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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

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By Andrew Nabors – June 07, 2018

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Talk w/ Mark Webber & Andeas Preuninger

As a Porsche Werks driver, Mark Webber was a brilliant racer in the World Endurance Championship. As the director of Porsche's GT program, Andeas Preuninger knows how to find horsepower in the most unlikely of places.So in a YouTube video uploaded this morning, these two discuss the finer points of the 991.2 GT3 RS. Compared to the 2016 (991.1) model, they deleted every last piece of insulation for a gain of over 6 lbs. To make the engine more robust, the diameter of the crank was increased, and it is fully cross-drilled to keep the rod bearings happy.Most Epic Hypercar Drag Races Include Porsche 911 GT1 vs Mercedes CLK GTRThis was done to tune out new harmonics caused by the elimination of hydraulic lifters. That's right, Porsche is going old-school with a solid lifter valvetrain. Not only do they sound amazing it allows the 346 lb-ft of torque to arrive at lower rpm. Without the oil pump having to support 12 lifters, drag was reduced on the accessory drive. This unlocked 20 horsepower and it offers a great acoustical symphony. Andreas is correct in saying these are the sounds we love, even the pebbles hitting the carbon fiber inner fenders are useful info to the driver. Of course, if you want all the specs, click the link below and stay with us for all your Porsche 911 updates.Browse Porsche 911 GT3 RS For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 30, 2018

Richard Petty Builds Camaro SS For Charity

If you have never been to Richard Petty's museum, it is well worth the scenic drive to Level Cross, North Carolina. Inside are more race cars and NASCAR trophies than you will ever see again. My favorite is a 1982 Pontiac Grand Prix cut completely down the middle, crankshaft and all. But the most recent addition to the massive complex is a new Chevrolet Camaro SS wearing the iconic #43. As reported by TheDrive, the King and his team have customized this Camaro to benefit the Petty Family Foundation. Their goal is to help children and veterans who are in need. It is hosted by charity contest site Omaze, which raises awareness for critical causes.The raffle winner will receive airfare and transportation, homecooked BBQ, and an afternoon with the King and his crew. It will then culminate with the delivery of this gorgeous Camaro. Before you get the keys, he will teach you how to properly drive the winding backroads of NC. Veterans deserve the very bestWhen it comes to celebrity charities, the Petty family is at the top. His son Kyle Petty founded the Victory Junction camp for terminally ill children, and they have given away more than most racers will ever earn. There are only 42 days left before the drawing, so click the link below for your chance to win.Click Here To Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – May 30, 2018

Jay Leno Drives David Lee's Monza 3.6 Evo Dino

For the longest time, it seemed the Dino was destined to live in the shadows of the Ferrari world. Alfredo (Dino) Ferrari was Enzo's first son, and he was responsible for the 750 Monza race car. But his life was cut short by Muscular Dystrophy, and he died at only 24 years old.The V6 engine he designed deserved a lightweight car to maximize its potential, so Enzo decided to name an entire brand after him. The Dino was never badged as a Ferrari, but it included all the engineering and graceful styling of the brand.A Tour of Jay Leno's Car Collection? Think Again...Driving a stock Dino is fun, thanks to the balanced chassis and mid-mounted engine. But our friend David Lee was inspired to build a Dino worthy to keep up with a modified Porsche in the hills above Los Angeles.So once he found an unmolested 1972 Dino GTS, it was sent to a Ferrari shop in England for a few subtle upgrades. Starting with the headlights, they bolded polycarbonate covers that look like they came from the factory. Then they added flares at all corners to allow for wider tires.You might think flaring a Dino would be sacrilege, but these are original parts offered by the factory. Next, it was time for new wheels, so the original 14" design was scaled up to 17" and CNC machined from a one-piece billet. Five wheels were made so the full-size spare would match its siblings.Interview With David Lee: Ferrari Collector and Owner of the “Monza 3.6 Evo Dino”Then their attention turned to the engine. The Dino V6 and its transaxle were surgically removed along with their electronics and fuel system. There is adequate room to drop in almost any modern V8, but that would be too boring. Instead, David found a 2.9 liter V8 from the mighty F40. As you might know, the F40 was capped at 3.0 liters by FIA regulations, but the block has ample room for improvement.So it was bored & stroked to 3.6 liters and it received the latest in fuel injection. Being that the V6 was an iron block, this powerful beast has perfect weight distribution. At only 2,400 lbs, the "Monza 3.6 Evo Dino" will make your LS car look like it's standing still. Once the car was completed, we interviewed David for the Uncovered section of our June 2018 issue. Not many cars evoke this much emotion from Jay Leno, so turn up the volume and stay with us for more of David Lee's impressive collection.Browse Dinos For Sale Buy This Issue Now or Subscribe Now

