Exotic Cars 2017

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 30, 2017

FXX K: The Ultimate LaFerrari

Ferrari closed out 2014 with a bang, introducing us to the successor to the Italian powerhouse’s famed FXX model: the Ferrari FXX K. Unveiled in December 2014, the FXX K is an “uncompromised” rendition of the hybrid LaFerrari, with the name’s ‘K’ derived from the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) the car employs. While the LaFerrari and the new FXX K utilize the same system, speed is the major factor separating the two. The FXX K produces 1,035 horsepower and more than 664 pound-feet of torque, an 85 horsepower increase over the LaFerrari. This is no doubt due to the new features, including updated camshafts, a modified valve train, redesigned intake manifolds and a modified exhaust system sans silencers for an aggressive growl.There are several other noticeable modifications to the FXX K, the most apparent being the twin profile rear spoiler. Collectively with the mobile spoiler and new front splitter, these additions generate a 50 percent improvement in downforce in low drag configuration and an additional 30 percent increase in the more aggressive downforce configuration. Ferrari has also added four settings the driver can choose from to better control the car’s performance and KERS. Each setting creates a different result; the Qualify setting allows for maximum performance with limited driving time, the Long Run setting creates a more consistent performance output, the Manual Boost setting instantly boosts torque delivery and the Fast Charge setting recharges the car’s battery in a flash.Price: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Estimated $2.7 million Engine: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 Horsepower: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,035 hp 0–60: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBD Top Speed: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBD Transmission: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-speed dual-clutch automatic Torque: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 664 pound-feet

By Andrew Nabors – May 03, 2017

Ferrari California 30: A Classy Convertible

Much like the early-life milestone, the thirty in the California 30 represents a slight transformation of values, which, when combined with the new Handling Speciale option, addresses accusations from purists that it is too suited for cruising the boulevard instead of weaving through tight S-bends. With 70 percent of California buyers new to the brand, Ferrari sees an opportunity to market the model towards loyalists through a lighter, more powerful and more stiffly sprung iteration. The 30 goes for all new Californias, representing a gain of 30 horsepower and 14 foot-pounds of torque, and a loss of 30 kilograms, which amounts to 66 pounds for us Americans. The 4.3-liter V-8 now produces a maximum of 483 horsepower because of new exhaust manifolds and engine mapping, and the loss of weight is due to new aluminum fabrication techniques. In all, Ferrari says the changes enable the California to take 0.1 of a second less to reach 62 m.p.h. But the car really comes to life with the optional Handling Speciale package. It features faster-responding magnetorheological dampers, (normally a standalone option), stiffer springs and a lower steering ratio for quicker responses. With all these performance enhancements on board, it may come as a surprise that the smooth operation of a manual transmission is no longer available. With just two-yes, two-of the 8,000 or so California buyers opting for the manual transmission, it’s easy to see why it has been deemed obsolete. Still, we can’t help but wonder if the model’s new sporty enhancements wouldn’t drive a few connoisseurs or rarity-minded investors to the H-gate. Price: $202,000 Engine: 4.3-liter V-8 Horsepower: 483 0 - 60: 3.8 seconds Top Speed: 194 mph Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Torque: 372 foot-pounds Pro: Addresses the one chink in the armor Con: The Ferrari manual transmission has officially been retired Ferrari For Sale New York, NY

By Andrew Nabors – April 16, 2017

Why is the Ferrari FF so Fantastic?

Ferrari has made big strides in new directions recently, specifically with the California and now with the FF (Ferrari Four). The California was the first Ferrari to offer a hardtop convertible mechanism, dual-clutch automated manual transmission, and a front-mounted V-8. The FF is the first Ferrari to offer all-wheel drive and a wagon-like design (Europeans will call it a shooting brake, which does make it sound better). Despite the hatch out back, the Pininfarina-penned coupe is endearing, although some may refuse to call it outright beautiful. What everyone will like is the Enzo-based 6.3-liter 651-hp V-12 engine out front. It can send the FF and up to 28.3 cubic feet of cargo inside from zero to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 208 mph. LIST PRICE: $330,000 (estimated)ENGINE: 6.3-liter V-12HORSEPOWER: 651 hp @ 8,000 rpmTORQUE: 504 lb-ft @ 6,000 rpmTRANSMISSION: 7-speed DCT0–60: 3.7 secondsTOP SPEED: 208 mphWEIGHT: 4,145 lbLENGTH: 193 inchesTIRES: Front: 245/45ZR-18, Rear: 285/40ZR-19 (estimated)PROFour seats, four-wheel drive,practical wagon(shooting brake makes it sound better)CONIs Ferrari taking a stepin the wrong direction?

By Andrew Nabors – March 27, 2017

Ferrari 488 Spider: Maranello's New Turbocharged Convertible

Ferrari has once again outdone themselves. Shortly after introducing us to the 458 Speciale, Ferrari added another supercar to their big, Italian family – the 488 GTB - with a February 2015 teaser video that set the industry ablaze with anticipation. This comes 40 years after the unveiling of Ferrari’s first mid-rear-engined V8 model, the 308 GTB. Powered by a twin turbo 3.9-liter V8, the 488 delivers 660 horsepower and launches from 0 to 62 mph in just three seconds. With top speeds exceeding 205 mph, it’s no wonder the 488 has a Fiorano lap time of 1 minute and 23 seconds, matching the lap time set by the Ferrari F12berlinetta. The 488 even beats out the F12 when it comes to torque, exuding 560 pound-feet of torque, besting the F12berlinetta by 51. Governing it all is the Variable Torque Management system, implemented for controllable release of turbo power. With knowledge gained from decades of development, the 488 is sure to meet Ferrari’s impossibly high-performance standards with ease. The latest Italian stallion is shaping up to be an automotive beast and one of the most capable production Ferrari models ever created.Complete Ferrari 488 Specs, Prices & ReviewAs if Ferrari hadn’t shaken things up enough with the release of the 488 GTB, the brand behind the prancing horse revealed the supercar’s convertible counterpart, the 488 Spider. This makes the car the most powerful mid-rear-engined V8 automobile to feature their patented retractable hard top. Under the hood is the same turbocharged engine that lives in the 488 GTB, capable of producing 660 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. For an exhilarating open-air drive, retract the top and hit the gas – the 488 Spider can reach 62 mph from a complete standstill in only 3 seconds, coming to 124 mph 5.7 seconds later. Ferrari used 11 different aluminum alloys to create the car’s chassis, giving it the same rigid torso and beam stiffness as its coupe alternative. In fact, this hardware accounts for the 488 Spider surpassing its predecessor, the 458 Spider, in several areas: a 23 percent increase in chassis performance, a 12 percent increase in corner acceleration and a 9 percent increase in response time. Regardless of which model you choose you will be sure to leave behind a lasting impression. Price: $275,000 Engine: Turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 engine Horsepower: 660 hp 0–60: 3 seconds Top Speed: 203+ mph Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic Torque: 560 pound-feet PUBLISHER’S FINAL TAKE:Ferrari’s lastest performance engineering, with or without the top

By Andrew Nabors – March 26, 2017

By The Numbers: 2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Ferrari’s new Italian four-seater brings out the best in performance, sportiness, and elegance. The automaker is hailing the GTC4Lusso as “a major evolution of the sporting Grand Tourer concept.” How is this new model such an evolution? With the addition of rear-wheel steering combined with four-wheel drive. If the GTC4Lusso looks familiar, it’s because it replaces the FF, Ferrari’s previous four-seater model. What also may be familiar is its name, which Ferrari says “references its illustrious predecessors,” including the 330 GTC, 330 GT and 250 GT. And, like the GTC4Lusso’s predecessors, it comes with a V12 engine. Financial Street Beijing.This time, however, its power is rated at an impressive 680 hp at 8,000 rpm and 514 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm, with 80% of its power at just 1,750 rpm, making for a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph. It’s not too often that you can reach those types of speeds in a four-seater weighing in dry at 3,946 lbs. These figures have also increased over the previous FF model (650 hp and 504 lb-ft). Helping the wheels stay connected to the ground below is Ferrari’s patented 4RM Evo four-wheel drive system, which now has rear-wheel steering for the first time. Ferrari also updated their Slip Slide Control (version 4.0) with an electronic differential (E-Diff) and SCN0E dampers. If you thought the FF could handle snowy and wet roads well, wait until you get behind the wheel of the GTC4Lusso. The GTC4Lusso’s interior houses an array of standard Ferrari luxuries, like fine leather, a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen and what the automaker calls Dual Cockpit architecture.Boasting versatility and elegance, Ferrari’s new four-seater offers extreme performance and sophisticated luxury.PRICE: TBDENGINE: 6.3-liter V12HORSEPOWER: 680TORQUE: 514 lb-ft0-62: 3.4 secondsTOP SPEED: 208 mphTRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual clutch

By Andrew Nabors – March 25, 2017

LaFerrari By The Numbers

You balked at the Prius in 2001. You snickered at the Tesla in 2008. Now, you’re clamoring for not just a Ferrari, but the Ferrari with battery power. The first Ferrari with hybrid technology just happens to be the most provocative, representing a new era of exotics that are made more efficient through electrical motors. We know 330 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometer may not pique the interest of most automotive enthusiasts, but it was a number proudly promoted by Ferrari when it unveiled the Ferrari Enzo’s long-awaited successor. With Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rising in the United States and the European Union looking at new rules to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from passenger vehicles, even a division as small and as niche as Ferrari has to look at ways to become more environmentally friendly. To put the new number into perspective, the Aventador LP700-4 is rated at 398, and the Prius scores an 89. Even more telling, the Ferrari Enzo emitted 545 grams.While a limited run of 499 units (perhaps it is saving the 500th unit for the pope as it did with the 400th Enzo) may not have a huge effect on the overall state of the environment, a small production run allows Ferrari to experiment with new technological solutions that will filter down to the rest of the lineup. In this case, it is a system derived from its F1 Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), called the Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System (HY-KERS). It started with the 6.3-liter V-12 also found in the F12. In the LaFerrari, the engine has been tweaked to produce more high-end grunt, relying on the electric motor’s torque for more of the low-to-mid-range power. The result is another 1,000 rpm and an additional 59 ponies to play with. Or, to be more specific, 788 horsepower at an amazing 9,250 rpm.That electric motor also contributes 161 horsepower to the total output, equaling 949 horsepower. The electric motor’s battery pack is attached to the floor of the chassis, channels its energy through the seven-speed dual clutch transmission, and is recharged while braking as in a normal hybrid. Ferrari will even redirect what it deems unnecessary torque, as can happen in corners, away from the rear wheels to be converted into electrical energy for the battery cells. The result is performance levels unmatched by any other Ferrari as confirmed by a lap time at Fiorano of one minute and 20 seconds. That’s five seconds faster than the Enzo and three seconds faster than the F12 Berlinetta, making the LaFerrari the fastest road car in the Italian brand’s history. Other notable performance statistics include 0-60 mph in fewer than three seconds, 0-124 in fewer than seven seconds and a top speed in excess of 217 mph.Price: $1,700,000Engine: 6.3-liter V-12Horsepower: 9490-60: Under 3.0 secondsTop Speed: 217+ mphTransmission: 7-speed dual-clutchTorque: 664+ foot-poundsPro: Usher in a new era of Ferraris with electric motorsCon: Spent so little time on the name

Exotic Cars 2017

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