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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 12, 2017

Audi Gives New Cars To FC Bayern München

Soccer fans can be a rowdy bunch, and the players are just as wild. That's why Audi is entering their 15th season of support for the Football Club. Their home soil includes the factory in Ingolstadt, so the team visited the plant to get their new rides. Mobbed by fans and the media, five players chose the RS6 Avant, and the Q7 SUV was another popular choice. The press release also states that Coach Jupp Heynckes chose an Audi SQ5.What began in 2002 has evolved into a partnership that includes the Audi Cup. It is held every two years as a preparation tournament. Audi also accompanied the team to training camps in China and Singapore, showing their support to the world as they battled against teams like AC Milan, Inter Milan, FC Chelsea and Arsenal London. Videos of the team and their new cars can be found here. If Audi would give us company cars, we would all choose the R8 V10 Plus. Tell us about your ideal Audi and stay with us for all your Audi news.

By Andrew Nabors – October 05, 2017

Koenigsegg Agera RS Sets New Record For 0-249-0

If you knew you had an ace in the hole, how long could you keep from bluffing? Everyone knows Bugatti builds fast cars. If a challenger appears, they simply add more power or build a new model. They represent the financial and engineering expertise of VW, which is comprised of Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, etc. Sitting across the table in this high-stakes game is Christian von Koenigsegg. His Swedish company has more automotive patents and innovation that comes from being an outside observer in the early days of the supercar scene. It has allowed him and his team to build wild cars like the Agera and Regera, that force major automakers back to the drawing board. Two weeks ago, Bugatti announced a new record time in the 0-400 kph-0 test. The brutal scenario pushes the engine, driver, and brakes to their limits. The Chiron was able to reach 249 mph and back to zero in only 41.96 seconds. Performance of this level was only capable by race cars until recently. But instead of shaming everyone else into submission, Koenigsegg unleashed the One:1 upgrade on the latest Agera RS. The most potent Agera to date, it produces one megawatt of power. With 1,360 horsepower and 1,011 lb-ft of torque, their blog says the Agera RS went 0-249mph-0 in only 36.44 seconds. Shaving 5.5 seconds off a world record is no easy task, so it will be interesting to see how the competition responds.

By Andrew Nabors – July 20, 2017

Glickenhaus Approved as Manufacturer, SCG003 Has Multi-Mi...

It's not easy to start a car company. In order to make sure your products are safe and clean burning, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a series of tests and inspections for the manufacturer. It takes a significant amount of money and time, but Jim Glickenhaus and his team at SCG have been granted approval to build low-volume street legal cars. On a post to their Facebook page, they state the intention to build up to 6 cars for the 2018 model year and 10 for 2019. Legally, the low-volume manufacturer can build up to 325 cars annually without complying to emissions and crash standards imposed on mass-produced models.Three production models are in final testing. Essentially variations on a theme, they are the SCG003S, SCG003CS, and SCG003C. We wrote about them awhile ago before the validation process began, but now we have the juicy details. If you need a daily driver, the SCG003S is the comfortable cruiser. It packs a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 making 750 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. It's bolted to a 7-speed dual-clutch and placed in a chassis of carbon fiber. Aiming for a curb weight under 2,866 lbs, it should be capable of 217 mph. The inboard suspension provides lateral grip of over 2.0G, which will be brutal on the backroads. The first example for sale will start at a cool $2,000,000. The middle model is the SCG003CS, it will be much closer to the track car, with suspension and aerodynamic enhancements. The first production version will be unveiled at the Quall Lodge next month. Full details of the race ready SC003C are coming soon, but in the meantime check out the interior of the CS and stay with us for all your supercar news.

By Andrew Nabors – July 11, 2017

Amazon Teases The Grand Tour Season 2!

Today is Prime Day for fans of Amazon, and it will probably be another nail in the coffin for brick & mortar shopping. Prime video is changing the way we watch TV, and its most popular series has been the first season of The Grand Tour. Presented by the same trio that were once employees by the BBC, their chemistry is enhanced by the ever-changing venues along with production that aims at a global audience. The series features all things automotive, from exotic cars to rust buckets.The only real knowledge we have of the second season comes from Richard Hammond's crash in the Rimac Concept One. As if the series needed more exposure, Hammond's recovery has been closely followed by fans on social media. The second near-fatal accident in his automotive career, the first was in a jet-powered dragster back in 2006. From what we can tell on the new teaser, season two will have tanks, aircraft, old Jaguars on snow. Swamp action, desert action, and something going wild in a shopping mall. Honestly, there is no way to predict the outrageous situations they seem to find themselves in, which is why it is more entertaining than anything on air or cable. Stay with us for updates on the Grand Tour and highlights of the action.View Trailer

By Andrew Nabors – June 12, 2017

Audi VR6 Quattro Makes A Top Speed Run

If you are on the run, your best chance at escape is to get out of sight. To go over the horizon will leave your enemies dumbfounded when you hit the "Vanishing Point". One of the best car films of all time involves epic car chases across the desert where two criminals use a mirage to their advantage in a Hemi-powered 1970 Challenger. Disappearing looks easy in the movies, it takes a ton of power in real life. That's why one enthusiast chose a solid foundation of the Audi 80. One of the most iconic quattro sedans, it is powered by the mythical VR6 engine.Also Check Out: Bugatti Chiron HillclimbBuilt as a clever way to package six cylinders into the space of an inline-4, the VR6 is two rows of three cylinders separated by only 15 degrees. The ingenious engine arrived in the Corrado in 1992 and its still in production today. Because it packs cylinders close together, it was the basis for the Audi/Bentley/VW series of W12 engines. They can be found in everything from the VW Phaeton to the Bentley Continental Supersports & Bentayga, and they didn't stop there. Stretching the W12 with the addition of four more cylinders, the Bugatti W16 was born. So the new Chiron traces its power to the Corrado, but we aren't complaining.Thanks to the clever design, the VR6 and its offspring love turbochargers. Gumbal witnessed this firsthand at a recent Race 1000 event in Germany. A gorgeous Audi arrived with an intercooler that measured large by huge. This footage can be filed under incredible because it only takes 20 seconds for the car to vanish...Sure you could accomplish this by spending a ton of money and time into a pre-owned Audi, but it would be much easier to start with a used Bugatti Veyron and do it in style.

By Andrew Nabors – June 12, 2017

BMW 5 Series Touring With M Performance Pack

Imagine a German wagon. One that is coveted by enthusiasts around the world. It takes the best features of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and bestows them with a long roof and ample cargo room. Now, hand it over to the M Performance engineers for an infusion of new BMW M5 inspired carbon fiber and giant brakes. Do you want a beautiful and brutal wagon? We sure do, but there is one small problem. BMW does not offer the 5 Series Touring in the US. We can only speculate as to why we're denied and that's an article for another day.Get Ready For It: The New BMW M8Cadillac and Mercedes-AMG have had great success with powerful wagons, so BMW has called upon the M masters to sharpen the 5 Series. As a preview for loyal Bavarian buyers, House Bear uploaded a preview of the new M Performance pack on the 2018 wagon. Some of the finer details are a race-ready steering wheel with 12 o'clock easily visible. The forged 20" wheels barely cover the big rotors, and carbon fiber can be found almost anywhere. If you like it as much as we do, head to your nearest BMW dealer and demand the new 5 Series Touring. You never know, they might just surprise us at the last minute, so stay with us for all your BMW news.

By Andrew Nabors – May 23, 2017

Dodge Releases Pricing for the Demon

What would you pay for the luxury of lifting your front wheels? Drag racers spend countless dollars and hours trying to perfect their launch, but Dodge's new Demon is capable of a wheelie right out of the box. When the Hellcat hit the market, unscrupulous dealers made tidy profits by gouging buyers. The manufacturer has stated that this practice will be kept under control by the order process. Jalopnik discovered production is limited to strictly 3,000 cars, so Dodge is winding back the clock and building them to order. Only four options exist, and they cost $1 each.A base price of $84,995 is a bargain for such performance, but a Demon at that price will arrive with 808 horsepower, one seat, only front carpet and without the crate of performance parts. Inside the $1 magic box are the parts needed to unleash 840 horsepower and 770 lb-ft of torque to the factory mounted drag radials. The crate's most powerful tool is an engine computer tuned for race fuel. It has optimized ignition advance and fuel injector settings to handle more boost.If you can spare the extra price, a fully loaded Demon will be $84,999. This will probably go down as the best kept automotive secret because Motor Trend VP David Freiburger said the Demon was finalized almost two years ago, and Dodge made everyone involved sign a strict confidentiality agreement. On paper, the Dodge Demon is $500 cheaper than a new Porsche 911 Carrera. They are not exactly competitors, so tell us which one you would choose and stay with us for Demonic updates from Dodge & SRT.

By Andrew Nabors – May 12, 2017

Chevy's New ZR2 Truck Proves its Worth on Tight Trails

Some drive their trucks in the city, never taking their tires onto the dirt. For those of us who prefer to get lost in the wilderness in a truck, Chevrolet has pulled out all the stops with the Colorado ZR2. The original ZR2 was an aggressive 4WD upgrade for the old S10, but its 90's era performance was cringe-worthy.Horsepower is great for track days, but torque will get you up a hill. So Chevy developed a new four cylinder turbo diesel for the Colorado. The baby Duramax is rated at 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It sends power to an active transfer case to both locking differentials. They turn 31" Goodyears on 17" ZR2 specific wheels. Multimatic's DSSV shocks are appearing on everything from the Camaro ZL1 1LE to the Ford GT, but Chevrolet needed something unique.Going back to the drawing board, Multimatic delivered a new shock with three response curves. An industry first, it has different rates for compression and rebound based on the position of the tire. Six parameters in one shock is the key to road manners and tail survival. Colorado can go places others cant, tow 7,700 lbs and deliver still 30 mpg on the highway. The first examples left the factory on May 1st, so stay with us for big updates from Chevy's small performer.

By Andrew Nabors – May 12, 2017

Lamborghini Gets Stunned by Insane Nissan GT-R

I have tried to understand racing from a rolling start but it never seems to make sense. Nevertheless, GTBoard.com has a knack for finding unlikely comparisons, and this one is perfect for the weekend. Somewhere in Europe a Nissan GT-R received a ton of aftermarket upgrades and decided to take on a Lamborghini Huracan. Both are AWD with dual clutch transmissions. Both have launch control and powerful software so it would be great to see this happen at a 1/2 mile drag strip. It takes serious willpower for a V6 to call out a V10, but the GT-R has a few tricks up its sleeve.Also Check Out Our Hottest Cars Of The WeekE85 is a wonder fuel that is much maligned by the oil-funded press. Made from corn or sugar cane, it is essentially 200 proof moonshine with a hint of gas to keep us from indulging. It offers a few horsepower on naturally aspirated engines, but turbos love it. That's because the alcohol cools the intake charge more efficiently than any intercooler. Cooler air is more dense, which allows for more boost. It also has an octane rating of around 110, allowing cars to run much more ignition advance. More boost, more torque, and much more fun! This GT-R is rated at 863 horsepower and 833 lb-ft of torque, but we don't know if that is engine or wheel horsepower. The Huracan makes 610 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque at the engine (assuming it is stock). Would you drive a stock Lamborghini over a modded Nissan? Tell us why in the comments below!

By Andrew Nabors – April 24, 2017

Norwegian Cruise Ship Has a Ferrari Go-Kart Race Track

For most of us, the idea of a cruise can cause anxiety because our cars can't come with us. But the latest leviathan from Norweigan Cruise Lines is the first to feature an attraction for the automotive enthusiast. Partnering with Scuderia Ferrari, the Joy will have an F1 inspired go-kart track only 20 decks above the waterline. Wealthy passengers on The Haven and Concierge decks will have rides included with their stay, while steerage 3rd class stowaways will have to pay.Related - Why You Should Buy A LaFerrariThe latest build from Germany's Meyer Werft shipyards, the small pleasure craft is 1,094 feet long with room for 3,850 passengers. At 168,800 gross tons, she is 3.6 times the weight of the Titanic which makes her truly unsinkable. We were hoping she would be based in Port Everglades so we could do a proper review of the Ferrari track, but Norweigan Joy was built for the Chinese market. Sailing from Shanghai and Tianjin, it will be a fun excursion for China's rapidly growing middle class. Speed is rated at a decent 22 knots thanks to 102,900 horsepower, and thankfully NCL is already at work planning her sister ships. Stay with us for a full review of Ferrari's latest entertainment.

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