By Edward Jones – May 29, 2018

Adam Levine Test Drives the Unreleased Electric Porsche

Adam Levine, songwriter and lead singer for Maroon 5, is a self-proclaimed Porsche fan. In a new video uploaded to Porsche's official YouTube channel, Levine explains his love for the brand and test drives the upcoming Mission E electric car.In the video, Levine notes that his love for Porsche started thanks to his uncle who always had a different Porsche. Following in his footsteps, Levine purchased a collector's Porsche of his own, a 1958 Speedster. He notes that this car, in his opinion, is irreplaceable. But, that could change with the new Mission E.Levine says: "Porsche people are not normal, because we want more out of everything." With the fully-electric Mission E, you get a 300-mile range, over 600 horsepower and a battery than can be charged to 80 percent in just 15 minutes. I'd say that's enough to make any Porsche fan happy.Check out the video for yourself and see what the famous singer thinks of Porsche's new Mission E.

By Edward Jones – May 16, 2018

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche’s Five Favorite Cars

To celebrate Dr. Wolfgang Porsche's 75th birthday, the team at Porsche asked him to show off his five favorite cars within his collection.Being the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche Sr., the man behind the founding of Porsche and Volkswagen, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche has been surrounded by fine automobiles since he was born 75 years ago. With his knowledge, he knows just what an excellent car is. So, it makes sense that the latest "Porsche Top 5" video delves into his collection and what he considers his five favorite cars.See 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS Hit Top SpeedIn the video found below, you'll see that his cars range from the classics to the latest Porsche models. During the video, he quotes his father as saying, "The newest car is always the best." He then goes on to say his father would question his choices when adding an old car to his collection because "the newer one is always the better one." That statement rings true when you compare the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid to a classic 356. Sure, the 356 is iconic and gorgeous, but it's technology and abilities are nowhere near that of the new hybrid model.See what he picked as his five favorite Porsches in the video below.

By Andrew Nabors – May 15, 2018

Jay Leno Drives Toyota Supra With Paul Walker's Brother

Everyone has an opinion of the 4th generation Toyota Supra. Their indestructible straight six engine will handle as much boost as you want, so most examples of the 1993 to 98 (MK IV) Supra specs have been modded beyond belief. To find a surviving example in good condition is nearly impossible, but Jay Leno seems to know the right people. See the Jay Leno Car Collection For this week's installment of Jay Leno's Garage, Cody Walker explained the Supra in fine detail. The youngest brother of the late Paul Walker, he shares his love for the Japanese automotive scene and also raises awareness for Reach Out World Wide. This charity organization helps communities rebuild after natural disasters, and it was only made public after Paul's untimely passing. A Supra in bad condition is worth a fair amount, so click the link below and find one for yourself. Stay with us for all your updates from Jay Leno's Garage.

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By Edward Jones – May 11, 2018

Millenium Falcon Car Revealed Ahead of "Solo: A Star Wars...

