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 – January 30, 2019

Ginetta Confirms New 600HP Supercar

Something wild just hit our inbox. Ginetta has been building English race cars since 1958. They have also been a supplier of fiberglass and carbon fiber bodies for manufacturers around the world. Now they are taking on the world, as Ginetta confirmed a new 600 horsepower supercar for sale. Their customers have achieved podium finishes in the European LeMans Series and the British Touring Car Championship. In the past, they have used various Ford V6 and four-cylinder engines. But the press release this morning includes a shocker. A new 600 horsepower V8 and a sequential transmission will be built in-house. When placed in the all-carbon body, it will be a serious track machine. Tell us what you think of the teaser photos and stay with us for all your supercar news. Browse Exotic Cars For Sale " width="680"> Related: Check Out Jay Leno's Collection Venomous Vipers For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 24, 2019

McLaren Envisions a Wild Future for Grand Prix Racing

" width="680"> In the year 2050, McLaren Applied Technologies predicts in a new article that grand prix racing will be similar to racing we see in video games like F. Zero or Wipeout. However, instead of someone like Captain Falcon being in the driver seat, it would be a racer wearing a suit that connects to AI. Yeah, this is some serious futurology stuff. The car that McLaren envisions looks like it came out of a sci-fi movie or video game and it's called the MCLExtreme (MCLE). It features sidepods that were inspired by the gill of a great white shark, which can expand and contract in order to optimize aerodynamics. When these side pods are narrowed, the MCLE would be able to hit 310 mph down a straight, but when contracted they can slow the car down for braking. See All McLaren 720S For Sale To make that kind of speed possible, the MCLE would, of course, be powered by electricity. In fact, they say all grand prix racing in 2050 will be electric and charging of the batteries would come from the track itself. Think wireless charging, but the charging pad is the entire track and your phone is a race car. One interesting theory from McLaren is that cars could possibly be able to steal energy from cars in front of them, "keeping fans on the edge of their seats." For the track, McLaren sees the future of racing taking crazy twists and turns you'd only expect in a video game. High-tech cars means greater performance, the ability to perform tighter turns and high-speeds. For street circuits, McLaren notes that track designers could build banking to street corners for higher-speeds. When it comes to more circuit racing, there could be circuits that span great distances. Their example is the Italian Grand Prix of 2050 spanning from the Monza to the Milan city center. Jenson Button’s McLaren 675LT Spider for Sale One of the wildest visions from McLaren Applied Technologies is how AI will serve a role in racing. They believe that "racing could become an incubator for the development of AI." For the driver, AI would become their super-intelligent co-pilot that would be connected to them via the helmet and race suit. The future freaks me out, but I'm excited. view all mclarens for sale Also Check Out: Why You Should Buy A McLaren 600LT McLaren 720S Specs, Price, Photos & Review McLaren 2018: A Year of Dominance Images Via Twitter

By Andrew Nabors – January 08, 2019

Jay Leno Drives the 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC 400

A majority of Jay Leno's Garage is dedicated to automotive history. But he does have a feel for the future, and his latest upload is a warning shot to everyone in the electric car industry. The EQ brand is Mercedes-Benz entry into battery-powered cars. Their goal is to have 10 models on the road by 2022, and it all starts here. The EQC, or Concept EQ is an AWD crossover with 400 horsepower. It has two 200 horsepower motors that power the front and rear axles. The battery pack is mounted below the axle centerline to offer incredible handling and stability. Currently, the prototype offers 220 miles of range, with a 30-mile reserve to help you find a charger. Of course, it has a standard AC charging port for charging overnight. If you need a quick charge, the high-voltage DC circuit uses the CCS1 plug found on Chevy, Ford, and all European cars. The Japanese CHAdeMO connector might be heading into obscurity thanks to Tesla. Electrek.co is reporting that Elon is adding support for CCS1 and CCS2 across Europe. Elon probably shares Jay's sentiments, in that once Mercedes-Benz enters the market, the industry will follow. Stay with us for all your electric news and new uploads from Jay Leno's Garage. Check Out Jay Leno's Collection! Related: Mercedes-Benz Previews the 2019 EQC Mercedes-Benz EQA Cruises Around Sicily

