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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 – September 16, 2016

Donald Trump's Lamborghini Diablo is Up for Sale

Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit that Donald Trump once owned a pretty slick 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster back in the 90's. His Italian supercar was finished in a one-of-a-kind LeMans blue, which was custom just for Trump. Powering it is a 5.7-liter V12 engine that could produce up to 492 hp and was mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.Right now, this exact Diablo is listed as for sale. It comes with upholstery and paint that is "original and in pampered condition," according to the vehicle's description. The description also notes that there is a clear coating that covers the bumpers and rear view mirrors.So if, you've ever wanted to own a presidential nominee's Lamborghini, this may be your only chance. View All Diablos For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 16, 2016

The Grand Tour Release Date Announced

Since the trio left Top Gear, we've all been waiting anxiously for word on when we'd see them again. Hope came in the form of "The Grand Tour," a new television show that would premiere on Amazon Prime Video. It's been about four months since the name of the new show was unveiled and now we finally know when we will be able to see the three together again.In a video released on YouTube, we learn that The Grand Tour will be premiering on Amazon Prime Video come November 18. They also note in the video's description that new episodes will be airing every Friday, as opposed to a more "Netflix-esque" style and releasing them all at once.Don't have an Amazon Prime account? Click on the button below to get a free 30 day trial.Get Amazon Prime

By Andrew Nabors – September 13, 2016

Gymkhana Nine: Raw Industrial Playground

Ken Block & Team Hoonigan are back with the latest episode in the popular Gymkhana series. In stark contrast to previous locations, they chose an abandoned industrial park in Buffalo, NY. You might think it would be a safer alternative to filming in an urban setting, but the danger level is unprecedented. The rally prepped Ford Focus RS RX has been boosted to 600 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. Working with game developers for Forza Horizon 3, the film is sprinkled with Easter eggs from the upcoming release.After the obligatory intro warning, we find a revised sequential shifter and brake lever are positioned for perfect car control. Constant shifting is required to keep the tires spinning, otherwise the turbo would shut down and the party would be over. Not to spoil the action, a few of the highlights involve the new Ford Raptor, a speeding locomotive, and copious tire smoke. If you enjoy the beauty of large mechanical objects in motion, you will not be disappointed.

By Edward Jones – September 12, 2016

BMW Champ Dustin Johnson and Pros Whip BMWs Around Track

Over the weekend, professional golfers gathered at the Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana for the 2016 BMW Championship. Taking the overall win was Dustin Johnson, with Paul Casey in second place and Roberto Castro in third.Before the golfers teed off for the championship, BMW invited a few out to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for some high-speed time with a few of their cars. "I enjoyed the M3," said Johnson in a video from BMW Golfsport. "I've owned a couple M3s, I liked 'em. I think they perform the best on the track." But could he drive as well as he golfs? Check out the videos below to see these professional golfers whip about some German sports cars before they hit the green. View All M3s For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – September 08, 2016

Watch Patrick Dempsey Turn Valet into a Pit Stop

Patrick Dempsey wears many hats. From his best-known role as Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy to his movie roles and his career as a race car driver, Dempsey has lived a bit of a dream life. It seems racing is in his blood though, and he might not be able to control the urge to act as if he's immersed in the track life. In fact, he's once told Reuters that racing is a way of life for him, an extension of who he is as a person.(Related - Who Wins? The Porsche 918 Spyder or an Airplane?)That fact is easy to see in a recent Porsche video where Dempsey comes to a screeching halt at the doors of The Westin Grand where he's attending the premier of Bridget Jones Baby in Berlin. He swiftly jumps out of the car, shoving an unsuspecting bell boy into the Porsche 718 Boxster and straps the young man in as though he's buckling in another driver at a pit stop, before rushing into the hotel. The video definitely has entertainment value. Was he running late, or does racing really run through his veins with that much fervor? Check out the video below, and decide for yourself.Porsche 718 Boxsters for Sale

By Edward Jones – September 02, 2016

Felipe Massa's Gift to Best Friend: His 2007 Ferrari to H...

After Felipe Massa announced his retirement from Formula 1, a Redditor posted a gallery of a gift that the race car driver gave to a mutual friend named Raul. According to the Redditor, u/EchoedSilence, Raul is Massa's best friend and he was gifted his 2007 Ferrari race car. Living in a penthouse on the 30th floor, the recipient of the car did what anyone else would do and hung the F1 car on his wall.In an Imgur gallery it's noted that it took two cranes in order to get the race car up to the penthouse. Of course, the engine is missing out of the car, most likely due to its weight. However, it does still have the transmission, drivetrain and fuel cell intact. Along with the car, Raul has a few racing assecories on display, including a replica of Ayrton Senna's helmet.

By Edward Jones – September 01, 2016

Leicester City Players Get Confused, Have to Wrap BMW i8s

To celebrate their title win, the players of Leicester City were gifted a fleet of BMW i8s. The cars were finished in a blue paint, matching the team's colors. However, when an entire team is driving around the same car and they're each the same color, confusion will arise. And it seems that it has. Source: Twitter/@AC13PREMIERAccording to Mirror.co.uk, some Leicester players have decided to wrap their i8s in different colors in order to make their cars stand apart from the crowd. By doing this, the players with wrapped cars know which one is theirs. According to Mirror, the players who have wrapped their cars include Wes Morgan, Jeffrey Schlupp, Riyad Mahrez and Danny Simpson.If you were on the team, what color would you make yours to make it stand out? Chrome? Rainbow? A basic color? Let me know know in the comments below!View All BMW I8s For Sale Source: Twitter/@AC13PREMIER

By Edward Jones – August 31, 2016

Best Look Yet at the Cars of Transformers 5

Whether you love the movies or hate them, Transformers themselves are pretty awesome. I mean, we're talking about robots that can transform into a litany of things, including a Pagani Huayra. For the upcoming movie, Transformers: The Last Knight, there will be a new cast of vehicles that the Autobots and Decepticons can transform into.Instead of waiting until the movie's release date of June 23, 2017 to see the cars, Seibertron.com was on set and has filmed the various cars used in the movie. This includes Bumblebee's new Camaro and, of course, Optimus Prime's semi truck.Check out the video below and let me know in the comments below which Transformer car has been your favorite. Mine would probably have to be the resto-mod Camaro for Bumblebee.Get Your Tickets Now!

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – August 30, 2016

Will.i.am's Custom Wide Body Tesla Model S is Everything

When spending good money on a car, say around $100,000 or so, you might as well take it a step further and customize the vehicle to make it completely unique, right? Will.i.am, along with countless other celebrities, thought so. In this installment of amazing celebrity customizations, Will.i.am is the star alongside is Tesla Model S. This may well be the first time we've seen this extensive amount of customization on the completely electric car.(Related: Gordon Ramsay Spotted in his Ferrari California T)This wide-bodied Model S features specialty modifications to the door panels, rear and wheels, giving it a true, "supercar" feel to match its Ludicrous acceleration speeds. Intakes have been added to the door panels and the windows have been blacked out, adding to the menacing appearance of this custom job. The narrator of the YouTube video, effspot, states Will.i.am owns an auto shop, which would make it rather easy for him to make these extensive modifications to his vehicle. Check out the full video below for a look at the customized Tesla Model S.Tesla Model S for Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – August 29, 2016

Gordon Ramsay Spotted in his Ferrari California T

Gordon Ramsay is a well-known chef, and a well-known Ferrari aficionado. He's been spotted putting the engine of a brand new F12 to work, seen cruising through the streets of London in a stunning LaFerrari, and he's even equated the fine craftsmanship and detail of Ferrari to the excellence of a fine meal. Given his love for the exotic car maker, it should come as no surprise that the paparazzi recently caught the famed chef exiting a parking lot in the state-of-the-art California T.Check him out driving a stunning California T in the video below.Ferrari California For Sale

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