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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 14, 2019

Aston Martin DB5 James Bond Continuation Update

Last year, we told you about their wild plan. Aston Martin and EON Productions are teaming up to build 25 movie stars. Taking inspiration from Agent 007, they will allow you to reenact your favorite automotive scenes. This limited run is getting closer to production, so here is an Aston Martin DB5 James Bond continuation update. Using original blueprints, each car will be a new 1964 DB5. That is quite an effort itself, but they didn't stop there. Oscar-winning special effects wizard Chris Corbould OBE is developing new versions of the gadgets used in Goldfinger. It was also the star of Thunderball, along with the recent Daniel Craig trilogy. If you are looking for your own classic Aston Martin, click the link below Aston Martin For Sale Related: Aston Martin to Recreate James Bond's DB5 Lego James Bond Aston Martin DB5 Announced

By Andrew Nabors – April 17, 2019

Karma Unveils the 2020 Revero GT

Karma Automotive purchased the rights to the Fisker Karma in 2015 and began an audacious project. Their first job was to reverse-engineer the quirks. This prompted a redesign of the high and low voltage systems. The chassis and handling were capable of much more, and now their efforts have paid off. Karma has unveiled the 2020 Revero GT with cleaner lines and more power. While its predecessor used the Chevy 2.0L turbo found in the Cobalt SS, their new engine is the BMW 1.5L turbo from the i8. Coupled to the latest in battery technology, it offers 80 miles of electric cruising and 360 miles on gas. We had two early production Fisker Karmas back in 2012, and all they needed was a few finishing touches. Kudos to Karma for the new Revero. Pricing has yet to be announced, so stay with us for all your relevant Revero revelations. Browse Karma Revero For Sale Related: Karma Miami Created a Wild Art Car Meet the 2018 Karma Revero

By Andrew Nabors – February 01, 2019

2019 Big Game Car Commercial Preview

A majority of Americans will be tuning into a football game on Sunday evening. One team is playing another team, but there will be great automotive advertisements for people like us. Thankfully, many of them have already been uploaded by automakers who want the most views. Here is our preview as of Friday morning, so expect a recap early next week. Audi E-tron GT: Cashew " width="680"> Shop Audi For Sale Dodge Hellcat: Devil Went Down To Georgia " width="680"> Shop Dodge Hellcat For Sale Jeep: National Anthem by OneRepublic " width="680"> Shop Jeep For Sale Ram: "Can't Remember" " width="680"> Shop Ram Trucks For Sale Keanu Reeves' Arch Motorcycle " width="680"> Mercedes-Benz A-Class: "Say the Word" " width="680"> Shop Mercedes-Benz For Sale Lexus Quarterback Safety System + " width="680"> Shop Lexus For Sale This list will probably grow as the game approaches, so tell us your favorite so far in the comments below. Have a safe & responsible weekend from all of us here at the duPont REGISTRY.

By Andrew Nabors – January 15, 2019

Preorder Your Cadillac CT6-V Before They're Soldout

GM didn't start 2019 on the right foot, so this is promising news. In a press release this morning, we've learned the finer details of the new Cadillac CT6-V. We've reviewed several versions of the CT6 since it arrived in 2016. Honestly the twin-turbo 3.0 doesn't lack power in this big sedan, but more power is always welcomed. You better act fast to preorder your CT6-V before they are sold out. Cadillac is only building 275 examples this year. We're sad to see the CTS-V come to an end. It has grown larger & more powerful with each generation, but customers found the six-digit price a bit hard to justify. Thankfully, the new big sedan has a starting price of $88,790. Caddy President Steve Carlisle said: “The 2019 CT6-V marks the expansion of the V-Series sub-brand and is the proof point of Cadillac’s commitment to build high-performance vehicles as we continue our product offensive." Their goal is to release a new model every six months until 2022. Reviewed: 2018 Cadillac CT6 The new V will be powered by an all-new V8. The. 4.2L Blackwing is a 550 horsepower beast with 627 lb-ft of torque. It is Cadillac's first DOHC to use reverse-flow heads and twin turbos mounted in the valley. That price comes with a 2-day course at Spring Mountain in order to learn how this power is sent to all wheels. Due to the complexities of going head-to-head with BMW, Audi and Mercedes-AMG, Cadillac is probably not bluffing on the limited production. So click the link below to find our dealer near you and get on the list. Stay with us for all your Cadillac news. View All Cadillac CT6 For Sale Related: Cadillac Reveals CT6 Plug-In Hybrid

By Andrew Nabors – January 07, 2019

Brabham Automotive Announces Street-Legal BT62

David Brabham won the F1 Championship in 1990 and '94. His prowess behind the wheel allowed him to easily become a dominant driver in the American LeMans Series. After winning his class at Daytona in 2003, he moved to Peugot to win LeMans outright in 2009. Last year he announced the formation of Brabham Automotive to build a new race car. The BT62 has been caught testing around the world, and each time they have reiterated it would be a "track only" machine. But a press release this morning has put fear in the world of street legal supercars. For those who want a screaming 5.4L V8 and a light chassis, it can be ordered to meed EU and Australian regulations. Brabham Automotive Unveils the BT62 Newspress.co.uk reported this morning that the UK model will add £150,000 (or $191,566) to the window sticker. Also mentioned is their intention to make the car available in markets around the world. To make it more practical, they started by raising the static ride height. Axle lifts front and rear will offer additional clearance, and an optional Air Conditioner will keep you cool. The steering rack has more range for easier parking, and a security system is standard equipment. More details will be released Thursday at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, England, so stay with us for all your Brabham updates. Exotic Cars For Sale " width="680">

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 17, 2018

Watch the Turbinator II go 503 MPH at Bonneville

Setting records at Bonneville Speed Weeks usually involves massive power and a bit of courage. The fastest cars use rockets or jet engines for propulsion. This doesn't require a transmission or differential, as the wheels are essentially casters like those on a shopping cart. But there exists a group of racers who choose to send power to the wheels. Don Vesco wanted to reach 500 mph the old-fashioned way. So he dropped in a turbine from a Chinook helicopter and sent the power to all 4 wheels.Connecting the wheels to the engine is easy, as the Chinook makes use of long driveshafts to transfer power front to rear. The problem is that salt has a limit when it comes to rubber tires. Just like our friends at Confederate Motorcycles, adding more power just creates wheelspin at top speed. Don passed away before his team could refine the aerodynamics, but in a YouTube video uploaded recently, their efforts paid off. Turbinator II used a strong tailwind to reach 503.322 mph, making it the fastest wheel-driven car. Unfortunately, to set a new world record they would be forced to run the opposite direction with only an hour of turnaround time. But the tailwind inevitably became a headwind, resulting in 493 mph. They took home a 2018 Hot Rod Magazine trophy for an average speed of 463 mph! Congratulations to Team Vesco on this momentous achievement!Browse Exotic Cars For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 17, 2018

Porsche Answers fan mail with a GT2 RS

You might think that writing a letter to Porsche would be like writing to Santa Claus. But Porsche wouldn't be at the top of the automotive world without input from their fans. They are celebrating seven decades north of the border with a new campaign, and this one will make you smile. For one youngster, his letter was answered in an epic way. Christian is 13 years old Candian and his dream car is the new 911 GT2 RS.2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Specs, Price, Photos, & ReviewHe mentioned a future in car design and we see a few of his sketches. You might be surprised at how Porsche responds in their latest YouTube upload, but it shows their dedication to encouraging the next generation. Decades of dreamers have turned from Porsche fans into their loyal employees, so we hope to see Christian at Porsche Design in a decade from now.Browse Porsche 911 GT2 RS For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 16, 2018

Porsche Partners with Epic Games & Nvidia

One of the most popular video games in recent history has been Fortnite. It uses the latest Unreal platform by Epic Games to create lifelike gameplay. The software is so powerful that Porsche has announced a triple-alliance with Epic Games and Nvidia. Automotive News reported that their first video will be seen at the SIGGRAPH IT conference in Vancouver on Monday. "The Speed of Light" features the new Porsche 911 Speedster Concept looking as real as anyone could tell.Porsche is Celebrating 70 Years With New 911 SpeedsterThis new way of rendering a car (or anything) in 3D is known as Ray Tracing. It allows the user to move the light source to any point in the virtual realm. Then the car can be moved on all axes to see how light accentuates each curve and seam. This will create realistic shadows and effects never seen before. Nvidia's graphics hardware is among the best in the world, and they supply most of Tesla's processing power.Plato talked about such works in Sophist back in 360 BC, when a master artist paints two versions of the same object and tries to teach students reality from fiction (simulacra vs simulation).Porsche is challenging the entire industry by destroying how cars are shown, and the technology will undoubtedly help designers visualize the car before the first mold is made. If you want to experience the latest Porsches in the real world, click the link below and stay with us for all your 911 news.Porsche 911 For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Z85aPqqJzs0

By Andrew Nabors – August 16, 2018

Terradyne GURKHA vs a LANDMINE

Many armored cars protect their occupants from small arms fire. Being able to stop a 30 Caliber round is nice to have in your daily commute. But what would happen if you drove over a landmine? That is what the engineers at Terradyne wanted to know about their latest GURKHA. So they selected a random model and sent it to Oregon Ballistic Laboratories for a "simulation".A.J. Burnett’s 2016 Terradyne Gurkha RPV For SaleI use that term in the loosest sense, because the truck is real, and inside are a family of dummies. They were wired with pressure and acoustic sensors, and OBL's cameras were placed behind acrylic shields. Upon detonation, a shaped charge sent molten metal and vaporized earth into the undercarriage. But watch this in slow motion- The thick armor plates used to protect the driveline are at 45-degree angles.This sends the blast outwards, tossing rocks farther than the cameras. The result was a crater and bumpy ride, and everyone survived. No shrapnel, no broken eardrums, just an inconvenience that would have destroyed every car around it. Terradyne has been building the ultimate armored vehicles for over a decade. Each one has B7/ NATO Level 2 protection. Not only can it take a mine in any location, it will also shrug off a 155mm shell explosion at 330 feet away. If your Ex has a howitzer aimed at you, tell her to step her game up. If your family needs the best protection in the world, this video speaks for itself. Claymores and Bangalore torpedos are no match for the GURKHA, and they won't even bother your Spotify streaming.On a personal note, every time we feature a GURKHA at an event, no transporter is capable of hauling it. They drive down from Ontario, cruising at 80 mph without any worries. I have been above 80 mph in a silent and luxurious interior. The 6.7 Powerstroke and 4.88 gears are perfect for city or highway thanks to the six-speed HD automatic transmission. Ford supplies the driveline from the F450, so it is clean burning and 50-state legal. Click the link below to learn more and some peace of mind to your daily commute.Find Your Terradyne GURKHA Here! That was annoying, let's go home!

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