Ford News

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 – November 15, 2018

Gulf Livery 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition (VIN 001) Being...

The 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition is coming into the world celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1968 and 1969 Le Mans-winning GT40 thanks to its Gulf Oil livery. Ford knows just how important the livery is in their heritage and how much fans love the paint scheme, so it was a no brainer to create the car. With such adoration for the livery, this GT is going to be a hot ticket but Barrett-Jackson is giving their bidders a chance to take home VIN 001. At the 48th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, Arizona auction on January 19, 2019, the special GT will be auctioned off by Ford. What's more, proceeds from the sale will be donated to United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “The 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition instantly became one of the most anticipated cars in the world with its famous paint scheme,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, Global Operations. “This car’s amazing history should help the United Way for Southeastern Michigan raise a lot of money to advance their mission of helping make lives better in our communities.” For the 2019 model, the car comes with the blue and orange exterior, as well as No. 9 graphics on the hood and door. Inside the car is an Ebony Alcantara interior with blue and orange stitching. Each Heritage Edition will also come with a serialized ID plate. Related: Graham Rahal’s Debuts His Purple Ford GT Ford Announces 350 Additional GT Supercars 2018 Ford GT Specs, Price, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – November 13, 2018

Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s New Ford GT

We're glad Ford has strict criteria when selecting new owners of the new GT. The LeMans-Winning supercar demands respect, and it steals the attention of everyone on the road. Almost as imposing as the Mustang RTR. As a Formula Drift World Champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr. was the first driver to drift the entire Nurburgring. As a professional driver and brand ambassador for Ford Performance, we figured this day was inevitable. So in a YouTube video uploaded by Ford, Vaughn explains his love of racing and scares his mother with launch mode. This is the first in a 2-part series entitled "The Dream," so stay with us for Part 2 along with all your Ford Performance updates. Related: 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Drops Weight, Adds Style Ford GT Specs, Price, Photos & Review Vaughn Gittin Jr. Drifts The 'Ring

By Andrew Nabors – November 06, 2018

Max Root Racing Applies for Ford GT

Sometimes the best way to sell a supercar is to tell someone they can't have it. Ford took this strategy to heart when they announced the application process for the latest Ford GT. As their flagship, the Top-Brass in Dearborn want to make sure it doesn't end up in the hands of Hoonigans (myself included). Of all the application videos, it seems that Ford appreciates brand loyalty. So many applicants who show their love of the 2005 Ford GT stand a better chance than most. But what about a Porsche GT3 Cup winner? Max Root is 19 years old, and his abilities on the track impressed my hometown hero, Hurley Haywood. As the receiver of Mr. Haywood's IMSA Scholarship, he knows what it takes for a Podium Finish. In his garage are two late-model Ford Raptors along with a 2014 first-generation example. The prerequisite 2005 Ford GT is shown cruising SoCal and also performing a proper smoke show. His daily driver is a Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca, one of the most potent Pony Cars in recent history. So take a look at this honest video and let's see if we can get Ford's attention. View All Ford GT For Sale 2019 Ford GT Carbon Drops Weight- Adds Style 2018 Ford GT Specs, Price, Photos & Review

By Edward Jones – October 30, 2018

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Drops Weight, Adds Style

Lightest Ford GT Four Accent Color Choices The Third Special Edition Ford GT Ford has just announced a new edition of their supercar: the Ford GT Carbon Series. This new series was designed to be the lightest of all GTs through the loss of 40 pounds. This loss of weight comes from the loss of a few pleasantries, like the cupholders and driver's side seat storage bin. However, the air condition system and radio remain. Along with the loss of weight, this new series is also visibly striking. Ford says it has more visible carbon fiber than any previous model. On the outside are two exposed carbon fiber stripes, as well as exposed carbon on the A-pillars, lower body panels and wheels. Inside, matte carbon is found on the fiber sills, air registry pods and center console. John Cena's Ford GT Sells Big at Mecum Dallas “The Ford GT Carbon Series stands out on the road with its striking carbon fiber-rich design and on the track with its athleticism,” says Hermann Salenbauch, global director, Ford Performance. “It is yet another example of how we can bring to life our Le Mans-winning supercar in new and exciting ways so our customers can share in that magical legacy.” There are also four different colors that customers can choose from: blue, orange, red and silver. This accent colors cover the mirror caps, center stripe and calipers. It may not be a lot of paint, but its enough to add a little bit of flair to the GT. Ford says approved customer applicants can order their GT Carbon Series now. They are also opening the final owner application process on November 8. Interested? You will be able to fill out your form at FordGT.com. View Ford GTs For Sale Ford GT Specs

By Andrew Nabors – October 19, 2018

Ford Announces 350 Additional GT Supercars

Auctions are a great way to take the pulse of the supercar market, and Dearborn has seen runaway success with the 2018 Ford GT. So in a press release from headquarters yesterday, they have given the green light to 350 more examples of their supercar. This takes the total build numbers from 1,000 to 1,350, with production concluding in 2022.2018 Ford GT Specs, Price, Photos & ReviewAnother round of applications will be accepted for 30 days, starting on November 8th. If you didn't make the cut on the first two rounds of applications, you will need to confirm or modify your original application. The ambiguous wording of this might envoke anger and anxiety, mostly because we don't know their highly guarded selection criteria. Director of Ford Performance Hermann Salenbauch said “The response to our Ford GT has been unprecedented, with initial demand outstripping supply by more than six-to-one. By extending the Ford GT production run for a limited period, we’re able to maintain the exclusivity of the ultra-desirable supercar while offering the ownership experience to a greater number of customers.”The chosen will work with Ford GT's Concierge Service to ensure their car is personalized in every way. Tune up your application and hope for the best. But in the meantime, click the link below to browse our inventory of Ford GTs for sale. View Ford GT For Sale

By Edward Jones – August 27, 2018

2019 Ford GT Gets Heritage Gulf Livery

In the automotive world, there are a few racing liveries that truly stand out in motorsport history. For the Ford GT, the American Gulf Oil livery is just about as iconic as they come. “Many view the Gulf Oil paint scheme as the most famous in motorsports,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, global operations. “The 1968 GT40 quickly became a global sensation after beating its European competitors on the track four times in a row, and in honor of the 50th anniversary of its win, we’re paying fresh tribute to the original with a new heritage limited edition.”2018 Ford GT Specs, Price, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – August 18, 2018

2017 Ford GT Heading to Mecum Monterey

Ford has taken limited production seriously with the latest GT. This carbon fiber masterpiece combines a 647 horsepower twin-turbo V6 with a suspension that is unlike anything on the road. Because the car is so unique, less than 200 were built in 2017. The only 2017 Ford GT on the market will be a primetime feature next Saturday afternoon. It wears a brilliant Ingot Silver finish that’s contrasted with black racing stripes that run down the center.Inside is a Dark Energy interior that’s complete with carbon fiber seats wrapped in Ebony Alcantara. The same Ebony Alcantara is also found on the steering wheel, instrument panel, door sills, center console, pillars, headliner and more. It also comes with the exterior carbon fiber package. A seven-speed dual clutch transmission sends 550 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. To keep you safe, the car has 5 driving modes: Normal: Everyday driving Wet: Driving in the elements Sport: For a spirited drive Track: Leave everyone in the dust V-Max: Maximum straight-line speed Underneath the wild styling is the world's first production car to have 2 suspension systems connected to each wheel. Multimatic engineered coil-overs with their DSSV shocks for normal ride height, but it can instantly drop down 2" onto torsion bars for the ultimate in grip. With only 8 miles on the odometer, If you haven't received your acceptance letter it would behoove you to register now. Because this is as affordable as these cars will ever be. Be sure to tune in to Mecum's live stream on YouTube and stay with us for complete coverage of the event.View This Car's Listing Here

By Andrew Nabors – June 21, 2018

How to do Launch Control in a New Ford GT

If you ever want to take your new Ford GT drag racing, you need to learn how to launch it. As the state of the art in supercar technology, the GT arrives with the latest in launch control. Our friend Brooks from DragTimes took a few minutes to show us how the system works. But first, he and his friends had to make a mandatory stop at Prestige Imports for Espresso & Exotics.Once you access drag mode, it allows you to build rpm to spin up the turbos. Holding the brake and give it some gas and you will hit a 2-step rev limiter at 3,000 rpm. This gets the intake out of vacuum and in the boost by 2 psi. Thanks to the dual-clutch transmission, you are already in 1st gear. Release the brake and hang on! Later on, he goes into detail about Ford's performance app and its data logging abilities. If you think you can handle it, our dealers are ready to take your deposit. So stay with us for all your DragTimes updates.Find Your Ford GT HereView the 2018 Ford GT Horsepower Specs

By Andrew Nabors – May 24, 2018

DragTimes: What's Underneath A Ford GT?

If you have been curious about the 2018 Ford GT, this will answer a few questions and raise many more. Brooks from DragTimes took delivery of this car only a week ago, but he already had his lift modified to accommodate the unique car. His goal this week was to install a dash cam, which everyone should own if you value your car.Top 10 Mecum Indy Sales (Including 2017 Ford GT)But since the lift was modified, he allows us to see the underside of Ford's supercar. Aerodynamic features are everywhere you look. Active front splitters and NACA ducts keep it glued to the racetrack, but those front lower control arms are massive! It probably has something to do with packaging the spool valves and torsion bars, what a wild system. Tell us your favorite feature of the Ford GT in the comments below and stay with us for all your DragTimes updates.Find Ford GTs For SaleCheck Out the Amazing 2017 Ford GT Specs Here

By Andrew Nabors – December 15, 2017

Lance Miller's 2010 Ford GT1 For Sale

A thin line exists between racing and street legal cars. When the Ford GT returned in 2004, critics said it was inspired by the legendary GT40, but it lacked the proportions and the pedigree to be a proper contender on the world stage. We disagree with every part of this. After driving John Hennessey's HPE 1000, it gave me immense respect for the chassis, interior layout, and the incredible build quality Ford put into the project.First Gen Ford GT Horsepower & Complete SpecsMany aftermarket companies offered bolt-ons and performance parts, but they were not enough to get the car track ready. Enter Martin Berak, he has been a GT40 fan all his life, so he formed Matech Concepts in 2007. Their goal was to take the Ford GT and make it a dominant force in the GT3 Championship.To accomplish this, an initial order was placed for 25 cars. He and his team built several GT3 cars, and in only 4 months they debuted in the European GT3 series. Martin took turns with veteran racer Thomas Mutsch, and it yielded a first place win on the streets of Bucharest.Ford was initially reticent to allow them to field the car at LeMans, but after the successful '07 season Matech essentially became a factory-backed team. Their goal was to build a GT1 car for LeMans, which can cost several million dollars and many late nights. To get insights from someone who has been there, they enlisted the help of Count Marc Van der Straten, the owner of MarcVDS Racing. They hired Enrique Scalabroni to design the car, as he was famous for Williams' F1 victories in '86 & '87. He was also Ferrari's chief of design from 87-90.With these big names on the project, Ford opened the gates of their testing center in Cologne to make sure the car was ready to race. Development took place throughout 2009, and the car was formally unveiled at Yas Marina on April 17th of 2010. Taking first place, the Ford GT1 caught everyone's attention. May 9th was the 1,000 km of Spa, and the GT1 locked out the podium with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies.Needless to say, the Ford GT1 beat up everyone from Aston Martin to Team Corvette bringing home 5 pole positions, 4 wins and another 5 podium finishes. The rules limited the engine size to 5.3 liters, or 325 ci. The NASCAR division of Roush-Yates delivered a 650 horsepower monster with 531 lb-ft of torque. Given the FIA's balance of performance rules, it was wise to choose an engine designed to run under a restrictor plate. Tuned for 102 octane, the solid lifter masterpiece is still ready to race.There is only 1 Ford GT1 for sale, and we're glad to help you get behind the wheel. This chassis is MarcVDS car #40, and it secured several top 5 finished in the 2010 season. The car is owned by none other than Lance Miller, the Co-Owner of Carlisle Events, and one of the world's most famous collectors.He has this to say about it: "The car is simply amazing in every aspect. You point the car, it goes. You hit the brakes, is quickly decelerates. The power is really strong, the shifter is incredibly precise and instantaneous. I thought the car would be quite intimidating, however, after a few laps I felt comfortable and found out quickly I was having the time of my life! Any racer will love this car; it's fast, sexy, stops swiftly and handles extremely well!Winning Driver Thomas Mutsch: "The noise level in the car was okay. Of course, we needed ear plugs for the radio, but without them you would cause damage to your ears after just 30 minutes. We had no silencers, open pipes all the way to the end which made it very, very loud. I remember particularly in Abu Dhabi, with the stand opposite us, when the car passed by, you really had to put your fingers in your ears, as it was just too loud. It really hurt. We measured the noise level in a drive by at Paul Ricard at 128 decibels.”View Price and Listing

Ford News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe