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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 – November 05, 2018

McLaren Spins Out for Fast and Furious Spin-Off

Shooting for the upcoming film "Hobbs & Shaw" has begun... quite literally. A video on YouTube by Aidan Farren-Hart shows some of the film's action as it's being filmed (see above). In the scene that Farren-Hart captured, we see a McLaren 720S spinning out as it's being chased by a motorcyclist. Naturally, the motorcyclist is shooting at the McLaren as it tries to drive away. "Hobbs & Shaw" is a spin-off film based on The Fast and The Furious franchise. The lead roles in the film are Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw, who are played by The Rock and Jason Statham respectively. Statham actually posted a photo of him and the film's director, David M. Leitch, standing in front of the McLaren 720S (see below). The film will be releasing on July 26, 2019. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bni3iSoHtmh/ Related: Why You Should Buy A McLaren 720S McLaren 720S Receives New Track Pack Specification Bugatti Chiron Destroys McLaren 720S in Rolling Race

By Andrew Nabors – November 05, 2018

Justin Verlander's New Ferrari 488 Pista

If you were the 4th highest-paid MLB player, what would you drive? Houston Astros Pitcher Justin Verlander has a fine taste in cars, which make him easy to spot when heading to work. A quick glance of his Instagram (@justinverlander) will show you a gorgeous Eleanor Mustang from our friends at Fusion Luxury Motors. Parked next to it is a new Ford GT, not a bad way to display Blue Oval loyalty. But his newest ride will be coming soon, and it it will be a custom Italian creation. Ferrari's Tailor Made Program allows the factory to build a car exactly to your liking. Regardless of the interior and exterior customizations, it will arrive with a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 making 720 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Capable of reaching 124 mph in 7.6 seconds, it will give his fastball a run for the money. Click on the links below for all your Ferrari 488 info, and stay with us for all your celebrity car updates. https://www.instagram.com/p/BpryDVugTce/ Related: Find Your Ferrari 488 Here Ferrari 488 Pista Spider at Pebble Beach Ferrari 488 Pista 0-60 Run!

By Andrew Nabors – October 24, 2018

Ken Block Previews Gymkhana 10 in his 1977 F-150 Hoonitruck

If you have always wondered how the crew at Hoonigan Industries approaches each build, get ready for something wild! In a YouTube upload earlier today Ken Block unveiled their latest creation. What started as a 1977 Ford F-150 has undergone a metamorphosis. The mirrors might be the only original parts, and that is for good reason.Used Lamborghini For Sale at duPontREGISTRY.comBuilt to be the star of Gymkhana 10, it is based on a gorgeous tube-frame chassis from Detroit Speed. Attached to that is the AWD system from the Focus RS with tubular control arms at all corners. Poking through the hood is a Roush-Yates 3.5-liter EcoBoost, the same Ford GT engine that won LeMans in the Ford GT. The billet block and heads are topped by the world's first direct-metal 3D printed intake manifolds. This proprietary piece comes direct from Ford Performance, and it looks like it will shake up the industry.Toyo supplied 315/35/20 tires and 1552 Wheels offered their latest bead locks. With 914 hp and 902 lb-ft of torque on tap, it has to be the most powerful 1977 Ford ever built. Gymkhana Files is their new Amazon series that debuts on November 16th. It will give the world a behind-the-scenes view of Team Hoonigan. The episodes will culminate a month later in the full release of Gymkhana 10 on December 17th. Drifting a full-size truck will be much different from their other efforts, so tell us your thoughts of this one in the comments below. Stay with us for all your Hoonigan updates.

By Edward Jones – October 23, 2018

Nico Rosberg Customizes His Mercedes-AMG ONE

Nico Rosberg, the famous retired F1 driver, has a Mercedes-AMG ONE on order and he just posted a video of his first time seeing the car. He took a visit to Mercedes' Munich showroom and spent some time in the AMG ONE popup store in order to personalize his own German hypercar. In the popup store, Rosberg used a touchscreen to scroll between the different colors in order to find his perfect color. It looked like he ended up on a dark grey color, but we'll have to wait and see what his final decision was. As he was scrolling, brief glimpses of the car in different colors are shown and it looks absolutely mental in a red finish. Click play on the video below to see it for yourself! View All Mercedes For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 22, 2018

BBC Announces new Hosts for Top Gear

One of the most popular motoring shows will make a few changes for season 27. Matt LeBlanc will be coming home, and Chris Harris will be joined by two new presenters. Paddy McGuiness is a comedian and entertainer, and Freddie Flintoff is a legend in the world of Cricket. In a post to Top Gear's homepage this morning, we've learned that Rory Reid will move from the main stage to a supporting role, and that Sabine Schmitz might play a larger role in each episode.Great Deals on Used LamborghinisTop Gear has seen more than a few leadership changes in recent history, with Chris Evans butting heads with LeBlanc for popularity in the press. Elated by their new roles, Paddy said: "Getting the Top Gear gig is a real honour. To be hosting a show I’ve watched and loved from being a small boy is beyond exciting. Top Gear fans worldwide are a passionate bunch and I consider myself one of them. Now let’s start up this Great British machine and see what it can do."Freddie echoed his sentiment: "It’s not often you have the chance to do both of your dream jobs, but I’m now lucky enough to say I will have. I’ve always been passionate about cars and I’m so excited to be joining the Top Gear team.” While the show's most prolific presenters are continuing on with "The Grand Tour", we bet this new crew will rejuvenate BBC channel 2.Related Video:

By Andrew Nabors – October 18, 2018

John Cena's Ford GT Sells Big at Mecum Dallas

If you weren't at Mecum's Dallas auction, you missed out on the deal of a lifetime. Back in 2017, John Cena purchased a new Ford GT, but he decided to part ways with only 626 miles on the odometer. Ford's Purchase Agreement included a clause reserving the first right of refusal, but some crafty legal work allowed this to be the only pre-owned late model available for public sale.John Cena Says He did Nothing Wrong in Selling Ford GTCar #77 is blue with silver calipers, along with a black/carbon fiber interior. The celebrity status along with making headlines around the world allowed Dana Mecum & Company to drop the hammer at $1,320,000. We hope the new owner puts some real mileage on it to properly break-in the engine. Forced induction requires tight tolerances to make the most of the twin turbos. Therefore, you shouldn't baby it, no cruise control or Sunday driving for the 1st 1,000 miles. If the new owner is reading this, I will be happy to assist you in this process. If you are curious how this impacts the value of previous Ford GTs, click the link below and stay with us for all your Mecum updates. View Ford GT For Sale Ford GT Specs Related Video:

By Edward Jones – October 17, 2018

Jeremy Clarkson Picks His Car of the Year

Jeremy Clarkson, a man automotive enthusiasts have listened to on Top Gear and The Grand Tour for years has selected his car of the year for 2018. His pick? The Lamborghini Huracan Performante. His announcement was made at an awards event at the New Corp's London Headquarters.This is what Jezza had to say about the Huracan Performante being his car of the year: “This is about the car that appealed more than anything. You get into it and you don’t know what it is that’s tingling the back of your head, but you think ‘this thing’s good’. There’s something about it: it’s not the speed, it’s not the looks. There’s only really been one car in the last twelve months where I’ve had that feeling, and that’s the Lamborghini Huracán Performante.” J.Clarkson, M. Reggiani, J. WhiteThe Huracan Performante is quite deserving of the title, considering its abilities on the track. If you recall, this model was the fastest car around Nurburgring until it was bested by the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. And then Lamborghini punched back with the Aventador SVJ, which is now the fastest production car around Green Hell. Still, it's the third fastest car around Nurburgring. If you'd like to own one of the quick Lamborghini has to offer and Clarkson's favorite car of 2018, click the button below. Lamborghini Huracan Performantes For Sale Lamborghini Huracan Performante Specs Related Video: Source: Lamborghini

By Edward Jones – October 15, 2018

A Look Into The Lamborghini-Powered Batmobile

A couple of years back, Team Galag drove a Batmobile in the Gumball 3000 and taught the world what it meant to turn your dreams into reality. Be honest, when watching the Batman movie, you wanted a Batmobile of your own to cruise around in. For them, they didn't want to sit on the idea and commissioned Caresto to build them a Batmobile of their own. A Lamborghini Gallardo's drivetrain was used as a base for the car. Specifically speaking, they used the 5.2-liter V10 engine that's capable of producing 560 horsepower. Designed around this drivetrain is a Batmobile that was inspired by the vehicle in the Arkham Knight video game, and they nailed it. Business Insider recently put together a video that details the Batmobile using footage from Mr JWW's time with it at the Gumball 3000. Check it out by clicking play down below.A Talk With a Real-Life, Dream-Making Batman

By Edward Jones – October 03, 2018

Ken Block Takes on Britain in the Hoonicorn

Forza Horizon 4 has finally been released and it's already taking over everyone's Xbox and Windows 10 PC. In the game, you have complete freedom to race around the British landscape in whatever style you want. For me, I prefer taking a rally car around the dirt roads or choosing a drift car to whip around corners. I also enjoy the occasional high-speed runs in supercars. For the drifting portion of the game, Forza released a video of Ken Block showing us how it's all done...in real life... in Great Britain... in his monstrous Hoonicorn V2. Nobody asked for this video, but we're all glad someone in their marketing team made it happen because it's an amazing watch. Ken Block's New Raptor Powered Boat In the video below, you'll see Ken Block take the 1,400 horsepower Hoonicorn around landscapes that are similar to what I've seen while playing Forza Horizon 4. There's even a celebrity appearance by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who you've probably seen play the role of The Mountain in Game of Thrones. Poor guy couldn't even fit inside the Hoonicorn... Be sure to check back for our review on the game, which will be coming soon! Shop Forza Horizon 4 Now

By Edward Jones – October 01, 2018

Conor McGregor Gets a New Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB

Conor McGregor is getting ready for his anticipated fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but that isn't stopping him from adding to his car collection. The Notorious recently posted up a photo and video of his new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII Extended Wheelbase from Rolls-Royce of Las Vegas. This car is the ultimate luxury automobile that is perfect for the owner that likes to be chauffeured around. In the rear are seats that take advantage of the extended wheelbase, allowing for plenty of legroom. Conor McGregor's Car Collection But it's not just about space in this car. Perhaps McGregor wins the fight and on the way home in this Rolls-Royce he wants to celebrate. No big deal, because there's a drink cabinet in the rear, complete with Rolls-Royce Champagne flutes. There are also plenty of luxuries available in the Phantom EWB you'd expect from a Rolls-Royce, like the Starlight Headliner and monitor screens for each rear passenger.Congratulations are in order for McGregor on his latest purchase and we can't wait for the fight this weekend. View All Rolls-Royce For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BoX-9IDAlEY/https://www.instagram.com/p/BoNjr2UA-1m/Source: Instagram/@thenotoriousmma

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