Chevrolet

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 Jordan Aquistapace – April 10, 2024

Chevrolet's New C8 Corvette ZR1 Debut Is Set For Summer 2024

The ZR1 makes its triumphant return to the Corvette lineup! Since its first debut as a “dream car” at GM's Motorama in New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 1953, the Chevrolet Corvette has carved out a legendary legacy in the automotive world across its eight generations. As advancements in design, technology, and performance were made at Chevrolet, the Corvette continued to adapt and evolve with a range of models and trim levels that fit the needs of every driver type. If you're someone in search of supercar speeds, the ZR1 version of the Corvette stands at the pinnacle of performance with a platform solely focused on providing a track-inspired driving experience. And while its been quite some time since the C7-generation Corvette ZR1 in 2019, Chevrolet just teased the announcement of an upcoming C8 Corvette ZR1 debut. While the mid-engine C8 Corvette lineup currently offers the standard Stingray and power-hungry Z06, the ZR1 is set to redefine American muscle with the capabilities to outperform competitors with a price tag 4x the amount of a Corvette. While media and specifics on the new C8 Corvette ZR1 have yet to be released, Chevrolet is revving up fans and future owners with a teaser video that reveals an anticipated debut around Summer 2024. If we are judging the allocation process much like that of the Z06, its best to head to your local dealer to secure your build slot if you haven't already. As more information continues to unfold, stay tuned into duPont REGISTRY for more updates on the upcoming C8 Corvette ZR1. View all Chevrolet Corvette ZR1s for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Chevrolet Corvette ZR1s For Sale " width="680"> Source: Chevrolet

By Edward Jones – April 17, 2023

1st 2024 Corvette E-Ray Sold For $1.1 Million At Barrett-...

The entirety of the hammer price will benefit the DonorsChoose nonprofit organization.

By Gabriel Vega – March 22, 2023

Chevrolet Camaro Discontinued After 2024 Final Collector'...

Chevy says, "this is not the end."

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 30, 2023

Chevrolet Reveals The New Corvette Z06 GT3.R 1 Year Befor...

The newest Corvette race car is ready to dominate. The new C8 Corvette Z06 is one of the greatest cars to ever be emblazoned with the Corvette name after a long 70 years of its existence. The car’s formidable performance, exotic exhaust note, and stunning design are all the hallmarks of a Corvette that builds impressively on the Corvettes of the past, and puts the Corvette in an entirely new league. However, many car enthusiasts like for true performance to be seen on the track, and Chevrolet is ready to deliver with the newly-revealed Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. MUST READ: Corvette E-Ray Price, Horsepower, Specs & Review A milestone for Chevrolet, the new Z06 GT3.R is the very first Chevrolet to fully meet FIA regulations for GT3 cars. What’s even more impressive, however, is the fact that the car is quite similar to the street-legal Z06, with a very similar engine, as well as a body-in-white provided from Bowling Green where the road-destined Corvette is made. The car is ready to show off the incredible racing potential that the Corvette, and especially the new mid-engined Corvette holds within, and the racing debut that the new Z06 GT3.R will make is in one year, at the 2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and it’s ready to bring new glory to the already-celebrated Corvette name. View All Chevrolet Corvettes For Sale Source: Chevrolet

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Barrett Jackson 01

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 11, 2022

The First C8 Corvette Z06 Convertible Was Auctioned For $...

Being the owner of the first Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible is an expensive bragging right. At the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction this past weekend, the very first mid-engined Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06 convertible was auctioned, and unsurprisingly, it caused quite a stir. Being a Corvette, the car has lots of accolades to its name, even before you consider the fact that it is the first one. It’s the very first Corvette Z06 convertible to be mid-engined, representing the dreams of Chevrolet and Corvette enthusiasts and fans have had since the early days of the Corvette finally coming true, and it also features the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine to ever be put in a production car. The Corvette has been considered a world-class supercar for years, but now it embodies that title more than ever. MUST READ: Want to know the ins and outs of the Shelby 427 Cobra? READ NOW With the added cachet of this Z06 convertible being the first retail production model to be made, Rick Hendrick, chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive, and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions, bought the car with his winning bid of $1 million. The money from the sale went to charity, and with the sale of the 70th Anniversary Edition Z06 in January, the money that the Z06 raised for charity is $4.6 million. Better yet, Hendrick gets to completely customize the car, choosing everything from the paint, to the interior, to the brake caliper color. $1 million is a lot of money, but what it got RIck Hendrick was the ultimate Corvette. View All Corvettes For Sale Source: Chevrolet

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 09, 2022

The New All-Electric Chevrolet Blazer SS Is Coming In 2023

Continuing to put the “EV” in “Chevrolet,” the new Blazer SS is going to be electric. Chevrolet’s new all-electric Blazer SS is going to be all-electric, as the brand has announced with a teaser video, showing the charger port of the car, and nothing more. With electric powertrains being responsible for more and more performance cars that break records without breaking the environment and redefine what it means to make a performance car. MUST READ: Chevrolet Announces New Silverado EV For 2024 With this announcement following that of the Silverado EV, Chevrolet is taking a deliberate and major turn towards electric vehicles, which is great news not only for those who want to look out for the environment but also for car enthusiasts everywhere. With every new electric performance car that comes out, we are reminded of the fact that electric cars have the potential to take performance cars as a whole to heights that were once thought unimaginable. And while there’s no performance information or statistics out yet on the new Blazer SS, we can say that the bar is definitely high. The car is said to debut later this year and become available in Spring 2023. Source: Chevrolet

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 06, 2022

Chevrolet Announces New Silverado EV For 2024

Coming in the 2024 model year, this is the Silverado like you’ve never seen before. As more and more electric cars start to enter the market, the question of electric trucks has been a tough one. Trucks require more power and ground clearance and need to be able to tow, which presents new challenges. To step up to the challenge, however, is the known and loved American pickup, the Chevrolet Silverado. MUST READ: 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Review: Drop Top Without Drawback This Silverado is all-new and developed from the ground up to be fully capable as an electric truck. It starts with GM’s Ultium battery platform, which gives the Silverado EV a 400-mile range, 660 horsepower, 780 lb/ft of torque, and a front trunk. And with 10,000 pounds of towing capacity, this Silverado is ready to do anything its predecessors can. Not only can this truck do everything a truck is supposed to, but it can also do more. With four-wheel steering, tight corners that have always been difficult for trucks with long beds become dramatically easier, and situations like parallel parking or parking between cars become a breeze. Also available will be adaptive suspension that allows the driver to adjust their Silverado’s height and keep the ride smooth on any terrain. Along with the GMC Hummer EV, we can expect electric powertrains to be the way of the future for trucks, and for these electric trucks to be faster, stronger, and more efficient than ever. Source: Chevrolet

By Edward Jones – November 11, 2021

Corvette Z06 GT3.R Racecar Announced

The new Corvette race car has just been announced. In 2024, there will be a new GT3 race car from Chevrolet and it will assuredly be a top-tier contender and it will be the new Corvette Z06 GT3.R. This new model from Corvette Racing will what Chevrolet is calling "closest link yet between the production Z06 and racing for Chevrolet’s flagship performance vehicle." The Corvette Z06 GT3.R will feature the same aluminum chassis and production engine as the Corvette Z06, although the engine will be modified. It's quite interesting to see and hear from Chevrolet how similar this new race car and the road car will be. What's more, for the first time ever, Chevrolet will be offering the Corvette Z06 GT3.R as a turn-key race car for customers. “The availability of the Z06 GT3.R will allow customer race teams the opportunity to campaign a Corvette that has benefited from Corvette Racing’s rich history,” said Mark Stielow, Chevrolet Director of Motorsports Competition Engineering. More information regarding the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, such as pricing and support package options, will be announced at a later date. See All C8 Corvettes For Sale Source: Chevrolet

By Jordan Aquistapace – November 02, 2021

The New Chevy Beast Makes Its Way To SEMA 2021

The Beast by Chevy incorporates the best between off-road and performance capabilities. The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) show is where automotive driven brands showcase its best of the best when it comes to their upcoming product line. The participants at the event range from automotive manufactures to performance wheel specialists, and everywhere in between. Chevrolet is making a show-stopping appearance with the new Chevy Beast, a concept vision of the ultimate in the high-performance desert running. The Chevy Beast is a product of blending all that Chevrolet has to offer in the truck and performance sectors. Designers and engineers started with the chassis of a Silverado short-bed model and modified it for high-speed desert running. MUST-READ: First Look: LOKI Basecamp Icarus The modified Silverado chassis is powered by a Chevrolet Performance LT4 650-horsepower supercharged crate engine. A long-travel off-road suspension system is custom for the Chevy Beast to help withstand any terrain thrown its way. Inside, the customized cab has a minimalist, functional design, featuring a quartet of Recaro® performance seats with four-point harnesses, as well as a pair of 7-inch-diagonal LCD screens that monitor vehicle functions and performance data, including pitch and roll during off-road driving scenarios. The new Chevy Beast is just one of the eight new chassis that Chevrolet will have on display at SEMA 2021. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more release information on the Chevy Beast, as well as a recap of the 2021 SEMA showcase. Source: Chevrolet

By Edward Jones – October 26, 2021

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Revealed: Most Powerful NA V8...

Never before has a Corvette Z06 been this good. It's finally time to meet the new 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, a moment we've been waiting for since the new C8 generation was revealed. This new Z06 is defined not only by its immense power but also by its striking appearance. Powering the new C8 Z06 is the all-new 5.5-liter LT6 engine, which is the highest horsepower, naturally-aspirate V8 engine to be in any production car. How much power does it take to hold that title? 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power for a 0 to 60 mph time of just 2.6 seconds. Other powertrain highlights include the flat-plane crankshaft that allows the engine to rev to its 8,600 rpm redline, new active split intake manifold, new six-stage dry-sump oiling system, and more. Chevrolet has really hit it out of the park with the new LT6. For the transmission, this engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with a "short" 5.56 final drive ratio. Chevrolet notes that the new Corvette Z06 is not only powerful but also their most track-capable 'Vette ever. Giving the new Z06 its track-readiness capabilities is a combination of aerodynamic components and mechanical upgrades. Its exterior features wider fenders that make way for the 20 x 10-inch front wheels shod in 275/30ZR20 tires and 21 x 13-inch rear wheels with 345/25ZR21 tires. As for the tire of choice, those are the Michelin® Pilot Sport 4S ZP tires as standard while the Sport Cup 2 R ZP tires come with the available Z07 package. Also aiding in aerodynamics is the front splitter and rear spoiler, which has an installable "wickerbill." What's a wickerbill? It's a small tab at the edge of the spoiler that Chevrolet says increases downforce by 365 pounds at 186 mph. A track-ready car is more than just mechanical components and that's why the new 2023 Corvette Z06 is loaded with tech meant for the race track. Handling the electronically controlled systems is the Drive Mode Selector. Just like the standard C8 Corvette Stingray, the Z06's Drive Mode Selector can adjust the Launch Control, Active Handling, Traction Control, Performance Traction Management, and Electronic Limited Slip Differential. For those wanting a bit more performance on the track, Chevrolet offers the Z07 Performance Package. Within this package are the following features: carbon fiber aero package (larger front splitter, front-corner dive planes, rear wing and underbody strakes), FE7 suspensions with "specific" Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 calibrations, Michelin Sport Cup 2 R ZP tires, and available carbon fiber wheels. For the driver and passenger inside a new 2023 Z06, they get to enjoy a wonderful interior that's more luxurious than before. Chevrolet notes that the Z06's unique cabin features include an optional carbon fiber-wrapped steering wheel, shift paddles, new carbon fiber interior trim package level 2, and new Adrenaline Red interior. When configuring a new 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, there are plenty of options to choose from. They include twelve exterior colors, seven wheel packages, second interior colors, three seat options, six seatbelt options, two interior carbon fiber trim packages (not including the Stealth Aluminum trim), and six brake caliper colors. The new 2023 Corvette Z06 will see its production begin in the summer of 2022. All Corvette Z06s For Sale Source: Chevrolet

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