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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 – June 01, 2017

General Lee Tribute 2,300HP Twin Turbo Viper

One of the most impressive cars at last weekend's pump gas Invitational was a bright orange Dodge Viper. The paint (which is GM Code 70) looks best with a flag on the roof, but the stars and bars are no longer politically correct..So the team at Calvo Motorsports endowed their snake with the flag of the Republic of Texas. Waylon Jennings would be shocked at the speeds achieved on 93 octane, because "that's just a little bit more than the law will allow". As we saw yesterday, the key to making massive power on pump gas is cooling the intake. The team at 1320Video was at the Caddo Mills airfield to witness the event, so watch these hot cars make racing cool again.Air to water intercoolers are much more effective than traditional air to air examples, but they require plumbing the cooling circuit along with pumps and storage tanks. But the main ingredient is solid H2O. For the qualifying and shakedown runs, the Calvo team went through 560 lbs of ice. Each run requires 65 lbs to keep the engine from detonating. On the 93 octane tune, the 2,300 horsepower beast was limited to only 1,607 horsepower at the wheels. It may have a license plate and registration, but if your car needs four times as much ice as fuel, you might want to consider moving to colder latitudes.Congrats to Calvo for consistent times, and stay with us for more top speed action.

By Andrew Nabors – May 30, 2017

1300 HP Twin Turbo Dodge Viper on Pump Gas

Making incredible horsepower is a nice achievement, and making it on a pump gas pre-owned Dodge Viper is simply shocking. Many people view race fuel as the dividing line between street and track, and there is a good reason why. In the days before wideband oxygen sensors and computer controlled ignition, it took high octane fuels to prevent engine damage when making big power. But innovation never sleeps, so the big manufacturers have learned how to make big power on pump gas. Here in Florida, 93 octane has 10% ethanol mixed in. This allows turbo and supercharged owners make more than factory power with just a little work. But in other states, 93 is harder to come by, which has made racers to adopt new ways of making power from pump gas.Also Check Out: Largest Viper Delivery Of All TimeThe main problem is how to overcome detonation, or "pinging". This problem results from gas being burned before the spark plug fires. In 1921, GM's research division solved the problem by adding lead to regular gas to create "Ethyl", but that's a story for another day. The best way to prevent spark knock is to cool the intake air before it reaches the fuel injectors. Normally this is done thru intercoolers, but recent production cars have been using closed-loop heat exchangers inside the supercharger. To see this concept to its fruition, racers are building their own exchanger tanks which are filled with ice before the race. It is impractical for a daily driver, but for those who don't want to spend big money on race fuel, ice is an affordable way to go. That is what 1320video filmed over the weekend with a wild Viper built by Nth Moto. Tell us what fuel you prefer, and stay with us for more wild footage from 1320video.

By Edward Jones – May 09, 2017

Largest Group Delivery of Dodge Vipers, Ever

While we are all saddened about the discontinuation of the Dodge Viper, we at least have this bit of exciting news to cheer us up. Josh Hway of Dynamic Photowerks recently joined a group of local Viper as they journeyed to Detroit to pick up their new Viper ACR Extremes. This delivery of six Viper ACR Extremes was, according to Hway, the largest group buy in the car's history, as well as the largest group factory delivery ever for the car. While the Dodge Viper price starts at around $87,896, the ACR Extreme has a base price that starts around $125,000. This means this entire delivery costed over $759,000, because when you take into account the special options (like that gorgeous purple), the price goes way up.Also Check Out - Dodge Viper ACR: Track Day Superstar"I was honored to go along with this wonderful group and to tour the factory where these track legends are made. After we arrived back in Minnesota, I had enough time to reflect on the experience and realized how much of a honor it was," said Hway on his blog post regarding the delivery. "It may seem silly to “non-car people” that we speak of cars with such romance, but knowing that the days are numbered for the Viper is incredibly sad. The people and effort that goes into making a car is monumental, let alone a high-performance sports car which over the years has broken dozens of records. On the track and the street, the echoes of the thundering V10 will be remembered for decades to come."Check out his photos below of the delivery and see just how memorable this experience truly was. See the full set

By Edward Jones – March 30, 2017

Dodge Demon's Air Conditioner Will Cool its Engine

The upcoming Dodge Challenger SRT Demon will have a cooling system unlike any production car on the road today. In a press release issued today, Dodge announced that the Demon will be the "first-ever, factory production car with a liquid-to-air charge air cooler chiller system."While most cars have an engine cooling system that utilizes air or coolant to cool the air passing through the charge air cooler, the Demon will be doing something different. When the Demon is in Drag Mode, the air conditioning system will have its cold air diverted to the charge air cooling system that leads to the engine. This results in up to a 45-degree reduction in the intake's air temperature.While this is an awesome feature, the Demon power increase from simply turning off the air conditioner could outweigh the use of this new cooling system. Also, this kind of cooling system has been used in the past but has not been seen in production cars and most drag racers simply ditch their entire air conditioning system altogether. However, we won't know how the Challenger SRT Demon performs with an A/C on or off, or without one until customers get their hands on one.Dodge Challenger For Sale - duPont REGISTRY

By Andrew Nabors – February 02, 2017

Dodge Demon: What's in the Box?

We are learning more about the upcoming Dodge Demon with each new video, and the latest installment is very enticing. Uploaded to the YouTube and featured on the Demon's landing page, it previews a crate of racing parts to be included with the car. Get your best Brad Pitt impersonation ready, because everyone wants to know: "What's in the box?" Reviving Dodge's original performance parts brand, "Direct Connection" predates Mopar and will offer Demon branded accessories aimed at performance. A spare set of wheels along with a floor jack and cordless impact wrench will make swapping rubber in the pit lanes much easier. In an ideal world, every car should come with such goodies, so these are destined to be coveted among Challenger fans.Being the fourth video in a series of 15, we have learned a few noteworthy features of the new car. Weight reduction was a serious goal, so Demon arrives without a passenger or rear seats. Other luxuries were also deleted to shave 200 lbs from the curb weight. Hopefully, a solid rear axle will replace the independent rear suspension for the ultimate drag pack. Other items on our wishlist are a ratchet shifter and roll cage, but these might be a bridge too far for the team at SRT. With the Hellcat being capable of consistent 10-second runs, are we looking at a 9-second production car? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and stay with us for more Dodge updates.All Dodge Challenger For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 20, 2017

Did Vin Diesel's Speech Just Leak the Dodge Challenger De...

Just yesterday we learned that the Dodge Challenger Demon would be over 200 pounds lighter than the Hellcat. And now, today, it looks like we have a sneak peek at the car three months before the car's reveal.Thanks to CarBuzz, we've learned of this video of Vin Diesel wrapping up the Fast and Furious 8 filming and thanking his crew. Someone in the crowd, not Vin Diesel, was filming the speech, which happened to take place right in front of two mysterious Challengers.Each of these cars have massive hood scoops, as well as big fender flares and what looks like the Dodge Demon badge on the side. It would make sense that the car would be in the movie, considering both the movie and Demon reveal are both in April.Check it out in the video below and see the two cars for yourself.All Dodge Challengers For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – August 23, 2016

In the Driver's Seat: 2016 Dodge Charger R/T Blacktop Review

Dodge has been on a roll recently with several special edition cars. Since we loved the Ram Rebel and the Hellcat, we asked ourselves what else do they have up their sleeve. White sedans with black wheels fall into two categories: Law Enforcement patrol cars, and others that resemble them. White is a perfect shade for Florida, as it will remain cooler during our sweltering summers. Follow along as we spend a week with the new Charger R/T Blacktop.Everyone knows the Hellcat makes over 700 hp. It casts a long shadow over its predecessors, but sometimes power isnt everything. In all honesty we forgot about the 5.7L HEMI V8, but it has been continually refined since 2003. Since eclipsed by the Scat Pack and SRT editions, Dodge decided to offer a snazzy upgrade for their smallest V8. The Blacktop edition arrived with gloss black wheels, mirrors, and spoilers.Our first instincts were to see how other commuters would react to the ominous paint scheme. Since our urban test loop involves a few miles of highway cruising, we proceeded to Interstate 275 for a few experiments. Horsepower is rated at 370 with 395 lb-ft of torque. If you wondered why the speedometer goes to 160, this car will have you at triple-digit speeds by the end of the on-ramp. The first reaction from other motorists was to jump on the brakes to return to legal speeds. You won't find anyone riding your bumper, which is nice after a long day.After playing Super Trooper we realized the Blacktop has an upgraded interior also. Dark brushed metal trim and black leather compliment the 552 watt Beats Audio system. The doors and floor are well insulated to keep road noise at bay. Steering is a bit on the light side, but it does have enough feedback for a proper drift. We won't tell you how to disable the stability control system, but trust us you will be thankful for its intervention. Having this much torque with only 8" wide wheels makes for a fun experience. Overpowering the tires makes for a fun exit, as the 8-speed auto spins through 3rd gear.SRT Challenger Hellcat For Sale Interior fit and finish are much improved from Chargers of the past, which makes the 2016 R/T a great choice for a daily driver. Rated at 25 mpg highway, it is a sensible way to enjoy V8 power. If white isn't your favorite, the Blacktop package is available on other colors. Our car had a total MSRP of $41,070 which is not bad for a full-size V8 sedan. It may not be as fast as the Hellcat, but the Blacktop is a snazzy ride with great acceleration. For more information, check out these listings from our dealers.[

By Andrew Nabors – July 01, 2016

In the Driver's Seat: 2016 Ram Rebel 4x4

If you are in the market for a full size pickup, your choices can be quite overwhelming. Every brand offers V6 fleet trucks with vinyl interiors, which are sold alongside the plush luxury models. But Ram is asking you to Rebel against the other brands. Rebel is not endorsed by the continental or confederate armies, but it does have a commanding look. The exterior is unique to this model, and it is a big departure from Ram's other trim levels.Ram has used Dodge's cruciform grille since 1995, when it debuted in a 2 hour long truck commercial known as Twister. This new front end is bold and incorporates recovery hooks along with a skid plate. If those were the only differences it might be a Rebel without a cause. But we think James Dean would approve of 33" Toyo Open Country tires along with four corner air suspension. The suspension is based on the optional air system offered on the 1500, but Rebel adds an inch of ride height all around. It offers several modes for highway, entry, and off road, which makes it one of the best features of this truck. Regretfully we didn't have time to properly test the 4WD system, but the transfer case engaged smoothly.Before you get upset that all real trucks should have steel springs, consider that tractor trailers have used air bags for decades and the technology is proven. Initially planned to be offered on multiple cab and bed configurations, the 2016 Rebel is only available in crew cab with the short bed. We're not sure why the V6 is offered in a 4WD, but our truck had the venerable 5.7 HEMI. Also included was the optional 3.91 differential which makes great use of the 8 speed automatic transmission. The latest hemi makes 410 lb-ft of torque and 395 hp, but it is silenced by massive mufflers.We spent a week with the Rebel without one Billy Idol reference, and everyone agrees that comfort was given top priority. Air suspension and the tall sidewalls of the Toyos combine to make Rebel one of the most comfortable trucks we have experienced. Plenty of room for 5 adults and their toys and 21 mpg highway can be yours for $52,525. For that price you get a ton of premium content without having to step up to the Laramie or Mega Cab models. LED bed lighting, powered rear window, and a 7" touch screen are what makes this Rebel ready to fight.

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By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 01, 2016

Sold Out! Dodge Viper 25th Anniversary Editions Claimed

Last week, we brought you the limited edition lineup from Dodge Viper in celebration of the famed car's 25th year, which also happens to be the last year of its production before retirement. Dodge is offering five different limited edition variations to customers, but if you haven't ordered yours yet... well you won't be able to.(Also Read: Unbelievable Lamborghini Huracan and Dodge Viper Drag Race Finish)A press release from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles confirms all five models have sold out. In fact, Dodge saw all five limited editions sell out in an amazing five days with all 28 units of the 1:28 Edition ACR selling out in a mere 40 minutes. The VoooDoo II Edition ACR followed in second with all units sold within two hours.Customer requests were so high that Dodge decided to offer a 2017 Snakeskin ACR edition. They plan to build 31 units. One thing is clear: The Viper is going out with a bang. Congratulations to Dodge for the selling out of all their limited edition versions! Can't wait to see them on the streets.Vipers For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 15, 2016

Build Your Own 2016 Dodge Viper: Win a Year Subscription ...

Thanks to Dodge's new interactive feature, you can now build the Viper of your dreams. Literally. Dodge has given users full range when it comes to paint, interior and exterior packages, wheels, tires and more.Choose anything from color to interior to racing stripes, wheels and exclusive packages. You can finish your custom Viper in any of Dodge's standard colors, or mix to create your own color. Prefer a matte paint job? No problem. Add (or decide not to) racing stripes in various forms.After you have the finish just right, move on and pick your car's exclusive speed or sport package. You're offered everything from the ACR Package with manually adjustable suspension and a finned differential cooler to the Advanced Aerodynamics Package, which includes carbon fiber front and rear splitters.Next, choose an interior package. Each package offers an array of options like an alcantara wrapped steering wheel and Laguna leather seats. You'll be able to choose your trim and a few additional options await as well.When it comes to wheels, options abound from matte black to hyper black and brass.Finally choose your backdrop and viewpoint, and download your Viper's photos and specs to share with the world. Check out our personal Viper creations below and then create your own for a chance to win a year's subscription to duPont REGISTRY magazine! Simply follow this link, click on "customize your own" and get started. Don't forget to download and save a photo of your custom Viper to share with us on our Facebook page. Brad Neuendank: Digital Marketing Director Brad went for the GTS-R Blue Pearl finish complete with Satin Black accents and a red ACR Stripe. HE chose ACR Brass Monkey Wheels and Kumho Ecsta V720 tires. For the interior, Brad went with suede and leather trim seats in black.Final Price: $128,395 Ed Jones: Autofluence's Associate Editor Ed kept it fresh with Gunmetal Pearl matte paint and the GTS Stripe in a custom red design. He chose Rattler Polished wheels and Pirelli P Zero tires. For the interior, Ed chose suede and leather trim seats in black.Final Price: $106,095 Nicole Slaughter-Graham: Autofluence's Associate Editor Personally, I prefer a matte finish and chose the GTS-R Blue Pearl with matte exterior finish package. I went with Sidewinder Matte Black wheels and Pirelli P Zero Corsa high-performance tires. I also added the Exterior Carbon Fiber Package to her Viper. For the interior, I decided on cloth bucket seats in black with orange trim.Final Price: 121,895 Custom Viper WinnersUpdate: Here are the 5 Winner's we've chosen! Thank you to everyone who participated and stay tuned for our next contest.1. Carl Jones II 2. Mike Young 3. William Haley 4.Todd Waddington 5. Jason Witter

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