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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 – September 04, 2019

RM Sotheby's Auburn Fall: Top 10 Sales

Our friends at RM Sotheby's have a keen eye for procuring pristine automobiles. Auburn Park, Indiana is a perfect spot, as it is home to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. Their lots included muscle cars, exotics, and many examples of pre-war American icons. The most significant cars were from the Ed Meurer Collection. Located in Detroit, his garages were full of over 90 classics and 250 examples of memorabilia. This included neon signs, gas pumps, and a truckload of new-old-stock car parts. Almost all items sold without reserve for almost $4 Million. Top sales of the event were capped by two 2005 Ford GTs, and the total sales for the auction were $16,664,242 thanks to a 90% sell-thru rate. 10. 2012 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Sold For $145,000 9. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Sold For $148,500 8. 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda Convertible Sold For $150,000 7. 1935 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan by Rollston Sold For $160,000 6. 1923 Duesenberg Model A Sport Touring Sold For $187,000 5. 1931 Cadillac V-12 Phaeton Sold For $192,500 4. 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton Sold For $192,500 3. 1970 DeTomaso Mangusta by Ghia Sold For $214,500 2. 2005 Ford GT Sold For $291,500 1. 2005 Ford GT Sold For $302,500 Tell us which car you would bid your bank account on in the comments below, and stay with us for all your RM Sotheby's coverage Browse Luxury Cars For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – September 03, 2019

Banksy Truck Being Auctioned Off

Bonhams, the international auction house, is offering up a truck unlike any other. The truck in question is actually a piece of art by Banksy titled Turbo Zone Truck (Laugh Now But One Day We'll Be In Charge). This piece of art was created on a 1988 Volvo FL6 truck and, according to Bonhams, it's the largest piece of work Banksy has ever created. It also comes with a Certificate of Authentication from Pest Control, Banksy's studio. Banksy first created this piece of art back in 2000 when he was at a party to celebrate the Millenium. During the party, he was presented with this Volvo truck by Mojo, the co-founder of Turbozone International Circus. Upon completing, this truck became part of the transportation for Turbozone's Cinderalla show and traveled across the world. Exotic Cars for Sale Bonhams will be auctioning this truck at their Collector's Motor Cars and Automobilia Auction at the Goodwood Revival on September 14, 2019. They're expected it to sell for around $1,300,000-2,000,000. learn more Also Check Out: Post Malone Bought a Bugatti Chiron Hypercar 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” Sells for Big Money Jay Leno’s Car Collection Source: Bonhams

By Andrew Nabors – August 15, 2019

Mecum Auctions Unveils Bullitt Mustang Hero Car at Monterey

Detective Frank Bullitt drove a 68 Mustang Fastback through the streets of San Francisco. The most iconic chase scene ever filmed has spawned a cult following, and prompted Ford to build three generations of Bullitt edition tribute cars (all in Highland Green). Last year was the 50th anniversary of the film, and this car was part of the celebration. The other car used in the film was the one that endured the jumps and hard landings, and it was discovered in a junkyard near Ensenada, Mexico. Because the first car was kept in original condition, Dana Mecum shocked everyone earlier today. That's because Mecum Auctions unveiled the Bullitt Mustang Hero Car in Monterey. Encased in an acrylic display case, this historic Mustang is on display at the Hyatt Regency Monterey as part of the Mecum Auction. It is a preview to their 2020 Kissimmee Auction, where it will undoubtedly bring big money. Bob Kiernan purchased the car in 1974 for $6,000, but life and family always took priority. Sadly, he developed Parkinson's which eventually proved fatal. His son Sean has kept the car in original condition ever since. The car has a fully documented history, which includes several offers made by Steve McQueen to purchase it. Now it can be yours, as it will be the star of Mecum's Kissimmee Auction. It takes place January 2-12 just a few minutes from the Orlando resorts, and we will see you there! Until then, be sure to check out the live stream from Monterey: " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – April 02, 2019

Top 10 Results from RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale 2019

Perfect weather and plenty of attendance made for a great weekend in South Florida. The bidding was intense and the quality was top-notch, so here the Top 10 results of RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale 2019. As a division of RM Sotheby's, their consignments represented the most desirable automobiles in the world. As such, they sold $23.2 Million with an 80% sell-through rate. Without adieu, lets check out the top 10: 10. 2006 Ford GT- $255,750 Jasen Delgado ©2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions 9. 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey Edition- $258,5000 Josh Sweeney ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 8. 2006 Ford GT- $286,000 ©2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions 7. 2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso 70th Anniversary- $299,750 ©2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions 6. 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series- $350,000 Photo by Calvin Lee 5. 2017 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SV Coupe- $478,500 Robin Adams ©2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions 4. 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta- $550,000 Ryan Merrill ©2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions 3. 2017 Ferrari F12tdf- $975,000 Karissa Hosek ©2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions 2. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing- $1,155,00 ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 1. 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari- $3,080,000 Robin Adams ©2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions With 476 lots to choose from, bidders came from 24 nations to find additions to their collection. Of course, a Giallo Modena/Black LaFerrari took home the highest bid, it only had 600 miles on the odometer. Aside from the bidding action, RM Auctions Fort Lauderdale was also home to RADwood. This fast-growing series of shows highlights the best of 80's and 90's Car Culture. In attendance was a 1998 Toyota Supra with 3,500 miles, a super-rare 1986 Lamborghini Downdraft Countach, and a 1989 Mercedes-Benz/AMG 560 SEC 6.0 Widebody.Featured Image by Andrew Miterko © 2019 Courtesy of RM Auctions

By Andrew Nabors – March 22, 2019

Mecum Auctions Smashes Expectations in Arizona (Top 10 Re...

If you weren't in Glendale last weekend, you missed an unprecedented event by Mecum Auctions. Running from March 14th to the 17th, they sold $39 Million worth of cars which was an 85-percent increase of their previous record total for an inaugural event. Needless to say, over 1,300 vehicles allowed Mecum Auctions to smash expectations in Arizona. Dana Mecum and Company have a pulse on the industry, so here are their Top 10 sales 10. 1989 Ferrari Testarossa: $181,500 9. 1962 Corvette: $187,000 8. 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe: $195,250 7. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback: $209,000 6. 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback: $225,500 5. 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro: $231,000 4. 1970 Plymouth Superbird: $357,5000 3. 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO: $770,000 2. 1932 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Torpedo Berline: $880,000 1. 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T Convertible: $1,430,000 Aside from all the classics and collectibles, the Dodge Challenger Hemi still reigns supreme. This marks the highest volume and highest value of any Mecum innagural event, so be sure to get your bidder's pass ready for Houston. It will be April 4th to 6th, so stay with us for complete coverage!

By Andrew Nabors – January 21, 2019

RM Sotheby's Arizona 2019 Results

If this weekend was a preview of the year, RM Sotheby's has found a recipe for success. They have been a fixture in our magazine and our website for years, so we're happy to show you the top 10 sales from their Arizona auction. 10. 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona NART Spider (CHASSIS NO. 14299) Sold for $670,500 9. 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC (CHASSIS NO. 11517) Sold for $687,000 8. 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package Sold for $885,000 7. 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood Sold for $940,000 6. 2017 Ferrari F12tdf Sold for $1,006,000 5. 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe Sold for $1,077,500 4. 1948 Tucker 48 (CHASSIS NO. 1040) Sold for $1,600,000 3. 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS (CHASSIS NO. 10773) Sold for $2,012,500 2. 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II (CHASSIS NO. 70157) Sold for $2,175,000 And finally, the top honors go to the car that exemplifies the modern supercar. The Ferrari 288 GTO was a street legal race car that Enzo intended to sell to Group B racers. Lessons learned influenced the development of the F40, and the rest is history. 1. 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Sold for $3,360,000 Total sales from the 17th to the 18th are just over $37,000,000. This was thanks to an 85% sell-through rate along with several record prices. Tell us which one you would bid on in the comments below and stay with us for all your RM Sotheby's coverage. Click Here To View Upcoming Lots " width="680">

By Edward Jones – January 21, 2019

First Production 2020 Toyota Supra Just Sold for Big Money

The new 2020 Toyota Supra was only just unveiled and we've already seen the first production example of the car be sold. This all happened at the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, where Supra VIN 20201 crossed the block. When the final bid was placed, the rights to the first production Supra sold for an astonishing $2.1 million, which is much higher than the MSRP of around $50,000. Like... a lot higher. This winning bid was placed by Jeanette and John Staluppi, who are well-known in the car collecting world. Barrett-Jackson says the entirety of the hammer price will benefit both the American Heart Association and the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Stay with us for more wild results from 2019 Arizona Car Week. 2020 Toyota Supra Launch Edition & Pricing

