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

Drako GTE at Thermal RacewayPhoto: James Lipman / jameslipman.com

By Andrew Nabors – February 26, 2020

Valentino Balboni Debuts the Drako GTE at Thermal Club

It is not wise to entrust your latest creation to an amatuer. Many late nights and years of simulation have led to this point. With so much riding on making a grand entrance, Valentino Balboni has debuted the Drako GTE at Thermal Club. This new American electric supercar is the brainchild of two Silicon-Valley entrepreneurs. Each wheel has its own electric motor, and they are controlled by the DriveOS software. Tuned by relentless laps of the Nürburgring, the famous Italian test driver said: " My professional life has been all about finding innovative solutions to improve performance and the driver’s feeling from behind the wheel. Now after driving Drako GTE, I have entered a completely new world of incredible power and amazing control. However, it is the turn in feel which elevates GTE above any GT car I have driven. I truly love the way this car feels as it turns in and transitions through the corners - it is something I have not experienced before in a car with these dimensions. I didn’t want to stop, it’s a really compelling and addictive drive." Browse Sports Cars For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – February 11, 2020

SSC Tuatara Has Arrived

Jerod Shelby might not be related to Carroll Shelby, but he is also an American automotive visionary. In my former career in the Corvette aftermarket, he visited me at Eckler's Corvette about supplying finished fiberglass body panels. Carbon fiber was too expensive 15 years ago, so the wait was worth it. That's because the SSC Tuatara has arrived. Engineering and building an American carbon fiber monocoque chassis took decades, as SSC doesn't rely on support from the big 3 automakers. Tom Nelson builds the most powerful racing engines in the world, so the Tuatara makes use of a Nelson Racing LSX 5.9L V8. It has a flat-plane crank and two turbos along with Nelson's patented dual-fuel system. At low boost, it uses 91 octane to make 1,350 horsepower. Dig into the throttle and separate E85 injectors allow for 1,750 reliable horsepower. Because the block and heads are aluminum, the fully-dressed engine is only 428 lbs. This allows the Tuatara to have a dry-weight of 2,750 lbs, even with A/C, power windows, & 5 cameras. Only 100 will be built, so congratulations to SSC for this momentous achievement! Custom Supercars For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – December 06, 2019

Neuron T-One Concept is Versatile & Modular

Our grandparents were capable of dealing with adversity. It made them adapt to any situation, much like this new electric automaker. The Neuron T-One concept is versatile & modular, as its common chassis offers hundreds of configurations. From a standard cab pickup, it can also arrive as a Semi Tractor, dump truck, or a luxury family machine. Interior options of wood, anodized aluminum and leather are impressive. As is the ability to seat 3 to 6 passengers. Browse Audi E-Tron For Sale Until it reaches production, our dealers have great incentives on the new Audi E-tron. Click the button above to find one near you and stay with us for all your electric news. " width="680"> Related: Top 10 Fastest Quarter Mile Cars

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By Andrew Nabors – October 30, 2019

Brabham Announces BT62 Competition

David Brabham and Company show no signs of slowing down. Compiling decades of family racing experience, Brabham has announced the BT62 Competition. The youngest son of racing legend Sir Jack Brabham, David and his brothers are racing legends in their own right. This will be their 3rd model in the BT62 lineup, and it is aimed at hardcore track dominance. In addition to the Ultimate and Street models, the Competition will be part of their planned run of 70 cars. To make it lighter than the Ultimate, the car is wrapped instead of paint, and it will arrive without a passenger seat. The interior has been stripped of all trim to expose the carbon fiber cockpit. Brabham Automotive Announces Street Legal BT62 The chassis is a blend of chrome-moly steel and carbon fiber. Strength is needed to contain the 700 horsepower V8 and a 6-speed sequential transmission. What sets it apart from everyone else is that Brabham will convert your Competition model into Ultimate or Street or vice versa at your request. We can barely wait to see it in action, so stay with us for all your Brabham updates. Browse Exotic Cars For Sale " width="680"> Related: Brabham BT62 Opens Up During Tests

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 – 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 – August 28, 2018

Pininfarina Teases Their 2,000 Horsepower PF0

Electric cars are seen by many as the future of the automobile. Battery powered cars have been built with styling that appeals to the typical buyer- until now. In a press release this morning, Automobili Pininfarina has shocked the world. Their electric hypercar was seen by invitation only at Pebble Beach. Their favorable response has allowed the company to move ahead with a limited run of the PF0.Don't confuse the 0 with an O, it stands for zero emissions instead of homologation. The styling house founded by Battista Farina was named "Pinin" or little Farina after his childhood nickname. He and his designers were responsible for almost every Ferrari until recently. But they have also built a few cars for themselves along the way. Battista always wanted to build his own supercar, but it would have ruined the friendship between him and Enzo that began in 1948.Now they are on the verge of taking on the world. Players like Rimac have scared the big manufacturers, leading Porsche to buy over 10%. Elon Musk revealed that Volkswagen Group was the driving force to take Tesla private, so it seems everyone wants to go electric.The PF0 is a carbon fiber masterpiece that reaches 62 mph in under 2 seconds with a top speed of 250 mph. In normal conditions, you will have a range of 300 miles. That is also the range of my 1985 Corvette, but at 11 mpg I use 26 gallons of premium fuel...Tell us what you think of the PF0 concept, and stay with us for all your Pininfarina news.Exotic Cars For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=89&v=c82nE3GsZUE

By Andrew Nabors – August 09, 2018

Audi Tests e-tron Prototype's Brake Regeneration at Pike'...

Acceleration tests are fun, unless your brakes don't respond. Audi tests every system to failure, and that includes the new regenerative brakes on the e-tron ptototype. Starting from the summit of the famous mountain, four prototypes were loaded with journalists and engineers. The e-tron will arrive with 3 distinct modes for recharging the battery when the brake pedal is pressed.See the Historic VW I.D. R Pike’s Peak Run (RIP Headphones)Trains have been using this technology for decades. To slow down, the electric motors are reversed which makes them generators. While locomotives waste the recovered energy as heat, Audi sends it back to the batteries. After averaging the data from several downhill runs, each kilometer coming down added another km to the range. The Park Service won't let you down the mountain if your brakes are overheated, and the nominal temperature of passenger cars is 100 degrees. The e-tron rotors were only 48 degrees, which was 3 degrees above ambient temperature.This presents a problem, as traditional disc brakes don't work well at comfortable temperatures. If you never get your calipers hot enough to boil away the night's condensation, the pistons will become rusty in their bores. Audi has addressed this by developing low-temperature pads and rotors that will only be used for 10% of braking in normal driving. With 90% of the braking energy going back into the batteries, it makes the e-tron one of the most efficient electric cars ever built.Amazing Audi Incentives- Click Here

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