Celebrity Cars

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 – December 07, 2020

LeBron James Spotted Driving a Porsche 918 Spyder

While TikToker and Instagram account @e30alex99 was cruising down the street, he noticed something quite peculiar: a Porsche 918 Spyder. Naturally, they pulled out their phone and record a video of the hypercar and as the car drove past, the driver could be seen. The driver was none other than LeBron James. That's quite the car to be driving considering they sell for well over $1 million and have a 0 to 60 mph time of around 2.2 to 2.4 seconds. It's also an incredible car to have in his collection. I also noticed that he has the top off, but that may be due to his height of 6'9". Check out the video that @e30alex99 captured down below and click the button if you want to see other Porsche 918 Spyders for sale. READ: Porsche 918 Spyder Price, Specs & Review See All Porsche 918s For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/CIgOq6dhrab/ Featured Image Source: @e30alex99/Instagram

By Edward Jones – February 15, 2018

"Baby Driver" Star Pulls Off Donuts in Porsche 918 Spyder

Ansel Elgort, the driver and actor that starred in "Baby Driver," was recently introduced to the Porsche 918 Spyder hypercar. Acting as a matchmaker between Elgort and the 918 was Lars Kern, a Porsche test driver.The event was uploaded to Porsche's YouTube channel where Elgort learns all of the finer aspects of the German hypercar. From its lightweight design to its aerodynamic superiority, Elgort definitely walked away from this experience with a greater knowledge regarding the hypercar.Porsche 918 Spyder: 10 Facts You Need To KnowElgort also mentioned that going to Germany and driving the best car ever was on his bucket list. And, well, he can definitely cross that one off of the list now. After being thoroughly introduced to the car, the actor finally had his chance to get behind the wheel to take the 918 Spyder for a spin. The first thing he does? Pull off some massive donuts, of course.The Porsche 918 Spyder is definitely a step up from the Subaru WRX Elgort drove in "Baby Driver"!

By Edward Jones – October 09, 2015

Horacio Pagani's New Porsche 918 Spyder

Just because you're the mind behind a famous automotive manufacturer doesn't mean you're limited in your choice of cars to add to your collection. Specifically speaking, Horacio Pagani, the mind behind Pagani, recently added a gorgeous blue Porsche 918 Spyder to his personal collection. News of Pagani's latest hypercar addition comes to us from Marchettino. The automotive YouTuber was at the Misano World Circuit when the man himself pulled up with his son in a Zonda S and the 918 Spyder. His example of the German hybrid hypercar is finished in what appears to be the factory "Sapphire Blue Metallic" paint. And, by way of a quick glance, you can see that it is also fitted with the Weissach Package. (Related: Lamborghini Countach Price & Specs) Marchettino uploaded a video today of the car at the circuit, where Pagani and son took it around the track for a few laps. Mind you, they only took delivery of the car less than a week ago, so they took a few laps to get used to the car in a track setting. Check out the video below and also check out the Porsche 918 Spyders for sale on duPontREGISTRY.com by clicking the button below.

By Edward Jones – August 28, 2015

Mark Webber Gets One-Off Porsche 918 Spyder

Professional race car driver Mark Webber is no stranger to extremely fast cars, considering he races LMP1 cars for Porsche. This is why he's going to feel right at home in the Porsche 918 Spyder he just got himself for his 39th birthday.(Related: “Acid Green” Porsche 918 Spyder Looking for New Owner) Being such a prized racer for Porsche, of course he was going to get a special example of the German hypercar. His new 918 Spyder, #605, is a one-off model customized exactly to his tastes, according to an Aug. 27 press release from Porsche. The car features the red and white exterior paintwork in the "Salzburg Design," while the interior has been specially upgraded with a mostly black cabin and contrasting white piping.While he will get to enjoy his free time in the 918 Spyder, he also has a job to do in his Porsche 919 Hybrid race car. In fact, he will be racing this weekend at the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Nürburgring event. We wish him the best of luck.Gallery (Source: Porsche) See More Celebrity Car News, Pics and Videos

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By Caitlin Duffy – August 06, 2015

Q&A With Graham Rahal: Racing, His New Green 918 Spyder ...

