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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 22, 2021

2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Sold Out

Three months ago we told you it wouldn't last long. Now with 2,000 customers awaiting a super SUV, the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is sold out. If you missed the corporate news, Fiat-Chrysler is now Stellantis. Their first press release for Dodge confirms the NHRA-certified quarter-mile time of 11.5 seconds, and the manufacturer claims a top speed of 180 mph.. Offering 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque, it can tow 8,700 lbs with three rows of seating. Click the button to find your new Dodge! Browse Dodge For Sale Also, here is a great comparison with the SRT Hellcat Redeye! Image (C) Stellantis

By Andrew Nabors – August 17, 2020

2021 Ram 1500 TRX Debuts as World's Fastest Production Truck

You were warned on Friday. We told you Ram was about to unchain a beast of a truck. Now it is time to contemplate the capabilities of a Hellcat Hemi-powered Pickup. Officially rated a 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, it offers consistent quarter-mile times under 13 seconds. It reaches 60 mph in 4.5 and 100 mph in 10.5 ticks. This power is sent to all wheels by a full-time active transfer case. The control arms are forged aluminum, and they are bolted to 2.5" Bilstein Black Hawk e2 adaptive suspension. RAM TRX Specs, Price & Horsepower The front end is independent and the rear is a Dana 60. Both have locking 3.55 differentials and offer over 13" of travel at each corner. The body is 8" wider thanks to composite fenders and wider steel bed sides. They are needed to house the 325/65/18 tires mounted on 9" wide wheels. It has 11.8" of ground clearance and the ability to ford 32" of water. " width="680"> Fiat-Chrysler spared no expense, as the AFS headlight system offers 15 degrees of motion in sync with the steering angle. It was borrowed from their cousins at Ferrari. With a payload capacity of 1,310, it can also tow 8,100 lbs with ease. It offers 5 driving modes for the street and three offroad modes that were developed over a year of testing across the U.S. With an approach angle of 30.2 and departure of 21.9, you will have no problems navigating rough trails. Over 100 performance parts and upgrades are already available from MOPAR, and this proven engine will respond to the same modifications used by Hellcat owners to outrun anyone else.

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye: With 797 horsepower the C

By Andrew Nabors – July 02, 2020

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye & Durango SRT Hell...

It has been an odd year so far. We're all in the same weird mess, so thankfully our friends at Dodge's SRT Division have given us hope for the future. A pair of simultaneous press releases offer a combined 1,507 horsepower and 1,352 lb-ft of torque. That is the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day, with a new Widebody Charger Hellcat Redeye and a new Durango Hellcat. The sedan evokes Demon power to offer 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque, and the SUV offers 710 & 645 (respectively). While the Durango will only be offered for one year, the Jeep Trackhawk for sale offers the same power without 3-row seating. Both can easily tow almost 9,000 lbs and offer low 11-second timeslips. The Durango and Jeep are nearly identical with the Dodge offering a 5" longer wheelbase, so either one is a great decision. " width="680"> What makes the Charger so brutal is the largest supercharger ever offered on a production car. The 2.7-liter blower sends 14.5 lbs of boost into the 6.2-liter. The most powerful sedan on the market makes use of Torque Reserve to hold 3.9 lbs of boost in the intake to offer 55% more torque at launch than a standard Hellcat. Other Demon goodies include the SRT Power Chiller, After-Run Chiller, and massive 41-spline axles. All four wheels are 20" x 11" wearing 305/35 Pirellis. The car has been relentlessly tested to offer consistent 1/4 mile times of 10.6 @129. With a top speed of 203 mph, Germany's fast sedans are on their back foot. Browse Charger SRT Hellcat For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – October 30, 2019

1970 Dodge Charger R/T Crushed by Angry Seller

Some cars are worth saving while others are not. Before you get mad, hear me out. I've sold a dozen Camaros, three Buicks, and four Corvettes. Dealing with scammers, tire kickers, and lowball offers can be infuriating, so that is why this 1970 Dodge Charger R/T was crushed by an angry seller. This video by MoparRapidTransit is hard to watch, as it shows a small block Dodge Charger for sale meeting an untimely end. There are 2 sides to every coin, and the rust looks significant. He was only asking $10,000 which could easily be made by parting the car out. Browse All Dodge Charger For Sale Finding a buyer is hard if your car isn't visible to the world. That is how I discovered the power of duPont REGISTRY. Hindsight is 20/20, and if the owner would've listed the car with us this video would not exist. If you are looking for a Charger without drama, click the button above. If you want to sell a car for your asking price, you know where to go. " width="680"> Related: Dodge Demon Specs, Photos, Price, & Review 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition Revealed

By Andrew Nabors – October 29, 2019

Dodge Announces Horsepower Challenge with Bill Goldberg

Fiat-Chrysler challenged themselves this year. In order to make their most powerful cars more accessible to buyers, the Dodge Power Dollars program offers a cash allowance of $10 cash per horsepower on Challenger, Charger, & Durango. Their goal was to sell 500 Million Horsepower for MY 2019, and they achieved this 2 months ahead of schedule. To celebrate these unprecedented numbers, Dodge has announced the Horsepower Challenge with Bill Goldberg. Five contestants will take home a new "TorRed" Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. The contest will be 5 weeks, with a multiple-choice question every Tuesday at 8 AM ET and running through the following Monday at 11:59 PM ET. Browse All Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats For Sale The winners will become part of the "Brotherhood of Muscle", their new catchphrase for SRT & HEMI owners. The answer for each question will be uploaded to Dodge.com after a week, coinciding with the next question. Clues will be found on Twitter and Instagram images. Click the button above to find your Hellcat and stay with us for all your Dodge news. " width="680"> Related: 2019 Dodge SRT Hellcat Widebody Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – November 28, 2018

Dodge Demon Races Lamborghini Huracan in 1/4 Mile

Everyone knows that the Dodge Demon is a monster built for the drag strip. On Dodge's page for the Demon, they even tout a few of its accomplishments that would help it excel on the strip, like "World's Fastest 1/4-Mile Production Car" and "World's Fastest 0-60 Production Car." But how well does the Demon stack up against an AWD supercar like the Lamborghini Huracan? Dodge Demon Prices & Specs For that, there's DragTimes. In Brooks' latest video, he takes his Huracan out for races against a sharp green Demon. He notes in the video's description that the Demon is equipped with a race gas ECU, race air filter, skinny tires up front and Mickey Thompson tires in the back. After three races the results were still... inconclusive. Brooks notes that the first race involved some slippage, the second race was legit and the third race was legit. However, if you check the slip of the third race, you'll notice a massive difference in reaction time. Nonetheless, check out the video below to see the epic USA vs Italy drag race. Highest Torque Cars - Check Out the List

By Edward Jones – November 13, 2018

Dodge Demon Races Hayabusa Bike for Rematch

The Dodge Demon was created to be a monster on the drag strip and put fear into its competitors. Dodge seriously went all out with the Demon in order to make it a beast and they were successful on all accounts. In fact, they were so successful that the car was reportedly banned by the NHRA in drag strip races (unless you fit it with additional safety equipment and get a competition license). One owner of the car that has been getting every bit of horsepower out of his Demon is the YouTuber Demonology. He's been posting up plenty of videos of his Demon taking on racers at drag strips. However, it seems he needed a rematch against a Hayabusa. From what I can gather, they raced against each other in an 1/8-mile but it was difficult for the Hayabusa to launch. So, they went to the 1/4-mile and went at it again. Check out the race for yourself in the video below! (Action starts around four minutes in) " width="680"> Related: 2018 Dodge Demon Specs, Photos, Price, & Review Used Exotic Cars For Sale @ duPont REGISTRY Dodge Demon Races Lamborghini Huracan in 1/4 Mile

By Andrew Nabors – August 13, 2018

Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye in Action!

Sometimes a caption isn't needed. Dodge took this approach on YouTube with the latest footage of the Challenger Hellcat. Ok, officially it is the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widedody. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue like "Demon". Since the 2018 Dodge SRT Demon was a limited run, this is as close as we will get to a successor.FCA Confirms Production of the Hellcat-Powered Ram TRXThe Hellcat Redeye doesn't include a crate of tools or the ability to run on race fuel. It does offer 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. Healthy numbers to say the least, so they decided to turn it loose on a closed track. Kermit said it best: "It's not easy being green". Dodge says otherwise with this Challenger Redeye, and so does its screaming supercharger. Turn up the volume and listen to this high-revving Hemi, and click the link below to find a Challenger Hellcat near you. Browse Dodge Challenger Hellcat For Salehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLmuoo4kGcGD4RHTlxswMaBcrybm_qTZn7&v=r_VI-wFT0kQ

By Andrew Nabors – July 20, 2018

2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 - WOW

Dodge has revamped almost everything for 2019. The SRT Hellcat Challenger now has a Redeye package that takes it to 797 horsepower. But if you don't need all that, the R/T Scat Pack 1320 makes the Challenger a star of the drag strip. Based on the proven 392 Hemi, it offers 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. No turbos, no supercharger- All Motor! The Dodge press release also says Don Schumacher will paint one of his Top Fuel cars to match this new production model, with his star driver Leah Pritchett behind the wheel.SRT tuned the active suspension and let the Scat Pack borrow the Hellcat's Trans brake, Torque Reserve, Drag Mode, Line Lock and brutal 41-spline axles. The most surprising standard feature is a driver's seat, all other seats are $1 options. Nexen supplied their latest 275/40/20 SUR4G drag radials to offer 1/4 mile times of 11.7 @ 115 mph. This makes it the fastest naturally aspirated street legal car on the market. Click the link below to find a dealer near you and get ready to go racing.Browse Dodge Challengers For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 31, 2018

Dodge Demon Production Has Ended

It seemed like only yesterday that we learned the Dodge Challenger Hellcat had led to something evil. Our friends at Motor Trend knew the 2018 Dodge Demon was developed years ago in order to see how far the Hellcat could be pushed.The last Demon will be a primetime feature at Barrett-Jackson's Northeast Auction (June 20-23). The press release also mentions it will be joined by the final Dodge Viper as part of "The Ultimate Last Chance", with 100% going to the United Way.The winning bidder will have 1,485 horsepower and two pieces of automotive history. Dodge's SRT division has never built boring cars. The Challenger and Charger Hellcat aren't going anywhere, so if you need more Mopar in your garage, click the link below and stay with us for live coverage from Barrett-Jackson Northeast later this month.If you missed out on ordering your Demon, our dealers have new examples that won't last long. Click the link below and stay with us for all your Dodge updates.Browse Dodge Demon For Sale

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