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 – August 24, 2016

Jeremy Clarkson's Worst 10 Cars of 2015/2016

A little over a week ago Jeremy Clarkson presented us with his favorite cars of 2015 and 2016. These cars ranged from the Lamborghini Aventador to a Vauxhall minivan. Today, he's presented us with what are, in his opinion, the worst cars of 2015 and 2016.In this latest article on Driving.co.uk, Clarkson goes on to say that the best car you could buy is the Volkswagen Golf, no matter your situation. He notes that its cars like the Golf bring more to the table than a car that just steers, drives and stops. Of course there will always be those cars that are nothing more than "a box," according to Clarkson. Below are the cars from 2015-2016 that he deems "the terrible 10." Vauxhall Astra SRi NAV - "It was red and turbocharged and it would be fine for anyone who needed four wheels and a place to sit down when moving about. And now I’m out of space, which is probably a good thing, because I have nothing else to say about it." Infiniti Q30 Premium Tech - "Every time I pulled out to overtake a caravan, I had to pull in again because there wasn’t quite enough grunt. So, all things considered, that’s not fine." Skoda Superb SE L Executive - "At no point when driving a Superb do you think, “Eugh.” But you never think, “Wow”, either. And that’s not good enough." Zenos E10 S - "On the road, where I mostly drove it, the noise was fun for about a minute and then not fun at all." Renault Kadjar dCi 130 Signature Nav - "It offers nothing that would make you buy one if you could use a Google car-club vehicle instead. Both are soulless tools. But one is much, much cheaper." BMW X1 xDrive25d - "But because it says BMW on the back, and because you know just how good BMWs can be, you expect something better." Seat Leon X-Perience SE Technology - "I’m grateful to Seat for lending me this car because it reinforces every belief I’ve held about Seat’s cars. They’re a waste of time." Nissan GT-R Track Edition - "The standard GT-R is a five-star car. It is one of the best cars in the world. And yet this track-day abomination gets no stars at all. Because it’s pretty much useless." (2014 edition pictured above) Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TDI - "As an overall package it did nothing all week except remind me how much I wanted a Golf GTI." Hyundai i800 - "I will never go in one again."

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2016

Floyd Mayweather Ordering Insane kode57 Supercar

Presented at The Quail during Monterey Car Week was a total surprise known as the kode57. The car was designed by Ken Okuyama,who is also responsible for cars like the Ferrari Enzo and Maserati Quattroporte. This new car pays homage to the year 1957, which Okuyama says was an iconic year in automotive manufacturing.Supercars For SaleThe car itself holds a unique visual appearance, which was crafted out of an aluminum space frame and carbon fiber body panels. For the driver and passenger, a cabin awaits them that is most definitely driver-oriented. To differentiate the two seats is a color coordinated interior made of leather and ultra-suede. Photo by: Jordan ShirakiPowering the car is a V12 engine that is capable of 612 horsepower and 448 lb-ft of torque. With an available NOVITEC upgrade, the V12 will be able to produce 692 horsepower and 472 lb-ft. Power from the V12 is routed through a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission.One collector who plans on purchasing the car is none other than Floyd Mayweather. When speaking with Obi Okeke, the North American contact for sales, he told us that Mayweather does plan on ordering a kode57 for his own personal collection. If you're interested in picking one up for yourself, be sure to contact Obi by visiting LiquidTorque.com.

By Andrew Nabors – August 24, 2016

Chris Harris Drives and Reviews the Dodge Viper ACR

If you have never had the pleasure of driving a Dodge Viper, you are truly missing out. Although the poisonous snake will be retired after the 2017 Model Year, the ACR edition is going out on top. It took 25 years to refine this American GT car into a wold class performer, so Chris Harris decided to see how it handles Top Gear's test track. The audio for Viper's swan song comes from an 8.4L V10 making 645 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. Another era is coming to a close, as the V10 can trace its heritage back to the LA series V8 engines which debuted in 1964.Search Vipers For SaleArriving ready for the track, the ACR stands for American Club Racer. The most obvious upgrades over the lesser models are the carbon fiber aerodynamic spoilers. In the quest for the ultimate in downforce engineers traded top speed for traction. Dodge says the 2016 model creates 3 times the downforce of the Viper T/A 2.0, which limits the top speed to 177 mph. Tell us where you think it would land on the Lap Times board, and stay with us as the final Vipers drift into the sunset. Head over to the BBC to view the video:View Video

By Edward Jones – August 22, 2016

LeBron James Buys Wife Ferrari Testarossa

When you've got a lot of money and love your significant other, you tend to buy them a lot of nice things. As for LeBron James, a man who has a lot of money and loves his wife, Savannah Brinson, he had to get her something very special for her 30th birthday. Ferrari For Sale At her surprise birthday party, King James shocked Savannah by presenting her with a stunning Ferrari Testarossa finished in white. The classic Italian comes as a gift for her 30th birthday. In one of his Instagram posts showing her posing with the car has in the description: "Took me a long time to find your masterpiece but I wouldn't stop until I did and now I can't wait to watch u cruise off into the sunset on the PCH." So it seems as though she had her mind on a car like the Testarossa and the King is all about making sure his Queen is happy. Ferrari Testarossas For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/BJYNL9GjZqs/ Ferrari For Sale New York https://www.instagram.com/p/BJYIkBih7q8/ Source

By Edward Jones – August 17, 2016

James May Talks About the Time He Drove Off Without a Ste...

Have you ever driven away and forgot to bring something with you? For me, it happens quite often and usually involves a wallet or phone. But for James May he forgot his wheel.(Related: Jeremy Clarkson and Crew Break Rental Car on "The Grand Tour")In a new video from The Grand Tour's YouTube Channel, May talks about his experience being the wheel of a race car. Actually, he wasn't behind a wheel.If you're familiar with race cars, you know that a lot of race cars require the driver to take the steering wheel off before they get in. Well, it seems as though May got in, started up the car and forgot to put the wheel back on. It's quite an entertaining story. Check it out below.View More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – August 16, 2016

Carina Lima Boasts Rare Koenigsegg One:1

While it hasn't been officially confirmed, it looks like racing driver Carina Lima may be the owner of one of the seven Koenigsegg One:1 models. On her Instagram she has posted several photos of a One:1 and even a video of her driving said car. In fact, we wrote about her driving an Agera A in Monaco quite a while back, so she doesn't seem to be a stranger to the Swedish brand.https://www.instagram.com/p/BI7jJJMD3-d/Creating power for the One:1 is a 5.0-liter V8 engine fixed with two turbochargers. This engine creates one megawatt of power, which equates to 1,341 hp, while torque is rated at 1,011 lb-ft. I’ll skip its 0-60 mph time and just tell you it can go from 0-186-0 mph in 17.95 seconds. To sum this short paragraph up: the Koenigsegg One:1 is one of the most insane vehicles ever produced.https://www.instagram.com/p/BJAmjQ_jl83/In an Instagram video of her driving the car, she notes that the One:1 is a car that you "have to handle with passion, love,all" and that the "road around it's not enough for this machine".View All Koenigsegg For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 15, 2016

Jeremy Clarkson's Top 10 Cars of 2015/2016

Do you like cars? Then you more than likely know who Jeremy Clarkson is. He was a host on Top Gear, now hosting The Grand Tour, and has been known to have very strong opinions on cars. He's shown absolute delight behind the wheel of some, but is also known to not hold back when he dislikes certain automobiles.Today, Clarkson penned an article on Driving.co.uk that explains his top ten favorite cars from 2015 and 2016. The list is quite varied, including Italian supercars and even a European van. Below is the list of the cars which he found most impressive over the past two years and his thoughts on the cars from his article. Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Recaro: "It’s a cure for depression, this car, it really is. You just can’t be in a bad mood when you’re driving it." Alfa Romeo 4C coupé: "I’ve never driven any mainstream road car that generated quite such an outpouring of affection as the Alfa Romeo 4C." Mercedes-AMG GT S: " This is a modern-day muscle car. It’s Merc’s Mustang. You sense this when you drive it. It feels raw." Ford Focus RS: "Even at James May speeds, on a roundabout in Hounslow, this car feels cleverer than is normal. It feels like a Nissan GT-R." Ford Mustang Fastback 5.0 V8 GT: "What it is, is a muscle car. And you sense that in the second yard. This is a machine that wants to turn its tyres into smoke and go round every corner sideways." Volvo XC90 D5 AWD: "It’s so soothing, you could nod off. And you’d be fine, because it’d wake you up if anything was wrong." Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 1.6 CDTi Tech Line: "Never have I encountered any car, including the Rolls-Royce Phantom, that’s so good at refusing to transmit road irregularities into the cabin." BMW M2: "It’s so good that in a few bends I was actually dribbling with joy." Ferrari 488 GTB: "As a driving machine, it’s — there’s no other word — perfect." Lamborghini Aventador: "Given the choice of any supercar, this is the one I’d buy. I admire the McLaren P1. But which would you rather have as a pet: a clever and sophisticated electronic robot? Or a bloody great brontosaurus?" Also, be sure to check back next week when he reveals the worst cars of 2015 and 2016.

