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

2020 Silverado Midnight Edition revealed at State Fair of Texas

By Edward Jones – September 30, 2019

2020 Silverado Midnight and Rally Editions Revealed

Chevrolet has just announced that the 2020 Silverado Midnight and Rally Edition are on their way. This announcement comes after the unveiling of the pair at the State Fair of Texas. So what are these new trucks? Let's dig in. Midnight Edition (pictured above) - This edition will be available for the LT Trail Boss and Custom Trail Boss Trims. It comes with a 2-inch factory suspension lift, Z71 Off Road Package, Rancho shocks, automatic locking rear differential, skid plates, 18-inch black wheels, Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires, black Silverado badging, black accents, and the choice between the 5.3L V-8 engine or 6.2L V-8 engine. Rally Edition - While the Midnight Edition offers a more off-road appearance, the Rally Edition is more "sporty." This special edition Silverado comes with the following: black rally stripes, black badging, black exhaust tips, 20-inch black wheels, 2.7-liter turbocharged engine, and more. Exterior paint for this truck includes Black, Red Hot, Silver Ice Metallic and Summit White. There's also the RST Rally Edition that includes 22-inch black wheels and the choice between three engines: 2.7-liter turbocharged engine, 5.2-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8. These special edition 2020 Silverados will be available for order next month and will hit dealerships later this year. see all silverados for sale Also Check Out: Get Ready for Baja Racing: 2019 Brenthel Trophy Truck for Sale GMC Sierra CarbonPro is the Future of Full Size Trucks Marshmello Just Got a New 6×6 Truck From Diesel Brothers and WOW It’s Amazing

By Andrew Nabors – September 16, 2019

World's First 5-Second Street Car at Hot Rod Drag Week

If your car has doors, lights, and registration, you can participate in the hardest road trip of all time. The world's fastest street legal cars have been chopping down 6-second passes, but this news is resonating around the world. Filmed by our friends at 1320video, you can watch the world's first 5-second street car at Hot Rod Drag Week. World's Fastest Cars For Sale If you have never participated, Drag Week is a rolling tour of the world's fastest cars. Your spare parts, tires, fuel, and tools must be brought along, so the notion of adding a trailer hitch to a pro-mod is not uncommon. Tom Bailey is a Drag Week Veteran, and his pro-mod 1969 Camaro has a tall-deck big block and two massive turbos from Precision Industries. Porsche Taycan Sets New 'Ring Record After a week of driving and racing between Virginia and New Jersey, he learned the exact set up his car was asking for. Using a 2-step and transbrake to build boost, he crossed the top end in 5.99 seconds at 250 mph. What you are about to see is faster than any exotic or hypercar. We now live in a world where street-legal cars can outrun dragsters from just a few years ago. Tell us your fastest pass in the comments below, and stay with us for more quarter-mile world record footage. " width="680"> Related: Colorado Radio Station Organized Record-Breaking Burnout Contest

By Andrew Nabors – September 12, 2019

1969 Pro Street Camaro Looking for New Owner

1969 Pro Street Camaro, all-steel professionally built (not some back yard special). Starting with a Chris Alston front clip, it has a complete DOM round tube chassis, roll cage & back half. The rear is a Strange Dana 60 with 35 spline axles and 4.73 gears. A laser straight Z/28 body is covered in Aztec Silver paint. The dash is carbon-fiber style with Auto Meter gauges and a delay box. View Price & Details Under the hood is a Kris Nelson 565 BBC just freshened with Brodix heads, Jesel rocker system & belt drive. It offers consistent 1,050 Dyno Horsepower thanks to Oliver steel rods, Diamond pistons, & Callies crank. Car runs consistent 5.80’s in 1/8 mile, all day long and 8.80’s in the 1/4 mile ALL MOTOR. The transmission is an ATI Pro Glide with integrated trans-brake (1.80 first gear setup). Car and motor are setup for plate kit, and it was only used for a couple of passes. Best pass on a 250 shot was 5.35 1/8th Mile! The car comes with a full set of street tires & wheels as shown in pictures and also a full set of Weld Aluma stars with double bead locks and wheelie bars. Full stainless exhaust and Brand New NOS plate kit! If you are looking for a true Pro-Street car that is as nice as it gets, the car has no A/C or heat and is set up to be an old school style true pro streetcar that pounds the ground. Car is in MINT condition, garage kept, always waxed and professionally maintained, Perfect for Drag week!!! This car could not be built for a fraction of the asking price, as no expenses were spared. Click the button to see all the details! View Price & Details

By Andrew Nabors – September 06, 2019

C8 Corvette Convertible Arrives in October

As you are reading this, there are 60 examples of the new Corvette driving across the U.S. These GM engineers are working out the final bugs and pushing the cars as hard as possible. I happened to encounter a blue one last night, only a few miles from our headquarters. I have owned one targa top and two convertible Corvettes, so we asked the engineer for specifics on the new drop-top. He was tight-lipped on the mechanism, other than the Corvette Convertible will arrive in October. We have already seen a few teaser shots in their commercials, so I added my shots from last night to the GM teasers. It was a good night finally seeing one in person, and I guarantee you will have the same reaction. A video uploaded by Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle confirms this, as Assembly Plant Manager Kai Spande confirms the convertible. Tell us which model you would drive in the comments below and stay with us for all your Corvette news. Browse Corvettes For Sale Related: C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – August 15, 2019

2020 Corvette Pricing Announced

We were shocked to learn that the C8 Corvette Stingray would be available for under $60,000. In a press release today, they announced it would be $5 under that price. The best aspect of the 2020 Corvette pricing announced is that it also includes the MSRP of the option packages. Your standard car is the 1LT. It arrives with more features than we anticipated. Corvette 1LT has 4-Corner E-boost brakes, stability control, launch mode, and the driver mode selector. But you only get 10 Bose speakers. Corvette 2LT starts at $67,295, and it adds a full-color HUD, power lumbar seats, heated steering wheel, Performance Data Recorder, garage door opener, and 14 Bose speakers. Corvette 3LT is $71,945, and it includes all those features and arrives with a full-leather interior and GT2 seats. No Alcantara here, its real suede on the roof and upper interior panels. A few options can be added to trim level. Performance exhaust is needed to achieve 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque: $1,195. A front suspension lift is available on 2LT and 3LT, and it stores 1,000 locations in GPS for $1,495. Finally, the Z51 Performance Package is available across all trim levels. It includes performance exhaust, adjustable coil-over suspension, front splitter, rear spoiler, larger brakes, a 3rd engine radiator, performance differential gearing, and brake cooling ducts. All this can be had for $5,000. We know the Corvette convertible is coming soon, and these packages might be adjusted for being able to topless. I would order a 1LT Z51 along with the magnetic ride suspension and the tinted glass roof panel. Head over to their visualizer to build your ideal combination, and tell us in the comments below. Stay with us for all your Corvette news. Browse Corvettes For Sale " width="680"> Related: C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – August 08, 2019

C8 Corvette Convertible Caught Wearing Camouflage

Chevrolet's list of Corvette accomplishments is growing longer each day. Not only is the 2020 Corvette Stingray their first mid-engine model it also has the best interior GM has ever offered. After viewing multiple angles of the engine bay, we assumed that a convertible would not be possible. Then they decided to plant a few Corvette Convertible teasers into the latest promo film. This test mule was caught by Brendan Macie in the parking lot of a Dick's Sporting Goods. He says the driver identified himself as an employee at GM's Warren Tech Center, and their latest 0-60 test was 2.7 seconds! GM has done folding hardtops before, the most recent being the Cadillac XLR, a cousin of the C6 Corvette. The roof panel hinge points and the buttresses are inspired by a hint of McLaren 650S Spider along with a sprinkling of Ferrari 458 Spider. How this will work into the engine bay will remain a mystery. They can't call it a "Spyder" because that name is trademarked by Audi. I wrote Spider vs Spyder awhile back to clear up the confusion. If you prefer a traditional cloth top, click the link below to find great deals on remaining 2019 Corvettes, and stay with us for all your Corvette news. Find Your Corvette Here " width="680"> Related: C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 26, 2019

Chevy Teases C8 Corvette Stingray Convertible

With the complexities involved in building the world's first mid-engine Corvette, many enthusiasts figured a drop-top was out of the question. In the latest YouTube upload, team Corvette placed a few subliminal frames to appeal to the subconscious. We see a 2020, or probably 2021 Stingray with the top down. Taking inspiration from abroad, a vertical rear window is shown in the lowered position. Tell us what you think of this car in the comments below, and stay with us for all your Corvette news. Browse All Corvettes For Sale Related: C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 26, 2019

John Hennessey Explains the Chevy Goliath in Detail

Four wheels are great, and six are amazing. That has been the formula for Hennessey Performance over the past decade. After perfecting the 6x6 conversion process on the Velociraptor, the team turned their attention to the Silverado. It has a base price of $375,000, so our friends at The Fast Lane Truck asked John Hennessey to explain the Chevy Goliath in detail. If you missed our coverage when it was first released, this build starts at the back of the cab. A new bed is 20" longer than the original, and it covers their ingenious suspension system. Fabricating a new rear frame allows them to move the factory locking rear axle to the rear. Between it and the transfer case is a custom fabricated middle axle. A pass-through pinion shaft turns an open differential and sends uninterrupted power to the rear. Riding 8" higher on a custom BDS lift kit, both the front and rear diffs retain their lockers. Hennessey Performance Unveils the 1st Production Goliath 6x6 Having an open center differential is nice, as it will vary its power left and right depending on conditions. Due to the size and weight, I would recommend the 6.2L V8, but Hennessey will build 5.3L versions like we see here. Due to the complex fabricated parts and time, only 23 more examples will be built. As soon as he cracks the encryption on the late-model truck computers, expect to see the Goliath doing things a Silverado could never dream of. Stay with us for all your Hennessey Performance updates. Click the link below to see the Hennessey Velociraptor, and contact them for all the details. Hennessey Velociraptor 6x6 For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – July 19, 2019

2020 C8 Corvette Stingray Revealed with 495 Horsepower & ...

If you didn't stay up to watch the Livestream, it was an event for the ages. We've been waiting long enough, so the crowd of invited guests went wild then 3 new Corvettes made their appearance. The exotic car world is now on notice, as the 2020 C8 Corvette Stingray was revealed with 495 horsepower and a low price. Starting at the front the low nose and dash offer great visibility. Without an engine in the way, the steering system is 50% stronger than the C7. Moving the cockpit forward puts more weight on the rear tires. This allows the base model to reach 60 mph in under 3 seconds. This also puts the driver of mass and rotation very close to the seats. If you want to drift, the car rotates around the passengers. This means you won't feel any G-Forces when cornering. A first for any American car. Not only is the aluminum frame lighter, but it also uses die-cast junctions to be much stronger than the C7. Upfront where the engine used to be, there is room for groceries or luggage under the hood. This is the first Corvette to offer a 5-piece luggage set, and the bigger pieces can be stored in the rear trunk. A deep cargo well behind the transmission can hold the Targa top or almost anything you need to carry. It is surrounded by the first carbon fiber crash structure on an American car. Styling was handled by my favorite GM designer: John Cafaro. He is responsible for two cars I have owned: 4th Gen Camaro (1993-2002) & C5 Corvette (1997-2004). His style is unmistakably Italian, and he was given help by Top Peters. He designed the C6 and C7, so that is where this car gets its angles and inlets. Both of them retired last night, leaving the C8 Corvette as their coup de grâce after decades at GM. C8 Corvette Price and Specs 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Moving forward, the transmission is an 8-speed transaxle developed by Tremec. The first six gears are close ratio for blistering acceleration, and the last two are deep overdrives for highway cruising. The 6.2L V8 is an improvement of the current LT1. It uses gorgeous stainless headers and revised internals to make 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Thrills continue inside. Cheap plastics have been replaced by machined metal. The squared-off steering wheel was inspired by the C7.R racing program, and all controls are aimed at the driver. A 12" screen handles infotainment and various apps, both of which receive updates over the air. Separating the seats is a spine covered in leather. It contains all A/C, seat heat, and comfort controls which keeps the dash free of clutter. Bose developed a 14-speaker system to keep you entertained, and the front suspension rises 2" to prevent scrapes. This system is GPS-linked, so the car remembers where you need to raise the front end and does it for you. The Performance Data Recorder now has higher resolution cameras front and rear, the latter serves as a panoramic backup view in reverse. It appears as if the manual transmission is dead, at least for now. We can deal with this because the price will make you happy. Base model Corvettes will start under $60,000. If this is all too much for you, our dealers are offering great incentives on the remaining C7 models. Click the link below and stay with us for all your Corvette news. Find Your Corvette Here! " width="680">

By Edward Jones – July 18, 2019

Watch the Mid Engine C8 Corvette's Unveiling Here

It's actually happening. We're actually getting a mid-engine Corvette. And it's going to be unveiled today! If you're like me, you're going to be sitting on the couch watching the clock and waiting until the unveiling. For those who want to want the unveiling of the new C8 Corvette as it happens, we've got you covered. Just keep this page open and the video down below will play when the coverage starts (it looks like a static image, but trust me, it's a video). But when will that be? Live coverage will start at 7:50 p.m. PDT (10:50 p.m. EST) and the show itself will start at 8 p.m. PDT (11p.m. EST). it's been unveiled - See it now! In the meantime, check out these articles on the new mid-engine C8 Corvette to get yourself acquainted. 2020 Corvette Stingray Possibilities 2020 Corvette Stingray Emblem & Logo Revealed How to Buy a Chevrolet Corvette C8 Shop All Corvettes for Sale

Chevrolet

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe