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 – February 12, 2018

Ford GT Delivery to Raj Nair, President of Ford North Ame...

Raj Nair is not only the Executive Vice President and President of Ford North America, he was also the person who led the Ford GT project. To put it bluntly, if it were not for Nair, the current GT and its race team would not exist.Story Behind the Riviera Blue 2017 Ford GTBeing such a force behind the company's supercar, he had to get himself his own GT, but one unlike any other. Our friends over at FordGTForum.com have just handled the delivery of Nair's 2018 GT, serial #0001.Nair's Ford GT is unlike any other, thanks to its "Victory" scheme that's only available to those within the company. In fact, Bill Ford and Mark Fields had their 2017 GT's (#0001 and #0002, respectively) in the same scheme, but in the 2016-2017 race team colors. For Nair's GT, he went with the 2018 race team colors, which include Liquid Red, Frozen White, and Lightning Blue.Huge thanks go out to Dave Bannister and Ford GT Forum for providing the information and images. Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook!

By Edward Jones – February 08, 2018

New Top Gear Trailer Has Us Excited

A teaser for the upcoming Top Gear season was just launched onto YouTube today, giving us a look at how the new trio of Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris, and Rory Reid will mesh together as the hosts.The premise for the teaser is that they have run out of milk and need to get some ASAP. Naturally, they walk out of their building and are greeted with what seems like a pile of sports cars to choose from. Matt picks an Aston Martin Vantage V8, Rory hops in a massive Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4^2, and Chris goes for a Skoda rally car. Each car is completely different, leading them all to take different paths towards their destination of more milk.Top Gear: Chris Harris Drives the Ford GTThe action, cars, and driving was fun to watch in this teaser for sure. For me, though, it was the way this trio presents themselves together on-screen that gets me excited. After season 23's run with Chris Evans at the helm, this new trio has become more promising with each episode. Stay tuned for more from the Top Gear trio.How to Sell My Ferrari

By Andrew Nabors – February 06, 2018

Keanu Reeves Unveils New Motorcycle During The Big Game

One of the most inspiring commercials during the Big Game was Keanu Reeves standing on a motorcycle. It was the 5th ad for Squarespace that evening, and it made bike enthusiasts hold their breath. Standing atop a moving bike is a death-defying stunt made famous by Indian Larry.Keanu Reeves and Porsche 911 Carrera 4SKeanu was indeed standing on a moving bike, but the bike was like nothing you've seen before. Arch Motorcycle began with a custom bike built for Keanu by his friend Gard Hollinger. He was so impressed with the quality that the two decided to join forces and build them to order. It took three years to make his prototype ready for series production, and now they have delivered the KRGT1.The Keanu Reeves Grand Tourer is powered by a 124 ci (2,032cc) S&S engine. That means you will have an entire aftermarket of cams and go-fast goodies at your disposal. But you won't need to order anything else because for $78,000 they will build it to order. The videos on their Facebook page show us carbon fiber wheels, billet suspension parts, and a gorgeous LED headlight. We wish them well and hope to get a ride when they come to Daytona. Stay with us for more updates on this exciting new brand, and always ride responsibly!Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – February 05, 2018

Cars Of The Philadelphia Eagles

No matter where your sports allegiances lie, you have to admit the Big Game was entertaining. Since Autofluence was switched on, we've mentioned or shown a Tom Brady automobile almost as many times as Money Mayweather. That's why it's nice to learn about the rides of other winners. Good Day Philadelphia is Fox 29's morning broadcast, and they offered a few glimpses of the wild rides of the Eagles players. Top 10 Car Commercials From The Big Game ??? Rally A post shared by COREY CLEMENT (@yeroc_) on Jan 14, 2018 at 2:56pm PST Corey Clement's SRT8 Dodge Challenger looks ready to race. GETTING READY FOR THE WEEKEND @ayers601 @tigeboats @wakeboatporn @nalbater #weekend @americanforcewheels #28's #nofilter A post shared by fcoxx_91 (@fcoxx_91) on Jun 30, 2017 at 4:33pm PDT Vinny Curry's daily driver is a base model Ford F150 that has been heavily modified. Fletcher Cox has a silver F250 with a lift and massive wheels.Jason Kelce has a pristine 1987 Chevrolet C10 that looks stock down to the wheels.Between the Challenger and the trucks was an undercover car. If it were ours, it would be covered too because it looks to be a new Camaro ZL1 Even in stock form, the Jeep Wrangler is as tough as they come.Next up looks like a Roush Mustang, or at least a late model Mustang GT. The other players' cars included a mid-80s Caprice along with several more Ford trucks.Congrats to the Eagles for their win, and if you like cars shows come see us at the Baltimore Convention Center from Thursday to Sunday night. I'll have plenty of videos and pictures so you will see them here on Autofluence. Click on the link below to find your next ride.Drive Like A Winner

By Andrew Nabors – January 31, 2018

Rampage Jackson Helped Design the New Rezvani Beast Alpha...

Nothing in the sky was as imposing as the SR-71 Blackbird. Taking inspiration from the world's fastest aircraft, Ferris Rezvani and his team have unleashed the Beast Alpha X Blackbird supercar. It has only been a little over a year since the Beast Alpha was released, and it took off with full afterburners. New 2017 Rezvani Beast Alpha Makes World Debut To provide intense acceleration, they have developed a new 2.5-liter engine that arrives with a turbo and a supercharger. Cosworth provides the tuning, and it tops out at 700 horsepower. Your choice of a close-ratio six-speed manual or a paddle-shifted sequential transmission will have you at 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.The body was penned by Samir Sadikhov, an award-winning designer who worked under guidance from Rezvani. Weight was their target, so careful use of composites along with forged 18" wheels allows for a curb weight of 2,100 lbs. It rides on a 92.3" wheelbase, and it is only 43.5" tall. Jamie Foxx Gets a Wicked Rezvani Tank Limited to a production run of only 5 cars, the first example has been delivered to Rampage Jackson. "The Beast Alpha X 'Blackbird' truly lives up to its name," said CEO Ferris Rezvani. "Our design team worked closely with Rampage Jackson to come up with the perfect vehicle to match his signature style and Beast-like personality." Celebrities and athletes can't seem to resist a Rezvani, as Jamie Foxx purchased a Tank earlier this week. If you want something powerful and exclusive, pricing starts at $225,000. We're sure the Alpha X Blackbird is ready for its big screen debut, so stay with us for all your Rezvani Motors updates.

By Edward Jones – January 30, 2018

Top Celebrity Cars of January 2018

For the first month in 2018, many celebrities went out to pick up some incredible cars and supercars. To recap the cars these celebrities picked up, we've created a new segment that will look back on some of the highlights in the past month. In January 2018 there were a lot of highlights, 11 to be exact. From Jamie Foxx's new Rezvani Tank to Gucci Mane's McLaren 720S in a stunning blue, you can see it all in the list below. Rob Dyrdekhttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bd3eo7vBpWL/?taken-by=robdyrdek The Rockhttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bd5BdSbFiLU/?taken-by=therock Ben Ballerhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BeD280NA3C7/ Conor McGregorhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BdrqVFKAFQK/?taken-by=thenotoriousmma Jamie Foxxhttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bd6ZbaFhLob/?taken-by=iamjamiefoxx Russhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BeG6rLQBJw8/?taken-by=russ Gucci Manehttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bd1i0z-jg5w/?taken-by=laflare1017 Joe Jonashttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bd3iZaRg3Ee/?taken-by=joejonas Josh Gordonhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BdyBB6yh-CA/?taken-by=flash Dr. Shaquille O'Nealhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BebxpgYBt2U/?taken-by=shaq Conor McGregorhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BeBZxc3gQzh/?taken-by=thenotoriousmma The Gamehttps://www.instagram.com/p/Bd_Bo3yFMPO/?taken-by=losangelesconfidential

By Andrew Nabors – January 29, 2018

King Shaq Takes Delivery Of His New Vaydor

One of the best cars to come out of our hometown is the Vaydor. It is a wild 2-seater that is built to order by Supercraft Custom Crafted Cars. Master coachbuilder Amitcar Juarbe and his son Melvin have partnered with us for several shows, and the Vaydor captures all the attention. It is a blak canvas, allowing for more customization than any mass-production car.As such, King Shaq decided to get his on order back in August. The Vaydor rides on air suspension, which allows over 5" of adjustment. Florida isn't known for kind pavement, so the airbags allow the NBA veteran to ride in comfort. Just like his customized Kia from a few years back, seats and controls were personalized to fit his 7'1" frame. Size 22 shoes have a hard time with normally sized pedals, so the floor pan and lower dash received some "massaging". Just got my Vaydor @supercraftcars #custom #vaydor A post shared by DR. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq) on Jan 26, 2018 at 5:11pm PST Shaq’s New Police Car is a Freakin’ HellcatShaq is also the king of hiding his Superman logos in plain sight, so we can't wait to see this one in person. Power comes from naturally aspirated or supercharged version of the Nissan VQ35 or VQ37, for years of reliability. Based on the proven Infiniti G37 chassis, you also have the choice of manual or automatic transmissions. After being behind the wheel of a few of their builds, we applaud Mr. O'Neal on this fine purchase. If you are interested in more details, click the link below for more details.Supercraft Custom Cars

By Andrew Nabors – January 26, 2018

Jerry Seinfeld's 911 GT3 RS Is 1 of 1

When Henry Ford launched the Model T, he told dealers and customers that it was available in any color you want...As long as you want black. Painting cars is one of the most expensive costs in the assembly process. Pierre DuPont owned a majority of GM throughout the 20's and he challenged his chemical engineers to make a more affordable & durable car paint. The result was Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Duco) and it transformed the industry. With Racing Legend Hurley Haywood at Brumos Porsche in Jacksonville. #hegavemeahat A post shared by Jerry Seinfeld (@jerryseinfeld) on Feb 13, 2015 at 12:17pm PST Modern paints are all water-based, but to achieve the same depth as the old days requires several coats. That is why Porsche's Liquid Chrome Blue Metallic was a $64,000 option on the 918 Spyder. Sprayed by master painters, the finish requires nine base coats of varying metallics, three rounds of color sanding between them, and finally 3 coats of clear. Color sanding is time intensive, and almost as fun as jury duty, so the extra cost is worth it for a flawless finish. You better believe it, baby! @sportscarmarket A post shared by Jerry Seinfeld (@jerryseinfeld) on Oct 8, 2015 at 6:06pm PDT A normal customer probably couldn't order this paint on anything, let alone the wild GT3 RS. Jerry Seinfeld is not your average Porsche owner. His hit series "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee" has pulled back the curtain on his collection. Some of the noteworthy cars are one of the original Gmünd prototypes, a 911 RSR, and a handful of rare race cars. We saw him sell a few at Gooding's Amelia Island Auction in 2016, and he took home $22.2 Million at the end of the day. Magic in Malibu A post shared by Jerry Seinfeld (@jerryseinfeld) on Jan 20, 2018 at 12:34pm PST So it's needless to say Porsche will build anything for their valued clients, so this GT3 RS was part of their "Special Wishes" program. Mention the term "Sunderwunsch" around Porsche fans and you will immediately have their attention. This is the only GT3 RS to be treated to such a fancy finish and the fact that Jerry ordered it will make it a blockbuster if he ever decides to sell. We're gearing up for this year's Amelia Island festivities, so stay with us for all your Porsche & Celebrity updates. Tell us what you think of the color below in the comments, and click the link to find your own Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Browse 911 GT3 RS @ptsrs Thought you should have on file. Liquid Chrome Blue Metallic 1 of one. A post shared by Jerry Seinfeld (@jerryseinfeld) on Jan 22, 2018 at 5:20pm PST

By Edward Jones – January 25, 2018

Lexus LC & LS 500 Star in New "Black Panther" Super Bowl Ad

The season of Super Bowl ads is underway and Lexus has just revealed their advertisement that will be shown during the big game.Starring in the ad is the cast of "Black Panther," the latest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Co-starring in the ad is a custom Lexus LC 500 that was built to promote the movie, as well as the new 2018 LS 500 F Sport.Lexus & Marvel Unveil Two "Black Panther" Inspired CarsThere is an authentic match between the duality of both the Black Panther and the LS. The spot utilizes the Black Panther’s life as a Super Hero and as royalty to show the two sides of the LS: performance and luxury,” said Cooper Ericksen, Lexus vice president of marketing. “The stars aligned for this Super Bowl spot, with Lexus launching our flagship sedan and audiences primed for Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated release ‘Black Panther.’ Uniting LS with Black Panther on advertising’s biggest stage was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”Bentley Coupe for SaleNamed "Long Live the King," this ad will be the fourth ad from Lexus to appear during a Super Bowl. The song used in the ad is "Legend Has It" by Run the Jewels. Also, if you're a fan of soundtracks, the "Black Panther" film is looking to have a promising list of songs!

By Edward Jones – January 15, 2018

Jamie Foxx Gets a Wicked Rezvani Tank

Rezvani Motors hit the front pages of the internet with the release of their Beast sports car. Contrasting against their track-monster is their new Tank SUV. Many automotive enthusiasts have been infatuated with the SUV, including celebrities. The latest celeb to hop into their own Tank is Jamie Foxx, who shared a photo of him with his new Tank. Luxury Cars for Sale The Jamie Foxx Tank comes with a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine or an option 6.4-liter V8 engine that's capable of 500 horsepower. Working with either of these engines is a litany of off-road-ready components that make the Tank more than capable. View The Worlds Fastest SUV's Rezvani also offers the Off-Road and Off-Road Xtreme Packages for those looking for a bit more from their Tank. These packages include: On-demand 4×4 Roof-mounted LED Light Bar 6-inch Lift (Off-Road Package) 37×12.5″ Tires (Off-Road Package) Dynatrac ProRock 44/60 Axle Set w/ E-lockers (Off-Road Package) Fox 2.5″ Remote Reservoir Shocks (Off-Road Package) 37 x 13.5” Tires (Off-Road Extreme Package) Dynatrac ProRock XD60/80 axle set w/ air lockers and air compressor (Off-Road Extreme Package) Dynatrac ProGrip brakes (Off-Road Extreme Package) Front 1350, Rear 1410 driveshafts (Off-Road Extreme Package) Fox 2.5″ Internal Bypass Shocks (Off-Road Extreme Package) Interested in getting the same SUV as Jamie Foxx? The Rezvani Tank comes with a price tag that starts at $155,000. Learn more at RezvaniMotors.com. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd6ZbaFhLob/

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