By Edward Jones – January 11, 2019

WhatsApp Co-Founder's Porsche Collection Heading to Auction

Jan Koum, the co-founder of WhatsApp, is parting ways with a few of his valuable Porsche's during the upcoming Gooding & Co. Amelia Island auction. There are ten Porsches in this collection being offered, all of which are heading to the auction block with no reserve. “I am very excited to partner with Gooding to help find the next custodian for these wonderful machines.” says Koum. “Many of these Porsches offered for sale are the best examples in the world and they are all an important part of my collection. If I had unlimited time and unlimited garage space, I would never sell any of them, but nevertheless I’ll be very happy to see the next owner enjoy driving these special cars on the road or on the racetrack – just as Porsche intended for them to be used.” The event is happened on Friday, March 8 at 11 AM EST at Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Here are the cars. 1966 Porsche 964 Carrera RS - Image by Mathieu Heurtault 1993 Porsche 964 Carrera RS - Image by Mathieu Heurtault 1995 Porsche 993 Carrera RS - Image by Mathieu Heurtault 2008 Porsche 997 GT3 RS - Image by Mike Maez 2010 Porsche 997 GT3 RS - Image by Mike Maez 2011 Porsche 997 GT2 RS - Image by Mike Maez 2011 Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 - Image by Mike Maez 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder (Weissach) - Image by Mike Maez 2016 Porsche 911 R - Image by Mike Maez 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 - Image by Mike Maez Featured image by Mathieu Heurtault.All images copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company.

By Andrew Nabors – January 04, 2019

Chevrolet is Auctioning 4 Bumblebee Camaros at Barrett-Ja...

Children of the 80's remember Bumblebee as a hero of the Autobots. To keep a low profile, the superhero Transformer was based on a lowly VW Beetle. Now that the new Bumblebee film is going back to the original story, Chevrolet is auctioning four unique Bumblebee Camaros at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction. Yes, it is a GTO underneath They consist of hero cars from Transformers (2007), which was modded for Revenge of the Fallen (2010). This was actually a highly-modified Pontiac GTO because the production 5th Gen Camaro wasn't ready in time for either film. The next cars are the 2010 Camaro seen in "Dark Side of the Moon", a 2013 car from "Age of Extinction", and the 2016 Camaro from "The Last Knight". All four cars will be sold as one lot, with the entire hammer price going to benefit Operation Homefront. They are a national non-profit that seeks to build strong and stable families for active military and veterans. We will be at the auction from January 15th until the 20th, so stop by our booth to see a wild display and be sure to stay with us for all your Barrett-Jackson news. View All Camaros For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 12, 2018

RM Sotheby's Petersen Museum Auction 2018 Results

If you are looking for a great location for anything automotive, the Petersen Museum should be at the top of your list. With over 100 cars & bikes on display, it was the setting for RM Sotheby's auction last weekend. The results are in, and we see a few new trends in the industry. 10th Place- 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT $555,000 9th Place- 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Villa d'Este $637,000 David Bush ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 8th Place- 2005 Porsche Carrera GT $775,000 Karissa Hosek ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 7th Place- 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta $775,000 ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 6th Place- 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing $1,270,000 Darin Schnabel ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 5th Place- 2015 McLaren P1 $1,435,000 Motorcar Studios ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 4th Place- 2018 Porsche 918 Weissach Spyder $1,534,000 3rd Place- 1989 Ferrari F40- $1,545,000 Motorcar Studios ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's 2nd Place- 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV for $2,205,000 Karissa Hosek ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's And in 1st place was Lot 24, a Classiche-certified 1956 Ferrari 290 MM. It found a new owner with a hammer price of $22,005,000. Remi Dargegen ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's Tell us which cars were over or undervalue. In my humble opinion, spending under a million dollars for a Ferrari Daytona is a deal of a lifetime. A 1971 Lamborghini Miura was $13,000 new which translates to $82,000 adjusted for inflation. What a solid investment that would have been! Also Check Out: Ferrari 488 Spiders For Sale 2018 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Specs, Price, Photos, & Review What Is The Fastest Ferrari?

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