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 Caitlin Duffy – October 02, 2015

Griff's BMW 633CSi from "Back to the Future Part II"

There's no denying the fact that the "Back to the Future" movies are one of the most iconic movie series to ever be produced.You're hard pressed to find an American who doesn't know that a DeLorean can travel through time at 88 mph, or that only a bolt of lightning could create 1.21 gigawatts of power. But would they know that the car Griff is driving in 2015 is actually a 1976 model?Jeff Chabotte does. And that's because he owns it.Not just the same model, but the actual car used in the filming of "Back to the Future: Part II."In his latest video, added to YouTube today, Chris Rutkowski of TheAficionAUTO spent a little time with Chabotte and his 1976 BMW 633CSi, which is the exact one used to portray a flying car in the filming of the series' second movie. They sat down at Chabotte's home in Connecticut to learn a little more about the movie car and how it came to be in Chabotte's possession, as well as its restoration process. They even go over just how the directors were able to make it fly for the film - it's a much more simple answer than you might expect.(See Also: 5 Best Winter Driving Academies for 2015-2016)In the film, it belonged to local bully Griff Tannen, resident of Hill Valley, California, in October 2015 and grandson of Biff Tannen from the first movie. We see this car when Marty and Doc arrive 30 years in the future from the time they exist in. That date? Oct. 21, 2015.In honor of the arrival of that date, Rutkowski is releasing a video a week documenting cars from the "Back to the Future" series, so be sure to keep an eye on his channel for more. Or, look back a few months, and check out the time he spent with a replica of the DeLorean from the first film - the one that takes 1.21 gigawatts, created by a plutonium based nuclear reaction, to make a leap.Update 10/05/15 - Those who are interested in owning this piece of movie history can submit their bid at the Oct. 24 Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Celebration Auction in Los Angeles. Learn how to register a bid at bttfbid.com.DeLoreans For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More BMW News

By Edward Jones – September 30, 2015

$36 Million Worth of Cars Destroyed for New "Spectre" Film

Update 10/26/2015: Though earlier reports indicated that 7 of the 10 DB10s created for "Spectre" had been destroyed, we have just learned that is not the case. PR Manager for the DB10 tour Mark White has informed us that all 10 are, in fact, still intact, and have not been destroyed.When a crashed exotic car shows up on the internet, you can't help but cringe a little bit at the sight. But, that's just one car. For the new James Bond film "Spectre," around $36 million worth of cars were destroyed, according to a Sept. 26 article from The Daily Mail.The article states that £24 million worth of cars were destroyed for the filming of the movie, which equates to roughly $36 million USD. This number surely includes some Aston Martins, Jaguar and Land Rovers. In fact, seven examples of the Aston Martin DB10 were destroyed. "We set the record for smashing up cars on Spectre," chief stunt coordinator Gary Powell told The Daily Mail. "In Rome, we wrecked millions of pounds worth. They were going into the Vatican at top speeds of 110 mph. We shot one entire night for four seconds of film." The total value of smashed cars is about eight percent of the total cost of the movie, which reached an astonishing £200 million (approx. $302 million USD according to exchange rate at time of publishing). This makes it the most expensive Bond film ever created. To see these cars being destroyed for yourself, "Spectre" will be in movie U.S. movie theaters come Nov. 6. (Source: The Daily Mail via Autoblog) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – September 29, 2015

Three More "Fast & Furious" Movies Announced

The saga of the "Fast & Furious" films has seen the release of seven films and the production of an eighth already beginning, but according to the film's star and producer Vin Diesel, we're in for three more before the series finally taps out."Universal has been so good to me and so trusting of the vision... they have been like family," described the actor/producer in a post to his Facebook page Sept. 25. "I promised the studio I would deliver one last Trilogy to end the saga."More than a million of Diesel's 95.4 million Facebook fans liked, commented on and shared the status, showing overwhelming support for the 14-year old film series. In a second post Sept. 27, Diesel stated that the search for directors for the upcoming three films is still on, though he is "really enjoying this process" and his excitement building. Paul Walker and Vin Diesel | Image courtesy of Vin Diesel's Facebook pageThe first film in the franchise, "The Fast and the Furious," was released in 2001 starring Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto and Paul Walker as Brian O'Conner. Walker, sadly, passed away in 2013 after a devastating car accident involving a Porsche Carrera GT. The accident occurred prior to the completion of filming "Furious 7," the seventh film in the series.(See Also: Chris Brown Buys Lamborghini Aventador SV)Rob Cohen directed the first film, while John Singleton directed the second, Justin Lin directed the third, fourth and sixth and James Wan directed "Furious 7."Stay with us for more news from the automotive as it is released.(Source: Facebook) See More Celebrity Car News

