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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 Edward Jones – February 24, 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo Tests the Bugatti Chiron...Is It His?

Cristiano Ronaldo was recently spotted driving in his Bugatti Veyron and it looks like the French automaker took notice. In a new video from Bugatti, Ronaldo is given the keys to a new Chiron by Andy Wallace, the automaker's test driver. Then, naturally, the soccer superstar takes the car out for some hard driving.Related - Bugatti Chiron Will Go 0-250-0 mph in Under a MinuteFrom Bugatti: "Just before deliveries of the Chiron start, Bugatti has requested a real champion to give the French luxury brand’s new ultimate super sports car a final test drive. Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, several times World Player of the Year, reigning European Champion, winner of many other awards and a great sports cars fan, got behind the wheel in Madrid to take a close look at the 1,500 PS supercar. His conclusion: approved after comprehensive testing!"Bugatti Chiron For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 20, 2017

President Trump's Ferrari F430 Could Be Yours

In 2007, Donald Trump purchased a new Ferrari F430 and titled it as a personal car. Now, the car once owned by our current President is heading up for auction at Auctions America's Fort Lauderdale event.This 4.3-liter V8-engine is finished in Rosso Corsa and has the iconic Scuderia Ferrari shield on its fenders. Inside is a Beige leather interior with Daytona-style seats, as well as a leather headliner and Castoro (light brown) carpet.Related - The Trump Lamborghini Aventador: TrumpventadorAlong with the car comes the title, which states President Trump's Trump Tower address and his distinctive signature. Trump owned the car for around four years and put just a bit more than 2,400 miles on its odometer.If you're interested in the car, it will be hitting the auction block on April 1 at the event. Currently, the estimated hammer price is $250,000-$350,000.Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – February 20, 2017

Mike Tyson's Ferrari F50 Heading to Amelia Island

Normally we would advise against buying an exotic car from someone with face tattoos, but this one is well documented. Ferrari's F50 was a 90's supercar in every way. Only 50 examples were sold in the US, so many enthusiasts jump at the opportunity to own one. Seeing one in person is a rarity altogether, so pack your bags for the Amelia Island Concours. Every March cars from around the world converge around the Ritz-Carlton for RM Sotheby's auction. This year's main event will be a Battle Royale among Ferrari collectors because this F50 was ordered by none other than Mike Tyson. "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth". And you should have a plan to stop by our hospitality suite at the Concours.With only 5,694 miles the condition of the car speaks for itself. An engine out service addressed all the issues associated with long-term storage and also allowed this F50 to be Classiche Certified. So in addition to the hardtop storage crate, the winning bidder will also receive the "Red Book" detailing the provenance of the car. Essentially the F50 was a detuned Formula 1 car, making 520 hp and revving to 10,000 rpm. In order to hear the incredible engine at full power, the current owner swapped the factory exhaust for a Tubi high flow system. When the engine was out, new fuel tanks were installed and technicians rebuilt the water and oil pumps. It is being listed between 2.2 and 2.4 Million Dollars, so contact RM to place your bid and stay with us for complete coverage from Amelia Island.

By Edward Jones – January 30, 2017

Manchester United Manager Cruises in New Jaguar

"Jaguar for me represents passion and performance. It’s one thing to play for a club, or to coach a club, another is to play or to coach with passion, and feel the passion, and I think Jaguar’s cars are also like this. You feel the passion that they invest into their cars." - José Mourinho. (Also Check Out - 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE Range Announced: Equipped With GoPro) In a new video from Jaguar, Manchester United's manager teaches the world what it takes to be special while cruising in a new Jaguar XJ. However, this wasn't Mourinho's first time in a Jaguar. In fact, last year he was one of the first people to drive the new F-PACE and learned how to handle the car while driving on a frozen lake in Sweden. Check out what Mourinho has to say in the video below. All Jaguar XJ For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 24, 2017

Arnold Schwarzenegger Shows Off Electric G-Wagen

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a big fan of trucks and also a fan of cleaning up the environment. So, it makes sense that he helped debut an all-electric Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.(Related - Arnold Schwarzenegger Spotted in his Bugatti)The SUV was built by Kreisel Electric, an Austrian company that's obsessed with electric motors. This project has 482.7 hp on tap and is completely all-wheel drive. It houses two electric motors that offers extremely fast charging up to 150 kW. Kreisel Electric notes on their website that this SUV can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds, which is just .2 seconds slower than the AMG G63.Check out the SUV's unveiling in the video below and see Arnold as you'd expect him: leather jacket, cigar in mouth and pythons for arms.All Mercedes-Benz G-Class For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 23, 2017

Update (Sold): Justin Bieber's Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 U...

At the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2017 event, Justin Bieber's Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 Italia sold for $434,500. According to the vehicle's listing, it was put up for auction with a reserve, which seems to have been met.I don't know if you guys know this, but at one point in time I was quoted by Yahoo Celebrity for my vast knowledge of Justin Bieber's cars. I'm not exactly sure how this happened, but it did and I'm known as the "Bieber Guy" to some people. It also didn't help that my hair was a bit longer at the time.All Ferrari 458 For SaleBut, being the Bieber Guy at duPont REGISTRY (Purpose was a good album, alright?), it's my duty to report that his custom Ferrari 458 is going up for auction at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale event.The car was custom built by West Coast Customs, who wrapped the car in Frozen Blue chrome, installed a Liberty Walk wide-body kit and did much more to the car. It comes with the 458's 4.5-liter V* engine, a 7-speed automatic transmission, custom 20-inch Forgiato wheels and a 10-inch subwoofer. For more information, be sure to click the link below.Learn MoreExotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 19, 2017

Chris Brown Has a Dragon Ball Z Lamborghini

I have no idea how I missed this, but thanks to Jalopnik I now know that Chris Brown has a Dragonball Z-themed Lamborghini Aventador SV. As a self-proclaimed Dragon Ball Z fan (Gohan is my boy), this is big news.(Related - Chris Brown Buys Lamborghini Aventador SV)While many people keep their Lamborghini stock after purchasing it, Brown isn't one of those people. He's had just about all of his cars kitted out with some crazy themes, with this one being the latest.https://www.instagram.com/p/BLNR7n6jgtI/On the hood of his red Lamborghini, the face of Son Goku rests. While it may be surprising at first, it makes more sense when you learn that he has a tattoo and necklace of Goku.Now, if he can only get a house designed by Capsule Corp or a replica of the Kame House. Also, if you're a fan of DBZ, new episodes of dubbed Dragon Ball Super is playing every Saturday at 8 PM EST on Cartoon Network.All Lamborghini Aventador For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BPamhMkj5HD/

By Edward Jones – January 18, 2017

The Rock Surprises Veteran With a New 2018 Mustang

Well, looks like I'm starting the day off with a few tears in my eyes...Marlene, a veteran, Purple Heart recipient and a fan of The Rock, was recently by surprised by both Ford and her favorite wrestler. In what looks like a sound booth, Marlene told her story to the camera while Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson watched from behind the stage. She thought she was just receiving a reward, but there was so much more in store for her.(Also Check Out - The Rock Buys His Dad a New Ford Explorer for Christmas)The Rock walked out from behind the stage to surprise a stunned Marlene with tickets to the Baywatch premiere, but that wasn't all. When she thought it was all over, he gave the signal for the curtain behind them to drop and reveal a brand-new 2018 Ford Mustang GT. This is when the waterworks really started... See for yourself in the video below and always remember to thank those who have served.Ford Mustang For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 16, 2017

Jon Olsson Drifts a RWD Lamborghini Huracan

"It feels so wrong to do it in this car but so awesome." - Jon Olsson on drifting a Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2.In Olsson's latest VLOG, he got the chance to drift with Samuel Hubinette in his rear-wheel drive Huracan. This is just the latest example of the fact that Olsson is one of the coolest athlete celebrities out there. The best thing about this video has to be just how giddy he gets when he finished drifting the Huracan and how he keeps saying how drifting the car feels so wrong to do, but is so much fun.(Also Check Out - "Stina Stunts"; Drifts and Spins the RWD Lamborghini Huracan)The car driven in the video is a Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2 that was heavily modified. It was fitted with a custom hydraulic handbrake, an additional set of rear Wilwood Brake calipers, Vorsteiner Novara Edizione Aero Package, 20-inch Platinum Gunmetal Vorsteiner V-FF 103 Flow Forged Wheels and Nitto Tire NT555 G2 tires.All Lamborghini Huracan For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 13, 2017

Shaq's New Police Car is a Freakin' Hellcat

In a January 12, 2016 Facebook post from Sheriff Victor Hill of the Clayton County Sheriff's Office in Jonesboro, Georgia, it was announced that Shaquille O'Neal's new cop car would be a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. This comes after he was sworn in by the county as a Sheriff's Deputy.(Also Check Out - Justin Bieber's Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 Up for Auction)The Sheriff had this to say about Shaq's new ride: "When NBA legend Shaq O'Neal and "THE CRIME FIGHTER" decided that they would team up as the new dynamic duo to combat crime, the question was what type of crime fighting vehicle would be worthy of Clayton's now most famous deputy. Not to be out done by "THE CRIME FIGHTER's" infamous reputation for driving bad a..... police cars, Shaq broke the mold with a Hell Cat!"Now, imagine being pulled over not only by a Hellcat, but by Shaq. THE Shaq. What a time to be alive.View All Challenger Hellcats For Salehttps://www.facebook.com/sheriff.hill/posts/1234676973275534

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