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 – January 05, 2017

BMW Unveils Their Weirdest Car Yet, And It Drives Itself

At this year's CES event, one of the hottest items is most definitely autonomous cars. BMW came to the event with a self-driving car of their own.This new car is what BMW describes as "the latest chapter in a story that began with BMW iDrive." This new car features the new HoloActive Touch technology, which uses the BMW Head-Up Display, BMW gesture control and new touchscreen functionality. This all results in a "free-floating virtual display which is projected in the area above the center console." It all sounds a bit weird, but the video below by BMWBLOG perfectly demonstrates how it all works.Essentially, the car's touchpad has free-floating projections that the user can "touch" in mid-air. When the system detects the driver's fingers near the projections, it counts as a "tap" and haptic feedback is provided via ultrasound. If you listen in the video above, you can hear the ultrasound haptic feedback in action.(Also Check Out - Faraday Future Finally Reveals the FF 91, Faster Than Tesla)Through this system, the driver will be able to pinpoint locations where they want the car to drive them. Once a destination is chosen, a few things can happen: the car will let you know if there are ride-share possibilities (people to pick up, like Uber) and, this is the neat one, it will let you chose a movie or show to watch during your trip that fits the length of the trip.While this car is simply a concept car that will never reach the roads, it at least gives us amazing insight into the future tech that BMW is currently working on.All BMW For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 22, 2016

Audi Reveals Bizarre-Looking Q8 Concept

In a press release titled "Foretaste of a production model: Audi Q8 concept premieres in Detroit", Audi unveiled their latest design for their upcoming large and in-charge SUV model.(Also Read - Here it is: Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class Truck Revealed)At the Detroit Auto Show in January of next year, Audi will be presenting the Audi Q* concept to the public for the very first time. Audi notes that the styling of this car represents how the upcoming models will be stylized, ultimately "unlocking a new segment for the full-size category."“With the Audi Q8 concept, we have created a new spearhead within our Q model line. Its design strongly evokes sportiness and prestige,” declared Audi Head of Design Marc Lichte in the press release. “What’s more, we believe an important aspect of this showcar is that it offers a spacious interior with four equally comfortable seats, even with the flat roof line.”For more news on the Detroit Auto Show, stay tuned with Autofluence.All Audi For Sale

By Edward Jones – December 16, 2016

The Hoverbike of the Future: The Beast

For years, people have envisioned that the cars of the future will float above ground in some fashion. Whether it's done through some sort of magnetism or air flow, the cars would be floating above the ground. One concept that perfectly displays what a futuristic hoverbike could look like was recently created by Rico Kersten.Called "The Beast," this hoverbike design was uploaded to Behance for the world to see. In the description for the concept design, he notes that the bike is powered by a radial fan, similar to those found in computer graphics cards (GPUs) or "older hairdryers from the 70's." Kersten said that he "Liked the idea that on powerful fan could lift and move the vehicle." Aiding the bike's directional efforts are wings on the bottom, as well as two big thrust reverse brakes.If the motorcycle from the movie "Akira" was a hoverbike, I'm sure it would've looked similar to this. Be sure to check out Kersten's Behance page for more amazing digital designs.

By Edward Jones – December 01, 2016

New Tease of the Rolls-Royce SUV, Project Cullinan

Do you remember last year when we were given glimpses of a Rolls-Royce SUV? Most people do and recognize this car as Project Cullinan. Since it's announcement, we've been given glimpses of the vehicle, but a full unveiling has yet to happen. In a press release issued today, Rolls-Royce gave us just a little bit more information on the project.(Related - New Rolls-Royce "Project Cullinan" Begins Testing)The English automaker released two new images of a specific Project Cullinan today, which is the first full development vehicle. It will undergo testing in public starting tomorrow. Rolls-Royce plans on taking the car to various places around the world, testing its capabilities and making sure it's "Effortless...Everywhere." The all-new aluminum architecture within Project Cullinan will be in all Rolls-Royce models from 2018 onwards."This is an incredibly exciting moment in the development of Project Cullinan both for Rolls-Royce and for the patrons of luxury that follow us around the world,” comments Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Bringing together the new four-wheel drive system and the new ‘architecture of luxury’ for the first time sets us on the road to creating a truly authentic Rolls-Royce which, like its forebears, will reset the standard by which all other luxury goods are judged.”Be sure to stick with us to learn more about the Rolls-Royce Project Cullinan SUV.All Royce-Royce For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 10, 2016

Rimac Concept One vs Porsche 918: The Future is Here

I feel as though we're at a point in time where I don't need to tell the world how fast the Porsche 918 Spyder is. We've seen the 918 on the track, on the road and just about everywhere else, and we've seen it top speeds of well over 200 mph. Let's face it, the 918 Spyder is one of the world's fastest cars. But, so is the Rimac Concept One.(Related - Electric Hypercar Crushes LaFerrari and Tesla Model S in Race)Unlike the previously mentioned German supercar, not many people know about the Concept One, but they certainly will soon. This electric supercar is powered by an 82 kWh Lithium-Iron-Phosphate battery and electric motors at each wheel. Together, the car is good for 1,088 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. All of that power gives the supercar the ability to run 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.So how does it stack up against the already legendary 918 Spyder? Click play on the latest Bangin' Gears episode found below.View All Porsche 918 Spyder For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 29, 2016

Honda Civic Type R Prototype Looks Ferocious

It's back and most would say it's better than ever. The new Honda Civic Type R Prototype has just made its debut at the 2016 Paris auto show and it's turning heads left and right.This prototype comes in a bespoke "brushed aluminum" wrap that matches the cars extremely aggressive design perfectly. I mean, seriously, this is undoubtedly one of the best-looking Civics I've seen in recent years."We promised the most ambitious, sportiest Civic lineup ever and we're delivering on that promise with each new Civic," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc, in a revealing press release. "For the first time ever in America, Honda fans and enthusiasts will have access to the ultimate in Civic performance in the form of the new Type R."As far as a price or performance goes, no information has been given. The only numbers in the press release are in regards to the 20-inch allow wheels and 245-section tires.

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By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – September 23, 2016

Lexus UX Concept Makes 3D Driving a Thing

Looking like something out of Minority Report, the new Lexus UX Concept brings the driving experience and holograms together. This futuristic SUV brings 3D out of the movie theaters and into the cockpits of vehicles. To start, the "driver's instrument binnacle houses a transparent globe, which floats, "in the manner of a hologram." To function, the binnacle fuses together analog and digital technology. Additionally, a "crystal structure" is featured in the center console which has a hologram display that controls the infotainment and air conditioning systems.(Related - Pininfarina to Actually Sell the Bizarre H2 Speed Concept)The most innovative electric technology available will control windows and mirrors, and a new sound experience will be offered through a removable soundbar rather than the standard speaker system. The official unveiling of the concept will commence at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, and we're expecting more information will be provided then. View Lexus For Sale

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 30, 2016

Pininfarina to Actually Sell the Bizarre H2 Speed Concept

Back in March, Pininfarina unveiled an bizarre new concept that we were most definitely not expecting from them. Called the H2 Speed Concept, this race car is powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The hydrogen gas used to power the car is created by breaking down water to its main components. So, you take H2O, chop it down and are left with one hydrogen atom and two oxygen atoms.To do this, our Andrew Nabors put it best: ". Electricity and water are not friends so when they get together, water loses the fight and you end up with oxygen bubbles on the negative side and hydrogen on the positive. Hydrogen is lonely without oxygen, and a fuel cell is the best place for them to party. What happens in the fuel cell stays in the fuel cell, and you end up with water and electricity."With this hydrogen party going and motivation from two electric motors, the H2 Speed Concept can rocket from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. While that isn't Tesla Model S P100D numbers, it's still fast as heck. And if they work a little more on the acceleration, this could become the world's cleanest supercar.While we all thought that this concept was going to stay as a concept, AutoNews.com is reporting that the car will actually be produced. They note in a recent article that 10 examples of the car will be produces with an approximate price tag of $2.5 million.

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

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