Roush Performance Cactus Jack and his team have some wild new products for 2019. Are you ready for the new Roush F-250 and F350 SuperDuty? They will be on display next to the new Roush Stage 3 Mustang and many others. Finally, don't forget to visit Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep & Mopar for all your wild factory concepts. Tell us which one of these is your favorite, and keep our Facebook page open for all your SEMA coverage.

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