By Edward Jones – September 28, 2015

Chris Brown Buys Lamborghini Aventador SV

Celebrity Chris Brown recently took the first delivery of the Rezvani Beast, an American sports car that can rocket from 0-60 mph in just 2.7 seconds. Now, he has taken delivery of a beast of another name: the Lamborghini Aventador SV.https://instagram.com/p/8Ce4PhvpZU/?taken-by=chrisbrownofficialBrown first posted his new supercar on his Instagram account Friday, Sept. 25. In the picture, his daughter is seated in the driver's seat of the red and black Aventador SV.What's even better than this picture is his post from yesterday, Sept. 27. In this new picture, Brown is seen sitting on the supercar inside of his house, while his daughter's "fun-sized" Aventadors are parked next to the real thing. Who knows, maybe when she's 16 she will be driving around in the real thing.https://instagram.com/p/8IOrBcPpVW/?taken-by=chrisbrownofficialFor those wondering, the full name for the car is the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce. It comes packing a 6.5-liter V12 engine that generates 750 hp and 509 lb-ft. Mated to the engine is a 7-speed automatic transmission, which will rocket the car from 0-62 mph 2.8 seconds and 0-124 mph in 8.6 seconds. Its top speed is said to be over 217 mph. Aventadors For Sale(Source: Instagram via TheSupercarKids.com) See More Celebrity Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – September 24, 2015

Tyson Fury Arrives in Aventador Dressed as Batman for Pre...

If there's one way to draw attention to your upcoming boxing match, it's showing up at a press conference in a bright yellow Lamborghini Aventador while dressed as Batman.Heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury tested that theory and proved it right, when he arrived at a Sept. 23 press conference in just that fashion Sept. 23. The room of reporters in London was pleasantly bemused as Fury jogged through the door, ran a lap around the crowd and then took his seat at the table, preparing to discuss his upcoming Oct. 24 fight against Wladimir Klitschko.In a video posted to YouTube Sept. 23 by iFL TV, you can see Fury, 27, stepping out of the Aventador before heading into the building, saying calmly, "Who called Batman? Got a call from Gotham City, I'm here."After he sat down at the table, he jumped back up when a man dressed as the Joker arrived, and a short scuffle ensued. As we can see in another video, shared in a Sept. 23 BBC article, he proceeded to throw out a few taunts at Klitschko before changing into a suit for the rest of the panel.(See Also: James Bond's New Jaguar and Land Rovers for "Spectre" Revealed)Check out Fury's unique arrival in the video above, and find your own Aventador for when you need to arrive in the same fashion from our exclusive listings below.Aventadors For Sale (Source: YouTube, BBC Sports) See More Celebrity Car News

By Andrew Nabors – September 16, 2015

James Bond's New Jaguar and Land Rovers for "Spectre" Rev...

When MI6 needs specialized vehicles, normally they turn to agent Q. But for the latest film in the James Bond film "Spectre," the filmmakers turned to Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. In a Sept. 15 press release marking the opening of the Frankfurt Auto Show (IAA), the British automakers detailed their cars being utilized in the upcoming spy film.Bond’s arch nemesis Hinx, played by actor David Bautista, will be seen behind the wheel of a Jaguar C-X75 supercar concept."To have the opportunity to be a part of an iconic chase scene in a Bond movie and to drive the C-X75 supercar was like a dream come true for me," said Bautista in the press release. "It truly is a beautiful beast of a car that will go down in movie history."(See Also: Rickie Fowler Shows Off Orange G63 AMG)Iconic Land Rover Defenders were equipped with 37-inch all-terrain tires, HID auxiliary lighting, roof racks and many other rugged accessories for the film. Naomie Harris, who returns as Monneypenny, defended her adoration for the classic SUV in the release."I made my Bond debut in the Defender, and I have so many fond memories shooting that sequence in Turkey," she stated. "It's such a special franchise to be a part of, and I'm thrilled to be here in Frankfurt with the Jaguar Land Rover team". Hinx's car in front and Hinx's accomplices in the two cars behindLast but not least is the incredible Range Rover Sport SVR. With a supercharged V8 making 550 hp, it probably didn’t require too many modifications for filming.The unveiling took place at Thurn und Taxis in Frankfurt, where guests were treated to live music by British recording artist John Newman. The press release also promised more updates and videos through Jaguar and Land Rover’s social media channels ahead of the film’s release in October. So, be sure to check back with us at Autofluence, your source for the vehicles of Her Majesty’s Secret Service.Gallery (Source: Jaguar Land Rover) See More Celebrity Cars News

By Edward Jones – September 16, 2015

Rickie Fowler Shows Off Orange G63 AMG

Now that College Football season is back, televisions, phones, computers and tablets are all tuning in to watch their favorite schools battle it out on the field. One person who is most definitely excited about College Football's return is professional golfer Rickie Fowler.On Fowler's Instagram account, you can see him sporting orange clothing, the same orange of the college he attended, Oklahoma State University. While he could just wear the clothing to support his alma matter, he decided to take it a step further and finish his Mercedes-AMG G63 in "Cowboy Orange." According a September 15 article from Bold Ride, this finish perfectly matches the university's colors.https://instagram.com/p/7n7bt2wu5k/Fowler showed off his G63 in Instagram posts Sept. 11 and 15, where it sat on the tarmac in front of a jet. His destination? Lake Forest, Illinois for the BMW Championship. For this tournament, Fowler (No. 3), has been grouped with Jason Day (No. 1) and Jordan Spieth (No. 2), making for an exciting group that needs to be watched.Be sure to watch the BMW Championship, starting Sept. 17 11:30 am EST, to see him in action.G63 AMGs For Sale(Source: Instagram via BoldRide.com) See More Celebrity Car News

By Andrew Nabors – September 08, 2015

New Batmobile Arrives at Warner Bros. Studio

When it comes to exotic cars, the Caped Crusader has sported a variety of rides over the past half century. It will be hard to follow the Batmobile from The Dark Knight trilogy, but the latest version from the upcoming movie "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is an imposing automobile.To build anticipation for the upcoming blockbuster, Warner Brothers uploaded a video to their Studio Tour Hollywood YouTube page on Sept. 3 of the new Batmobile arriving. For a limited time it will be part of the backstage tour alongside Batmobiles of the past.Listen closely and you will hear a common soundtrack, as Wayne Enterprises seems to prefer a Chevy engine for motivation, according to a Nov. 11, 2014 article from ComicBook.com. The radical design seems to to resemble an agile all terrain vehicle with a fully independent suspension, but it appears to be rear drive only with a solid axle. That would make sense due to the costs of building multiple versions for filming.It will be on display until the end of the year, and the film is set to be released March 25, 2016. Stay tuned to Autofluence as more details become available. Which is your favorite Batmobile? Let us know in the comments below.(Source: YouTube, ComicBook.com) See More Celebrity Cars

By Edward Jones – September 03, 2015

Google Exec.'s Wife Races Ferrari FXX K at Spa

Back on August 27, it came to our attention that Benjamin Sloss, a Google executive, purchased a Ferrari FXX K for his wife, Christine, on her birthday. He surprised her by taking her to Fiorano, where he said they would be racing this 599XX. Upon arrival, he presented her with a yellow and black FXX K. She wasted no time and took the race car onto the track, hitting lap times close to the track record.Now, the two have travelled to Belgium with their two super race cars to take on the Circuit of Spa Francorchamps. In a video uploaded to YouTube today by yd222, we get to see Christine's FXX K in action on the legendary race track. We don't get to see who is actually driving, but considering who it belongs to, we can assume it's her behind the wheel. And, needless to say, she's got the skills.As the extreme Italian race car flies through the 4.352 mile race track, you can hear the heart-stopping gear changes and F1-style roar of the engine as it goes flat-out on the straights. Check out the video below to hear and see it all for yourself.Gallery (Source: YouTube, Ferrari) See More Ferrari News, Pics and Videos

By Edward Jones – August 28, 2015

Mark Webber Gets One-Off Porsche 918 Spyder

Professional race car driver Mark Webber is no stranger to extremely fast cars, considering he races LMP1 cars for Porsche. This is why he's going to feel right at home in the Porsche 918 Spyder he just got himself for his 39th birthday.(Related: “Acid Green” Porsche 918 Spyder Looking for New Owner) Being such a prized racer for Porsche, of course he was going to get a special example of the German hypercar. His new 918 Spyder, #605, is a one-off model customized exactly to his tastes, according to an Aug. 27 press release from Porsche. The car features the red and white exterior paintwork in the "Salzburg Design," while the interior has been specially upgraded with a mostly black cabin and contrasting white piping.While he will get to enjoy his free time in the 918 Spyder, he also has a job to do in his Porsche 919 Hybrid race car. In fact, he will be racing this weekend at the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Nürburgring event. We wish him the best of luck.Gallery (Source: Porsche) See More Celebrity Car News, Pics and Videos

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