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

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Audi news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated daily with model reveals, first drives, technology launches and verified performance figures. Our coverage runs across the RS models and the expanding e-tron range, together with the road cars that sit beneath them. Audi is moving quickly on electrification, and we report each development as it is confirmed. Plenty of publications carry performance car news, but few carry it beside live inventory. Many of the Audis covered here appear on the duPont REGISTRY marketplace, so a review and a genuine asking price sit together. That combination is difficult to find anywhere else in luxury car news. For Audi news today, begin with the stories below.

By Caitlin Duffy – September 14, 2015

Audi e-tron quattro Concept Introduced

Tesla has enjoyed quite a bit of time as the world's leading producer of electric vehicles, but releases at Frankfurt are pointing toward a world with a lot more competition for the California-based manufacturer.The Model X crossover from Tesla has yet to officially enter production, but Audi has already begun work on creating a major competitor: the e-tron quattro concept. It was first teased Aug. 20 a few weeks ahead of the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), but today the marque has issued a press release with more information and images, as well as a date for when we can anticipate this model reaching production stages.“Audi will present an all-electric, luxury-class sport SUV in early 2018. The Audi e-tron quattro concept provides a concrete foretaste of this,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Audi Board of Management for Technical Development, in the release. “It combines driving pleasure with great range, an expressive design and excellent comfort.”A sprint from 0-62 mph in this beauty will take an estimated 4.6 seconds, while Audi predicts that an electronically governed top speed of 130.5 mph will be possible. Three electric motors will be responsible for producing 320 kW, or approximately 430 hp, with one motor on the front axle and two on the rear. It's described as performing similarly to a sports car, and a peak boosting moments can create as much as 370 kW and 590 lb-ft.(See Also: Sales Open for the Audi R8 LMS GTS Race Car)Check out the photos of this new concept in the gallery below, and let us know what you think in the comments. Since this won't be making its way to dealerships for at least another three years, find yourself an Audi from their existing models at the button below.Audis For SaleGallery (Source: Audi) See More Audi News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 20, 2015

2018 Audi e-tron quattro Concept Unveiled Ahead of Frankfurt

Audi has released the design plans for the e-tron quattro concept, a fully-electric SUV with a projected range of 310 miles that stands as the first planned competitor to Tesla's Model X. The Audi e-tron quattro concept marks the world premiere of Matrix laser OLED technology at the front of a vehicle and epitomizes “Vorsprung durch Technik” in the field of automotive lighting.The marque revealed their plans in an Aug. 19 press release, stating that the model has been designed from the ground up to be a fully effective, efficient and beautiful electric vehicle. Three electric motors will power this creation, with two on the rear axle and one on the front, and its size will fall between that of the Q5 and Q7.A lithium-ion battery will provide power for an impressive travel distance. The projected range is 310 miles per charge - a hefty claim to make. Tesla's current range for the P85D is just 253 miles per charge, and even with the P90D option selected, that range is only increased by six percent to approximately 268 miles.(See Also: Audi Reports July Sales, YTD Deliveries Break 1 Million)As of right now, this model is projected to enter production in 2018, and more information and details will be available during the Frankfurt International Motor Show, where Audi plans to officially introduce their first all-electric large-series car. Check out the photos of this concept, and find your own Audi to enjoy in the meantime from our exclusive listings below.Audis For SaleGallery (Source: Audi) See More Audi News

By Andrew Nabors – May 13, 2015

Audi TT clubsport turbo concept Pushes 600 hp - Updated w...

Many automotive innovations in recent history can be traced back to one brand: Audi. As a way to demonstrate innovations that will undoubtedly find their way under our hoods, they have built the new TT clubsport turbo concept with a host of amazing features. First off, they have managed to extract insane power from their 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder. We had to read it twice to make sure it wasn’t a typo, but in a Press Release dated May 8th, they report a staggering output of 600 hp.Torque measures in at 479 lb-ft, and coupled to a revised Quattro system, it launches to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds. Power of this magnitude seems impossible without nitrous oxide or a nuclear reactor, but it's far more innovative. The turbocharger normally found on production models was canned in favor of a monster sized unit that is designed to spool at higher engine speeds. As we know, this causes turbo lag, the delay in the time it takes to get the big blades spinning.(Related: 734 hp Audi prologue allroad Show Car)To supplement power at lower engine speeds they have added a 48 volt electric compressor to the intake of the Audi TT clubsport turbo concept. The “e-turbo” only operates when the accelerator is pressed and shuts down once the conventional turbo comes alive. We know that 48 volt power will be the standard in the future, as it allows for more efficient operation of the many electronic systems of the modern car. Electric turbos have been tested in the past, and they are even for sale on eBay, but they are not capable of pressurizing the intake of any car since they are only 12 volts.To make light of this car’s abilities, Audi has fitted wild body panels and wider wheels along with giant spoilers. This TT is one for the record books, and we hope they take it on tour. Audi’s not-so-secret testing facility is located behind Burger King next door, so we will let you know if it comes stateside. We did spot the A3 Sportwagon E-tron on Interstate 275 yesterday, so it will hopefully be in production shortly. For more Audi news stay tuned to Autofluence.Audi TTs For Sale Gallery (Source: Audi)

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