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 Andrew Nabors – May 15, 2018

Jay Leno Drives Toyota Supra With Paul Walker's Brother

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

By Edward Jones – May 11, 2018

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

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

By Andrew Nabors – May 10, 2018

Magnus Walker's Porsche 924 Carrera GT by Petrolicious

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

By Edward Jones – May 10, 2018

Kevin Hart Shows Off How He Gets In His Big Bronco

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

By Edward Jones – April 27, 2018

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

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

By Edward Jones – April 26, 2018

Pro Drifts a Ford Raptor Around Nurburgring

Vaughn Gittin Jr. is one of Ford's poster boys when it comes to drifting. He can typically be found drifting his Mustang RTR on circuits across the globe. For one of his latest outings, he and Ford Performance wandered over to the Nurburgring for some fun sideways times in the Mustang RTR. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for them and decided to cover the road in the rain.Vaughn Gittin Jr. Tests Out His New 900 hp Mustang RTRThankfully, Gittin Jr. and Ford Performance came prepared with a new F-150 Raptor truck. You'd expect that at this point I'd tell you they did some off-roading, but no. We're talking about Vaughn Gittin Jr. here! Of course he had to take the truck around the course in a sideways manner, sliding the massive truck around every corner. Check out the action for yourself in the video below and see how a professional drifter can make the best out of a crappy situation.

By Edward Jones – April 24, 2018

Maria Sharapova & Mark Webber Test the Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Maria Sharapova is a Grand Slam winning tennis champion. Mark Webber is a race car driver. What do both of these celebrity athletes have in common? Porsche. Sharapova is a Porsche brand ambassador, while Webber is a former Porsche works driver.The two recently met up at the Porsche Development Center in Weissach for test drives in the new 911 GT2 RS. Each were given time behind the wheel of the most powerful 911 of all time and seemed to enjoy scaring the heck out of each other. It's not that hard to scare someone in the passenger seat of a car that's capable of producing 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, especially when that car can take corners as tight as a race car. Check out their hilarious reactions in the video below.2018 Porsche GT2 RS Price & Specs About the Porsche 911 GT2 RSThe new Porsche 911 GT2 RS is the German automaker's most powerful 911 model. It comes packing the same twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine found in the 911 Turbo S. This engine produces 700 hp an 553 lb-ft of torque. Aiding the power is a customized GT seven-speed double-clutch Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK). Put this car to the test and it will run 0-60 mph in just 2.7 seconds. As for weight, it tips the scales at 3,241 lbs, but the Weissach package can drop that amount by 40 lbs. The 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS is available to order with a base MSRP of $293,200, not including the $1,050 delivery fee.

By Edward Jones – April 13, 2018

Jamie Foxx's Rezvani Tank Heading to Jay Leno's Garage

Jay Leno's celebrity status means he has many friends in high places. He has spent decades interviewing celebrities and thanks to his relationship with many, he brings them on to his show "Jay Leno's Garage." One celebrity that's set to make an appearance on his show in the coming weeks is Jamie Foxx. Foxx is known for his car collection, which even includes a Bugatti Veyron. But he also has another vehicle that literally puts him as a celebrity in a high place: the Rezvani Tank. This massive SUV towers over others with its tall stature and wide stance. Jay Leno is set to host both Foxx and his tank for the season premiere of "Jay Leno's Garage," which s set to debut on April 19th. Be sure to tune in and learn all about Foxx's wicked Tank. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhgf5_ZhpOX/

By Andrew Nabors – April 10, 2018

Gucci Mane & His New Ferrari 812 Superfast

If you want the latest in Supercars, Ferrari is beginning to deliver the 812 Superfast. As the Heir Apparent to the F12tdf, it is priced well above $500,000. It arrives with 789 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque- along with a 3-year waiting list. You could wait in line to order yours, or have it delivered factory-fresh if your name is Gucci Mane. Ferrari 812 Superfast Reveal – Ferrari of Newport Beach He wanted the best, so he knew who to call. Our friend Obe Okeke, who is known professionally as Dr. Bugatti to the Rich & Famous, has a knack for cutting through red tape. As corroborated by TMZ, he used his patented methods to allow Gucci's new Ferrari 812 Superfast reach the customer ahead of many others. If this comes down to loading the car on an overnight flight from Maranello, he is the king of beating the industry to keep his celebrity clients coming back. Gucci Mane's New Daily Driver This is the same level of service he offers to Floyd Mayweather among other noteworthy celebs. There is a price to be paid to jump over every other collector and dealer waiting in line. If it is to be paid in scorn from Ferrari aficionados or from auction bidders is something we will address in a decade or two. As the next evolution of the F12berlinetta, it packs a 6.5 liter V12 along with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. As for now, we hope your Ferrari 812 Superfast arrives soon because ours is on the way! Until then, take a look at our F12tdf selection for a great deal! Guwop copped the #GuRRarri #812SuperFast if I don’t get it first I don’t want it??‍♂️#EvilGenius A post shared by Gucci Mane (@laflare1017) on Apr 8, 2018 at 9:15am PDT

By Edward Jones – April 06, 2018

Manny Khoshbin's Hermes Pagani Huayra

Manny Khoshbin is the owner of a Lamborghini Aventador SV, Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren P1, Bugatti Veyrons, Porsche Carrera GT and now a one-off Pagani Huayra. (Related - 11 Paganis and an LED Lamborghini Shut Down Japanese Car Show) This new Huayra was unveiled on Khoshbin's Instagram profile where he gave a better description of the car. In one post, he says it's a completely one-off car that was designed by both Pagani and luxury brand Hermes. This is actually the first time that Pagani has done a co-design with a luxury grand. Additionally, this is one of the last Huayra to be made. As for its hardware, the Hermes Huayra has new aerodynamics, suspension, exhaust and larger wheels. Inside is Hermes-developed leather with matching leather bags, H-pattern outer aeration grills and more. The Hermes Pagani Huayra is just the latest purchase made by Khoshbin and I'm sure there will be plenty more. All Pagani For Sale https://www.instagram.com/p/BM91sOlBaJF/

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