Even though it's not in the prequel trilogy, original trilogy or sequel trilogy, "Solo: A Star Wars Story" is comin' in hot as an exciting spin-off movie. This movie aims to tell the story of one of the greatest smugglers to have ever lived: Han Solo. Another little bit you'll be learning is how Han came to own the Millenium Falcon, the famous ship that could make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.Nissan GT-Rs for SaleNone of us may be Han and none of us will ever own a real Millenium Falcon, but at least Nissan is out here making some sweet Star Wars cars. Their latest vehicular homage to the Star Wars universe comes in the form of a 2018 Nissan Rogue that takes inspiration from the Millenium Falcon. This definitely has to be the best Star Wars car that Nissan has made yet. If you don't believe me, just take a look at the interior.How sick is that?!Another awesome feature is in the rear when the subspace-hyperdrive unit is located. Where the exhaust ports would be located are three 18-inch Bose speakers and an 18-inch Bose subwoofer."As the third installment of our own trilogy of collaborations with Lucasfilm, we raised the bar delivering our best custom show vehicle yet," said Jeremy Tucker, Nissan's vice president of marketing communications and media. "We started with the best-selling Nissan Rogue and worked with the talented concept designers at Lucasfilm and ILM. Then we turned to the experts at Vehicle Effects bring it to life. The result is hands-down the most complete and thrilling vehicle we've ever done."

By Andrew Nabors – May 10, 2018

Magnus Walker's Porsche 924 Carrera GT by Petrolicious

Who would have thought anything from 1980 would be collectible? Except for our friend Magnus Walker, who has a knack for finding rare Porsches. Petrolicious stopped by his LA warehouse to check out a 924 Carrera GT. Yes, the original Carrera GT name was bestowed on the 924 Turbo.Only 406 examples were built, mainly to homologate the Group 4 race team. Just in time for Transaxle Thursday, the 5-speed gearbox was mounted out back and connected to the clutch by a torque tube. The 4 cylinder engine was boosted with a larger turbo and intercooler to make 210 horsepower. To put that into perspective, the 1980 Corvette only made 190 hp. Since Mr. Walker knows more about Porsches than most enthusiasts, allow him to shed some light on the unloved 924 and click the link below to find one for yourself.Browse Porsche 924 For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=319&v=QqAzugyCQEo

By Edward Jones – May 10, 2018

Kevin Hart Shows Off How He Gets In His Big Bronco

Kevin Hart may not be one of the tallest people out there, but he's definitely one of the funniest. He may only be 5'4", but he's on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list as one of the world's highest-paid celebrities. With this money, he decided to treat himself to one mean custom Ford Bronco. This custom SUV is finished in red, rides on massive wheels and has a substantial lift installed. As I mentioned earlier, Hart isn't the tallest guy out there, but he doesn't care about that at all and it shows in his Bronco's height. Kevin Harts' Car Collection In a recent Instagram video, he shows off how he gets up into his Bronco. The video's description notes that his "vertical is amazing," and it's actually pretty impressive as he jumps into the seat of his tall SUV. Check it out for yourself in the video! Man, Hart really does have an awesome sense of humor. https://www.instagram.com/p/BiknLDiAV_B/?taken-by=kevinhart4real

By Edward Jones – April 27, 2018

2018 Aston Martin Tom Brady Edition Vanquish S Volante fo...

The 2018-2019 NFL Season is set to start in just a couple of months and the draft just happened, so football fever is in full effect. If you happen to be looking for a new sports car right now and are a fan of the New England Patriots, we have the perfect car for you. For sale at Cleveland Motorsports is a new 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante 'Tom Brady Edition.' This car is one of 12 to be created and was designed by Q by Aston Martin and Tom Brady himself. Each of the cars in the collection, including this one, is handpainted in Ultramarine Black and has an equally deep-shaded Dark Knight leather interior that's been stitched by hand. Being a special edition, there are a few extras found throughout the car, all of them point out that this is indeed a car built to honor Tom Brady. For example, the headrests and fender badges feature a "TB12" logo, with the "TB" standing for Tom Brady (duh) and 12 signifying his jersey number.This bespoke car is available now at Cleveland Motorsports. Click the button below to learn more about this rare opportunity.View Price and Listing

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