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 – August 15, 2017

Ford Performance Reveals New 2018 Heritage GT

Those ordering a new 2018 Ford GT, Ford Performance will now be offering one more livery. This livery harks back to the historic 1967 Le Mans winner that was driven by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt.“In creating a worthy successor to the 2017 Heritage edition, we logically looked at our next historic Le Mans victory with the all-American team of Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt,” said Dave Pericak, global director Ford Performance. “The 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage edition pays homage to that win, with a modern take on one of the most important vehicles in Ford’s storied history of racing.”The livery consists of a glossy Race Red finish with white stripes and, of course, the carbon fiber package. On the side and on the hood in the Frozen White circle is the No.1 graphics. The exterior also features the 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels in silver satin clearcoat with contrasting black lugnuts.Jay Leno Reviews His New Ford GT

By Edward Jones – July 24, 2017

Team Shelby South Atlantic Receives Their New Ford GT

Team Shelby South Atlantic has just received their own new Ford GT. The news comes from Instagram account @teamshelbyracing owned by Bob Zinzell, Team Shelby South Atlantic Regional Director. The new supercar is finished in Frozen White with what looks like the Dark Energy interior. We can't wait to see their team take the American supercar out for a drive and put its engine to use.The Ford GT’s EcoBoost engine is the most powerful of its kind that Ford has ever created. With 647 horsepower on tap, it’s so powerful that the Daytona Prototype’s crankshaft had to be replaced with the pre-production F-150 Raptor’s crankshaft. Why? The team was noticing that the original crankshaft was cracking under grueling condition. Thanks to this swap, the Daytona Prototype went on to win its first race at Sebring that very same year.https://www.instagram.com/p/BW3AKaWHz_i/

By Edward Jones – July 14, 2017

There is Actually a Ford Mustang Ice Cream Sandwich

This Summer is a scorcher, and there's no better way to cool of that a nice ice cream sandwich. Alright, actually cold air conditioning is a much better way to cool off, but for the sake of this article just follow along. Back to cooling off, Ford is looking to keep temperatures down with a new ice cream sandwich that they've created with Coolhaus Premium Ice Cream.The treat was inspired by the by the new 2018 Mustang's paint called "Orange Fury." Naturally, this ice cream sandwich is all orange in appearance, and even in Florida. The ice cream has a zesty orange flavor, which is sandwiched in between two Vanilla Whoopies that have orange icing. The proverbial icing on the cake? An edible wrapper with edible ink, because you don't want to leave any trash in your Mustang.“I typically focus on things like color research, leather seats and hand stitching, so this was definitely a bit different for me,” said Barb Whalen, Ford color and materials design manager. “It was fun applying some of those same design philosophies into helping Coolhaus create an ice cream flavor that really embodies the new Orange Fury color.”Want one? Coolhaus is giving the sandwiches for free for four days at their New York City locations, and from their Mustang-decaled ice cream truck.

By Edward Jones – July 11, 2017

Could This Be a New 2020 Ford Bronco Variant?

In February, 2016, Bronco6G.com uploaded a rendering of what they think the 2020 Ford Bronco could look like. Shortly thereafter, on October 3, 2016, Ford unveiled their plans to officially bring back the Bronco and announced that it would be made in Michigan. Unfortunately, we're going to have to wait until 2020 for the new Bronco, but that isn't stopping the world from getting hyped up over the revival of the SUV. Today, Bronco6G.com has uploaded another rendering of what they think would be a four-door version of the Bronco. This is how they explain their Bronco concept: "Our four-door 2020 Bronco concept shows an ultra-rugged body-on-frame offroader that is equally at home on both pavement and trail–and with the battle scars to show it. We’ve retained the classic round headlights and blunt inset grille with retro cues while adding beefed up off-road tires and a 3-inch lift." Click here to see all of the rendering.

By Edward Jones – June 13, 2017

Story Behind the Riviera Blue 2017 Ford GT

Dave Bannister, creator of FordGTForum.com and organizer of Ford GT events around the country for over a decade, has taken delivery of his brand-new Riviera Blue 2017 Ford GT. Bannister shared his photos with us of the new car in their facility that houses privately owned GTs. Below is the story of his new car."I was hoping for a bit of a special VIN and despite being an earlier delivery I managed to get VIN 0040. I know it’s kind of silly but I like having "GT 40." Ford, the GT concierge team and the Multimatic Niche Vehicle staff were all fantastic making ordering and delivery a special experience. I got to go see my car built at the MNV, and as amazing as the car is put together, it’s even more impressive apart. It truly is unlike any other car available today. Andy Frisella and I spent a lot of time going back and forth during the color selection process, and I’m thrilled that my PTS Riviera Blue GT and his Arancio Borealis both came out so spectacularly. It’s a credit to the design team on the GT that it wears such unique colors so well. We’re going to have these cars together at Monterey Car Week. See the 2018 Ford GT Horsepower Specs Here Last year, I shipped my 30k mile 2006 GT to Europe and put it on the track at Spa-Francorchamps, the Nurburgring, and ultimately drove on the circuit at Le Mans right behind the 1-2-3 finishing GT40s from 1966, just before watching a Ford GT win again on the 50th anniversary. Now, as the culmination of that experience, to have a car with such closely related DNA is truly a thrill. It needs clear bra this week while I’m back at Le Mans, but luckily I already have seat time in the GT and it’s a savage and dramatic driving experience in the best way possible. Can’t wait to get it out on the road and track."

By Edward Jones – June 07, 2017

Watch Jack Roush Take Delivery of His New Ford GT

Jack Roush has been around Ford vehicles for decades, turning vehicles like the Mustang and F-150 into more extreme and competitive version of themselves. In fact, we've had a Roush Performance Stage 3 Mustang at our headquarters for some time, and I can easily say it's the most fun I've ever had in a Mustang, let alone a "pony car."That being said, Jack Roush was undoubtedly a shoe-in when it came to being approved for a new Ford GT. While he has surely waited some time for his new American supercar, he finally took delivery of it on June 1. Jack Roush's example of the Ford GT is #15, and is finished in what looks like Liquid Grey with Ingot Silver stripes going down the center.Could Roush Performance take the new Ford GT and turn it into an even more powerful car? We'll just have to wait and see. According to Ford, the new American supercar has 647 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque on tap, thanks its 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine, and has a top speed of 216 mph. If Roush took some tuning these numbers, we could possibly see the GT turn into a true hypercar.https://www.facebook.com/ROUSHperformance/videos/10155306014499795/

By Edward Jones – May 22, 2017

Andy Frisella Reviews His Brand-New 2017 Ford GT

Andy Frisella of The MFCEO Project recently had his brand-new 2017 Ford GT delivered. This delivery was one of the first customer deliveries and, according to Frisella, his GT is the first "off-pallet spec" example created by Ford. Since the delivery about a week ago, he's had quite a bit of time behind the wheel of the car and decided to record a review video for the world to see.In the video, Frisella goes over his thoughts on the car and also gives us a detailed explanation on what the driver will experience. One thing that may surprise you is the steering wheel, which houses most of the car's controls. This includes the turning signals, driving mode switch, windshield wipers and just about everything else.To learn about the new 2017 Ford GT from an experienced collector and driver, click play on the video below and check out the amazing pictures by David Mullis Photography below as well! Check Out the 2018 Ford GT Engine Specs

By Andrew Nabors – May 16, 2017

Ford GT: Comparing 2017 vs 2005

In the latest film from Doug DeMuro, he travels to the Great Salt Lake to compare a 2005 Ford GT against the latest 2017 GT. Perhaps it was presumptuous to think the new model would share anything with its predecessor, but nostalgia goes a long way at this price point. One of his coworkers has amassed almost 30,000 miles on the previous generation, so his comments on the new car are very insightful.Ford GT Price, Specs, Photos 2004-2005In our cooperation with Motor Trend, I've had a few opportunities to drive them. Ford spent a ton of money building an amazing street car with the looks and layout of the vintage 60's LeMans Winner. The 2005 GT is comfortable and balanced, with the best manual transmission ever made. Sure it shares interior parts with other Fords, so if window switches make or break your peace of mind, you might have other issues to consider.Also Check Out - Delivery of a One-Off Arancio Borealis Brand-New Ford GTThe new car is more of a race car that is detuned for street manners. With a much smaller cockpit and a lower ride height, visibility looks a bit hindered. Even at the lowest performance settings, the 3.5 liter V6 is loud. The exhaust note is exotic and throaty, but the soundtrack isn't for everyone. Interior and exterior styling leave nothing to be desired, so we hope some of the unique features will be shared with lesser models. Pros and cons can easily be seen in comparing the steering wheels. The old car was a ring of leather with a GT badge. The new one is a blend of carbon fiber with a ton of vehicle controls. Having so many features at your fingertips is handy, but it leaves any notion of aesthetics in the past. If you want the power and technology that dominated LeMans, your local Ford dealer will be ready to submit your application. But if you want classic looks and three pedals: 1: Buy a pre-owned Ford GT, and 2: Send it to Hennessey Performance!

By Edward Jones – January 17, 2017

New 2018 Ford Mustang Drops V6, Gets Redesigned Front

Today, Ford announced the new 2018 Mustang and all the details surrounding the American pony car.“The new Mustang is our best ever, based on more than 50 years as one of the iconic sports car in America and now, the world,” said Joe Hinrichs, president of The Americas. “Tapping Mustang’s enormous fan base, we’re bringing the new Mustang straight to the people – and introducing the new car across multiple social media channels, reaching millions.”As for the obvious, Ford has gone ahead and given the Mustang a brief refresh in terms of appearance. The refresh is most apparent in the front fascia, where new LED lights are the focal point. Additionally, the hood and grille were also revised with new hood vents and grilles. The rear of the car also has new LED taillights, as well as a new bumper, available rear wing and fascia.Those interested will be able to buy the car in Fall 2017.All Ford Mustang For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 01, 2017

2016 Ford Escape Review

If there was one vehicle that I've really felt truly comfortable in the last year, honestly, it would have to be the 2016 Ford Escape. Hear me out. Now I'm not talking comfortable due to luxurious plush seating, I'm talking about an overall sense of comfort. As soon as I sat down in this crossover, I felt like I already knew where everything was. From the switches and buttons on the center console, to the light, it was all very self-explanatory from the get-go. Yeah, I wasn't being swaddled in rich leathers or listening to a Harmon Kardon sound system, but it just felt right. And for that, I actually really loved the 2016 Escape.As far as power goes, the base model comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (22 city / 31 highway / 25 mpg combined) that's good for 168 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. As for the SE and Titanium trims, a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is found under the hood. Those kind of power figures aren't comparable to most cars I write about, but this is one sturdy engine that provides great mileage and what I can imagine a bulletproof future. The drive our Escape offered was pleasant, not remarkable, but I didn't expect it to be. However, thanks to its short wheelbase and short stature, it was actually quite nimble around corners.Going back to that interior I was talking about in the beginning, the 2016 Escape's cabin is just great. The center console has a gear selector mounted a little bit higher than normal, which worked out quite nicely, because when your hand is rested on it, it only takes a slight movement of the hand to reach the climate controls. Above the climate controls is the MyFordTouch interface that was simple and efficient. Also, the layout of the media interface buttons almost looked a bit sci-fi, which I wasn't exepcting. When it came to space in the cabin, I never ran into an issue. As it is a crossover, I wasn't looking to fit a full-size couch in the back, but average groceries and a few larger items (bikes and whatnot) fit just fine in the rear.If you're looking for an entry-level and small crossover that will act as a flawless daily driver, this might just be the best pick.

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