ECBG 2016

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 Nicole Slaughter-Graham – May 14, 2018

Ferrari California T: Price, Specs, Review and Photos

Ferrari California T Specs Price: $198,973 Engine: 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 Horsepower: 552 hp 0–60: 3.6 seconds Top Speed: 196 mph Transmission: 7-speed automatic Torque: 557 lb-ft Review Once upon a time, the turbochargers in a Ferrari were nothing short of a rare sight. However, in a major turn of events, one of their most popular models is receiving two of them along with a new name: the Ferrari California T. Ferrari is known for their naturally aspirated engines, although most enthusiasts don’t realize that turbo engines are tradition to the manufacturer and track back all the way to the 1980s. The California T brings forth all of the luxury and fun that we have come to love about the California. The latest horse to enter the market gets an extra boost with its new intercooled twin-turbo V8, producing 552 brake horsepower, nearly 100 brake horsepower more than the original California. The ‘T’ gives you the luxury you expect from the prancing pony coupled with a retractable hardtop roof that demands attention as you gallop from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds with the wind in your hair. This is the first turbo Ferrari we’ve seen on the streets since the F40, bringing us to a new age of excitement. The supercar delivers elegance with power, comfortably united with open-top fun. Ferrari California T For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 21, 2017

Jaguar C X75: By The Numbers

Almost 20 years since its last supercar, Jaguar has confirmed plans for a new high-tech flagship that will compete directly with the new batch of hybrid exotics, specifically the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder and Mercedes SLS E-Cell. The C-X75 will become the make’s first supercar since the XJ220, and the British brand’s most advanced model ever. The purpose of the Jaguar XJ220 of the 1990s was to move the marque into the last decade of the millennium with something state-of-the-art. In 1992, it accomplished its goal and seized the title of the world’s fastest production car from the Lamborghini Diablo and Bugatti EB110 with a top speed of 217 mph.>Although the C-X75 will not compete for speed supremacy, it will elevate the brand to the top of the supercar arena. The production C-X75 will feature the same sexy sheet metal that made the concept so desirable. The concept utilized four 195-hp electric motors, one at each wheel for four-wheel-drive propulsion. Two micro-turbines extended the car's 68-mile range to 560 miles. Although jet-like turbines would certainly solidify the C-X75’s place as an ultramodern supercar, these types of devices have never been integrated into a production automobile. Due to very high exhaust temperatures, turbines have yet to prove themselves as a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine. Therefore, Jaguar is going to implement a more stable hybrid powertrain. The production car will use a highly boosted 1.6-liter four cylinder engine supplemented by one electric motor at each axle. The C-X75 (it will be renamed before production) will have an all-electric range of 30 miles. The gasoline motor will extend that range by another 270 miles. If that is too imposing, we have an incredible selection of new and pre-owned Jaguars for sale.With a carbon-fiber F1-inspired chassis from a partnership with Williams F1, weight should remain below 3,000 pounds. Jaguar claims the C-X75 will run zero-to-60 mph in less than three seconds, 0–100 mph in less than six seconds, and on to a top speed in excess of 200 mph. Only 250 examples will be built, each costing approximately $1.150 million. Jaguar will begin taking orders after it announces the car’s official specifications in September. The XJ220 left the factory with heavy modifications due to emissions standards that resulted in order cancellations, lawsuits, and unsold cars. We hope that is one road that the CX75 doesn’t follow the XJ220 down. LIST PRICE: $1,150,000 ENGINE: 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 HORSEPOWER: 800 hp (estimated) TORQUE: 1,000 lb-ft (estimated) TRANSMISSION: Not available 0–60: 2.9 seconds (estimated) TOP SPEED: 205 mph (estimated) WEIGHT: 3,000 lb LENGTH: 175 inches TIRES: Front: 235/35ZR-19, Not available PRO: The C-X75 is a XJ220 for the new century CON: Hopefully, it comes without the XJ220 drama

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – April 06, 2016

Glickenhaus SCG 003: Price, Specs, Review and Photos

Glickenhaus SCG 003 Specs Price: $2,400,000 (estimated) Engine: 3.5-liter twin turbo V6 Horsepower: 530 hp 0–60: 3.2 seconds (estimated) Top Speed: 200 mph (estimated) Transmission: sequential gearbox ReviewIf you need a daily driver that’s FIA certified to compete at almost any event in the world, Mr. Glickenhaus is back with another wild street legal racer. The SCG 003 is the latest creation since his team Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus commissioned the Pininfarina P4/5. Initial production will be in two variations, one exclusively for the track and one for the road.The Competizione is built for the competitive landscape of a racetrack, while the Stradale, which translates to ‘road’ in Italian, is the chosen name for the more civilized version intended for roads and racetracks alike. Both adaptations of the SCG 003 are powerhouses in their own right. The Competizione is powered by a Honda sourced 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V6 engine, while the Stradale, also known as the ‘S’ for short, offers multiple engine options all the way up to a twin turbocharged V12. Buy Your Issue Now

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – February 03, 2016

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia: Price, Specs, Review and Photos

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Specs Price: $75,000 (est) Engine: 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 Horsepower: 505 hp 0–60: 3.8 seconds Top Speed: 186 mph (est) Transmission: 6-speed manual Torque: 442 lb-ft ReviewFor Alfa Romeo’s 105th anniversary they took the wraps off of a new beautiful sedan. A Ferrari-inspired 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 will arrive in the Giulia, capable of creating a reported 505 horsepower and reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds. The most powerful engine they have ever produced features cylinder deactivation along with rumors of a manual transmission. Lightweight materials were used in construction, including carbon fiber, aluminum and aluminum composite. But what Alfa Romeo loves most about the Giulia is its design. A Ferrari-inspired 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 will arrive in the Giulia, capable of creating a reported 505 horsepower and reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds. The marque prides itself on five elements of design that set them apart from the rest: distinctive Italian design; state-of-the-art, innovative engines; perfect 50/50 weight distribution; unique technical solutions and the best power-to-weight ratio. These combine to create “la meccanica delle emozioni,” loosely translated to mean “the mechanics of emotions.” The aim is to create the ultimate driving experience in every way possible, rather than create a car capable of one amazing feat but falling short in the realms of comfort or excitement. Buy Your Issue Now

ECBG 2016

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