By Andrew Nabors – January 02, 2019

SSC Tuatara: Start, Revs & Walkaround at Miller Motorcars

This is the year. American supercars will hopefully be joined by a production version of the SSC Tuatara. Named for the fastest evolving animal, it is an evolution of their Ultimate Aero we first saw in 2011. Given the immense budgets of the major automakers, we like to root for the underdogs in hopes they can change the industry. Much like the New Zealand reptile it is named for, the concept and prototypes have stayed ahead of competitors. Our friends at Miller Motorcars are not afraid to add a 10th brand to their breathtaking inventory, so the SSC was caught on arrival in Greenwich, CT. Turn up your audio for the SSC Tuatara start along with a nice sample of revs and idle. Is It Worthy of Jay Leno's Collection? Their website says it is powered by a 5.9L flat-plane V8 of their own design. This would give it an Italian sound with the ability to rev higher than most cars on the road. This footage was captured by WVM3DreamDrives along with a unique soundtrack. It looks right at home along with a Pagani Huayra and a LaFerrari, so tell us what you think of it in the comments below. If you are ready for 1,750 horsepower and 1,280 lb-ft of torque on e85, click the link below to see what Miller Motorcars has to offer. Stay with us for all your SSC updates! View Miller Motorcars Inventory Related: SSC Tuatara Delivery Updates Check Out The Sultan Of Brunei's Collection!

By Andrew Nabors – November 28, 2018

Pininfarina Uploads More Teasers of the PF0

It was a sad day when we realized that Ferrari no longer offers a car designed by Pininfarina. Enzo entrusted Sergio and Andreas Pininfarina with sculpting iconic cars, so that Ferrari could concentrate on racing. Times have changed, and Pininfarina SpA is designing an electric future. A press release this morning offers more images of the upcoming PF0, which will be built by Pininfarina Automobili in Germany. These two companies share a common ancestor, but it is easier to keep production and styling on separate ledgers. Speaking about building the car, Automobili Pininfarina's CEO Michael Perschke said: "It is a pleasure and a privilege to partner with the world’s greatest car design house, Pininfarina SpA. This agreement brings us together and marks the beginning of two exciting chapters in our very different histories. For Automobili Pininfarina, it will form the cornerstone of our ambition to become the world’s most admired luxury electric vehicle company. For Pininfarina SpA, it delivers Battista’s dream of seeing a range of beautiful and highly desirable Pininfarina-branded cars on the roads." The PF0 will be the first example of their "Pura" design language which will be used on a series of new electric luxury models. Tell us what you think of it in the comments below and stay with us for all your Pininfarina updates. Related: Pininfarina Teases Their 2,000 Horsepower PF0 Automobili Pininfarina Teases New Electric Hypercar

By Edward Jones – October 09, 2018

A Look at the Future of British Luxury

Bentley and students from the Royal College of Art's (RCA) Intelligent Mobility program have teamed up to envision the future of British luxury. Each of the students in the program was tasked with creating their vision of a luxurious Grand Touring experience from the future. “Bentley has always been at the forefront of automotive luxury, and with this collaboration we asked millennial students for their vision of the future," says Bentley’s Design Director Stefan Sielaff. Interestingly enough, Sielaff is an alumnus of RCA's Automotive Design program.In total, there were 24 different student responses and four of them were chosen as the most "thought-provoking."Aston Martin's New Autonomous Luxury Aircraft Concept "Luxury Soundscapes" by Irene Chiu. This concept was design around acoustics and the vehicle's ability to filter out undesirable noise. "Elegant Autonomy" by Enuji Choi. The artist understood the importance of elegance in British culture and blended it with an autonomous futuristic vehicle. "Material Humanity" by Kate NamGoong. Interestingly enough, the article of this concept went with the thought that the future of true luxury resides in the choice to occasionally drive in a car powered by an internal combustion engine. "Stratospheric Grand Touring" by Jack Watson. For this artist, they believe their concept would end the issue of where you can live in the future. Essentially, if you have a stratospheric traveler like this one, you can live where ever you want and travel across the globe in a moment's notice.

By Andrew Nabors – September 21, 2018

James Glickenhaus Unveils the SCG 2DR Boot

Known for racing and building America's best supercars, Mr. Glickenhaus is ready for a new adventure. Built to battle the Baja 1000, the SCG 2DR Boot is a street-legal powerhouse. It will be an homage to Steve McQueen's Baja Boot. Built to combine the best in pre-runners and rock crawlers. If you feel like driving from Paris to Dakar, or from New York to Moscow, it has provisions for pontoons for an amphibious adventure.Wide Open Baja: Your Adventure Awaits Two models will be available at launch. The Founders Boot has a soft top and is ready for order. The race version will be ready in early 2019, and both versions come with logistical support from SCG's factory race team. Both models will have a full 17-digit VIN and are legal to drive in 49 states. Hopefully, California will relax their draconian car laws in the meantime. It is legal anywhere south of the border, and the Founders model will include a luxury tour of the Baja 1000 course next year.Exotic Cars For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 20, 2018

Aston Martin Confirms '003' Hypercar for 2021

Like it or not, hybrid technology is here to stay. Aston Martin's collaboration with Mercedes-AMG has allowed them to save their pennies for something truly revolutionary. In a press release this morning they announced their third hypercar. Following on the successes of the Valkyrie and the Valkyrie AMR (001, and 002), Project 003 will be a street-legal threat to its competitors. Only 500 examples will be built, so I hope my lottery numbers are winners. Check Out Lebron's Car Collection A turbocharged engine with hybrid assist will be the backbone of the lightweight machine. It will have room for luggage and will be assembled in left or right-hand-drive. CEO Andy Palmer said: "It was always the intention for the Aston Martin Valkyrie to be a once-in-a-lifetime project, however, it was also vital to us that Valkyrie would create a legacy: a direct descendant that would also set new standards within its own area of the hypercar market, creating a bloodline of highly specialized, limited production machines that can exist in parallel with Aston Martin’s series production models. I’m thrilled to announce that this car is the Project ‘003’, and our next step into a dynamic and exacting arena.”All we have is a sketch, for the time being, so think about their previous hypercars, add in some revised road manners and you will have a recipe for success. As soon as we have more info, you will see it here first. Until then, click the link below to find great deals from your local Aston Martin dealer. Browse Aston Martin For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 17, 2018

Electric Dendrobium D-1 Hypercar Wows in Debut

An all-new hypercar is on its way and it's coming straight out of England. The Dendrobium D-1 is an all-electric hypercar that is as about exciting as they come. It packs a powertrain worthy enough to push out 1,800 bhp, which will pair up well with its weight of 3,858 lbs. Guests at the 2018 Salon Privé garden party event were able to see the car in all of its glory during its recent debut there. In a press release from Dendrobium, they note that the car caught the eye of His Grace The Duke of Marlborough of Blenheim Palace. The Dendrobium is a Bizarre, 1,000 bhp Electric Hypercar “After an extensive career in the supercar industry, I can honestly say that Dendrobium Automotive is one of the most exciting and future-focused businesses I've ever been involved with," says Chairman and CEO of Dendrobium Automotive, Nigel Gordon-Stewart. He also notes that they are designing the all-electric powertrain in-house. What's more, they will be using their own power storage cells and plan on eventually moving to solid state when the technology is ready. Dendrobium isn't ready to for production yet, as the company is planning on adding a few more developments to the car that they say are "significant and exciting."

By Andrew Nabors – September 11, 2018

Mercedes-Benz Vision Urbanetic is the Body-Swapping Van o...

The future is coming sooner than you think, and Mercedes-Benz will deliver it to you. Coinciding with a new Sprinter factory in North Charleston, SC, Mercedes Vans has revealed their Urbanetic concepts. These autonomous vehicles are built on a battery-powered chassis, and they integrate self-learning to navigate cities of the future.2018 Dodge Demon Price & SpecsStraight outta' Tomorrowland, they can be fitted with a passenger cabin, cargo module, or a flatbed for your in-laws. With zero emissions and nearly silent, they represent a future of on-demand mobility. The ride-sharing model has room for 12 passengers, while the cargo edition hauls 10 EPAL pallets.The press release mentions a fleet of them based in a central garage. By learning their most efficient routes, each one would proceed to pre-planned waypoints inside a defined area. A lack of pedals or a steering wheel is a little disconcerting, so tell us what you think of the Vision Urbanetic in the comments below.Browse Exotic Cars For Sale

Concept Cars

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe