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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 – August 04, 2020

STARTECH Finalizes Land Rover Defender Upgrades

Two months ago our friends at STARTECH teased a few ideas for the ultimate Land Rover Defender. Based on the clicks and emails, they have confirmed a full widebody kit, front and rear bumpers, vented hood, and LED running lights on the roof. They are a division of BRABUS Automotive that deals with English luxury brands along with Tesla. Every part they offer is better than OEM quality, so that is why your new Defender needs the full STARTECH treatment. Click the button below to find a STARTECH shop near you and stay with us for all your Defender updates. Learn More

By Edward Jones – May 15, 2020

BRABUS Shadow 900 Range Wins Prestigious Award

BRABUS Marine has just been presented with a very prestigious award, and they should be more than proud about it. The annual Red Dot Design Awards are insanely sought after in the design world, and BRABUS Marine has won an award in the highly contested Product Design category. More specifically, their Shadow 900 range was given the award. "Ours is a new way of working within the industry," says Jan-Erik Viitala, Axopar and BRABUS Marine Creative and Innovations Director. "By utilising our ‘shared-platform’ thinking, design of the Shadow 900 range is the result of four unique parties, namely, Axopar Boats, BRABUS, BRABUS Marine and Navia design agency co-contributing and therefore co-designing together." BRABUS Marine lineup includes the Shadow 900 Spyder, Shadow 900 Sun-Top. and the ultra-exclusive Black Ops Limited Edition '1 of 37'. You can learn more about these incredible vessels by clicking the button below to visit BRABUS Marine's website. Visit BRABUSMarine.com

By Edward Jones – March 31, 2020

BRABUS B35S Goes Wild at Continental Winter Event 2020

Just by looking at the BRABUS B35S, you can tell that it's a fun drive. This car is based on the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC, which is already a fun car but BRABUS has taken it to whole new level. With 365 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque power the fun-zied B35S, it's a recipe for a good time. Don't believe me? Check out the video below of the B35S being put through its paces at the Continental Winter Event 2020. The car is flung around snowy corners by a very skilled driver. With its 4MATIC system, the B35S is perfect for such snowy condition. You can learn more about this car and what makes it such a blast to drive by clicking the button below. Visit BRABUS.com " width="680"> Contact BRABUS Website: brabus.comPhone Number: 949-449-1596 Address: Brabus-Allee Bottrop, Germany

By Edward Jones – February 26, 2020

BRABUS 800 Adventure XLP Revealed

At the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show, BRABUS will be unveiling their new 800 Adventure XLP model. This new model is based on the Mercedes-AMG 800 G 63, but it's anything but stock. In the rear is a newly designed picked up bed that rests on BRABUS suspension with portal axles. Overall ride height is increased, bringing ground clearance up to 19.2 inches, a number helped by the 22-inch tires. Powering this truck is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine with the BRABUS 800 PowerXtra+ specification. With this extra boost from BRABUS, the engine pushed out 789 bhp and 737 lb-ft of torque. BRABUS says that the 800 Adventure XLP can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.8 seconds and hit an electronically-limited top speed of 130 mph. Creating an "adventurous" appearance, BRABUS has outfitted this truck with plenty of accessories. On top of the roof is an optionally available luggage rack and naked carbon fiber wind deflector with four auxiliary LED lights mounted on the front. Carbon fiber fender flares also add aggressiveness. Up front is an optional brush guard, complete with a winch. There is, of course, plenty more available for the BRABUS 800 Adventure XLP as options. One of the most interesting options for this truck is the take-off and landing module for the Wingcopter drone. This drone can fly at speeds of up to 150 mph and even deliver aid and rescue equipment autonomously at distances up to 75 miles. This drone really is the cherry-on-top for this adventuring truck. You can learn more by clicking the button below. VISIT BRABUS.COM

By Edward Jones – February 19, 2020

BRABUS x Jobe Watersports Shadow Collection Revealed

BRABUS and Jobe Watersports have teamed up for the new Shadow Collection. Each of the products in this collection is very limited: one out of 777. They combine Jobe Watersports' ability to craft high-quality products with the styling of the BRABUS Marine Shadow boats, like the new Shadow 900 boats. In the collection is the following: a towable lounge, standup paddleboard, bodywarmers, and life vests. The collection will be available in May 2020, but you can preorder by clicking the button below. SEE THE COLLECTION

