Dodge

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 Tyler Rampersaud – September 17, 2024

Dodge Opens Orders For 2024 Electric Dodge Charger

If you want to experience the future of American muscle, the time is now. For years, Dodge has been a mainstay and one of the champions of the world of American muscle cars, and the SRT HEMI V8-powered vehicles represented the cream of the crop. However, things are changing, and a new generation of the Dodge Charger has been unveiled, with both gas-powered and all-electric variants. For those ready to get behind the wheel of the new all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona, orders are now officially open for the new electric muscle car. Dodge’s Horsepower Locator tool allows customers to find a Dodge dealership near them with new Dodge Charger Daytona allocations to help place an order, ana a new online interactive configurator allows customers to get a 3D look at the car to create it exactly the way they want it. 3D animations do more than just give a 360-degree view of the car. The doors open and close in the configurator, the seats fold, the front and rear hatches opening and closing, and the headlights turn on and off. The two-door Dodge Charger Daytona Coupe, in both the R/T and the more powerful Scat Pack variants, will be arriving to Dodge dealerships across the country beginning in the fourth quarter of the year. Customers who have their name on a sold order for the car by October 31, 2024, will receive the “First Call” package, which includes the Direct Connection Stage 1 Upgrade installed for the Charger Daytona R/T, the Track Package and factory-installed Direct Connection Stage 2 Upgrade for the Scat Pack, giving the vehicle 670 horsepower and 627 lb/ft of torque, two days of performance driving instruction in the new Charger Daytona at the Radford Racing School, and a special First Call Welcoming kit. With the new all-electric evolution of its historic Charger muscle car legacy, Dodge is bringing American performance to the electric era, and the new Dodge Charger Daytona is the first taste of that experience. With orders open now, customers can get behind the wheel of tomorrow’s American muscle car very soon. View All Dodges For Sale Image Source: Stellantis

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 09, 2024

Dodge Reveals The New 2025 Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead...

Dodge continues to showcase muscle car excellence with a new special edition. Electrification has changed the world of performance cars, and the realm of muscle cars, especially from Dodge, has been especially affected. As the landscape of muscle cars changes, Dodge has been honoring and celebrating the legacy that its HEMI V8-powered muscle cars have forged, and the undeniable impact and influence they’ve contributed to the entire automotive industry. Now, the second special edition model of the 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has been introduced, and it’s called the Hammerhead. The new 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead Edition is named after its Hammerhead Gray leather interior upholstery. Complementing it is the exterior color, a dark blue named Night Moves. The hood is painted in Satin Black, and the high-performance SUV comes with features like Brembo brakes, carbon fiber interior accents, and more. With the 710-horsepower 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V8 engine, the 2025 Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead Edition gets from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, finishes the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 180 mph. Being an incredible celebration of Dodge’s SRT muscle car legacy, and a new unique special edition of one of the greatest high-performance SUVs, the new 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead Edition is an exciting new creation for any muscle car enthusiast. It will be available for an MSRP of $113,720. View All Dodge Durango SRT Hellcats For Sale Image Source: Stellantis

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 09, 2024

Lia Block Will Drive A 1,000HP Dodge Hornet Race Car In N...

The new Dodge Hornet becomes a 1,000-hp race car. Dodge has turned heads with the evolution of its performance-oriented lineup and its electrification. One of the newest models is the new Hornet SUV, combining hybrid performance with compact dimensions for an exciting character overall. Now, the Dodge Hornet is serving as the basis for a new race car, which is taking part in the Nitrocross Series. Founded by the legendary Travis Pastrana in 2020, the series features five classes highlighting the world’s best rally drivers, and it’s one of North America’s fastest-growing racing series. Dodge’s Nitrocross debut features four Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X electric-powered race cars, racing in the Group E class. The 1,000-plus-horsepower racing machine is entered to the series by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, and one already prominent name in racing is piloting one of them. That is Lia Block, the seventeen-year-old daughter of the legendary late Ken Block. Along with her are Robin Larsson, Fraser McConnell, and Andres Bakkerud. Block is not only the youngest driver in the Group E class, she is also the only woman in the class. With the new 1,070-horsepower Dodge Hornet race car, the 2024-2025 10-round season of Nitrocross is set to become even more exciting this year, where the kickoff event in Richmond, Virginia this past weekend allowed fans to get a feel for the performance of the roadgoing Dodge Hornet, by riding along for hot laps in the 288-horsepower Dodge Hornet R/T performance hybrid. With over 1,000 horsepower, the Dodge Hornet has made a boisterous entrance into the rally racing world. View All Dodges For Sale Image Source: Stellantis

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 20, 2024

Dodge Celebrates 20 Years Of HEMI Power With Two Special-...

Dodge marks two decades of HEMI-powered Durango SUVs by introducing the 2025 Durango SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet and R/T 20th Anniversary models. Dodge is celebrating 20 years of HEMI-powered Durango production with the release of two special-edition models, the all-new 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet and the Dodge Durango R/T 20th Anniversary. These limited-edition models honor the legacy of the legendary HEMI engine that has powered the Durango since its introduction in 2004. The Silver Bullet stands out as the first special-edition model of the Durango SRT Hellcat, offering exclusive options like a Satin Black painted hood, Grey metallic SRT Hellcat badging, and 20-inch Lights Out finished wheels. Powered by the supercharged 6.2L HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine, the SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet delivers an impressive 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph, making it the most powerful SUV on the market. The 2025 Dodge Durango R/T 20th Anniversary model also pays tribute to two decades of HEMI power with an array of special features, including a Black HEMI hood graphic, “345” fender badging, and Brass Monkey wheels. Inside, the R/T 20th Anniversary model features SRT seats with unique stitching, a premium wrapped instrument panel, and a range of advanced safety and driver-assistance systems. Available in four exterior colors and two trim options, this special-edition model offers a blend of performance and practicality, with the top-tier Premium option adding a Harman Kardon audio system, suede headliner, and more. Both special-edition Durango models are available for order now, with the SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet starting at $113,325 and the R/T 20th Anniversary model starting at $66,970. Dodge owners and enthusiasts can use the Dodge Horsepower Locator tool to find nearby dealers with these special-edition models in stock. View all Dodge Durangos for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Dodge Durangos For Sale Source: Stellantis

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 12, 2024

Hear The New Electric Dodge Charger Daytona's "Exhaust"

Hear the new Dodge Charger roar. Dodge changed the game and started the next chapter of muscle car history by introducing the new Charger. Electric and six-cylinder variants give the new Charger versatility, and it will also be offered as a two-door or four-door model. However, the first variant to launch, the electric Dodge Charger Daytona features an intriguing “exhaust” system that aims to preserve the thrill of traditional muscle car powertrains. The new Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, the exhaust system, delivers a growl reminiscent of combustion-powered sports cars. Its sound has been one of the most anticipated aspects of the new Dodge Charger Daytona. Now, you can finally hear the electric Dodge Charger’s new “exhaust” in action, with a new video revealing its sound. The signature exhaust note of the new electric Dodge Charger bridges the gap between the automotive world’s past and future, showcasing an ambitious, high-tech, all-electric performance car with design elements and features that cater to the details enthusiasts love about traditional combustion muscle. With the “exhaust” system in its new electric Charger Daytona, Dodge is bringing traditional muscle car appeal to the future. View All Dodge Chargers For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 09, 2024

Dodge Reveals New HurriCrate Engine Series With Up To 550HP

Dodge crates its futuristic approach to performance. Dodge entered a new chapter in its history by bidding farewell to its HEMI V8-powered muscle cars and introducing the new Dodge Charger, which has been revealed with an all-electric and 3.0-liter six-cylinder powertrain. The six-cylinder engine, the Hurricane twin-turbo engine, delivers muscle car-level performance with a smaller footprint than the previous generation of HEMI V8 engines. The new Dodge HurriCrate engines were revealed as part of the manufacturer celebrating its Direct Connection performance brand’s 50th anniversary. Two power levels of the engines are available: Cat 1 and Cat 3, and both engines manage to pack lots of power into a compact package. The Cat 1 HurriCrate engine has 420 horsepower and 468 lb/ft of torque, which, compared to the Direct Connection HellCrate Redeye HEMI engine, has 7 percent more power density at 140 horsepower per liter. However, the HurriCrate Cat 3 engine has even more serious performance. With 550 horsepower and 531 lb/ft of torque, the Cat 3 has 183 horsepower per liter, 10 percent more power density than the iconic Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. Created for restomodders and tuners looking to make high-octane, performance-oriented custom cars, the HurriCrate Cat 1 engine is the entry-level engine, starting at $10,495. The more powerful Cat 3 engine starts at $13,745. Alongside those two engines, the HurriCrate Cat 1 Long Block engine starts at $7,995, while the HurriCrate Cat 3 Long Block engine starts at $11,715. The new Dodge Direct Connection HurriCrate engines show off the future of muscle car performance, bringing them beyond the new Dodge Charger and evolving them to include restomods and custom projects. View All Dodges For Sale

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 08, 2024

The New Electric Dodge Charger Daytona Will Debut At Road...

Dodge is ready to show the future of muscle cars in action. Dodge has sat at the forefront of muscle car engineering with its record-breaking lineup of V8-powered high-performance masterpieces with thrilling power and undeniable speed. However, that era has ended, and in its place, a new Dodge Charger has arrived, with two—and four-door body styles, an electric version, and a version powered by a six-cylinder engine. The two-door electric Dodge Charger Daytona is the first version of the new Dodge Charger to launch, and the new car will be making its public debut in Dodge’s signature muscle car style at the manufacturer’s Roadkill Nights racing event. Held for the first time at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, the event will see the new Dodge Charger Daytona in action. In addition, Dodge will be showcasing the new Charger Daytona’s Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system, delivering a loud and thrilling “exhaust note” with an electric powertrain. The new Dodge Charger Daytona's Scat Pack variant will deliver 670 horsepower and go from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds, while the R/T version will boast 496 horsepower. With a debut set to take place at M1 Concourse during the Roadkill Nights event, the new all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona is finally ready to show the world what the future of American muscle car performance looks like. View All Dodge Chargers For Sale Image Source: Stellantis

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 07, 2024

Dodge Reveals Pricing For The New Electric Charger Daytona

Dodge brings its futuristic muscle car to fruition. With record-breaking performance and era-defining engineering, Dodge ended its chapter of HEMI V8-powered muscle cars with lots of fanfare, and deservingly so. However, a new era is beginning, and it’s heralded by the new Dodge Charger, available in two and four-door configurations with powerful electric and six-cylinder powertrains that evolve and futurize Dodge’s longstanding muscle car heritage. The new all-electric 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona is set to arrive on dealership lots in the fourth quarter of the year, which begs the question: How much is the new electric Dodge Charger? The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T two-door model starts at an MSRP of $59,595. The high-performance Scat Pack model with 670 horsepower, 627 lb/ft of torque, and a 0-60 time estimated at 3.3 seconds, starts at $73,190. The electric Daytona models are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit when leased. The two-door electric models will begin production soon, and after that, the first half of 2025 will see the beginning of production for the four-door Dodge Charger Daytona models. In the second half of 2025, Dodge will begin production of the gas-powered Dodge Charger SIXPACK models. Customers will be able to view allocations for the new muscle car on Dodge’s Horsepower Locator to be the first to get their hands on the future of the muscle car. View All Dodge Chargers For Sale Image Source: Dodge

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 31, 2024

The Dodge M4S From The Wraith Features on Jay L...

Jay Leno gets behind the wheel of an ‘80s pop culture icon. The Wraith is an ‘80s cult classic movie starring Charlie Sheen with a plot combining street racing action with supernatural fantasy, and the movie’s story is built around the mystique and danger of a Dodge M4S ‘Wraith’ supercar. The actual car was a prototype made by Dodge which served as a pace car at the legendary Indy 500 race. It was powered by a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and could reach a top speed nearing 200 mph. Now, the cult-classic movie star of a car has re-emerged, and it’s being showcased on Jay Leno’s Garage, the show that highlights iconic vehicles and Leno’s extensive car collection, as one of Hollywood’s most prolific car collectors. Joining him is Jeff Dunham, famed ventriloquist and comedian, and the two got behind the wheel of the restored iconic performance car and took the Dodge M4S for a drive. During the drive, the pair recounts stories about the movie, the car, and the quirks and challenges of its restoration. Decades after its fame, both Jay Leno and Jeff Dunham remember The Wraith, and its titular supercar being a combination of a strange cult-classic movie and a strange moment in automotive history. You can watch the episode and learn more about the iconic car here. View All Dodges For Sale

Read more: The Dodge M4S From <i>The Wraith</i> Features on <i>Jay Leno's Garage</i>

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 24, 2024

Explore Performance Legacy With BJ Motors' FOUR Dodge Vip...
Pick your version of one of the greatest American performance cars. Many car enthusiasts will tell you that there’s no car quite like the Dodge Viper, and there likely never will be one in the future. Its timeless sports car proportions, massive V10 engine, and thrilling performance make it a truly legendary machine whose essence can only be captured by owning one, and as the automotive industry continues to change, the Dodge Viper and cars like it are becoming increasingly collectible. If you’re looking to get your hands on a Dodge Viper, BJ Motors of Tomball, Texas, a specialist in Dodge Vipers, has not one for sale, but four, with three different variants of the legendary American performance machine available. Two examples of the second-generation Dodge Viper GTS are available, one 2000 Dodge Viper GTS, with a Steel Gray paint color that was only sold for one year, and a 2001 Dodge Viper GTS, which sports Race Yellow, a color that was first offered in the 2001 model year. Both cars are in excellent condition and show off what high-performance excellence looked like in their time. View All BJ Motors Inventory 2001 Dodge Viper GTS View Listing & Financing 2000 Dodge Viper GTS View Listing & Financing BJ Motors’ inventory also features a 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible for sale, a stunning example of the fourth generation of the American performance legend. The convertible is finished in Snakeskin Green with black center livery stripes, with a two-tone interior in gray and black. With under 10,000 miles on the odometer, this 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible is a beautiful example of Viper history. 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible View Listing & Financing The rarest and most desirable Dodge Viper in BJ Motors’ inventory, however, is a 2010 Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition, which is finished in Viper Black with a red livery, and sports a black interior. The car was created to celebrate the 1:33.91 lap record set by the Dodge Viper in 2010 at Laguna Seca, and it’s number 5 of just 33 examples made. An example of the Dodge Viper ACR, it also boasts track-ready performance enhancements and stands out easily as one of the greatest examples of the Dodge Viper. With an array of Dodge Vipers for sale, including one of the rarest variants of the legendary performance car, BJ Motors is the place to look if you want to own a piece of the Viper’s incredible story. 2010 Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition View Listing & Financing

Read more: Explore Performance Legacy With BJ Motors' FOUR Dodge Vipers For Sale

Dodge

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe