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 – September 30, 2020

The Palladium "Hyper-Limousine" To Be Unveiled Soon

The mysterious Aznom Palladium is set to be revealed in the last week of October in Milan, during the Milano Monza open Air Motor Show. This new vehicle is set to be the first "hyper-limousine", according to a press release from Aznom Automotive. Inspiration for the Palladium comes from the sedans used by heads of state, as well as luxury automobiles from the 1930s. What's more, they note that this upcoming model will be "powerful, strong, and unstoppable like a true all-wheel drive off-road vehicle." So, what we will be seeing is a hyper-limousine that offers boundless luxury and can take the passengers off-road. Now that sounds incredible interesting. Be sure to check back with us for more information as it's revealed.

By Edward Jones – September 29, 2020

Hyundai's New Department to Create "World's First Transfo...

Hyundai has just announced the New Horizons Studio, a unit within the Hyundai Motor Group that will focus on creating Ultimate Mobility Vehicles (UMVs). What's a UMV? It all started with the Hyundai Elevate concept, a car with robotic legs that allow it to traverse terrains not suitable for standard vehicles. The Elevate looks to be a building block for this new unit's mission. “We aim to create the world’s first transformer-class vehicle, also known as the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle,” notes Vice President Dr. John Suh. You have to admit, owning a transformer-class vehicle would be worth it just for the name. Expect to see a lot of futuristic and groundbreaking concepts coming out of New Horizons Studio. And, who knows, maybe we'll be seeing them in real-world applications in the near future.

By Andrew Nabors – September 08, 2020

GM & Nikola Join Forces To Build Electric Trucks

Almost a year ago we were literally shocked by a new manufacturer. Anheuser-Busch delivered beer with zero pollution. Nikola Corporation received an order for 800 fuel-cell trucks along with cash to begin work on their electric pickup. With Tesla in their crosshairs, investors and the public have been wondering who would step up to help them. That answer came today as GM & Nikola have joined forces to build electric trucks. This investment of 11% is valued at $2 Billion of Nikola's common stock thanks to the sharing of innovation and production between the two companies. The press release says Nikola will use GM's new Ultium battery technology while their Badger pickup truck is engineered and built for them by GM. This allows GM to be the exclusive fuel cell supplier for Nikola's Class 7/8 trucks outside of Europe. Nikola has been building production Semi Trucks at a snail's pace so far, so this is truly exciting. The Badger will be offered in EV or Fuel Cell models, so click the button below to learn more and stay with us for all your EV news. Learn More " width="680">

By Edward Jones – September 08, 2020

New Nissan Z Proto Teaser Shows the Inspiration

The next generation of the Nissan Z is coming soon, and we've just learned a little bit more about it. In a new teaser video from Nissan, we get a chance to see a taste of the inspiration for the new Nissan Z Proto. From the tail lights to the headlights, design cues from multiple generations will be found in the Z Proto. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until September 15 to see the car unveiled in full. To be more specific, it will be unveiled on that date at 8:30 PM EDT. It's at that moment in time that we will see how Nissan will blend the retro Z cars with modern technology in order to create an entirely new vehicle. You can learn more and register for the unveiling event by clicking here. See All Nissan GTRs for Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 04, 2020

Zagato Teases the 2020 Iso Rivolta GT Zagato

One of the most beautiful blends of Italian style and American engineering was the 1962 Iso Rivolta. Iso was a coachbuilder led by Renzo Rivolta. He wanted to compete with Ferrari, Alfa-Romeo, and anyone else in GT racing. Therefore he hired a young designer named Giorgetto Giugiaro who had just started working for the Bertone styling house. Iso's engineers worked with him to build a timeless classic. The Iso Rivolta's engine and transmission were supplied by Chevrolet, tuned to the same specs as the Corvette. The car was so successful that it spawned the Iso Grifo, a 7-liter 427 engine found in the McLaren M8, Camaro SS, and the Corvette Stingray. Now it looks as if Zagato is building a new "IsoRivolta" which hints it will have small block American power. This gorgeous machine will be unveiled in October, so tell us what you think will be under the hood, and stay with us for all your Zagato news. Browse Zagato For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 04, 2020

Gordon Murray's T.50 Debuts at Noon, Watch it Here

Five decades ago Jim Hall dominated the Can-Am series by using fans to keep the car stuck to the track. During his reign at McLaren, Gordon Murray applied unconventional aerodynamics in designing the F1. He tried to retire, but his mind has yielded something unprecedented: the T.50. He commissioned Cosworth to build the ultimate V12, and the 3.9-liter spins to 12,100 rpm. Doing so it makes 344 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm and 654 horsepower at 11,500 rpm. No turbos, no supercharger, just an honest 6-speed manual transmission. Even with the massive fan it only weighs 2,204 lbs, so you will see it here at noon (Eastern Time) " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – July 22, 2020

Ares Design to Debut 4 Handbuilt Vehicles at Salon Privé

Mass production in the automotive world seems to be perfected. Even economy car factories employ 3D printing and laser welding, so what happened to all the coachbuilders? Ares Design is based in Modena, and they build everything the old-fashioned way. Nothing beats a handmade Italian masterpiece, so they will be unveiling four of their latest creations at Salon Privé. The U.K.'s most exclusive Concours will be the setting for Ares to display their interpretation of a Bentley Mulsanne 2-door coupe, two motorcycles, and the wild Panther ProgettoUno supercar. It was clearly inspired by another Italian, the DeTomaso Pantera. It packs 650 horsepower to reach 62 mph in 3.1 seconds with a top speed over 202 mph. Next to it will be their Scrambler and Cafe Racer bikes. Co-founder Danny Bahar said: "We are really looking forward to attending this year’s Salon Privé, especially after all the uncertainty of recent months. It will be a great opportunity for admirers to encounter ARES Design. ARES is a brand that you need to experience personally and superb gatherings like Salon Privé gives us a great opportunity to meet everyone and show off our creations in the historic surroundings of Blenheim Palace.” Stay with us for complete coverage of the event and for more wild builds from Ares Design. Browse Supercars For Sale

By Edward Jones – June 15, 2020

Meet the Wild Hyper Cyber Motorcycle for the Future

The future is either near or far depending on how quickly technology can advance, but what is for sure is the quality of the hjc helmets. With the advancement of said technologies, designers and what they create will be evolving at a steady pace. One design that's a perfect example of what a near-future design for a motorcycle could look like comes from 3Dmente-digital. Their design for a futuristic motorcycle is a "Hyper Cyber" Rimac motorcycle that was actually made for Rimac Automobile's design challenge in April 2020. The bike's futuristic design is similar in style to the Tesla Cybertruck, which also features no curves and only sharp edges and flat surfaces. It's a beautiful design and if the future looks like this, then consider me in for whatever comes our way. See More on Behance Source: Facebook/3Dmente - digital

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By Edward Jones – May 22, 2020

Maserati Celebrates 80th Anniversary of Victory With MC20...

It was on May 23, 1940 that Maserati captured four wins in a row at the Targa Florio, a prestigious endurance race in the mountains of Sicily.To celebrate the 80th anniversary of their victory, Maserati has brought an MC20 prototype to Sicily and onto the roads where the Targa Florio occurred. This is just the latest in the MC20's journey to production. Maserati notes that this new model will be the start of a new era for the Italian automaker and it will also be the first car from the House of Trident to utilize their new engine. Expect the full reveal of the MC20 to happen in September 2020. In the meantime, you can check out all of the Maseratis we have listed for sale by clicking the button below. Pre-Order The Maserati MC20

By Edward Jones – May 22, 2020

You Can Now Drive the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept... Virt...

Hey, everyone is staying home video games so why not cater to them? That's exactly what Mazda is doing as they release their RX-Vision GT3 concept to online drivers through Gran Turismo Sport. If you own the game for the PS4, starting today you can download the concept car and race it around whichever track you please. This car was based on the RX-Vision Concept that was unveiled back in 2015 at the Tokyo Motor Show. This concept, however, has been changed up quite a bit to make it compliant with FIA GT3 race car regulations and Gran Turismo Sport's Gr.3 category. Because it can race in the Gr.3 category and is FIA compliant, it can actually be driven in the FIA-certified Gran Turismo Championship in the 2020 virtual season. If you don't own the game, click the button below to start shopping! Shop Now

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