Concept 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 Andrew Nabors – September 07, 2018

Ford Teases Electric Car Inspired by Mustang for First Time

History will look back at Ford for taking the initiative. Their purchase of Detroit's abandoned train station was the start of something new. A home base for electric cars outside the stoic facade of the Dearborn headquarters. And today we have already received a teaser of their first project.Ford Buys Historic Detroit Train StationDarren Palmer, Ford Team Edison Global Product Development Director, wrote an op-ed on Medium, highlighting his 28-year history with Ford, and giving us details on what to expect. Team Edison is hard at work on an electric performance vehicle, aiming for a range of 300 miles. With an investment of $11 Billion dollars, it will be the first of 16 new electric vehicles. Their goal is a global portfolio of 40 electrified vehicles by 2022. Michigan Central Station will house the offices, and production will begin at an adjacent factory. The Corktown campus is Detroit's oldest neighborhood, and Ford is preparing to shock it back to life. Mr. Palmer says his inspiration for the first model comes from his Shelby Mustang GT350R, so stay with us for all your Ford updates!Browse Ford Mustangs For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 28, 2018

Pininfarina Teases Their 2,000 Horsepower PF0

Electric cars are seen by many as the future of the automobile. Battery powered cars have been built with styling that appeals to the typical buyer- until now. In a press release this morning, Automobili Pininfarina has shocked the world. Their electric hypercar was seen by invitation only at Pebble Beach. Their favorable response has allowed the company to move ahead with a limited run of the PF0.Don't confuse the 0 with an O, it stands for zero emissions instead of homologation. The styling house founded by Battista Farina was named "Pinin" or little Farina after his childhood nickname. He and his designers were responsible for almost every Ferrari until recently. But they have also built a few cars for themselves along the way. Battista always wanted to build his own supercar, but it would have ruined the friendship between him and Enzo that began in 1948.Now they are on the verge of taking on the world. Players like Rimac have scared the big manufacturers, leading Porsche to buy over 10%. Elon Musk revealed that Volkswagen Group was the driving force to take Tesla private, so it seems everyone wants to go electric.The PF0 is a carbon fiber masterpiece that reaches 62 mph in under 2 seconds with a top speed of 250 mph. In normal conditions, you will have a range of 300 miles. That is also the range of my 1985 Corvette, but at 11 mpg I use 26 gallons of premium fuel...Tell us what you think of the PF0 concept, and stay with us for all your Pininfarina news.Exotic Cars For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=89&v=c82nE3GsZUE

By Edward Jones – August 27, 2018

Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow Points to the Future

Mercedes-Benz is paying homage to the record-breaking 1937 W 125 car that hit 268.9 mph on the A5 autobahn with a new show car called the EQ Silver Arrow. This futuristic, autonomous and electric car comes in as a one-seater that's filled with the latest technology and a design fit for a sci-fi movie.The body is 17.3 feet long and is as streamlined as they come. Carbon fiber comprises the car's body, as well as the functional components of the exterior. Accentuating the body's streamlined design is a continuous strip of lighting in blue. The letters "EQ" are also illuminated on the side skirts, which represents the electric Mercedes brand. Adding to the car's wild design are the wheels that have non-rotating hubcaps and 168 spokes per wheel.2018 Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG Specs, Photos, Price & Review

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2018

High Performance Audi PB18 e-tron Concept Car Revealed

Audi has surprised the world with their first ever concept car unveiling at the Monterey Car Week. The car being debuted is the Audi PB18 e-tron, a high-performance car that the German automaker says is a "radical vision for the high-performance sports car of tomorrow." It's obvious to see that they planned this car's Monterey unveiling ahead of time when you learn that the "PB" in PB18 stands for Pebble Beach. The "18" refers to its close relationship with the Audi R18 e-tron LMP1 race car.Powering the car are three electric motors - one in the front and two in the rear. The one up front delivers 150 kW of power, while the pair in the back pushes out 350 kW. That results in a total output of 500 kW, which equates to about 670.5 horsepower. There's also 612.2 lb-ft of torque that the driver can experience in a no time at all. All of this results in a 0 to 62 mph time of just over 2 seconds.Highest Torque Cars - Check Out the List However, Audi didn't design this car just for racing. When daily driving the PB18 e-tron, the driver can limit the maximum speed of the car. This results in better range and no fear of getting the urge to drive like you're on the track. Additionally, the electric motors can have their energy restored through regenerative braking technology. All of the power gets routed back to the liquid-cooled, solid-state battery that can hold 95 kWh. When fully charged, this battery will provide a range of over 310 miles. And in a world of "fast charging" tech, Audi says the battery can be fully recharged in 15 minutes. View the Sultan of Brunei CarsWhen looking at the images of the car, you may realize that it seems like a single-seater car with a driver's seat positioned smack dab in the middle of the cockpit. Here's where a bit of brilliant engineering comes into play. The driver is always sitting in a monocoque that holds the seat and instrument cluster. When alone, the driver can be positioned in the center of the cabin. If they need to include a passenger, the monocoque (seat and instrument cluster included) can be moved over to make room for an additional seat. Essentially, the PB18 e-tron is both a single and two-passenger car at any given time.The Audi PB18 e-tron concept car sure looks close to a production model, if you ask me. This could very well be a sign of a real car that will be added to their lineup in the near future. Keep your eyes open and check back with us for more news as it breaks.

By Edward Jones – August 09, 2018

Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Rally Car Surprises Everyone

One thing I didn't expect to see today was a new Porsche rally car. Have I been wanting to see one? Yes. So, this is most definitely a welcome surprise. The car I'm talking about is the Cayman GT4 Clubsport rally car that Porsche surprised the world with via their revealing tweet. They note that this car is simply just a concept car, but they look forward to collecting feedback from the rallye scene at the German WRC round Rallye Deutschland. I'm hoping they get good feedback, because I think the world needs a new Porsche rally car. They do note that the decision about whether or not a car based on this concept will be created will be made later this year. 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Specs, Price, Photos, & Review If Porsche does create a car based on the Cayman GT4 Clubsport concept, it will be the first new rally car from the German automaker in some time. The most notable of their rally cars has to be the 959 Group B Paris-Dakar rally car.

By Andrew Nabors – August 09, 2018

Audi Tests e-tron Prototype's Brake Regeneration at Pike'...

Acceleration tests are fun, unless your brakes don't respond. Audi tests every system to failure, and that includes the new regenerative brakes on the e-tron ptototype. Starting from the summit of the famous mountain, four prototypes were loaded with journalists and engineers. The e-tron will arrive with 3 distinct modes for recharging the battery when the brake pedal is pressed.See the Historic VW I.D. R Pike’s Peak Run (RIP Headphones)Trains have been using this technology for decades. To slow down, the electric motors are reversed which makes them generators. While locomotives waste the recovered energy as heat, Audi sends it back to the batteries. After averaging the data from several downhill runs, each kilometer coming down added another km to the range. The Park Service won't let you down the mountain if your brakes are overheated, and the nominal temperature of passenger cars is 100 degrees. The e-tron rotors were only 48 degrees, which was 3 degrees above ambient temperature.This presents a problem, as traditional disc brakes don't work well at comfortable temperatures. If you never get your calipers hot enough to boil away the night's condensation, the pistons will become rusty in their bores. Audi has addressed this by developing low-temperature pads and rotors that will only be used for 10% of braking in normal driving. With 90% of the braking energy going back into the batteries, it makes the e-tron one of the most efficient electric cars ever built.Amazing Audi Incentives- Click Here

By Andrew Nabors – August 01, 2018

Milan Automotive Unveils their 1,300 Horsepower "Red"

Austria may be known for beautiful mountains and a rich history, but they also build some of the world's most powerful cars. The first 48 Porsches were built in a sawmill in Graz, which is also the home of global giant Magna-Steyr. But a new Austrian upstart is poised to take on the biggest names in the industry.If you thought the company might be named for the Italian city, think again. A Milan is an Austrian term for the Red Kite, a maroon-colored bird of prey. Their car "Red" will be powered by a quad-turbo 6.2 liter V8 making 1,306 horsepower and 1,033 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels.A seven-speed dual clutch transmission could be supplied by a few different manufacturers, but the engine is the real mystery. GM, Ford, and Dodge all offer 6.2-liter engines, and they are all capable of massive power.CEO Markus Fux and his small team are being helped by AVL, an Austrian engineering firm who has helped Ferrari's F1 team in the past. Markus was the first Austrian driver to race in NASCAR, and he lives most of the year in Miami. We wish him and his team good luck on this noble undertaking. Stay with Autofluence for all the updates from Milan Automotive.Browse Exotic Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 26, 2018

Glickenhaus' New SCG 007 LMP1 Plans to Take On Le Mans fo...

"This is for America. For Briggs, Carol and Jim Hall. For all of us." That's how Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus started off their post that unveils the new SCG 007 LMP1. Why is he mentioning these names specifically? Because Glickenhaus is looking to put America back on top when it comes to racing at Le Mans.James Glickenhaus Unveils the Retro SCG006The post notes that the SCG 007 LMP1 race car will be created "at cost" and that they will fun the car no matter what, "even if its one car racing against the World." The company's goal is to change a trend that's been going on for decades. They stated: "It's been 50 years since a car built in America finished First Overall at Le Mans. We aim to change that."To make the change, the SCG 007 LMP1 has a planned limited run of 25 road legal version and 1 race version, not including their own. All profits that they make through these cars will go directly towards funding their own Le Mans Program. With an estimated price of around $1 million, that's a lot of money that will be poured into their program.Personally, if I had the money I would pick one of the road legal version ASAP. Think of this as a Kickstarter, but there's one pledge amount ($1 million) and the reward is a supercar.Exotic Cars for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 23, 2018

Aston Martin Volante Vision In Action

Last week we told you about Aston Martin's idea of travel in the future, and now it has a name. In their latest YouTube video, we see their concept aircraft in flight. This 3D footage looks enticing as it uses autonomous flight to reach your destination. Rolls-Royce PLC builds aircraft engines, and they are not associated with the BMW-owned car company. Car and airplane production were once very similar. Ford's rugged Tri-Motor was built to compete with the Chevrolet brother's Chevrolair airplane company.Aston Martin’s New Autonomous Luxury Aircraft ConceptAs a leader in aircraft propulsion, Aston Martin has decided to use three of their ducted fans on the Volante Vision. The counter-rotating design is efficient, and it looks like the front pair can swivel into a horizontal position for forward flight. Aston Martin's expertise in carbon fiber along with aerodynamics allow us to see a future that might be coming sooner than we think. It was England that gave us the vertical takeoff Harrier Jet, so why not a vertical commuter jet? While we were considering the ramifications of autonomous aircraft, a little bird told us that the 2020 V8 Vantage could get a manual transmission next year. This would be the first time the AMG 4.0L has ever seen a manual gearbox, so stay with us for more updates!Browse Aston Martin For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 16, 2018

What Is The NIO EP9?

That is the question my friends asked me while watching the Goodwood Festival of Speed. NIO is a Chinese manufacturer who has been racing in Formula E since 2014. To break the record for a production car on race tires, they decided to bring their EP9 to Goodwood. The EP9 is a carbon fiber body on top of their LeMans Prototype racecar.Top 10 Cars From Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018Each wheel has its own electric motor, rated at 333.25 metric horsepower. In total, you will have 1,341 horsepower (One Megawatt) of power. Torque vectoring is done by changing the power supplied to each wheel. A range of 265 miles is complimented by a charging time of only 45 minutes. The one-piece carbon fiber body is 802 lbs, and the car is 3,800 lbs ready to race. Each battery is located under the rocker panel, a design that is so simple its a wonder nobody has done this before.You will reach 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and 124 mph in 7.1 seconds. In the low-drag mode, the EP9 is capable of 194 mph. Six cars have been built for the primary investors, and NIO has plans to build 10 more so far. Each one arrives with a price of $1.2 Million and a batter that can be changed in 8 minutes.It holds the EV record at the Nurburgring: 6:45.9, and it lapped the Circuit of the Americas in 2:40.33- without a driver. It has the latest in autonomous technology with a platform that can be upgraded in the future. Stay with us for more updates!Exotic Cars For Sale Here!

Concept Cars

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe