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

Audi News

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 Edward Jones – November 28, 2022

2023 Audi R8 GT Revealed As A Track-Capable Supercar With...

A sad farewell to the R8's naturally aspirated V10 engine. It's been twelve years since Audi released the first R8 GT but that just means the automaker had more time to create the wonderful supercar that you're seeing today. The new 2023 Audi R8 GT has been unveiled as a track-ready supercar that is exclusive and the final goodbye to the model's naturally aspirated V10 engine. The new R8 GT's 5.2-liter V10 engine produces a menacing 602 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. That power can propel the R8 GT from 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, 0 to 124 mph in 10.1 seconds and also to a top speed of 199 mph. Handling the power is a new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that Audi says results in faster shift times. Static photo, Colour: Suzuka Grey There are, of course, plenty of differences between the R8 GT and other V10 R8 models. First up is the new Torque Rear mode where slippage of the rear axle is controlled by the traction control system. This allows the driver to select how much slippage they would like from the rear axle, with Level 1 meaning just a little bit of slippage is allowed and Level 7 granting the most. 2022 Audi R8 V10 Performance Spyder RWD Review: Supercar Swiss Army Knife As with many performance-oriented variants of supercars, the weight of the R8 GT has been reduced. To accomplish the shedding of 44 lbs, Audi implemented many changes with one of the biggest being the exclusive and lightweight 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels shod in Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires. Other new track-oriented features include the bucket seats, performance sports suspension, and CFRP anti-roll bar. Interior To allow the new 2023 R8 GT to stand out, there are plenty of new and exclusive exterior components found across the supercar. To signify its status, there is the black 'R8 GT' lettering on the rear that match the rest of the black emblems. A carbon aerokit has also been installed in high gloss which includes a front splitter, flics, side skirt covers, rear bumper elements, rear diffuser, and rear wing. Inside, the Audi R8 GT has a cabin that is black and red, including red seat belts that were only available in the very first R8 GT. The cabin also displays the 'R8 GT' lettering throughout, as well as the number of each specific example. Just 333 examples of the 2023 Audi R8 GT will be made worldwide, with only 150 of them coming to the United States. With three colors available, 50 in each color, Tango Red Metallic, Daytona Gray Metallic, and Mythos Black Metallic, will be made. Audi has announced that the U.S. price of the new R8 GT will start at $249,000, excluding a destination fee, paintwork cost, and gas guzzler tax. View All Audi R8s For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 18, 2022

Watch The Behind-The-Scenes Process Of Developing Ken Blo...

The Electrikhana film was the culmination of tons of hard work, engineering, and talent. Ken Block is one great driver. However, it took much more than just him and his skills behind the wheel to bring a project like Electrikhana together, and with a new video published by Audi called The journey to Electrikhana, we can have a behind-the-scenes look at everything it took to get to this incredible point with the car, from development to filming, which helps us understand just how great the car, the driver, and the stunts they pulled really were. MUST READ: Watch Ken Block Drift His Audi S1 Hoonitron In Hoonigan’s Electrickhana Las Vegas Video We already know that the development of the Audi S1 Hoonitron was intense and expensive, as the Hoonigan-estimated value of $12 million makes it the most expensive car in Gymkhana history. However, there’s much more to the story than just the cost. It serves as both an Homage to the S1 Quattro that dominated at Pikes Peak in the 1980s and also brings its racing glory, legacy, and performance philosophy into the future. With the short wheelbase and need for the center of gravity to be in the front in order to effectively drift, positioning the battery required a unique solution, and the results were well worth the hard work. What came of it was one of the greatest Gymkhana films yet, and for Ken Block and Audi’s partnership, hopefully, there’s more to come. View All Audis For Sale Source: YouTube/Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 14, 2022

Audi Revises The Four Rings And Badging On All New Models

As the brand with the four rings changes, even those rings aren’t excluded. Audi is going through rapid and sweeping changes, and as the brand with the four rings, Audi even looked to those exact rings as a symbol of a refreshed future. As those rings undergo a revision, Audi designer André Georgi and brand strategist Frederik Kalisch talk about why this happened, and what it means for Audi’s future. The rings have been changed to completely omit the use of chrome. Now, the rings are featured a black-and-white look, with white rings on a black background. MUST READ: Audi Employees Deliver New Electric Company Cars To The FC Bayern Soccer Team Georgi explains that the change was made because it represents the future of Audi’s aesthetic, which is the clean, modern, and restrained form of premium design. Opting for black and white instead of chrome represents the “new chrome” as it is still bright and high-quality like chrome is, but is more modern and refined. However, customers are also able to opt for dark rings instead. In addition, Kalish talks about how Audi’s corporate identity was revised in 2020, and the fact that now, lettering designating the model will be featured on the B-pillar of new Audis in high-gloss black. This change was made because Audi has seen its progressive and modern clientele move away from wanting prominent badging. As Audi’s products move into the future, so do the look and feel of its design. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 10, 2022

Audi Employees Deliver New Electric Company Cars To The F...

