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 Edward Jones – August 19, 2016

Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Officially Unveiled: It's Electric

Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled their anticipated Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept car and it brings with it a few surprises. At first, it was thought that the car would just be a big rebranding of the Maybach brand, but we now know that this car is something very special.The first surprise is that this 18.5-foot is actually electric. Powered by a battery that has a usable capacity of around 80 kWh, the Vision 6 has 738 hp on tap. This allows the massive coupé to reach 0-62 mph in less than 4 seconds and can reach a top speed that's governed at 155 mph. What's more, it also has a range of over 200 miles.(Related: Cadillac Escala Concept Revealed, Shows Future Design)Another interesting feature of this new car is its windshield, which acts as a massive "heads-up display." Driving-related data, as well as geographical data, is shown across the windshield, making information more readily available to the driver. The driver can control this information through gestures. Does this mean you'll have to go full "Minority Report" in this car, waving your hands around? Not sure, but that would be interesting to witness.Mercedes also describes the entire interior cabin as a "360° lounge." They created this experience through a "sitting surface forms a horizontal, which transitions into the vertical of the doors and finally becomes the underside of the dashboard wing."For those weary of electric power in their car, Mercedes has added the quick-charge function. With this tech, 62 miles worth of energy is charged within just five minutes. Charging is done public charging station or at your normal outlet. Not a fan of cables? Don't worry, charging can also happen wirelessly via electromagnetic fields.View Mercedes For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 18, 2016

Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Leaked Ahead of Reveal

Ahead of its official unveiling, images of the upcoming Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 have leaked online. The images below are from a YouTube video from Auto News. In the images we see an extremely long coupe that looks like Cruella de Vil would feel at home in. The exacts of the car itself are unknown, but from the looks of it, Mercedes is taking the Maybach brand into the future. From the exterior to the interior, everything screams "futuristic concept design." Could this concept see production? We'll find out very soon!

Nissan BladeGlider brings cutting edge Intelligent Mobility to l

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – August 05, 2016

Nissan's Zero Emission Bladeglider Debuts in Rio de Janeiro

Zero-emission vehicles with supercar capabilities are the way of the future. In 2013, concept cars of the like were unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Show, and now we're beginning to see the real-life prototypes. Bringing their electric vehicle from concept to fruition is Nissan with their four-seater, zero-emission BaldeGlider. Dubbed the "electric vehicle for car lovers," by Nissan's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, the BladeGlider combines environmental responsibility with the fun of driving. The vehicle, which looks much more like an advanced, motorized bobsled than a traditional car, offers excellent aerodynamics thanks to its unique shape and a performance-inspired electric powertrain that is so quiet it literally appears as though the vehicle is "gliding." Nissan collaborated with Williams Advanced Engineering to create the fully electric vehicle, which boasts 521 lb-ft of torque, hits a top speed of over 118 mph and sails from 0-60 in under 5 seconds, according to a company press release. 130kW electric motors power each of the rear wheels.As far as aesthetics are concerned, the interior provides "four point safety harnesses for each occupant," and each seat is designed to provide both comfort and support, with emphasis on supporting the driver and passenger's legs and sides. Since the BladeGlider is designed for the ultimate driving experience, the seats are, "trimmed in a highly tactile blend of fabric and epoxy resin coating," to make sure riders stay in place while whizzing around tight corners. Color trim for the upper range of the seats will be offered in Cyber Green and Stealth Orange.Nissan will have two of the BladeGliders on display in Rio de Janeiro, one of which will be fully-functional. The car maker will allow the media and VIP guests a ride in the fully functional prototype. Want to learn more? Check out the video below.

By Edward Jones – August 05, 2016

Hardcore KERS-Powered Ferrari 488 Spied at Factory

Our friend Marchettino might have just stumbled across an unannounced Ferrari 488 GTB model that utilizes the Italian automaker's KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) system. If so, this new model could be the most brutal 488 yet.Ferrari For Sale HoustonWhile visiting the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Marchettino thought he had stumbled across a test mule for the upcoming Dino. But, after hearing one Ferrari mechanic say: "don't turn on the KERS system" he paused and replied, mostly to himself, "Oh my God, what the hell is that."https://www.instagram.com/p/BIsatSfjqsW/The reason why he was so taken aback by this statement is because the KERS system is something Ferrari typically reserves for cars like the LaFerrari or F1 cars. What this system does is convert energy created through braking into power for acceleration. Essentially, slowing down can speed cars up that use this system.Knowing what the KERS system is now, you can understand why a 488 harboring one could be a big deal. Check out the video below to see the test mule and encounter for yourself.Ferrari 488s For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – June 08, 2016

Crazy Italian Hypercar, Mazzanti Evantra Millecavalli, Re...

Today kicks off the popular Parco Valentino open air car show in picturesque Turin, Italy. The show will run from today, June 8 to Sunday, June 12. Spectators can expect to see some super rare and anticipated reveals, including one from Mazzanti Automobili.(Related: Batmobile Future Concept Is The Car Gotham Deserves)This will be Mazzanti Automobili's third time revealing a variation of the company's most popular model, the Evantra. Said to be the most extreme version yet, the Evantra Millecavalli. The Evantra Millecavalli has been in the works since the 2013 reveal of the Supercar Evantra, and, based on the specs, the Millevacalli version promises some serious enhancements.Mazzanti Evantra Millecavalli Specs Engine: 7.2-Liter V8 bi-turbo Horsepower: 1000 Torque: 885 lb-ft 0-60: 2.7 seconds Top Speed: 250 mph The Millecavalli comes in at 2866 pounds and includes a six-speed sequential gearbox designed exclusively for the hypercar. These features in conjunction with carbon-ceramic breaks and specially developed Motorsport technology allow the hypercar to hit 0-60 times in 2.7 seconds and the ability to stop from 186 mph to 0 mph in an amazing 7 seconds.The Evantra Millecavalli will be on display in the Mazzanti Automobili stand from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for spectators to view.

By Edward Jones – February 26, 2016

Lamborghini Centaurus Concept Is Out Of This World

The other day, I scrolled through my email as I do most days, and one particular email that caught my eye. Said email featured a Lamborghini concept that is downright stunning.Called the Lamborghini Centaurus, this concept was created by the Australian automotive designer David Williams, also known as Wizzoo7. The image (full image below) was the result of a collaboration between Williams and Daniel Gonzalez, also known as Gonz Photography. Here's what Gonzalez had to say about his edit. His Centaurus concept is designed to be a hardcore hypercar from Lamborghini to rival the big three and their respective hyper cars (918 Spyder, LaFerrari, P1).In my head for about half a year or more, I envisioned this crazy idea of having a car on an alien planet with floating islands. Knowing this alien-like environment would only work with a super futuristic-looking car, I wanted to reserve the scene for a car that looked like it was from the movie "Minority Report" . I've been a huge fan of David William's work since I first saw one of his many supercar renders about a year and a half ago. Following closely, it was in early February of 2016 that David revealed his jaw-droppingly gorgeous Centaurus concept. Upon the first few seconds of viewing his Centaurus design, I knew I had to do create my envisioned alien planet with floating islands.I want to give a HUGE thanks to Mr. David Williams for allowing me to edit his perfect Lamborghini Centaurus concept, and also for providing me a huge high resolution image to work off of. I highly suggest to all my fans to please view and follow his work. His work is beyond inspiring in my opinion, and makes me want to ditch photography/retouching all together in favor of 3d modeling. You can follow his work on his tagged Facebook page or his portfolio here: http://wizzoo7.deviantart.com What do you think of the concept? Let us know in the comments below.

By Edward Jones – December 07, 2015

Inferno: Mexican Hypercar to Compete with Koenigsegg?

Coming out of Mexico is a new hypercar called Inferno. As the website for the car describes, this car was created by "entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers" and international brands from countries like Italy, Mexico and the United States. One person that played an important step in creating Inferno was Antonio Ferraioli, an automotive engineer that has collaborated at Lamborghini, and is currently employed by Lotus Cars.Being designated as a hypercar on their website, the car is stated as producing 1,400 hp and 670 lb-ft of torque. According to the Facebook page México Top Spott, it will be powered by a turbocharged V8 engine. Wondering about performance? The creators note a 0-60 mph time of less than 3 seconds and a top speed of 245 mph. Could this pit the Inferno against cars like the new Bugatti or Koenigsegg? Only time will tell.One main reason as to why this car would be able to achieve such speeds is its light weight, thanks to the use of what they are calling "metal foam." This material is comprised of elements such as zinc, silver and aluminum, and it provides strength that is comparable "with that of a commercial armored vehicle, but with a big weight difference," their website states.As far as actually production goes, there is no official word as of yet, but stay with us to learn more as information is released.Gallery (Source: InfernoExoticCar.com, Facebook ¹,²)

renault-lecorbusier-concept-102215-feature

By Caitlin Duffy – October 22, 2015

Renault Le Corbusier Concept at Villa Savoye

For more than five decades, a single architect traveled the world and left his mark across continents, earning himself recognition as one the founding fathers of modern architecture. It has been another five decades since his passing, and 100 years after Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, began building, Renault is reviving his ideals in automotive form. The Renault Le Corbusier concept car was created as the off-shoot of the French marque's design team simply having fun with their craft nearly two years ago, and as a press release issued by them today tells us, it evolved into a 21st century imagining of the architect's aesthetic."The ideas of simplicity, visible and aesthetically-assumed structure, geometric elegance and mastery of light guided the designers in the creation of the Coupé Corbusier concept car," states the release.And of course, where better to introduce an homage to Le Corbusier than at one of his most notable creations? The Villa Savoye in Poissy was constructed between the years 1929 and 1931, as the Fondation Le Corbusier's website describes, but its design could easily be of 21st century origins. To mark the 50th anniversary of Le Corbusier's passing, the French Centre des Monuments Nationaux has created an exhibit to be displayed at the Villa Savoye from Oct. 22 to March 20, 2016. Titled "Cars for living: the automobile and modernism in the 20th and 21st centuries," it will feature all the ways modern architecture set the pace for modern car design, with this Renault creation tying the exhibit's past into the future. (See Also: Aston Martin Introduces Electric RapidE Concept) Take a closer look at the Le Corbusier concept in the gallery below, and stay with us for more updates from the automotive world. Browse Listings Gallery (Source: Renault, Fondation Le Corbusier) See More Concept Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 12, 2015

The ER W70 Supercar from Exotic Rides: Australian Designe...

America has been making a comeback in the supercar game as of late, and Florida is the latest state to introduce a new contender.Exotic Rides Florida is an Orlando-based customization shop that, as their website tells us, has been customizing and building cars for two decades. With the experience and knowledge gained from such longevity, they've decided to create their own supercar.Named the ER W70, this beast of a car was crafted by David Williams, known on Facebook as Wizzoo7. Williams is an automotive designer based in Australia, and this design concept came from him, initially dubbed his F70 concept. After the team at Exotic Rides got in touch with him, the name was changed to the ER W70, with each portion paying tribute to one of the parties involved; "ER" comes from "Exotic Rides," "W" comes from "Wizzoo7," and the 70 refers to the LS7 7.0-liter engine that will be housed under its hood. ER W70 coming this Fall 2015www.erw70.comPosted by Exotic Rides W70 on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 Though there aren't any confirmations of testing at this time, the mid-engine V8 is supposed to create 626 hp. No measurements for weight have been given, nor construction materials used, but the design lends itself to supreme aerodynamic abilities. A few images on the Exotic Rides website and one posted to their Facebook page July 30, as well as a July 28 video, share renderings of the interior and exterior, the final version of which is said to be slated for full introduction at SEMA 2015.Stay with us for more updates about this Florida-born concept as they emerge.Gallery (Source: Exotic Rides Florida, Facebook via CarBuzz) See More Concept Car News

By Caitlin Duffy – July 22, 2015

The Hybrid Driverless Flying Car: Updates to the Terrafug...

It's sort of a car, and kind of a plane - and it's supposed to be able to fit in your garage.Since 2006, Terrafugia has been working to develop a true flying car that's safe, economical and practical to use. Though it's a massive leap in methods of transportation, and one that may yet be decades away from public trust, it's exciting nonetheless- and they've pushed it closer to reality for almost a decade.A July 20 press release from the Massachusetts-based company shared new renderings and an animated video of their latest concept development, the Outer Mold Line for the TF-X. On May 10, 2013, they first introduced the TF-X concept as a hybrid car capable of vertical takeoff - no runway necessary. The newest design update is much sleeker than the first TF-X we saw - the headlights are longer, the slope of the hood into the windshieled is smoother and the color patterns look similar to those of a BMW i8.These new designs are a huge increase in beauty of design from the Terrafugia Transition. Their first vehicle that was road-legal and capable of flight was successfully tested July 2013, and looked quite a bit like a small private plane with folding wings.Of course, the TF-X is still a concept. There's no way to guarantee the impressive numbers in the video above are accurate. A 4-passenger car with autonomous flight, a 500 mile cruising range, a hybrid powertrain, a full megawatt of power, a 200 mph cruising speed and vertical takeoff are all exciting prospects, but at this point, they're just prospects.The release tells us a one-tenth scale model of the Outer Mold Line TF-X was successfully developed, and is set to be tested at the MIT Wright Brothers wind tunnel in the near future.(See Also: Lamborghini Concept S Up for Auction)Check out the photos of this incredible concept below. If you feel yourself itching for a vehicle with a little more rubber on the ground, be sure to browse our exclusive listings at duPontREGISTRY.com.Browse All ListingsGallery (Source: Terrafugia via Designboom) See More Concept Car News

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