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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 – June 10, 2015

The New Batmobile Has Officially Been Unveiled

Yesterday, June 9, at the Licensing Expo 2015, Warner Bros. Consumer Products held the exclusive public unveiling of the new Batmobile featured in the upcoming film "Batman v Superman."(Related: Suicide Squad: Batman Caught Riding on Joker’s Car)According to a release issued to us by WBCP, this Batmobile is the "apex predator on the mean streets of Gotham City." It comes packing prototype military and civilian performance technologies, allowing it to reach a top speed of 205 mph.Here are some amazing features that this Batmobile packs: Comes with a twin.50 caliber retractable machine gun turret Full armored Active Protection Systems/Anti-ballistics 20-feet long, 12-feet wide 7,000 lbs If this isn't enough to satisfy your Batmobile needs, don't worry, the movie is scheduled for release on March 25, 2016.Gallery (Source: Warner Bros. Consumer Products)

By Caitlin Duffy – June 10, 2015

Steve McQueen's Porsche 911 Turbo Being Auctioned Off

Steve McQueen is a name all automotive enthusiasts are familiar with. His love and passion for all things mechanical, as well as roles in monumental movies for cars in cinema, have pushed his name to the status of legend, and now you can own a piece of that legendary history.The very last special order Porsche he ever ordered is set to cross the block at Mecum Auctions' Monterey 2015 event Aug. 13-15, and it is in stunning condition. A 1976 Porsche 911 Turbo, also known as the 930, with a rare, early production, non-intercooled, 3.0-liter engine, and from Mecum's video detailing its history, its driving experience is one that will stay with you forever.Porsche 911 Turbo For Sale The Slate Gray color was a special order from McQueen, but he still took to it with his own hands to add a few more things. 8" wheels in the front and 9" wheels in the back were added by him, as was a kill switch for the rear lights. Found on the dashboard, it was added to give him extra cover in case he was being chased on Mulholland Drive. You can check out his route down the road in our April 10 article.A portion of the auction's proceeds will be donated to The Boys Republic, a non-profit for troubled youngsters that McQueen credits with turning his life around. You can learn more about that and his 1946 graduation from the center in the video above.Take a moment to browse the photos of this car, and visit the listing page by hitting the button below.View Listing Gallery (Source: Mecum Auctions, YouTube) See More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – June 09, 2015

Deadmau5 Revs His McLaren P1 After Gumball 3000

Famous producer Deadmau5 has just finished taking his McLaren P1 on the Gumball 3000 rally, but that doesn't mean he's going to sit around and let the hypercar collect dust.(Related: Tesla P85D Insane Mode Coffee Run With Deadmau5)He posted a video to Instagram June 8 that shares a shot of his P1's engine revving to a high point. The video also gives us another look at one of the best license plates to grace McLaren's hypercar.Check out the video below to hear his call in all of its glory.https://instagram.com/p/3sIqbmuxzZ/ Buy This P1(Source: Instagram) Click Here For More Celebrity Cars

By Caitlin Duffy – June 09, 2015

Rowan Atkinson Sells Famed McLaren F1

With 41,000 miles on the odometer, two crashes and a 17 year life span, Rowan Atkinson's McLaren F1 has sold to an unnamed buyer from the United Kingdom.Though it's not clear precisely what the selling price of this car was, it was first listed for sale in January at approximately £8 million, or $12,245,520 USD at the current exchange rate. But, as The Sun reported June 10, it's estimated to be very close, if not more than, the asking price. Photo by: Tim ScottDavid Clark, a specialist car dealer who first sold the car to Atkinson, spoke with The Sun, saying, "It is one of the biggest ever deals in the UK. Rowan is pleased, but also maybe a bit sad as he did 40,000 miles in it."Atkinson was unabashedly open about his use of the F1 as a daily driver, and his preference for taking it slow - in a Jan. 23 article for the Telegraph Cars, he was quoted as saying, "To pootle is a pleasure." Photo by: Tim Scott"Of course I've gone to a track and done 200 mph in it, but for me it was always the vision of its designer Gordon Murray that made the F1 unique."(See Also: Chris Brown's "The Dark Knight" Matte Black Aventador)As there were quite a few offers made on the car, we can safely believe that the new owner will enjoy and car for this piece of McLaren history. As one of only 107 created, it's a rare car indeed, but thanks to its history, owner and time spent being loved, it has truly become unique.Take a moment to check out the photos of Atkinson and his car, courtesy of Tim Scott, then browse our exclusive listings of McLarens at the button below and find your own supercar to love.McLarens For SaleGallery (Image Source: Tim Scott | Instagram | Website) (Source: The Sun, Telegraph Cars) See More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – June 08, 2015

Chris Brown's "The Dark Knight" Matte Black Aventador

Chris Brown is familiar with changing up the appearance of his Lamborghini Aventadors, yet his latest work may be his best. Starting June 3, Brown and JC Customz began posting pictures of his Aventador and began referring to it by its new name: "The Dark Knight."(See More Celebrity Cars)It gets its name from a matte black wrap that mimics Batman's suit. Contrasting against the dark wrap are a set of golden Savini wheels. There is no denying that this is an amazing car.Check out the images below and let us know what you think in the comments below.Aventadors For Salehttps://instagram.com/p/3fTItbvpeC/https://instagram.com/p/3fiFLEvpUm/https://instagram.com/p/3hv6u7hV66/https://instagram.com/p/3iJnsjvpYb/https://instagram.com/p/3jH68tPpRc/https://instagram.com/p/3mdDnPBV_H/(Source: Instagram)

By Caitlin Duffy – June 05, 2015

Keanu Reeves Drives a Ferrari 488 GTB During Maranello Visit

He's blasted through time, taken Joan of Arc to the mall and destroyed the Matrix, but he hasn't driven Ferrari's powerful turbocharged beast - until now. And yes, he chose the red one.In a video posted to Ferrari's YouTube channel today, we get to see Keanu Reeves himself take a 488 GTB out on the track during a visit to Maranello. He took his first trip around in the passenger seat, then had a chance to switch it up and get behind the wheel for a turn.“It’s a car you instantly feel an incredible synergy with,” he's quoted as saying in an article on Ferrari's News site about the visit. “It’s like it’s tailored around you, an extension of your body and your mind. There’s no doubt about it: Ferrari is the dream…”He received a full tour of the facilities at Ferrari's headquarters, including trips to the assembly lines, Classiche Department, GES building and more before ending his trip with a test drive of the California.(See Also: Four Ferrari FXX Ks Tear Up the Imola Circuit at Once)Check out the photos from his visit below, then take a moment to check out our exclusive listings of Ferraris for sale, and find yourself a California to see what Keanu's day was like.View Ferraris For Sale Gallery (Source: Ferrari, YouTube) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 03, 2015

William Shatner's Rivet Motorcycle Cross-Country Journey ...

The legend himself is embarking on an eight-day journey across the United States, and a first-of-its-kind creation is carrying him safely from destination to destination.We are, of course, talking about William Shatner and his cross-country road trip on the Rivet motorycle, the creation resulting from Shatner's partnering with American Wrench. First announced in December of last year, the Rivet is the result of a long existing desire to take a motorcycle across the nation.“I’ve been across this country on my thumb, in sports cars, in trucks, with a dog, with a family, but I’ve never been across the country in a motorcycle,” says Shatner in the Vimeo video that first unveiled the project. But the right motorcycle for the job never appeared, so he and American Wrench set out to create it.A June 1 press release from American Wrench has announced that this three-wheeled motorcycle is now complete, and the countdown to Shatner's journey has begun. Slated to start June 23 in Chicago, the ride will cover approximately 2,400 miles before ending in Los Angeles, with plenty of stops along the way.(See Also: World's Fastest Hyperbike (Kawasaki H2R) vs. Veyron, 12C and 1,350 hp GT-R)Shatner will be joined in his drive by members of The American Legion Riders and the team at American Wrench, and their stops in cities like St. Louis, Kansas, Amarillo, Flagstaff and more will all provide opportunities for Legion members to meet William and for the public to see this revolutionary bike.Inspired by a B-17 bomber, the Rivet motorcycle is powered by a powerful V8 - one that can create upwards of 500 hp, as Shatner said to Gizmag in an April 8 article. Be sure to stay with us for more updates from this trip as they are released, and keep an eye on their journey for your chance to see the Rivet in person.(Source: American Wrench, Gizmag) See More Motorcycle News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 02, 2015

Jay Leno Checks Out Nissan's GT-R LM NISMO

Jay Leno is no stranger to rare, powerful and intriguing vehicles, and the special guest on the latest episode of "Jay Leno's Garage" is no exception.Nissan Chief Engineer Zack Eakin brought by the new Nissan GT-R LM Nismo, the marque's entry for the 2015 24-Hours of Le Mans, which begins June 13. Uploaded to YouTube May 31, the episode shows Leno and Eakin talking through the finer points of design, the rules of competition and the reasoning behind a few key cut outs.Nissan has regularly been testing this new GT-R LM Nismo, and as a May 31 release from the manufacturer tells us, they have "three GT-R LM NISMO vehicles, nine drivers and ever faster lap times" that they are bringing to the table. An interesting note about this particular car that Leno points out is the fact that it is a front-wheel-drive vehicle, while Le Mans cars are typical rear-wheel-drive.Want to find out why they decided to go with the front instead? Watch the video above to find out, then browse through the gallery below to get a better look at this new monster for Le Mans.Gallery (Source: YouTube, Nissan) See More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – June 02, 2015

Suicide Squad: Batman Caught Riding on Joker's Car

The movie "Suicide Squad," set for release on August 5, 2016, is changing the way we currently look at the Batman movies. Starring Ben Affleck as Batman, Jared Leto as the Joker, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Deadshot and various other famous actors and actresses, this film will be star-studded and full of villains.(More Celebrity Cars)Batman, Joker and Harley Quinn were recently caught in action during a filming session for the movie on the streets by Summer Leigh. The Toronto-based photographer caught Batman riding on top of Joker's car, a G35 customized by Vaydor, with Harley in the passenger seat.Check out the images to get the best look yet at Joker's new ride in Suicide Squad. And be sure to check out Leigh's Instagram and Twitter accounts for more amazing pics like these.Gallery (Source: Summer Leigh via Autoblog)

By Caitlin Duffy – May 28, 2015

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Season 6 Starts June 3

It's hard to improve upon the perfection that is a combination of fine cars and finer coffee, but for six seasons now, Jerry Seinfeld has done just that by throwing comedy into the mix.Since its launch in July 2012, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" has seen conversations between Seinfeld, a well-recognized collector of fine cars, and the world's top comedians take place in history's top cars and the country's iconic diners. From Larry David, to Ricky Gervais, to Amy Schumer, he's gotten to know them while pairing them with a classic car, and it's all cropped into 17 minute segments for us to enjoy online. Season six is set to kick off on June 3, and from the preview video posted to ComediansInCarsGettingCoffee.com and Crackle's YouTube channel May 26, we can look forward to both established and new comedians sharing tid bits of their life, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stephen Colbert and Noah Trevor. We'll even get to see a bearded Jim Carrey enjoying some time in a Lamborghini Countach. (See Also: Andrew Johnston Wins BMW M4 Coupe for Hole-In-One) Check out the preview for this new season in the video above, then browse through our exclusive listings of classic, exotic and luxury cars for sale to find the ride that you'd like to get coffee with Jerry in. Browse Listings (Source: ComediansInCarsGettingCoffee.com) See More Celebrity Car News

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