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 Christina Avila – November 17, 2015

Range Rover Evoque Convertible Introduced to US by Bond A...

In a press release today, Land Rover unveiled the latest version of the popular Range Rover Evoque. While it features the same luxurious trappings the British automaker has become known for, there is one major difference between the new Evoque and models past – this one is a convertible.Yes, you read that right. In a YouTube video accompanying the release, Land Rover set the scene for the new compact convertible SUV against the picturesque backdrop of Santa Monica, California. In the video, the Evoque shares the spotlight with fellow Brit Naomie Harris, the actress who recently reprised her role as Moneypenny in "Spectre," the 24th installment of the James Bond film series.Making its official debut in the US at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, the Evoque Convertible is the best of both worlds between a convertible and SUV. The four-seat design sits inside the convertible’s elegant interior with ample room for versatile storage. But don’t be fooled by the car’s interior charm. This is still very much a rough-and-tumble Range Rover, capable of both on and off-road excursions. With an intricate folding roof design, the SUV is truly an all-season vehicle, a rare find compared to most convertibles.The eloquent Ms. Harris agrees. “I was so impressed by the design of this car; it’s like nothing I’ve seen on the road before and is so sleek! I love the fact that it is just as much at home driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in LA, as it is off-road in the British Countryside,” she stated in the press release.Already heralded as the fastest-selling Land Rover of all time, the latest twist on the Evoque is sure to make an impression on the US market.Evoques For SaleGallery (via Land Rover)

By Caitlin Duffy – November 11, 2015

Ken Block & Jay Leno Deliver Mail from 840 hp Mustang

It's not your usual mail truck, and these aren't your usual postal workers. But that didn't stop Jay Leno and Ken Block from trying to show off their delivery skills on the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage.A quick clip of the episode, which airs tonight on CNBC at 10 pm, was shared to YouTube Nov. 10 and follows a few quick figure eights and donuts from rally driver Ken Block, half of which Leno was in the passenger seat for. He's brought mailman Lonnie to meet Block and check out a possible new option for delivering mail a bit more quickly.The two ride in Blocks' famous 840 hp Hoonicorn RTR, a 1965 Ford Mustang notchback that's been modified to be Block's latest Gymkhana car. Check out the intense drifts this car is capable of in the video below, and find your own classic Mustang from our exclusive listings. (via YouTube) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – November 06, 2015

Gordon Ramsay on Ferrari: Many Similarities Between Fine ...

Gordon Ramsay is an unabashed fan of Ferrari, clearly demonstrated by his ownership of their flagship supercar, the Ferrari LaFerrari.The celebrity chef recently took a trip to Maranello to visit the marque's headquarters, and while there drew quite a few similarities between his passion for fine foods and the incredible cars produced by Ferrari. As a Nov. 5 press release shared, he focused first on the fact that both he and Ferrari "focus on continual innovation or 'being the market leader, becoming creative and not sitting down on your laurels'."Ramsay was recently spotted in London taking his LaFerrari out for a drive, and a video of him testing out the new 488 GTB was shared by Ferrari on Oct. 16. But in his latest show of love for the prancing horse, he's posing with a stunning blue California T.As for the other ways Ramsay sees himself and Ferrari as being similar, he sees versatility in both parties, as well as "the ability to see what no one else can see and to deliver excellence."See the photos of his trip and video of his 488 GTB test drive below, then find your own Ferrari for your collection from our exclusive listings.Ferraris For Sale Gallery (via Ferrari, YouTube) See More Ferrari News

By Edward Jones – November 06, 2015

Willian and "Driverless" Drifting BMW M3 from Need for Speed

Willian Borges da Silva, known simply as Willian, has been a star of the Chelsea Football Club, especially after his stunning free kick against Dynamo Kyiv. Now, he's taking his skills to the road with the team at Yiannimize, an English automotive aftermarket shop.After the new "Need for Speed" video was released Nov. 3, people have been customizing their virtual cars and racing against competitors across the world. Instead of customizing their car virtually, Willian and Yannimize chose to take a car straight from the video game and create a real-life version of it.The car is a BMW M3 that has been heavily customized, even where you can't see. The exterior is very similar to an M3 featured in "Need for Speed," complete with a massive rear wing.A neat addition that they made for the car is that you can drive it with a controller. In the video included, uploaded to YouTube Nov. 5, you can see Willian drifting the car with just a Playstation 4 controller.Okay, not really, but there is a driver in the back seat, with a separator between him and the front seats. This illusion makes it look like there isn't a driver in the car. And, I must say, Willian does a good job at playing the part of remote remote-control driver.Think you could drive a car from its rear seat? Let us know in the comments below! But don't try it at home. (via YouTube) More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – November 04, 2015

Acura Restores Ludacris' 1993 Legend to Former Glory

Ludacris might be a famous celebrity, but that doesn't mean he doesn't still drive his old 1993 Acura Legend. The reason why this car is so special is because, as he said in a video uploaded by Acura to YouTube on Nov. 3, "this was my first car where I really felt like I had accomplished something in life." Ludacris LegendAs a car that's been on the road for over two decades, accidents happen; the car was damaged when it had 283,000 miles clocked. This is when Acura stepped in and restored the 1993 "Ludacris Legend" to its former glory."Besides being a really cool project for our team, this is a great way to express Acura's passion for performance," said Acura global creative director Dave Marek in a Nov. 3 press release. "Acura has incredibly loyal customers, and this has been a unique opportunity to celebrate their passion and affinity for Acura, and that same love for the brand that Ludacris has showed over the past dozen years."Acura was hard at work for two months restoring the car, updating it with 18-inch Rays wheels, new Bridgestone Potenza High-Performance 215/40R/18 tires, a custom Warm Cashmere and Ice Pearl paint theme, a Pioneer ACIC 8/ONEX sound system, two Alpine Type-12 subwoofers in the trunk and more. Acura also dropped the Legend by two inches to show how low the Legend can go.Talking about his reaction to his Legend restored, Ludacris said, "Seeing the car that has been such a big part of my life brought back to beyond its original condition was a real gift."You can see the car for yourself at SEMA 2015, running from November 3-6.(via Acura) More Acura News

By Edward Jones – November 02, 2015

Floyd Mayweather's Ferrari Enzo to be Auctioned

Floyd Mayweather has been hitting the headlines recently thanks to his multiple multi-million dollar automotive acquirements, including his $3.5 million Bugatti Veyron. Now, his name is in the headlines because of his Ferrari Enzo, which will be auctioned at the RM Sotheby's New York - Driven By Disruption auction Dec. 10.This specific Italian supercar is chassis number 135440 and was the 295th example of the Enzo built. It was purchased by the famous boxer just last year and has only gained an additional 200 miles on its odometer, giving it a total of 560 miles from new. With such a low amount of road use, this is what RM Sotheby's calls in the vehicle's description, "one of the lowest-mileage Enzos known."To keep the car in tip-top shape, it was given its 5,000 miles service this year, where its fluids, oil and air filters were all changed. It comes with service invoices from Ferrari of Beverly Hills, the original seat covers, steering wheel cover, car cover, bags, owner's manuals and tool kit.RM Sotheby's hasn't given an exact estimate yet, but they did happen to auction off the last Enzo ever created for $6,050,000 during their Monterey event. And, we currently have an Enzo listed for $3.85 million by Ferrari Maserati of Newport Beach.Stay with us for more information on this auction as we draw closer to its date.Gallery (via RM Sotheby's) More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – October 30, 2015

Felipe Massa in Jaguar C-X75 from "Spectre" Tears Up Tra...

The supercar created specially for a Bond villain made its debut in the Americas for the first time, tearing up a damp track and showing off every bit of its agility.In celebration of the upcoming Nov. 2 Americas release of "Spectre," the newest Jame Bond movie, Jaguar brought the C-X75 to Mexico City, where F1 driver Felipe Massa of Williams Martini Racing had a chance to get behind the wheel and have some fun ahead of today's start of the Mexico Grand Prix 2015. A press release and YouTube video both shared by Jaguar Oct. 29 give us a look at what this concept is capable of, even when the road is quite damp."It was a thrill to take the wheel of a real stunt car used in a Bond movie," described Massa in the release. "Jaguar partnered with Williams Advanced Engineering on the production of these stunning supercars, so it was great to experience some of what my colleagues have developed outside of F1. It was so much fun, and very exciting to be driving the Jaguar on a SPECTRE filming location here in Mexico City."(See Also: Jaguar F-Pace First Edition: Only 2,000 to be Made)The C-X75 plays the role of super villain ride, with Hinx, played by Dave Bautista, behind the wheel. A few videos showing this incredibly capable Jaguar tearing through the streets of Rome have already been shared, and it sits alongside the Aston Martin DB10 as the supercars of "Spectre."Check out the photos and video below of this insane Jaguar burning up a decent amount of rubber, and find your own Jaguar from our exclusive listings.Jaguars For Sale Gallery (via Jaguar, YouTube) See More Jaguar News

By Edward Jones – October 27, 2015

Floyd Mayweather Buys $3.5 Million Bugatti Veyron

Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the man who plans to have a $30 million car collection, just got closer to his goal. Yesterday, Oct. 26, he shared a picture on his Facebook page of his latest purchase: a $3.498 million Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse from Braman Bugatti Miami. This car also happened to be the cover car of the January 2015 reported $6 million on both an Aston Martin One-77 and Pagani Huayra. After this Veyron and those two supercars, the value of his collection is just a couple million shy of his $30 million goal.For those unfamiliar with the legendary car, the Grand Sport Vitesse enjoys a number of enhanced features over the Grand Sport, including four larger turbochargers, larger air coolers, reduced exhaust gas back pressure and much more. Each of the previously mentioned modifications, along with an adapted drivetrain, work together for a total output of 1,200 hp and 1,106 lb-ft of torque.Original Listing (Source: Facebook) More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – October 26, 2015

Jay Leno Drives James Bond's Aston Martin DB10 from "Spec...

James Bond will be hitting the theaters in his new film "Spectre" come Nov. 6, bringing with him espionage, shaken cocktails and, of course, the spy's cars. The star car of "Spectre" has to be the 2016 Aston Martin DB10 concept car, designed and produced specifically for the film.In the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage, the DB10 made an appearance, along with its designer Mark Reichman, who is also the Chief Creative Officer and Design Director at Aston Martin Lagonda, Ltd.(See Also: Jay Leno Drives the Rare Mercedes-Benz C111 Concept Car)This example was just one of the ten created for the film and includes all of the necessary spy gadgets. Reichman points out that the DB10 has a lot of design aspects that will be seen in future Aston Martin models; I know you want them, but don't expect machine guns on an production model.Check out the video below to see what Jay Leno thinks about Bond's new car of choice. Also, be sure to check out the Aston Martins for sale on duPontREGISTY.com to find your own spy car.(Source: YouTube) More Aston Martin News

By Edward Jones – October 23, 2015

Floyd Mayweather Buying Two Supercars, Aims for $30 Milli...

Famous boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is looking to increase the value of his car collection by a few million with the addition of just two cars.TMZ Sports reported Oct. 21 that Mayweather is very close to acquiring both an Aston Marton One-77 and a Pagani Huayra. According to the article, these cars have a price tag of around $3 million each. But, this multi-million dollar supercar acquisition is just the tip of the iceberg for Mayweather.Sports cars For Sale "Floyd's car collections is worth about $16 million right now and he wants to push it up to $30 million, and the biggest challenge for me is to find him very special unique cars," Obi Okeke, co-owner of Fusion Luxury Motors, told TMZ Sports. "So these two cars I've been working on getting for a while and they showed up in my showroom yesterday."(See Also: Floyd Mayweather Reveals $4.8 Million Koenigsegg Purchase)Yes, you read that correctly: Mayweather wants to essentially double the value of his car collection. And the examples he's about to acquire are stunning; Fusion Luxury Motors shared a few images of them on their Facebook page Oct. 21 and 22, with the caption of one reading, "'LANDED' - ONE-77."What will he purchase after these cars? Who knows, but we know they will be some high-ticket items.(Source: TMZ Sports, Facebook) More Celebrity Car News

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