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 – January 04, 2017

Antonio Brown Wins Brandon Marshall's Bet for Porsche

Before the 2016-17 NFL season started, Brandon Marshall bet Antonio Brown that he would get more receiving yards this season. Whoever loses would have to give up their car, either Brown's Rolls-Royce Wraith or Marshall's Porsche 911 GT3. Well, with one game left, Marshall is sitting with 788 yards while Brown has 1,284.(Also Check Out - Lionel Messi's Custom Maserati For Sale)That means, unless Marshall can pull off a record game, Brown has won the wager. So, will he collect the 911 GT3? Probably not, but he does have the option of giving the car to Project 375, a charity cofounded by Marshall that raises awareness for mental health.I'd like to congratulate Brown on a terrific season, though I'm no Steelers fan and Marshall for helping those in need.Sports Cars For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BOmyWl7jVzX/?taken-by=ab

By Edward Jones – January 04, 2017

Lionel Messi's Custom Maserati For Sale

Lionel Messi is regarded as one of the greatest soccer/football players to ever live, and that's probably because...he is. Over the course of his career, he's scored well over 500 goals and has won the Ballon d'Or, Fifa World Player of the Year and many "golden" awards. Because of his success, he's accrued quite a bit of money and has used that cash to purchase cars like a Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale that's currently for sale. Listed on mobile.de, this custom Italian sports car has been modified per Messi. It started off life with a white exterior, but has since been painted matte black with red accents. Inside the car is a black Alcantara interior that looks untouched and remains stock. Lionel Messi Car Collection :: MUST READ The car is currently listed at €119,900, which translates to roughly $125,000 USD at today's current exchange rate. For that price, you get a 4.7-liter V8-powered car, capable of 444 hp and it carries the name of a soccer legend in its history.

By Edward Jones – January 03, 2017

The Rock Buys His Dad a New Ford Explorer for Christmas

If you look at when Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson first started his wrestling career, you never would've guessed that he would turn out to be one of the coolest celebrities to grace the big screen. Not only is he down to Earth and great to his fans, The Rock is also just a plain old good guy.(Also Check Out - The Rock Arrives to "Ballers" Premiere in Custom Pagani Huayra)For instance, on Christmas, The Rock surprised his dad with a brand new Ford Explorer. While the gift alone is tremendous, it's the story about his dad's past that really brings it all home. Directly below is the Instagram post The Rock made that details his father's upbringing.https://www.instagram.com/p/BOpqezLDd6K/That's rough.But even without asking, The Rock got his pops a new ride and treated him to an epic Christmas day. Hats off to you, The Rock, and to your father for raising such a stand-up son.And, what's more, this isn't the first time he's bought a car for family. Carscoops dug up an Instagram post from The Rock from last Christmas where he talks about the truck he bought his Uncle Tonga.https://www.instagram.com/p/_z5xuyohyY/

By Edward Jones – January 03, 2017

Kermit the Frog's Epic Lamborghini Aventador SV

Kermit the Frog owns a Lamborghini Aventador SV. If you didn't know this fact, now you do. In a new video from TheSUPERCARDRIVER, Kermit is interviewed about his new supercar.(Also Check Out - Lamborghini Aventador S Revealed: More Power and Four-Wheel Steering)Fittingly enough, his Lamborghini is finished in a green "Verde Scandal," and it's actually the only Aventador SV finished in this color in the U.K. The celebrity amphibian notes that his passion for the Italian automaker came from a poster of a Countach that he owned when he was a "frog spawn." Remember how I noted yesterday that a lot of automotive enthusiasts owned a posted of the Countach at some point? Here ya go. He then goes on to note how his car has a few slight modifications and that he purchased the car after a friend rolled his Gallardo.Yes, this entire video is in jest, and while the driver may be fictional, the car is not. Check it out below to see Kermit's supercar.All Lamborghini Aventador SV For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 22, 2016

Ken Block Catches Air and Goes Wild in the New 2017 Ford ...

The new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor is the most anticipated version of the truck since it was released. With impeccable suspension and a hearty powerhouse, it's going to be a mental truck.The new Raptor will see its EcoBoost engine creating 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. These power figures are much higher than the V8’s rating of 411 hp and 434 lb-ft of torque.(Also Check Out - Ken Block Drifts and Tears Through London, Extended Cut)To show all of this power off, Ken Block took the truck out to some fresh snow and did what he does best: go absolutely nuts. He took the truck sideways, utilized the suspension to its fullest extent and even caught some air. Check out the video below to see what the new truck is capable of in the white stuff.All Ford F-150 For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 22, 2016

Jay Leno Surprises Wounded Veteran With a New Fiat

There are Americans out there that have sacrificed their lives and bodies on the battlefield, leaving them wounded for the rest of their lives. One such American is Stephanie Morris, an American hero that survived two RPGs being fired at her. Though she survived, she did end up losing part of her leg as a result of the blast. Since then, she has kept her spirits high and a smile on her face.(Also Read - Jay Leno Teaches Brad Paisley How to Burnout in a 2017 Camaro ZL1)To give back to Morris, a Purple Heart recipient, Jay Leno took her out for a spin in a new Fiat 124 Spider. After taking her out, he let her take the wheel as they made their way to George Washington's house. It was here that they visited the Purple Heart Memorial and had a serious heart-to-heart moment.When they left, Jay surprised her with her brother, mother and nephew, and her brand new ride: the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. Check out the video below to see the touching moment for yourself.All Fiats For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 14, 2016

Conor McGregor Shows Off His "Mutant" Lamborghini Aventador

The Notorious Conor McGregor is now the first UFC fighter to hold titles in two different division at the same time. After his victory against Eddie Alvarez, he has spent his days relishing his champion status by living in luxury. His latest luxurious purchase was his Lamborghini Aventador that he calls "The Mutant".Images of his new Italian ride first surfaced on his Instagram profile. In the images, the car can be seen parked between his Rolls-Royce Ghost and Cadillac Escalade. In one image, he put this into the description: "motivation and inspiration to all of you guys! ☺️ I hope you guys join me on my transformation and have a good morning!" When talking about transformation, could it have to do with the boxing license he recently acquired? All I know is that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is having none of it and even threatened to slap McGregor. Uh oh, trouble is brewing in the fighting world.Congratulations to McGregor on his latest addition to his car collection.All Lamborghini Aventador For Salehttps://www.instagram.com/p/BN8bh6Ihiko/https://www.instagram.com/p/BN_ShpJhroJ/

By Andrew Nabors – December 13, 2016

Jay Kay's LaFerrari in Mysterious Pure Electric Mode

You wanted proof and we have found it. The LaFerrari is capable of cruising around without awakening the V12 engine. McLaren and Porsche are clear to state their hybrid hypercars have EV mode, but Maranello has been mum on the subject. Officially the 163 hp electric motor is not programmed to operate independently, but many enthusiasts believe dealers have updated the software for certain owners. Musician Jay Kay has obtained the cheat code for electric mode as it was spotted by TheTTFJ being loaded at Joe Macari Performance Cars.McLaren's P1 has an electric range of 19 miles and the Porsche 918 is rated at 18 miles. The primary motor/generator is connected to one of the main shafts of the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, and the smaller secondary unit is on the front of the engine in line with the accessory drive. We're not sure how far the lithium-ion batteries could take you, so if anyone would like to loan me their LaFerrari, I will bring it back with a full tank of Florida's finest ethanol diluted 87 octane.If you find yourself near London, Joe Macari has an inventory that will take your breath away.All LaFerrari For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 12, 2016

"The Fate of the Furious" Trailer Brings the Insanity

Remember the days back when "The Fast and the Furious" was all about tuning cars and winning pink slips? Well, we've come a long way, because the latest film in the automotive movie series is absolute insanity.(Related - Could Paul Walker's Character Make a Comeback in Fast & Furious?)Being called "The Fate of the Furious", the new films sees one of the biggest stars (Dom) turning on his friends. Is he being controlled by someone? What's going on? The exact details are unknown, but we do know that Charlize Theron makes quite an awesome villain. In the first official trailer for the film, we get to see Dom turning on his friends, epic car chases and gratuitous action.Also, check out the image above. See that orange Supra? That might just be an homage to the late Paul Walker and the Supra he drove in the movies.How will the movie turn out? What the heck is up with Dom? We'll find out on April 14, 2017 when the film is released. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

By Edward Jones – December 09, 2016

Ken Block Drifts and Tears Through London, Extended Cut

Whenever you're out doing as tourists do in strange lands, you always look for the greatest sights to see. Whether it's one of the world's greatest wonders or a shop that has the best food, we always go out of our way to see the sights. Typically, this involves a guidebook or a tour guide. For Matt LeBlanc, it involved a guidebook, Ken Block and his Hoonicorn.(Related - Ken Block's Gymkhana Eight Tears Through Dubai)BBC essentially shutdown some of the biggest roads and attractions in London to provide a clear path for Ken Block to tear through in his 1,400 hp Mustang. They journeyed by St. Paul's Cathedral, went into the underground and even waved hello to the Queen. Their trip was pretty incredible, causing my heart to skip a beat a couple of times. Check it the extended cut of the video by clicking play below and get ready, because it sounds like the two are going to do this again, but somewhere else.Exotic Cars For Sale

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