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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 Edward Jones – March 13, 2015

Million Dollar Cars of Amelia Island 2015

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is this weekend, and with the prestigious event comes a number of auctions from the world's biggest automotive auction companies. Not surprisingly, these auctions are looking to sell some very high ticket items.The value of the collector car is on the rise, as shown by every automotive auction that has recently taken place. Classic Ferraris are selling for millions, while iconic Porsches are pushing over the $1 million mark. If you are a collector, there is no better time than now to be in the business, and there is no better place than the Amelia Island auctions of 2015.(See Also: Syrma Concept From IED and Quattroruote)Below are some of the vehicles that have or will be crossing the block, and either have sold for or are expected to sell for $1 million or more. Of course, there will be others that reach this price point, but we will just have to wait for the results come Monday.If you happen to be out at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, grab yourself a ticket for tonight's duPont REGISTRY Live Aeroport Reception. This is one of the can't-miss events of the weekend, and is set to begin at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased for $125 at the gate. Also be sure to stop by our booth to grab a complimentary magazine during the Concours March 15.Bonhams (Image Source: Bonhams) 1908 American Underslung 50hp Roadster - Sold For $1,738,000 1932 Stutz DV-32 Super Bearcat Convertible - Sold For $1,012,000 1930 Cord Model L-29 Town Car - Sold For $1,760,000 Gooding & Company (Image Source: Gooding & Company) 1953 Fiat V8 Coupe - Est. $1,600,00 - $2,000,000 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster - Est. $1,600,000 - $2,000,000 1991 Ferrari F40 - Est. $1,600,000 - $1,800,000 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight - $1,100,000 - $1,400,000 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 - Est. $3,400,000 - $3,800,000 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR - Est. $1,200,000 - $1,500,000 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet - Est. $2,000,000 - $2,500,000 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster - Est. $1,300,000 - $1,600,000RM Sotheby's (Image Source: RM Sotheby's) 1968 Toyota 2000GT - Est. $900,000 - $1,100,000 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra - Est. $950,000 - $1,150,000 1955 Austin-Healey 100S - Est. $975,000 - $1,375,000 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster - Est. $1,100,000 - $1,300,000 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet - Est. $1,100,000 - $1,300,000 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi - Est. $1,100,000 - $1,600,000 1930 Duesenberg Model J 'Sweep Panel' Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron - Est. $1,200,000 - $1,400,000 1953 Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe by Vignale - Est. $2,000,000 - $2,500,000 1967 Shelby 427 'Semi-Competition' Cobra - Est. $2,200,000 - $2,500,000 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV - Est. $2,250,000 - $2,750,000 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato - Est. $2,300,000 - $2,600,000 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff - Est. $2,500,000 - $3,250,000 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen - Est. $2,900,000 - $3,500,000 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti - Est. $3,000,000 - $3,500,000 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 - Est. $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 1955 Jaguar D-Type - Est. $3,750,000 - $4,250,000 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pinin Farina - Est. $6,000,000 - $7,000,000 (Source: Bonhams, Gooding & Company, RM Sotheby's) See More Auction Results

By Caitlin Duffy – March 12, 2015

Galpin & Henrik Fisker Rocket Mustang Unveiling at Amelia...

Its first introduction to the world was as a concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show Nov. 20, 2014, and just a short four months later, it's ready to be unveiled as a low-volume production model.Say hello to the "Rocket," the brainchild of Galpin Auto Sports and Henrik Fisker of Fisker Automotive and Aston Martin fame.A supercharged V8 with 725 hp sits inside the Rocket Mustang crafted almost completely from carbon fiber, as described in a press release issued today. And, of course, where better to unveil this new supercar created by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, than a legendary Concours d'Elegance?"Amelia Island is the perfect venue for this debut," described Beau Boeckmann, President of Galpin Motors, in the release,"as it draws an eclectic group of passionate automotive enthusiasts from around the world into one picturesque central location that celebrates the automobile.”Though built through a collaboration, Fisker is the mind behind the design, which calls for generous use of carbon fiber and a primary focus on saving weight. So much attention was put into the weight savings that the stripes on the hood, rather than being painted on, are the result of the paint being sanded down until the carbon fiber was showing. The carbon fiber was then polished, resulting in a weight savings of 10 grams as Fisker explained at the Los Angeles Auto Show debut, shown in the video above, uploaded to YouTube by Galpin Nov. 21, 2014.Those interested in becoming an owner of one of these limited-production Rockets will be happy to know that pricing is already available. The starting price is listed at $109,100, and is cranked up to $125,000 when the supercharged performance package is added.Be sure to prepare for quite the unveiling at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, as the introduction of the Rocket is just one of the myriad incredible events occurring throughout the weekend. Kick off the Concours on Friday night, March 13, with the duPont REGISTRY Live Aeroport Reception, scheduled for 7 pm to 10 pm at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. Tickets for this event can be purchased at duPontREGISTRYLiveAmelia.com/ticket-purchase.htmlGallery (Source: Galpin Auto Sports, YouTube) See More Event Coverage

By Edward Jones – January 19, 2015

Gas Monkey Garage Black Ferrari F40 Sells Again

Last year at the 2014 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, famous American baseball player Reggie Jackson purchased a black Ferrari F40 for $742,500 (original article).Now, this is no ordinary F40. It started life as a normal F40, but was involved in an accident that left it with body damage.Gas Monkey Garage of the TV show "Fast N' Loud" then bought the damaged car with plans to restore it. With the help of M. Luongo, a Ferrari and Lamborghini certified technician, and Stuart Singer, an expert in Ferrari restorations, they fixed it up to be the black Ferrari you see today. See Also: Ferrari F40 GT Drifting Around Farm: TaxTheRich100 Farmkhana Ferrari Enzo Once Wrecked, Now Rebuilt and Up for AuctionJackson has sold this born-again F40 at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, the same place where he purchased the car a year ago. This time around, the car was sold for $643,500, $99,000 less than he originally bought the car for.Sports Cars For SaleJackson's reason for selling the car? The lot description reads: " It's too fast for me so someone else now needs to own it."Ferraris For SaleSee More Automotive Events News See More Ferrari News

By Edward Jones – June 18, 2014

1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Sells for $3.5 Million

A record was set at Mecum Auctions' Seattle event June 16 when a 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda sold for $3.5 million, according to Mecum's website. This is, according to Mecum Auctions, the highest price that has ever been paid for a '71 'Cuda.Why did this muscle car fetch so much money at the auction? Well, there are many factors. First, only 11 convertible Hemi 'Cudas were created by Plymouth in 1971. Of those 11 convertibles, only seven of them were sold in the U.S., and only two of those seven had four-speed manual transmissions. (See also: 1938 Delage D-8 120 Aerosport for Sale for $3.4 Million) This $3.5 million 'Cuda was one of those two with a manual transmission. What's more, this is documented as the only "numbers matching" four-speed convertible 'Cuda in existence.For more information on the car, be sure to visit Mecum.com. Gallery (Source: Mecum Auctions) See More Events

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