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 – April 24, 2018

Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury Unveiled

Yesterday in Beijing was groundbreaking for Mercedes-Benz. Their Maybach division formally pulled the wraps off of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury. In a press release this morning, we've learned it combines the "DNA of an SUV with that of a sedan". Gordon Wagener is Daimler's Chief of Design and he also said: "The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury is a totally new archetype of a kind never seen before."The choice to unveil it in Beijing has major significance. Wealthy Chinese buyers will be happy to find "Magic Wood" used for the interior ebony trim. This wood is found in traditional Chinese furniture. While Rolls-Royce has aimed their Cullinan at the Western Hemisphere, the market for luxury crossovers is booming in China. To set it apart from everyone else, the chrome grille resembles a pinstriped suit.The Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury offers a higher seating position than a sedan, along with a notchback design that is popular in China. Machined aluminum running boards and 24" turbine wheels give it an imposing look from any angle. The interior was modeled after the S-Class, with attention centered on the rear passengers. Intended to be driven by a chauffeur, the reclining rear seats have calf supports and are diamond stitched in rose gold. It is powered by four AC electric motors, one for each wheel. The battery is 80 kWh and can be charged to a range of 60 miles in 5 minutes. If you are looking for something more conventional, our dealers have great offers on the Maybach S600, so click on the link below and stay with us for all your Mercedes-Maybach updates. Browse Mercedes-Maybach For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 22, 2017

Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet: Future of Luxury Cars?

They teased us with it, and now it's here: the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet.The exterior is, unsurprisingly, very similar to that of the Coupe version but with a convertible roof. The part that really blew me away was the interior, which Mercedes calls a "360° open-air luxury lounge." The most visual aspect of the 360° design comes from the flowing blue design that wraps around the entirety of the cabin. But the flow continues, as the bottom of both seats stretch across from driver to passenger seat, passing over the futuristic-looking center console. In all honesty, just about everything about this cabin screams "future," but not so much to where everything couldn't carry over into a production car."The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet takes modern luxury into the realms of the ultimate in luxury, and is the perfect embodiment of our design strategy. Breathtaking proportions combined with a luxurious "haute couture" interior help to create the ultimate experience," explains Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG.Drake Buys a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

By Edward Jones – August 09, 2017

New Mercedes-Maybach Concept Car Teased

Back on August 19, 2016, Daimler revealed the new Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept car. The new car was unveiled at 18.5-feet in length, powered by a battery that has a usable capacity of around 80 kWh, the Vision 6 has 738 hp on tap.Floyd Mayweather's Kode57Almost exactly a year later, Daimler is rolling out another Vision concept that was teased in a Facebook video (found below). The interior and wheels look very similar to that of the Mercedes concept car from last year, but an overall look at the car was not given. Unfortunately, we're going to have to wait for the car's revealing at Pebble Beach on August 20 for more information.https://www.facebook.com/MercedesBenz/videos/10155616781331670/

By Edward Jones – September 07, 2016

Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Stuns in Chantilly

The new long and luxurious Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 has already had quite an impact on the automotive world. With its previously mentioned long build and sleek design, it's unlike any Mercedes or Maybach model we've ever seen. Because of its appearance, it become the star of the show wherever it goes-- even at this year's Concours d'Elegance in Chantilly.(Check Out - Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Driven with a Remote, Looks Astonishing At Night) The event, held at the Château de Chantilly in France, is just about as luxurious as they come, as is the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6. Check out the images in this article to see the car in what I'd like to call it's natural habitat.The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 is a new electric concept coupe that gives us a glimpse into the future of the brand. 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.View All Mercedes-Maybach For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2016

Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Driven with a Remote, Looks Ast...

The new Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept has been the talk of the town since it was unveiled at Monterey Car Week. From its massive size and sleek styling to its electric powertrain, why wouldn't everyone be talking about this luxurious ride? Well, there is one aspect about the car that not many people have been noting: it can be driven via a remote control.(Related: Classic Mercedes-Benz Drives Onto Ferrari 458 Speciale)In a video released by Marchettino today, we get a chance to see the remote control functionality of the car in action on the green at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In the video we see a man with a remote control driving the 738 horsepower luxury coupe on the grass. While he didn't drive the car fast, it was still quite impressive. However, he does say to a woman trying to take a picture with the car that it is an "autonomous car." If it were, in fact, autonomous it would be able to act on its own without human control (see Tesla Auto Pilot).Anyways, check out the video below to see it in action and catch a glimpse of its spectacular nighttime light display.View All Mercedes-Maybachs 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!

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