Audi’s partnership with FC Bayern extends to its electric future. Germany’s FC Bayern soccer team has maintained a partnership with Audi for 20 years, and since 2011, the automaker has been a shareholder in the Munich-based team. As the partnership continues to grow and blossom as the team and the Audi brand continue to live out their histories, Audi now involves its rapidly expanding electric lineup of vehicles in the deal, as the new Audi RS e-tron GT, and Audi Q4 e-tron will now be driven by FC Bayern players and officials as company cars. MUST READ: The New Audi Q8 e-tron Is The Brand’s Flagship Electric SUV The handover of the vehicles was quite the event, as 30 Audi employees got to take the 15 vehicles to Munich and deliver them to the team, and in doing so, were treated to a meet and greet with soccer players Oliver Kahn and Andreas Jung. In addition, the employees were given a tour of the training ground. This is part of Audi’s vision of bringing more electric vehicles to the world and transforming the entire automotive and mobility industry, as the current model lineup features 8 electric vehicles. By 2026, Audi looks forward to bringing that number above 20, and only launching new all-electric models to the market. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – November 09, 2022

The New Audi Q8 e-tron Is The Brand's Flagship Electric SUV

Audi’s debut electric SUV is refreshed and renamed. It’s already been four years since 2018 when the Audi e-tron SUV firmly brought the luxury electric mobility world an offering from the four rings. Since then, it’s served as an aspirational standard in the luxury electric SUV space, with its competent driving characteristics and ample luxury appointments and amenities. As Audi looks to transition its entire brand lineup to feature electric vehicles, the e-tron has been renamed for its new generation to the Audi Q8 e-tron, offered both as an SUV and as a Sportback model, and it helps Audi along its journey from going to 8 electric models currently, to over 20 by 2026. MUST READ: Audi Group Enjoys Financial Success In Q3 2022 Despite Supply Bottlenecks The new Audi Q8 e-tron positions itself as Audi’s flagship electric SUV, and it’s offered with 3 drivetrains for both body styles: 50, 55, and SQ8 e-tron. Both the 50 and 55 feature dual-motor all-wheel drive, with the 50 producing up to 335 horsepower, the 55 producing up to 402 horsepower, and the SQ8 with a three-motor system producing up to 496 horsepower. Audi also says that the new model features higher battery capacity than its predecessor, as well as increased luxury, more sustainable design with a net carbon-neutral certification in Europe and the United States, and more versatility and options than before, the new Audi Q8 e-tron is coming next year to shake up the electric luxury SUV space yet again. View All Audi e-trons For Sale Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 31, 2022

Audi Group Enjoys Financial Success In Q3 2022 Despite Su...

Audi has a positive present and an even brighter future. The automotive industry is still facing major challenges, but after the first 3 quarters of this year, Audi and its brands have continued to show their ability to remain strong and successful despite the unique circumstances. As a matter of fact, the Audi Group’s portfolio has plenty of future ventures to look forward to in the coming years, and on top of its current financial success, these new opportunities look promising. MUST READ: Audi Selects Sauber As A Strategic Partner For Its 2026 Formula 1 Debut While deliveries are down for the group due to remaining supply chain bottlenecks year over year, they increased by almost 12% for the Audi brand this quarter. Year over year, Audi’s own electric vehicles increased in deliveries by over 45%, proving their positive reception among customers. Starting in 2026, Audi will only launch new models that are fully electric. Audi is also announcing that the e-tron’s successor will be announced soon. This year marked Audi’s announcement that it will participate in Formula 1, and this quarter, Audi announced that it chose Sauber as a partner for the venture, with Audi planning to invest in Sauber Group as part of the partnership. Revenue for the group as a whole increased by 10.4% for the first three quarters of the year, with the Lamborghini, Bentley, and Ducati brands all enjoying success that contributed to the entire Audi Group. Finishing the year strong is in the Audi Group’s sights, with new electric ventures and future racing success to come. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 26, 2022

Audi Selects Sauber As A Strategic Partner For Its 2026 F...

We knew Audi was entering Formula 1, but now we know how. Audi has already achieved an incredible legacy and success in the motorsport world. Now, the brand is looking to prove itself in what is arguably the most notorious arena in racing: Formula 1. Audi has already announced its plans to partake in the intense series, and now the brand is announcing that it will enter Formula 1 by selecting the storied Swiss racing team Sauber as a strategic partner. MUST READ: Watch Ken Block Drift His Audi S1 Hoonitron In Hoonigan’s Electrickhana Las Vegas Video In doing so, Audi plans to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group. From 2026 onwards, what is now the Sauber racing team will compete as Audi’s factory team. The Audi power unit for the race car is being developed and will be manufactured at Audi’s Neuberg facility, while the rest of the car will be developed and manufactured in Switzerland by Sauber, who will also be responsible for racing operations. Audi and Sauber’s history includes the use of Sauber’s world-class wind tunnel in developing Audi’s famously successful Le Mans cars. Audi is entering the racing series at an important and deliberate time, as 2026 is when Formula 1 plans to make a significant turning point toward sustainability. As Audi’s entire brand is making a similar shift, Audi and Formula 1 are looking forward to innovating for sustainability and efficiency simultaneously. Sustainable and CO2-neutral fuel will power the F1 engines of 2026, and the entire series plans on being carbon-neutral by 2030. View All Audis For Sale Source: Audi

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 25, 2022

Watch Ken Block Drift His Audi S1 Hoonitron In Hoonigan's...

Driving an entirely bespoke machine developed and built by Audi, Ken Block is electrifying Gymkhana in the first ever Electrikhana! Showcasing his skills behind the wheel of any race car, professional driver Ken Block has created ten wildly successful Gymkhana films with over a billion views on YouTube. Since making the change to Audi as the main sponsor, Block and his team have vigorously worked to unleash their all-electric 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 race car on iconic hill climbs like Pikes Peak International. Ken Block and Hoonigan are taking the Audi S1 Hoonitron to the high-stakes playground of Las Vegas for their all-new Electrikhana video. MUST-READ: Ken Block’s New Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron Revives Audi’s Group B Rally Legend Developed with e-tron performance from Formula E, Ken maneuvers the Audi through the closed streets of Sin City with more than 4,425-foot-pounds of torque at his disposal. With a non-traditional electric powertrain, battery whines and tire screeching are the results of the high-speed stunts. The city of Las Vegas provides scenic backgrounds that include multiple Casinos, the Las Vegas Strip, and the Fremont Experience, making this one of the most technically ambitious films for the Hoonigan crew. Watch Ken Block drift the Audi S1 Hoonitron in Hoonigan’s new Electrikhana by clicking on the video link above. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle and celebrity car news. View All Audi For Sale Source: Hoonigan

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 21, 2022

The New $12M Electrikhana Audi S1 Hoonitron Is The Most E...

Ken Block’s Gymkhana is entering a shocking new chapter. Rally driver Ken Block’s partnership with Audi has blossomed, being the source of incredible cars and content that show off just how amazing electric cars can be in the world of motorsport. The culmination of it is the upcoming addition to the iconic Gymkhana series, Electrikhana. The star of the video is the new Audi S1 Hoonoitron, a car designed by Audi Sport specifically for the new Gymkhana video, based on the legendary Audi quattro rally car. MUST READ: Watch The Triple F Collection Walk Through Their Spectacular Supercar And Hypercar Garage The car is said to be the most expensive Gymkhana car ever built, as Audi Sport won’t even tell Ken Block or Hoonigan the full total of what the car is worth, with extensive amounts of carbon fiber, design and construction from scratch, and an incredibly advanced powertrain and drivetrain. Hoonigan estimates the value of the car to be a staggering $12 million. With the revolutionary way that electric cars are able to instantly deliver immense amounts of power and torque, the car is going to radically change Gymkhana, and hopefully go on to change the entire world of motorsport, proving the racing potential and prowess of electric power. The new Electrikhana film is coming on October 25th at 6 AM PST. View All Electric Cars For Sale Source: Hoonigan

By Tyler Rampersaud – October 19, 2022

The New 2023 Audi RS 3 Performance Edition Is The Most Po...

This new Audi is small but immensely powerful. Audi’s RS 3 is the brand’s smallest performance-focused offering, and for its size, it packs quite the punch, thanks to a turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that has been famous in performance-oriented Audis for decades on end. However, Audi managed to up the ante even more in the new Audi RS 3 Performance Edition, of which only 300 units will be made. It’s faster, smarter, and even more than the regular RS 3, a car with performance fit for vehicles far beyond its compact size. MUST READ: The New Audi RS Q3 Edition 10 Years Celebrates A Decade Of Audi’s Smallest Performance SUV The new Audi RS 3 Performance edition is the most powerful and fastest series RS 3 ever, with a soaring top speed of 186 mph, and 401 horsepower being squeezed out of its 5-cylinder engine. The 0-60 time is under 3.8 seconds, which means unless you’re in the car, you won’t be able to hear the sweet sound of the unique engine for very long. The revised suspension includes active damper control for ultimate stability, and the new RS torque splitter perfects power distribution for whatever situation the driver is in. With more performance than the model has ever had before, the new 2023 Audi RS 3 Performance edition is ready to take the performance world by storm early next year. View All Audi RS 3s For Sale Source: Audi

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