At only 26 years old, Graham Rahal is already on top of the world. He's the racecar driver currently ranked second in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series, is engaged to drag race phenom Courtney Force, races for the team his father started and has more experience with cars than most people accrue in a lifetime. Courtesy of Grahm Rahal's Facebook pageAnd, with some help from Isringhausen Imports, he recently added a Viper Green Porsche 918 Spyder to his collection.We had a chance to catch up with Rahal just after his Aug. 2 victory during the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, a huge boost for his team in the Indycar points championship. Read on to learn about why the 918 caught his eye, the other cars in his collection and what his next steps in the racing world might be.Autofluence: What made you pick out the Porsche 918 Spyder?Graham Rahal: I picked it because my family's ties to Porsches goes back to the mid '60s when my grandpa raced with them. My dad has always been a big Porsche collector, and I wanted to follow suit. To go with my very rare Sand White Carrera GT, I knew the 918 was the right one. Not to mention when I drove it, it was absolutely incredible and so fun to drive. I love it. AF: What was the delivery process like?GR: Well, I am not very patient, but it was great. David Donahue and the folks at Porsche were second to none. I had a great time through the entire process, and Isringhausen made it seamless once it was here. The car was delivered through Isringhausen, then sent straight to Byers Imports in Columbus, Ohio to get new HRE Wheels put on it, and to get a brand new Xpel Ultimate custom clear bra done by Shane and the folks at Entrotech in Columbus. It couldn't have worked out anymore perfect! AF: What was your first thought when you finally saw the car in person?GR: In love, unreal. I've seen 918s before, a lot of them, and nothing compares. The Viper Green color is the only in North America, and possibly the world. The interior accent touches are perfection, looks amazing. AF: How does the 918 Spyder's driving stack up against your race car's?GR: It's completely different. But the 918 is special because it has so much speed, combined with daily driving capabilities. The hybrid system works well, but you probably won't find me in any mode but race mode! The race car is so rigid and uncomfortable to drive as it's built just for extreme speed, the 918 has it all. AF: What other cars do you own?GR: I have a 2005 Sand White Porsche Carrera GT which I am the only registered owner ever which is cool, a 2015 McLaren 650S Le Mans edition, 1964 Mini Cooper S that I restored myself and absolutely love, a Signal Green 2015 paint to sample BMW M4 and lastly a Vesuvius orange paint to sample 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR that's the only one in the world, and lastly a Red on Red 2002 Acura NSX with 16k miles that's one of 8 ever made in that paint scheme. I love all the toys, but they are all used a lot otherwise there's no point in having them! AF: What's your favorite car?GR: I have to say the Carrera GT has always been my favorite. The noise of it, the looks of it, the purity, cars just aren't built like that anymore. AF: Is there another car you have your eye on for your next purchase?GR: I am extremely excited for the new Acura NSX. Being that I drive for Honda I know a lot of the background with the car, but I am really thrilled to get in it and enjoy it. AF: Congratulations on your current second place position in the IndyCar Series. With so much momentum, what's next for you and your racing career?GR: I am focused heavily on winning this championship. Coming off of 2 wins in the last 4 races, and 9 points away from Montoya in the championship, it's time to put more pressure on and try and get it. It would be amazing for myself and for my family, so we are definitely focused forward right now!View Isringhausen Imports' Inventory Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed the Verizon IndyCar Series as the IZOD IndyCar Series. The text has been updated to reflect the current name.Gallery See More Celebrity Cars

By Edward Jones – July 08, 2015

Dario Franchitti Races a Porsche 918 Spyder Through Goodwood

IndyCar Series Champion Dario Franchitti may not have raced for Porsche professionally, but that doesn't stop him from being a fan of their cars.At the recent 2015 Goodwood Festivals of Speed, Franchitti put the Porsche 918 Spyder through its paces for the annual Hill Climb event. Porsche uploaded a video to YouTube today of his run in the German hypercar.(Related: LaFerrari vs. 458 Speciale Drag Races)In the video Franchitti states, "Porsche are doing it almost better than anybody else right now. I think this car is doing everything right." It's clear to see that he's a fan of the car and the brand, and he even notes that he actually has a Carrera GT of his own.Check out the video below to see the champ in action in Porsche's greatest supercar yet.(Source: YouTube) See More Celebrity Car News

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