By Edward Jones – January 21, 2020

BRABUS Marine Premieres Two Wicked Shadow 900 Boats

BRABUS Marine has just unveiled two incredible vessels at BOOT Düsseldorf 2020. First up is the Shadow 900 Spyder (seen directly below), which BRABUS Marine describes as a "full-open version, for pure, unadulterated driving pleasure." BRABUS Marine also unveiled the Shadow 900 Sun-Top (seen directly below), a "comfortable passage maker." Each of these boats is hand-built and is as luxurious as you'd expect from BRABUS. There are fine leathers, flat-screen TVs, and more features that make them perfect for any occasion. They're also powered by Mercury Marine’s latest dual 450R Verado XL 4.6-liter V8 FourStroke engines. To learn more, click here.

By Andrew Nabors – November 07, 2019

BRABUS Classic Restorations: Better Than New

Earlier this year after the Frankfurt Auto Show, our friends at BRABUS invited us to their headquarters in Bottrop. It was an experience of a lifetime watching skilled masters at work. Transforming factory fresh Mercedes-AMG models into supercars is their core business, but we weren't prepared for Building 4. That's because BRABUS Classic restorations are better than new. After locating a significant Mercedes-Benz, the body is stripped to bare metal and spot welds are drilled out. Rust is replaced by New-Old-Stock panels, and the body is dipped in a galvanic bath for decades of corrosion prevention. Browse Brabus Classic For Sale A new complete wiring harness is installed while the engine, transmission, and suspension are rebuilt to factory condition. Related: Brabus: Behind the Scenes

By Edward Jones – October 29, 2019

The New BRABUS ADVENTURE Off-Road Package is Here

The new BRABUS ADVENTURE package is here for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVs. This new label from the German automotive brand takes the off-road capabilities of the new Mercedes G-Class models to the next level. Within the BRABUS ADVENTURE package are quite a few accessories and components. First up are the fender flares of the BRABUS WIDESTAR widebody that make room for the 20-inch Monoblock R wheels. These wheels are wrapped in 285/55 R 20 off-road tires. BRABUS also optimized the suspension as to give the SUV more ground clearance. If there's one thing you look for in an off-road SUV, it's space between the body and the ground. But that's not it. There's a new fascia, brush guard w/ winch, skid plate, hood attachment, wind deflector, luggage rack and more. Seriously, this package turns the G-Class into an incredible mean machine built for rough terrain. For more information, visit BRABUS.com. see all g-class for sale

By Edward Jones – October 07, 2019

Win a BRABUS Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S and $20k in Cash With O...

Want to add some serious horsepower to your garage while also doing good? Well, you're in luck, because duPont REGISTRY has teamed up with Omaze for a sweepstakes where the winner will take home a BRABUS 800 (based on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S) AND $20,000 place in the trunk. It should also be mentioned that the car's taxes and shipping costs are included as well. enter to win This incredible supercar included in the sweepstakes is the first of its kind made in the US. The four-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that powers this supercar packs 789 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque, a 158 hp and 74 lb-ft increase over the stock version. When pressed to the test, the BRABUS 800 can run from 0 to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds. Who wouldn't want that kind of power and luxury? Donations made in this sweepstakes will benefit PATH, who Omaze has teamed up with to build a community hub in their downtown Los Angeles campus. In fact, the winner will have their name featured in the hub when the renovation is complete. PATH is a nonprofit that aims to end homelessness by building affordable housing and providing the necessary supportive services across California. enter to win No donation or payment is necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes.

By Edward Jones – September 25, 2019

BRABUS Bringing German Engineering to 2019 Monaco Yacht Show

BRABUS, the famed German tuning company, has arrived at the Monaco Yacht Show with a lineup of power from their German headquarter. At this event, BRABUS Marine has given their Shadow 500 'Cabin' Black Ops Limited Edition (1 of 28) its world premiere. This limited edition boat is powered by Mercury Marine XS Pro V8 FourStroke engines that can easily take it over 50 knots+. Also joining the new Shadow 500 Black Ops boat are a few other creations from BRABUS, STARTECH, BRABUS Marine and BRABUS Classic. This includes the BRABUS Ultimate E, BRABUS G V12 900 'One of Ten', Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagode and more. If you want to see all of this German power for yourself, be sure to check them out at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show from September 25-29 in the Quai Antoine area, booth QA 25 at Port Hercules. And you can also learn more about BRABUS at the Monaco yacht Show by clicking here. see all Brabus for sale

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