Carrera GT

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 Edward Jones – January 13, 2023

Graham Rahal Performance Announces Porsche Carrera GT Rec...

A new life has been given to this Porsche Carrera GT. Gone are the days when new Porsche Carrera GTs could be customized and ordered. However, that hasn't stopped Graham Rahal from reliving those days thanks to his team at Graham Rahal Performance (GRP). Called the Graham Rahal Performance Porsche Carrera GT Recommission Project, this endeavor seeks to bring the days of commissioning and ordering a Carrera GT back. According to GRP, Project Recommission will give proprietors the opportunity to restyle their Carrera GT so that it may match their own personality. Nearly every piece of a Carrera GT that becomes a part of this project can be customized thanks to GRP's certified Porsche Technician Wyatt Ramsey. A perfect example of what's possible is the Carrera GT featured in this article. If you happen to have an example of Porsche's legendary supercar that you'd like to give a new face to, be sure to contact GRP. View GRP's Inventory Source: Graham Rahal Performance

By Edward Jones – June 01, 2022

Pristine Porsche Carrera GT For Sale

Pristine 2004 Porsche Carrera GT For Sale Story and images by Jorge A. Guasso. The Carrera GT is widely regarded as the best car Porsche has ever produced — after the legendary 959. Over the last few years, the Carrera GT has achieved ‘holy grail’ status, not only for its beautiful looks, but because famous drivers from around the globe and car enthusiasts alike have called it the world’s last true driver’s car. Launched in 2004, and with a production run that lasted until late 2006, the Carrera GT was Porsche’s answer to the Ferrari Enzo. While the Stuttgart-based company initially wanted to build 1,500 examples, a total of 1,270 units were made before production ceased due to forthcoming changes in air-bag regulations in the US. The Carrera GT is powered by a 5.7L DOHC four-valve-per-cylinder V10 producing 605 horsepower that can launch the car from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and help it achieve a top speed of 205 miles per hour. A curious note about the development of the engine is that it was originally made for Formula 1 and LMP car racing, however none of those endeavors worked out for Porsche and the company instead decided to use it as the base for its upcoming supercar. View Listing The Carrera GT’s engine, gearbox, and differential are mated to a carbon fiber subframe that bolts behind the seats. The chassis is made up of about 1,000 pieces of carbon fiber cloth cured under extreme temperatures and was made by the same company that made the chassis for the Ferrari Enzo. The car’s body panels are composed entirely of carbon fiber, as is the tub. The wheels are made of forged magnesium and weigh a third less than standard aluminum wheels. The front crush structure is made of aluminum and parts of the suspension are made of titanium. The beech wood shift knob (an homage to the 917 race car) sits slightly higher than traditional shift knobs as Porsche felt that a shifter closer to the steering wheel would enhance the driving experience. With an initial launch price of about $450,000, the Carrera GT was slow to move out of dealers, especially when you could drive out with a fully loaded 911 for about $150,000. After production stopped, the price of the car dipped a little before hitting rock bottom during the 2008 recession. At that time, many buyers were able to acquire this future classic for between $200,000 and $300,000 – a far cry from today’s prices. The stratospheric rise in prices for not only the Carrera GT, but for any ‘analog’ supercar of the 1990s and 2000s, can be mainly attributed to the fact that virtually all supercars and hypercars rolling out of assembly lines today are either paddle-shifted or have hybrid powertrains. Collectors and enthusiasts can see the writing on the wall that the day of the ‘analog’ car is over, and if you want a driving experience that makes you feel as though you are one with the car you’ll have to look into the past and not the future. This particular Carrera GT is one of the lowest mileage examples in the world, if not the lowest, with 27 miles on the clock. The wonderfully appointed Terracotta leather interior is accented by carbon fiber panels throughout and is wrapped by a gorgeous GT Silver Metallic body. It is number 0154 of 1,270 produced and is as perfect as the day it rolled out of the assembly line – a true museum piece with a proud heritage and racing lineage that only Porsche can deliver. View Listing

By Edward Jones – February 02, 2022

1,012-Mile Seal Grey Porsche Carrera GT Being Auctioned O...

Presented by Sackey & Co. Sackey & Co. | Online Supercar Auctions is proud to present this incredible 2005 Porsche Carrera GT finished in the ultra-rare Seal Grey Metallic over Dark Grey Leather with just 1,012 miles from new. This Carrera GT is fitted with unique VIN number WP0CA29805L001234 (note the special ending ‘01234’) and dash number #0622. This example’s Seal Grey Metallic paint color makes it just 1 of 64 Carrera GTs known to be produced for North America in this unique shade. Seal Grey Metallic is a darker & richer shade than the typical GT Silver seen on the majority of Carrera GTs; 362 GT Silver cars were known to be produced for North America, for comparison, almost 6x the total Seal Grey production! Seal Grey contains a rich, multi-colored array of metallic that dazzles in the sun with flecks of both gold and blue. This Carrera GT is in all-original, unmodified condition, and is cosmetically exceptional as would be expected for the low mileage. The car’s ceramic clutch measured at a like-new 30.7mm at 884 miles. Included with this Carrera GT is a full suite of OEM ancillaries: the full OEM luggage set, books, all keys, tools, car cover, extra seat pads, hardtop covers, hardtop straps, & original airbag warning sticker. The Porsche Carrera GT is today considered to be amongst the greatest Supercars of all time, and few Carrera GTs can claim this striking combination of rare livery, exceedingly low mileage, and excellent condition. Visit SackeyandCo.com to submit your bid today! View Listing

By Caitlin Duffy – June 10, 2015

Sand White 2005 Porsche Carrera GT For Sale at Isringhaus...

The Porsche Carrera GT has been recognized universally as one of the most powerful production Porsches ever created and made available to the public for purchase.1,300 examples were created in total, four were created in white and only one, now for sale, was created with Sand White paint.Only 4,800 miles sit on the odometer of this speed-demon, just enough to keep its engine alive and hungry after 10 years of existence. Its 5.7-liter V10 mid-mounted engine is capable of producing up to 605 hp and 435 lb-ft, making for a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.5 seconds.This particular example, offered by Isringhausen Imports, includes both the stock wheels and a set of black HRE wheels and a car cover, as well as an Ascot Brown luggage set to match the interior's stunning colors. Both the driver's and passenger's seats are extra-wide bucket seats, and sound comes courtesy of Bose sound system.Hit the button below to learn more about price and how to purchase this stunning car, and stay with us for more updates from the automotive world.View Price & DetailsGallery See More Listings For Sale

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