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 – May 21, 2018

Royal Wedding's Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero

If you tuned in to watch the latest nuptials of The Royal Family, you might have noticed a classic Jaguar. Enzo Ferrari said the Jaguar E-Type was the most beautiful car ever built, and many agree with him to this day. That's why engineers at Jaguar have given new life to their iconic design. What you didn't see on the TV coverage was any exhaust or sound coming from the car.That's because it is the new E-Type Concept Zero. Showcasing Jaguar-Land Rover's future, the all-electric drivetrain was placed in the exact same location as the original engine. The brilliant handling was not altered, and it even lost a few hundred pounds in the process. Their website says the batteries and electric motor are packaged to replace the XK straight-six engine in any Jaguar from 1948 to 1992.This is very interesting because those dimensions are also comparable to a Chevrolet V8, which is a popular swap for classic Jaguar models. The Concept Zero runs 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds, a full second faster than an original E-Type. We really hope they make this conversion kit into production because it would allow many classic Jaguars to reach a new audience, and help the environment simultaneously. As soon as we have more info, you will find it here on Autofluence.Browse Jaguar E-Type For Sale

By Edward Jones – May 17, 2018

BMW Teases New Pure Electric Car

At the recent BMW Annual General Meeting, the German automaker revealed a new concept car called the iNEXT. This vehicle will be a pure-electric model that BMW plans to produce at Plant Dingolfing come 2021. The iNEXT will most likely become the brand's second pure-electric production vehicle, following the i3.More Power Announced in the 2019 BMW M5 Competition“The iNEXT project is our building kit for the future," says Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. "It will benefit the entire company and all our brands. For the first time, we are combining all key technologies for future mobility in one vehicle. The iNEXT is fully electric, fully connected and also offers highly automated driving. Today, we gave our shareholders a very first glimpse of the design of the BMW iNEXT. Later this year, we will be presenting the BMW iNEXT as a Vision Vehicle.”We will report on the BMW iNEXT as more information is produced.Used Sports Cars for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 09, 2018

Aston Martin Confirms The Lagonda Vision SUV

If you have been torn over which luxury SUV is right for you, Aston Martin is about to shake up the market. Announced in a press release this morning, Lagonda has returned in the form of a high-performance 4x4 SUV. The brand was founded by American-born Wilber Gunn in 1906, and it was merged with Aston Martin in 1947.Sell Your Exotic Car with duPont REGISTRYIt will be a production version of the battery-powered Vision Concept shown at the Geneva auto show. The emission-free nature takes clear aim at Jaguar's I-Pace. Aston Martin CEO Dr. Andy Palmer had this to say: "In reviving one of the most iconic names in motoring we have created a unique opportunity.One that allows us to cast aside an inherited 20th-century approach and instead design cars around 21st-century demands and desires. The Lagonda SUV is the first of its kind: a spacious, high-performance 4x4 that successfully reconciles a love of technology, luxury and style. It is expected to arrive for model-year 2021, so stay with us for all your Aston Martin news.Browse Aston Martin For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 27, 2018

DS X E-TENSE is a Hypercar for the Future

DS Automobiles has just debuted a new hypercar that looks straight out of the future, the X E-TENSE. Those living in America may not be very familiar with DS Automobiles. That's because they started off as a premium sub-branch of Citroën that's fairly new, having been a stand-alone brand only since 2014. But now, they're going into the hypercar market with this new X E-TENSE.Used Supercars for Sale DS Automobile describes the car as looking like it came straight out of 2035 and I think they're spot on. In fact, the reason this car was designed was because of a team at that sought see how their cars would look in the not-so-distant future. The result is an avant-garde hypercar that's unlike anything we've seen before. Definitely, the most interesting design aspect of the car has to be the asymmetrical design of the body and placement of the seats. But if you think this is a barebones hypercar, I should mention that it as massaging seats.Supercar and Hypercar Rev Off: Which Sounds the Best? Sure, it looks fast, but does it have the power? Of course it does. Powering the car is an electric drivetrain that can be rated from 540 horsepower to 1,360 horsepower depending on which mode it's in. Those are numbers you'd expect from a hypercar for sure.There's no known plan for this car to be produced, but it's an interesting look into DS Automobiles' future.

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 Andrew Nabors – April 20, 2018

Audi e-tron Has 400 Volt Charging!

A few days ago we learned that Porsche's Mission E Cross-Turismo concept can be charged in 15 minutes. This shocking news has also been echoed by their cousins at Audi in a press release this morning. What VW's luxury brands are doing is poking fun at the "current" state of electric car charging standards.Porsche Mission E Fully Electric Concept UnveiledThe photo alone is ironic, as the Audi e-tron is mentioned to be inside a Faraday cage. It is not the cage that does any work, it is the objects behind them. Audi calls them "Impulse Voltage Generator". Everyone else in the world calls them Tesla coils. No, not the hair band, Nikola Tesla invented AC current and someone also named a car company after him.Porsche and Audi want us to know that cars can be charged quickly. They want the world to embrace high-voltage DC power. Your normal wall charger can push 11 kW into a car. If you have an electrician wire another dryer plug, 240 volts yields 22 kW of charging. Audi envisions 150 kW charging, which Porsche hinted at when the 918 Spyder was introduced.Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo: Charge Time RevealedGermans are brutally efficient, which is why their home electrical systems have 230 volts while we have 120 volts. Tesla chose 110 volts for safety, if you are in good health it will just make you mad. I personally don't want to be in or near any car being force-fed 150 kW (at 400 volts)...Have you seen "The Green Mile"? The reason the photo was taken at Siemens electric, is because the world will need to buy a boatload of Siemens HV products to support a few minutes of additional charging.The press release supports AC or DC charging equally, so we forwarded this to AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson for clarification. The only musical analogy they need to understand is "Ride The Lightning", due to the deadly implications of high voltage DC systems. VW Group would like to see Tesla on death row, but DC should be left to power companies, heavy metal, and prisons.Porsche is working on installing 800-volt charging stations at all 189 US dealers as the Mission E gets closer to launch, so stay with us to see how the industry responds.View Audi For Sale

By Edward Jones – April 17, 2018

Mercedes-Maybach SUV Teased for First Time

Mercedes-Maybach has finally given us the first glimpse at what will be the future for luxury SUVs as we know it. In a video posted on their Facebook page (see below) are teases of the luxurious interior found in the new Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury. While the name is quite the mouthful, Daimler notes that this new vehicle "shows how the typical strengths of an exclusive high-end saloon and an SUV can be combined."Mercedes-Benz Announces Car Subscription ServiceAlso released was a design sketch the new SUV's interior (see above). This image shows a dashboard that's uncluttered and clean in design. A massive screen sits in front of the driver, which not only displays the instrument gauges but it also has room for the infotainment center. Between the driver and passenger rests a massive center console that I'm sure will be home to something that will surprise us. Refrigerator, anyone?The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury will officially debut at Auto China in Beijing (April 25-29).https://www.facebook.com/MercedesBenz/videos/10156302691616670/

By Andrew Nabors – March 29, 2018

Genesis Unveils Essentia Concept In New York

The New York Auto Show is the ideal spot to show off your ideas for the future. That's why Genesis took the cover off their Essentia concept last night. The press release says the new design philosophy is named "Athletic Elegance", and it blends power and precision through artistry.It also includes a quote from Genesis' Head of Design. We didn't realize they were recruiting the best minds in the automotive industry, but Luc Donckerwolke is their Vice President. His former job was head of design for Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini, so he knows a thing or two about transforming emotions into automobiles.Genesis has shocked everyone in that the Essentia is battery powered. It is also mostly carbon fiber, which should offer a decent range. "The Genesis Essentia concept defines our vision for an electric Gran Turismo that integrates Athletic Elegance and Genesis DNA as defining parameters. A Gran Turismo typology highlights our ambition as a luxury car brand for the connoisseurs and it is the perfect base to project our DNA in the future.”2017 Genesis G80 ReviewThe gorgeous body is a one-piece carbon fiber monocoque, the first vehicle of this type to be built in South Korea. The interior is focused on the driver without the clutter of modern systems. Facial recognition is incorporated to preset many functions, and the instrument cluster is an 8" HD screen that only displays essential data while the car is moving.Details of the battery were withheld, but Genesis estimates a 0-60 time of only 3 seconds. The technology and style shown here. If this is a glimpse of Genesis' future, it certainly looks promising. Stay with us for Genesis updates and more coverage of the New York Auto Show.Browse Genesis G80 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 26, 2018

Hackrod Unveils "La Bandita" 3D Printed Speedster

It was only a matter of time. With the growth of 3D printers and advancements in Virtual Reality, Hackrod has arrived with a gorgeous speedster named "La Bandita". Working with Siemens, designboom is reporting that you will be able to see your sports car in VR before production begins.Supercars for SaleThe frame looks almost organic, as the one-piece aluminum structure is printed in 2319 aerospace alloy. Without welds or bolts, this revolutionary (and affordable) method might give carbon fiber a literal run for its money. Hackrod is a startup consisting of a Film Director and an Aerospace Engineer along with a group of forward-thinking veterans of the automotive world.Their goal is to make you the co-creator of your own car. Taking a few humans out of the build process has been tried by others, but now the technology is available to automate the build from virtual to physical. Click on the link below to visit their site and stay with us for more Hackrod updates.Learn More How to Sell My Ferrari

By Edward Jones – March 15, 2018

Audi to Release Full-Electric e-tron GT by 2020 Very Soon

Audi is ramping up the engineering behind their electronic drivetrain, and it's more apparent now more than ever. You see, Audi is now saying that the new e-tron GT will be released by the year 2020. This announcement came from a tweet by Audi Sport. In it they say "The four-door Gran Turismo with purely electric drive will be the spearhead of Audi Sport by the year of 2020." Adding upon this news was a press release from Audi. In one paragraph, Audi notes their electrification roadmap and the e-tron GT itself. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, says in the press release: “We interpret sportiness very progressively with our fully electric e-tron GT, and this is how we will take our high-performance brand Audi Sport into the future.” The four-door electric car will come with a price tag that sits around $100,000, and that's pretty much all of the information we have regarding the car as of right now. So, be sure to check back with us for more information regarding the Audi e-tron GT as it's released.2018 Audi RS 5 Coupe Has Entered the Battlehttps://twitter.com/audisport/status/974232251595739136

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