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 – July 05, 2017

Josh Cartu Does LaFerrari Aperta Donuts in Traffic

Being a Ferrari race driver and a Ferrari club president, Josh Cartu is very well versed when it comes to driving a Ferrari. He put some of his skills on display during the 2017 Budapest Gumball 3000 Rally while behind the wheel of a new LaFerrari Aperta.In the middle of traffic, with Afrojack in the passenger seat, Cartu spun up some donuts for the nearby crowds. Now is the point of the article where I say that we do not encourage any of our readers to either do donuts in traffic, or do donuts this close to crowds. Always follow local traffic laws!Blue LaFerrari Delivered at Miller MotorcarsThat being said, the sound that this LaFerrari puts off is incredible. Immediately after the donuts, the crowd surrounded the Italian hypercar and Cartu let out some extra revs for them. The scene was pure chaos. Click play below to see the donuts for yourself and see just how close the crowd was to the new Ferrari!

By Edward Jones – June 30, 2017

Spider-Man Shows Up in Secret Audi

For the world premiere of 'Spider-Man: Homecoming', the actor who portrays the webslinging hero arrived in a magnificent fashion. His chariot for the night was a disguised version of the upcoming Audi A8 model.Prototype Audis are usually covered in a camouflage that consists of white and black swirls, but this was a special occasion. Instead of it appearing in a typical camo, Audi's Technical Development team created a special camo foil patter that incorporates spider webs on the doors and in the signature rings.Those wanting to get a closer look at the new A8 can actually see it in action during 'Spider-Man: Homecoming.' The front and sides of the car are on display, as is the Audi AI Traffic Jam Pilot.Also, if you've seen the trailers for the new Spider-Man film, you know that Iron Man plays a big role. So, naturally Tony Stark showed up to the premiere in a new black Audi R8 Spyder.Audi will be officially unveiling the new A8 on July 11, 2017 at the Audi Summit in Barcelona.

By Edward Jones – June 26, 2017

Jon Olsson's New Rolls-Royce Wraith is The Sickest You'll...

Introducing, George the Rolls. Who is George the Rolls? Well, that would be Jon Olsson's brand-new Rolls-Royce Wraith that has been modified to become the most insane British luxury car you've ever seen. No joke.In true Jon Olsson fashion, George is covered in a black, grey and white camo scheme. The paint may not be surprising when you consider who it belongs to, but just about everything else is. In the front of the Wraith are two massive LED lights mounted in the grille, while another four extra lights are mounted on the roof. Right behind these lights is a roof rack that's held down by magnets. It should also be mentioned that Olsson had the power ramped up to 810 horsepower via undisclosed engine modifications.For more images and information, be sure to visit Jon-Olsson.com.

By Edward Jones – June 21, 2017

Spider-Man Learns to Drive in Iron Man's Audi

On July 7, 2017, the world will get a whole new look at Spider-Man...again. On that day, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" will release in theaters worldwide and we'll see how Tom Holland as the web-slinging hero for longer than a cameo.From all of the trailers and snippets I've seen of Hollands as Spider-Man, I can say that I'm genuinely excited for the new movie. A great example of Holland's portrayal as Peter Parker comes from Audi and their "Driver's Test" video they released on YouTube. In the video we see just how Parker handles a driver's test while driving Tony Stark's "prototype Audi" car.It's quite hilarious and definitely worth the watch. Click play below to see the video to see for yourself!

By Edward Jones – June 19, 2017

Lamborghini Centenario at the Premiere of "Transformers: ...

On June 20, "Transformers: The Last Knight" will be debuting in theaters. In this new film, we see the humans and Transformers at war, while Optimus Prime is has gone away. While the war is rampaging on, the secret behind the Transformers' fascination of Earth is uncovered. Many moviegoers are excited to see this movie not only because of the awesome robot action that will take place during the all-out war, but also because it's supposedly Michael Bay's last Transformers film.In his last film, Bay has enlisted a great lineup of car for the Transformers to transform into. Undoubtedly, the best pick of the cars is the Lamborghini Centenario hypercar. This hypercar is actually Hot Rod, an autobot who was a Citroën DS before his transformation into the Lamborghini.The Italian automaker brought an example of the $1.95 million Centenario to the London premiere for all to see. You can view the car at the premiere for yourself in the images below.

By Edward Jones – June 09, 2017

Drake Buys a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Almost a year ago exactly we covered Drake's brand-new Lamborghini Aventador Roadster. Now, we're talking about another car purchase of his, but this one is definitely more unique.Posted on his Instagram account was a picture of his an his new-to-him Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. This car was produced from 2003 to 2010, with multiple variants being produced over the course of its production run. The original SLR McLaren has a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine under its hood that produces 617 horsepower and 580 lb-ft of torque-- this car is an absolute rocket.I'm not saying Drake made a great choice in purchasing this car, I'm saying he made an absolutely fantastic choice and, boy, am I jealous. Check out the Instagram posts below to see Champagne Papi and his new car below. Also, you can ride like Drake and pick up a Mercedes-SLR McLaren of your own.https://www.instagram.com/p/BVGeXCsBg1K/https://www.instagram.com/p/BVGUg4HjtO8/https://www.instagram.com/p/BVGtl4MjMGD/

By Edward Jones – June 02, 2017

Jamie Foxx Shows Off his Golden Bugatti

Jamie Foxx has been rolling around in golden Bugatti Veyron that has been catching everyone's eyes. He recently posted a picture of himself with the golden hypercar on his Instagram page with this caption: "I was feeling solid gold today when I drove in for work... #bugatti can't wait for u guys to see the show #beatshazam people won life changing fortunes. And the back stories of the contestants will melt yo heart #foxxonfoxmay 25th on fox as part owner and executive producer it's exciting to see it come together. Thanks to mark Burnett (survivor the voice etc) and Jeff Apploff the great!"In that caption he was referring to his new television show "Beat Shazam." In this show contestants are trying to guess songs by listening to just a small clip.https://www.instagram.com/p/BUaK-viDF4W/?taken-by=iamjamiefoxx&hl;=enFoxx's Bugatti hasn't always been this gold. In fact, he posted a picture of himself with his Veyron to his Instagram back in April 16. In this pic the hypercar is finished in black and blue, as opposed to gold.https://www.instagram.com/p/BS72vqCjg36/

By Edward Jones – May 31, 2017

F1 Drivers Take Aston Martins Out for a Race...With a Twist

Seeing an Aston Martin supercar racing around a Formula 1 circuit isn't that outlandish. However, seeing two Aston Martins racing around a circuit with caravans attached most definitely is outlandish...and downright hilarious to watch.In order to get ready for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix in July, Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen decided to have some fun with their practice laps. A Vanquish Volante was Ricciardo's car for the race, and a Vanquish S Volante was ready for Verstappen. Attached to the backs of these cars were caravans, and I can easily say I've never see an Aston Martin towing...anything...at all.Check Out - Top 10 Most Powerful Exotic Convertibles of 2017As the two take the corners, the caravans sway side to side, but manage to get back on two wheels by some miraculous force of nature. Eventually, after many laughs and close calls, the caravans fall apart in a glorious manner. Check out the antics in the video below and get ready for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.

By Edward Jones – May 24, 2017

John Cena Shows Off His Dream Car: Manual Ferrari 360 Spider

John Cena is a mastermind in the ring, but also knows how to stand in front of a camera and show off his cars in his new Auto Geek series. We recently covered Cena's previous video where he talked about his rare Ford GT and now he's showing off his Ferrari 360 Spider.This Italian supercar was his poster car as a teenager. His example is finished in what looks like Rosso Corsa, has a tan leather interior with Daytona seats, red piping, Scuderia shields and, best of all, a manual transmission. Cena makes sure to point out just how fantastic it is to shift gears in a car, like a Ferrari supercar, that has a gated shifter. I'd like to agree.At the end of the video below, he points out a car behind him that's under wraps. He notes that it's a one-of-one car, which may point to his 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo finished in Verde Scandal.

By Edward Jones – May 24, 2017

Jay Leno's 2017 Ford GT Has Been Delivered

The man, the myth, the legend, Jay Leno, has had his brand-new 2017 Ford GT delivered. His example of the American supercar is finished in a gloss black with red racing stripes running down the center. To say that I'm a sucker for the red/black combo is an understatement. Immediately after he received his car, he had Protective Film Solutions apply a protective layer on the car to protect it for years to come.Back in 2015, Leno had the then top-secret Ford GT on his show. Originally, Ford had revealed the car on January, 2015at the New York Auto Show, but then kept it pretty hidden. Now, two years later, Leno has a new Ford GT he can call his own and let it rest in his famous garage. However, I'm almost 100% sure we'll be seeing a Jay Leno's Garage video on this new car very soon.https://www.instagram.com/p/BUaoJ8kgFIT/

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