By Edward Jones – August 10, 2016

Kevin Hart and The Rock Destroy Stuff in Monster Truck

If you ever get behind the wheel of a monster truck, all you'll be thinking about is running stuff over. Their massive presence, and massive tires, make plowing over objects a breeze. So, what do The Rock and Kevin Hart do when they have access to a monster truck? They pack fans inside and run over things.In a video from Omaze, you can see this very event happen. Two lucky fans were given the chance of a lifetime to ride in the truck with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kart. The things they ran over included watermelons, a cut-out of The Rock and even "your dreams." Check it all out in the video below.

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – August 04, 2016

Elvis' BMW 507 Restored, Making Appearance at Pebble Beach

Relive the Elvis Presley glory days at this year's Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach as his BMW 507, which has been fully restored to its original glory, makes its modern day debut.The BMW 507 was driven by the music legend while he served in the military and was stationed in Germany. At that time, he'd already established himself as a rock and roll success. The BMW 507 mysteriously disappeared and was thought to be lost forever, but after 50 years, the icon's car resurfaced. BMW Group Classic spent an entire two years restoring the BMW to its original specifications and will present the car to the public for the first time at Pebble Beach.The BMW 507 is one of the brand's most exclusive and sought after models, especially for classic car enthusiasts. Only 254 examples were produced, all of which between the years of 1955 and 1959. The car was largely owned by the stars of the time including Alain Delon, Ursula Andress and of course, The King of Rock'n'Roll.According to a company press release, BMW Group Classic rebuilt the 3.2-liter V8 engine from spare parts but made sure it, "was reconditioned precisely in conformity with the original specifications of the BMW 507." Additionally, the car is also finished in a new "Feather White" paint job, which would have been an authentic representation of its glory days.

By Andrew Nabors – August 03, 2016

George Foreman's 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster Head...

When buying an exotic car, popular guidance advises one should consider research into the previous owners and service records. But unless your name is Howard Cosell, we would advise against antagonizing the owner of this 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT. George Foreman's boxing record speaks for itself, and his entrepreneurial efforts have made him a wealthy man. At 67 years old he is still probably capable of taking on opponents half his age, but we can't think of another car from 1997 that could square off against the Diablo VT. Viscous Traction was the name of Lamborghini's all-wheel drive system, and it automatically engages the front wheels if/when the rears spin. The 5.7L V12 makes 485 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, and the Roadster weighs in at 3,583 lbs. At 6'3" tall, Big George needs a convertible. The carbon fiber roof panel stores neatly on the rear deck lid and is finished in the factory original Smalto Rosso paint. You won't be grilled by maintenance costs, as a recent engine-out service included a new clutch and a leak down test. The Diablo VT is currently riding on new tires, but the originals are also included. Mr. Foreman only put 1,907 miles on the car, so this is your chance at a new Diablo VT. Boxing aficionados will love the included extras like a framed picture and ticket stub from the Rumble in the Jungle. The latest model of his Lean Mean Grilling machine is autographed, along with a pair of boxing gloves. Copies of the original registration and title are included with all service records. If you need more heavyweights in your collection, lot S119 will be up for auction at Mecum's Monterey auction. For more photos and information, please click here. Learn More

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