Events

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 Caitlin Duffy – August 14, 2015

Bugatti Brings Success & Speed to Pebble Beach

If you'd been on the border when deciding whether or not to visit Car Week in Monterey, California, or the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, then perhaps Bugatti's opinion may help you decide.“Monterey Car Week is an event that Bugatti will not miss under any circumstances,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., in a press release issued today. If that's not a definitive statement about the importance of this event, then it's hard to decipher what is.Bugatti has arrived in California in full force, with a few of their most significant models sporting the classic French and Bugatti blue. The marque's illustrious past and plan for the future were both represented, from the 2,000 victories and podium finishes of the Type 35, to the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport and its title of "World's Fastest Production Car."Today, at "The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering," the Veyron and Type 35 can both be seen, as well as the Type 57SC Roadster and Type 55 Super Sport Roadster. They will also be making appearances at the Pebble Beach Concours, scheduled for Sunday, August 16. As the Concours' website tells us, the field is open to visitors beginning at dawn, with judging set to commence at 9 am.(See Also: Pagani Raduno Rally Heads to Monterey Car Week)Check out the photos of Bugatti's California visitors, and find your own Bugatti to enjoy from our exclusive listings.Bugattis For Sale Gallery (Source: Bugatti, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance) See More Bugatti News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 11, 2015

Pagani Raduno Rally Heads to Monterey Car Week

If you're in California and using the highways this week, you might be noticing that the traffic around you is a little different than usual.If so, enjoy the show - it's the cars of Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on their way to the main event.But if you were in Beverly Hills on August 9, you may have seen a luxury traffic jam of an entirely different level. The first North American Pagani Raduno Rally had its launch, with Horacio Pagani himself at the head of the crowd, creating what may be the second largest gathering of Paganis in the world.Though nothing could ever quite compare to Vanishing Point, the scene caught on video and on camera is an epic one, indeed. Original Snaps added a video to YouTube Aug. 10, which you can see above, of the Paganis pulling out of the parking lot at the hotel where they were gathered. Duane Steiner of Speed and Motion Photography spent some time taking shots in the parking lot and on the road, which you can see below.(See Also: New Pagani Huayra SE Teased)Both show a fleet that is beyond impressive. Take a moment to look them over, visit Speed and Motion's website to see the full gallery and stay with us for more updates from Pebble Beach and Monterey as they emerge. Gallery by Speed and Motion (Source: YouTube, Speed and Motion Photography) See More Pagani News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 10, 2015

Icona Vulcano Titanium Coming to Pebble Beach

It's projected to reach 60 mph from a standstill in 2.8 seconds, be capable of well over 1,000 horsepower and is named after one of nature's most powerful creations, and we'll get to see it this weekend in California.The Icona Vulcano has been seen in pre-production form a few times in the past, including the 2014 Qatar Motor Show, and had its first true introduction to the world at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. But for 2015, it's sporting a new type of body - one crafted from titanium and carbon fiber.“Inspiration for the Vulcano came from the world’s fastest plane, the Blackbird SR-71, whose sharp and dramatic silhouette complimenting its sensual surface transitions was key to the styling of the Vulcano,” said Icona design director Samuel Chuffart in an April 8 post to Icona's website.The supercharged V8 engine, sourced from the Corvette ZR1, has been optimized to create 670 hp and 619 lb-ft, though Icona's website tells us it can be tuned to over 1,000 hp. A video from Icona Vulcano shared May 12 gives us some insight into the development and creation of this vehicle, which was considerably more difficult than usual.(See Also: The Cars Bentley's Bringing to Pebble Beach 2015)Titanium, while lightweight and twice as durable as aluminum, is also much more difficult to work with as a material. It takes a lot of patience to mold into a curved, aerodynamically-friendly design, but it will pay off - as a post from ilove bicycling notes, it's even bulletproof.Stay with us to learn more about the Vulcano Titanium as it is released, and check out photos of the original Icona Vulcano in the gallery below.Gallery (Source: YouTube, Icona) See More Event News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 06, 2015

