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 – August 02, 2019

2020 Karma GT will be Unveiled at Pebble Beach

Peter Hay Hill is a perfect vantage point to showcase amazing automobiles. It overlooks the entrance to Pebble Beach, and it is where we will have a dozen of the world's finest cars on display. Next to our exhibit will be the latest from Karma Automotive. They went back to the drawing board and entrusted the design of their latest model to Pininfarina. What they delivered is a stunning 2-door electric GT. So we're excited that the 2020 Karma GT will be unveiled at Pebble Beach. Don't be confused by the name, Karma still builds the Revero GT, an updated version of their first sedan. Updates to the Revero GT include dropping the Chevrolet engine in favor of the BMW i8's three-cylinder. This engine and generator were purpose-built to be a range extender so expect to see more performance and mpg from their sedan. As for the new Karma GT coupe, battery capacity and cruising range are being withheld until the 15th. We will be there, so be sure to stay tuned to our social media channels for all the info. Find Your Karma Here

By Edward Jones – July 25, 2019

Lexus GXOR Concept is Ready for Anything Off-Road

It's not often that you hear about a Lexus off-road vehicle, but here I am, writing about the automaker's new GXOR Concept. If its brutish appearance wasn't enough to convince you of its off-roading prowess, its name is actually an acronym for "GX Off-Road". There are a lot of upgrades that make this concept SUV ready for anything off of the beaten path. This includes the Rigid 50-inch light bar, Icon Suspension, General Tire Grabber X3 tires (275/70/18), Overland Solar 160-watt panel, MaxTrax recovery boards, Patriot Campers X1H trailer and a whole lot more. Check it out in action for yourself in the video down below. browse all lexus for sale " width="680">

Audi and Sony Pictures Entertainment Team Up On Spider-Man

By Edward Jones – June 20, 2019

Spider-Man Shows Off Audi e-tron GT Concept in Science Fair

The upcoming "Spider-Man: Far From Home" movie is right around the corner (July 2, 2019). To build up even more hype around the film, Audi teamed up with Sony Studios to create a brilliant new short film. In the film, Peter Parker and his best friend Ned are about to show off their new electric battery for their school's science fair. Once they walk in and see what everyone else has created, they doubt themselves. This prompts Peter to put in a call to S.H.I.E.L.D. to see if he could get "access to "2025."" We then learn that "2025" is actually the Audi e-tron GT Concept. Why this car? For one, it's Audi's commercial. Secondly, Peter notes that it's the "greatest electric motor of all-time." I genuinely enjoyed this little short film due to its humor mirroring what's found in "Spider-Man: Homecoming." You should definitely give it a watch down below. See All Audis For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 20, 2019

Rivian R1T Goes Carbon-Neutral Camping

This year's Overland Expo West was held in Flagstaff over the weekend, and it was a showcase of outdoor amenities. Nobody was expecting to see a new electric pickup truck, so that's why the Rivian R1T went carbon neutral camping. One of the best features of this upcoming truck is the Gear Tunnel. It is a modular storage space just behind the cab. To show off how versatile it can be, their mobile was unveiled to the world. Easily stored in the tunnel, it has two induction burners, a sink, cookware, and 5 gallons of water. Given the efficiency of induction cooking, it will barely put a dent in the 400-mile range. Once the weekend is over, you can reach 60 mph in 3.0 seconds thanks to an impressive 180 kWh battery. We can thank Henry Ford for getting Americans outdoors, as his Kingsford charcoal was practically given away at Ford dealers. It was made from the scraps of wood used in making the wheels for the Model T, and it seems that history repeats itself. Bill Ford Jr. recently invested $500 Million in Rivian, so we are probably looking at the future of the American truck. Tell us what you think in the comments below and stay with us for all your Rivian news. Exotic Cars For Sale Related: Ford Invests $500 Million in Rivian

By Andrew Nabors – April 26, 2019

Volkswagen ID.R Begins Testing at the Nürburgring

Who would have guessed an electric car would ever hold the fastest time at Pikes's Peak? VW is committed to an electric future, so they are choosing to push the limits of technology first, and then allow it to trickle down into their production cars. Racing to 14,000 feet in Colorado is completely different than the Nordschleife, so engineers had to build a new car for its next performance. It is going to be a fun weekend for them, because the Volkswagen ID.R has begun testing at the Nürburgring Romain Dumas was the driver responsible for setting the fastest time ever time at Pike's Peak, so he was the natural choice to attack the 'Ring. His first impressions were: “It was a great moment to drive the ID. R on my favourite track for the ﬁrst time. The cornering speeds in the ID. R are much higher than I am used to in GT race cars. But I feel good in the cockpit and that is really important here. The Nürburgring-Nordschleife has larger and more numerous bumps than the race tracks on which we have tested so far. So, we have concentrated on adapting the shock absorbers and the ride height to suit the unique characteristics of this track.” Browse Volkswagen For Sale Related: Volkswagen Plans to Break the Electric Record at the 'Ring Audi Tests e-tron Brake Regeneration at Pike's Peak

By Andrew Nabors – April 12, 2019

Pininfarina Battista Details by Top Gear

If you need to go fast without gas, you have a new option for an electric supercar. BBC host Rory Reid can barely believe the Pininfarina Battista details by Top Gear. It will arrive with 1,900 horsepower and 1,696 lb-ft of torque to be the most powerful production car. The latest in battery technology has yielded a 120 kWh capacity in a compact design. It will allow a launch to 60 mph under 2 seconds, and only 12 seconds to reach 186 mph. The powertrain is supplied by Rimac, so it is destined to be amazing. If you drive sensibly, it will offer a range of 280 miles of carbon-neutral cruising. With each wheel having its own motor, torque vectoring and regenerative braking are more efficient than any other electric car. This will change the world, so stay with us for all your Pininfarina updates. Related: Pininfarina Battista Electric Hypercar Arrives in London Pininfarina Battista Hypercar Revealed

By Andrew Nabors – March 12, 2019

Cyan Concept by Lynk & Co Undergoes Final Testing in Spain

Nothing beats the Iberian Peninsula for escaping the wrath of Winter. The engineers at Lynk & Co have transformed Polestar into Cyan Racing. The company synonymous with Swedish performance is now ready to build something all new. In a YouTube upload this morning, we see the Cyan Concept by Lynk & Co in final testing on a Spanish track. Lynk & Co is a partnership between Volvo and Geely Motors. This blending of Chinese efficiency and Swedish pragmatism is bound to produce amazing cars. Planned for sales around the world, Lynk will be positioned between Volvo and Geely as their mid-level performance brand. This looks to be an amazing machine, so stay with us for more updates on their development. Related: Great Deals on Hummer H1 For Sale Check Out Jay Leno's Car Collection

By Andrew Nabors – March 04, 2019

GFG Style Kangaroo SUV Unveiled in Geneva

Although they can be a menace, the Kangaroo could be hopping to a dealer near you. When VW Group purchased Italdesign in 2015, legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro left to form his own styling firm. GFG style is a father & son duo with Fabrizio, who are poised to shake up the industry. For that reason, GFG has unveiled the Kangaroo SUV in Geneva. It is AWD and all-wheel steering with a 90 kW battery. It offers 483 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. Ride height is controlled by hydraulics so it can be low on track days and high enough for rock crawling. The carbon fiber chassis is 5.5" above the track in race mode, and 10.2" above the rocks when crawling. With a battery range of 280 miles, does this 'Roo appeal to you? Tell us what you think of this unique build and stay with us for all your Geneva news. Shop Exotic Cars For Sale Related: Great Deals on Hummer H1 For Sale Apollo IE GT1 Teased Ahead of Geneva Unveiling

Hispano Suiza Carmen - Rear overhead - 28 Feb 2019

By Andrew Nabors – March 01, 2019

Hispano Suiza Carmen Teased Ahead of Geneva

Electric cars are fun and fast. One-piece bodies made from carbon fiber are the future of supercars. So why not combine them? An email hit our inbox last night with shocking details. In a resurrection of an iconic brand, the Hispano Suiza Carmen was teased ahead of the Geneva motor show. It will arrive with an 80kW battery and 1,005 horsepower. This figure is the combined output of two electric motors, one for each rear wheel. With a curb weight of 3,725 lbs, this stunner will offer incredible performance. If Bugatti comes through with a modern 57 Atlantic, it would be an epic scene nearly 100 years in the making. Stay with us for all your Geneva Motor Show news. Related: Ferrari F8 Tributo Unveiled With Less Weight & Pista Power Audi R8 Decenium Celebrates 10 Years of V10 Power

By Andrew Nabors – February 28, 2019

Pininfarina Battista Electric Hypercar Heading to Geneva

Enzo Ferrari loved to race. His team and their innovations changed the world, but they came with a hefty price. Managing Scuderia Ferrari left little time to worry about production cars, so he entrusted Battista Pininfarina to design and build them. Automobili Pininfarina is still on the cutting edge of styling and technology, so three examples of the Pininfarina Battista electric hypercar are heading to Geneva. Their press release says potential customers will be able to interact with the all-electric models after they are unveiled on March 4th at 8:30 pm (Central European Time). The first example is finished in Grigio Luserna with anodized aluminum trim. Car #2 is the first to feature the Battista design pack. Blu Iconica represents the brand's traditional colors along with carbon fiber accents. The final car wears Bianco Sestriere, which translates to pearlescent white. The only other detail provided is Pirelli will be supplying the 21" tires. " width="680"> Related: Ferrari F8 Tributo Unveiled Geneva Motor Show Preview

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