The Cars Bentley's Bringing to Pebble Beach 2015

As August 10 draws closer, the towns of Monterey and Pebble Beach, California, is preparing for an influx of the world's rarest cars and their owners, as well as the enthusiasts who love them, for the annual Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.In addition to many more of the world's most well-known marques, Bentley will be in attendance for both the car week and concours, and in a press release today they've shared some highlights of the cars they're bringing along. With the oldest being a creation from 1931 and the newest their 2016 Continental GT, Bentley has ensured they'll appeal to a wide variety of visitors.The entirety of Bentley's 2016 model range, as well as the concept EXP 10 Speed 6, will all be presented on Aug. 14 at the event The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering. For Aug. 15, at the Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway paddock, the Continental GT3 R will sit alongside the GT3 race car for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.RM Sotheby's Auctions will be auctioning off 5 classic Bentleys during their Aug. 14 and 15 events, with some very high price tags expected. A 1956 S1 Continental Drophead Coupe by Park Ward is estimated to sell for $900,000 to $1.2 million; a 1953 R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner is estimated to sell for $1 million to $1.2 million, and a 1931 4.5-liter Supercharged Two-Seater Sports could see a final price of between $4.5 million and $5.5 million.(See Also: Bentley Bentayga Off-Road Testing in Spain)Check out the photos of these Bentleys headed for California, and stay with us for more updates from Monterey and Pebble Beach.Bentleys For SaleGallery (Source: Bentley) See More Bentley News

By Edward Jones – July 28, 2015

Seven Minutes of Supercar Accelerations and Burnouts

At the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb, a vast array of automobiles of the supercar category took to the famous track to show off for the crowds. Cars that participated in the event included the upcoming Aston Martin Vulcan, Ferrari FXX K, LaFerrari, Lamborghini Aventador SV, McLaren P1 GTR, Koenigsegg One:1 McLaren F1 GTR, Pagani Huayra and many more.(Related: Bugatti Veyron Hits 235.7 mph at Sun Valley Road Rally 2015)Uploaded July 27 by TheTFJJ is a video that features these cars and the start of their hillclimb runs. Naturally, these cars either sped off like rockets or laid down rubber for some amazing burnouts.Sportscars For SaleCheck out the video below to see seven minutes of pure automotive speed and sound. You won't regret it. Below is the list of cars in the video, in order of appearance, straight from the video's description. McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Lamborghini LP750-4 Aventador SuperVeloce Lamborghini LP610-4 Huracan McLaren 570S Koenigsegg One:1 Ferrari Enzo FXX Pagani Huayra Bentley Continental GT3 Noble M600 Ferrari LaFerrari FXXK Ferrari 599 XX Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Ferrari F12 TRS McLaren P1 GT-R Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Ferrari LaFerrari McLaren 650S LM Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package Porsche Cayman GT4 Corvette Stingray Z06 Zenvo ST1 2015 Koenigsegg Agera N Lamborghini LP610-4 Huracan Mercedes AMG GT edition 1 Jaguar F-Type Project 7 Porsche 996 911 GT1 Ferrari F12 TRS Ferrari LaFerrari Aston Martin Vulcan Aston Martin DB9 GT Rolls-Royce Wraith Audi R8 Coupe 2015 Porsche 991 GT3 RS BAC Mono Rolls-Royce WraithMclaren 650S GT3 Ferrari 488 GTB Koenigsegg Agera N Corvette Stingray Z06 Aston Martin Lagonda 2015 Aston Martin CC100 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package Porsche Cayman GT4 McLaren P1 GT-R Porsche 911 Singer McLaren 570S Ferrari 458 GT3 Mercedes C63 AMG 2015 Lexus LFA Ford Mustang GT Koenigsegg One:1 Porsche 991 GT3 RS McLaren F1 GTR Nissan Juke (Source: YouTube) See More Event Coverage

By Andrew Nabors – July 28, 2015

Exotics on Cannery Row at Monterey Car Week

Whatever you may have planned for August 14, clear your schedule and head to Monterey, California.The founders of the goldRush Rally are bringing together 125 of the world’s most sought-after cars for Exotics on Cannery Row. As one of the sponsors, we received the inside scoop a few days before their press release. On Cannery Row between David Ave. and Drake Ave. will be your favorite exotics and supercars along with performance and car care vendors.You will see the likes of Pagani, Bugatti and even the Lykan HyperSport along the historic wharf. The show will run from 4 to 8 pm, and parking is available in the City of Monterey Garage on Foam Street.(See Also: Dimmitt Automotive's July 2015 Cars & Coffee Afterparty) “Exotics on Cannery Row is certain to be an incredible showcase of automotive engineering,” said Ted Balestreri, CEO of the Cannery Row Co., in the release. “We’re thrilled to share the excitement of some of hottest cars at Monterey Car Week in this public event on Cannery Row.”We know that this is our type of event, so stay tuned to Autofluence for complete coverage, check out their website at www.ExoticsOnCanneryRow.com for more info and browse our listings for the perfect exotic to show. See you there!Browse All Listings See More Event Coverage

By Edward Jones – July 27, 2015

Dimmitt Automotive's July 2015 Cars & Coffee Afterparty

This past Saturday, Dimmitt Automotive Group hosted their monthly Cars & Coffee Afterparty in St. Petersburg, Florida. Guests arrived at the Aston Martin and ultra-luxury pre-owned showroom at 8:30 am, immediately after the monthly duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee event.While enjoying a free light breakfast, guests and their families learned about some unique animals from the Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. Shirts and other items were raffled off to raise money for the zoo. Overall, $270 was raised and the Dimmitt Family matched this amount, bringing the grand total to $540.(Related: 570S Unveiling Party by Dimmitt Automotive & Isleworth Realty)The Dimmitt Automotive Group would like to thank Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for bringing a few animals to the July Cars & Coffee Afterparty. Please visit their website for more information.We also encourage everyone to attend the August 15 Cars & Coffee at duPont REGISTRY and the Dimmitt Afterparty, where the Tampa Aquarium will have some aquatic creatures on display.To RSVP for the next event, click here.Gallery

By Caitlin Duffy – July 22, 2015

Supercar Track Day: BAC Mono vs. McLaren P1

Oliver Webb is 24, but he's already living the dream.Webb is an award winning racecar driver, the current European Le Mans champion and an official test driver for BAC, and yesterday, July 21, he partnered with the British organization Supercar Driver to host a Supercar Day track day. The turn out for the event included a Pagani Huayra, Porsche 918 Spyder, a fair share of McLaren P1s and Ferrari F40s, a 458 Speciale, Mercedes SLS AMG and, of course, the BAC Mono. "20 of the most elite and rare Supercars/Hypercars joined forces to create one of the most spectacular driving experience's seen in Europe," described Webb in an email, sharing a video of his time chasing a P1 around the Anglesey track. Added to YouTube today, the video, above, shows a fair match up - though the P1 may have an advantage on straightaways, the Mono definitely takes over when it comes to corners. Another video added to YouTube today by Webb shows us a preview of the full track day, and you can check it out below. Supercar Driver will be releasing a longer, more in-depth video from the event, which certainly seems to be one of the most successful supercar gatherings in quite some time. A photo added to their Facebook page today shows seven of these supercars in action, and we can't wait to see more. Take a moment to give both of these videos a good look over, and when you're finished, pick out your own supercar to take to the next Supercar Day from our exclusive inventory. Browse All Listings (Source: YouTube, Facebook, Oliver Webb) See More Automotive Videos

By Edward Jones – July 17, 2015

Gallardo Spyder vs M4 vs C63 AMG vs R8 Drag Race

I'm a fan of drag races at the track, especially when the contestants are a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, BMW M4, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG tuned by Wimmer Performance and an Audi R8. Why these cars? Because those are the exact cars racing in MDKSuperCars' new YouTube video uploaded today.(Related: Seven Hypercars and Supercars for Sale at Naples Motorsports)The video shows the Gallardo pitted against its German competitors during individual drag races at Spring Event 2015 at the Weeze Airport in Germany. This event hosted hundreds of drag races on the airport's runway, where cars of all makes, models and tunes gave it their all on the asphalt.Check out the video below for just a taste of what happened at the event.(Source: YouTube) See More Event Coverage

By Andrew Nabors – July 13, 2015

Lamborghini Concept S Up for Auction

Though their upcoming auction in Monterey, California may be headlining most news stories, RM Sotheby’s is saving a piece of Lamborghini history for their New York Auction: the Lamborghini Concept S.If you don’t mind arriving with a unique hairstyle, this Gallardo’s lack of a functional windshield is a throwback to vintage open-air motoring. As the lot description on RM Sotheby's Auctions website tells us, a rolling chassis was shown at Geneva in 2005 to gauge public interest in a Gallardo speedster. The crowd and the motoring press went wild, so it received a few more styling touches along with a functional drivetrain. All aspects of the car were made ready for a limited production run, but it never came to fruition.(Related: $65 Million Car Collection Walk-Around: The Pinnacle Portfolio)With one owner since new, the street legal Concept S has seen just over 111 miles of engineering shakedowns and Concours fields. Lamborghini concepts tend to be show stoppers, and this one stands to return a nice profit when it crosses the block on November 18.Stay tuned to Autofluence for more auctions and wild concept cars.Gallery (Source: RM Sotheby's Auctions) See More Event Coverage

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