Gear

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 Jordan Aquistapace – March 12, 2024

Caviar Shows Off Smartphones Inspired By The Tesla Cybert...

Discover Caviar's "Future" collection, merging luxury with tech icons like Apple Vision Pro and Tesla Cybertruck, starting at $8,060. In an era where technology blends seamlessly with luxury, Dubai-based brand Caviar stands out by crafting bespoke versions of the world's most popular gadgets. The latest reveal, the "Future" collection, is an example of the bespoke specialist's ingenious spirit, combining iconic tech and automotive designs with high-end smartphones from Apple and Samsung. Caviar's newest lineup draws inspiration from tech sensations and futuristic vehicles, offering owners a taste of the finer things in life. The collection's highlight is the iPhone 15 Pro Max Vision, paying homage to the sleek look and feel of the Apple Vision Pro. With its refined color palette and smooth lines, the custom smartphone is a statement piece designed to complement the Apple Vision Pro headset. The creativity doesn't stop there, as Caviar also introduced an example inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck, built on the Samsung S24 Ultra. The design comes reminiscent of 1980s science fiction and the iconic "Blade Runner" vehicles. The design features sharp geometric lines and metallic finishes, embodying the spirit of the Cybertruck in a pocket-sized form. With other models in the collection drawing from inspiration as diverse as the "living" Mercedes Vision AVTR car and the architectural genius of Zaha Hadid, Caviar's Future collection is a celebration of innovation. Starting at $8,060 for the iPhone 15 Pro Vision and $8,770 for the Samsung S24 Ultra Cybertruck, these new smartphones are perfect tech-savvy connoisseur. View all luxury accessories currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY Discovery by clicking the link below. View All Luxury Accessories For Sale Source: Caviar

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 16, 2022

The GearBox: Electric Performance

While advancements in technology continue to help with the daily tasks of life, they also transfer into the automotive world through performance-focused electric vehicles. The Tesla Model S Plaid stands at the top of the EV industry, producing over 1,028-horsepower as an everyday drivable chassis. This week’s GearBox focuses on the perfect wardrobe to complement the fastest production EV on the planet. Keep your wardrobe well-rounded with these premium clothing and accessories from industry-leading brands. Shop all of the products featured in this special by clicking the links below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury gear news and releases. Tesla Model S Plaid Tesla With the longest range and quickest acceleration of any electric vehicle in production, Model S Plaid is the highest performing sedan ever built. All Model S powertrains, with updated battery architecture, are capable of back-to-back, consistent 1/4 mile runs. Price: MSRP $124,490 View All Tesla Model S For Sale Hublot Big Bang E Titanium Smartwatch Hublot Full of sophistication and advanced technology, this piece fits in perfectly with Hublot's watchmaking tradition.Extremely complex, it comprises 42 components, 27 of which are for the K Module alone, the "cage" which houses the digital heart of the watch. Price: $5,200 Buy From Hublot Buck Mason Navy Wool Twill CPO Jacket Buck Mason Inspired by a World War II Chief Petty Officer shirt jacket, this full-fitting top-layer is cut from a brushed wool twill, and lined with a sleek nylon rip-stop stuffed with warm PrimaLoft® fill. There’s plenty of room in the shoulders, and a slight taper at the waist, so the silhouette balances its military heritage with a contemporary fit. Price: $225 Buy From Buck Mason Tesla 3D Large Wordmark Tee Tesla Designed for fit, comfort and style, the Men's 3D Large Wordmark Tee is made from 100% Peruvian cotton with a 3D silicone-printed Tesla wordmark printed across the chest. Price: $35 Buy From Tesla Nudie Lean Dean Dry Japan Selvage Nudie Selvage jeans with a slim tapered fit. The selvage denim is made by Kaihara Mills in Japan and will develop a uniquely worn-in look with wear and washing. Price: $280 Buy From Nudie Jeans On-Running Cloud Sneakers On-Running Zero-Gravity foam and CloudTec® in the outsole provide soft, cushioned landings. Reshaped Cloud elements deliver superior performance and grip, while the molded heel provides a snug, secure fit. The Speedboard® transforms energy generated upon landing into forward motion. The signature speed-lacing system lets your foot slip in and out with ease, yet keeps the shoe firmly in place on the move. Price: $129.99 Buy From On-Running Wear Brims Graduation Baseball Cap Nordstrom Mark the milestone with this wool-blend twill baseball cap finished with an embroidered emblem on the front. Price: $60 Buy From Nordstrom Persol PO3269S Sunglasses Persol Patented in the ‘30s, the Meflecto is the first flexible stem system designed for maximum comfort by eliminating pressure on the head from glasses. This system allows glasses to adapt to any face shape and still today represents a technologically unsurpassed solution. Price: $291 Buy From Persol Goyard Saint Sulpice Cardholder StockX Add a sophisticated touch to your style with this Goyard Saint Sulpice card holder. This card holder features the classic Goyardine print in blue and orange against a coated canvas. An orange grained leather covers the card’s interior. With four credit card slots and cash insert this card holder is the perfect way to inject a bit of luxury into the everyday. Price: $530 Buy From StockX Vessel Skyline Backpack Total Wine Durable, water-resistant tech construction means lasting utility for this compact backpack with easy appeal. Price: $175 Buy From Nordstrom For more GearBox specials, Check out The GearBox: Valentine’s Date Night

By Jordan Aquistapace – December 22, 2020

EveryDrive Carry: Charged Up With The Tesla Model 3

Nowadays, technology surrounds our world in every aspect to help us stay connected and efficient no matter the circumstance. The automotive industry plays a key role, as Tesla continues to use the energy from batteries to catapult the manufacturer into the future. This week’s EverDrive Carry features products and accessories that will keep you charged up and connected while on the go. Click any of the links below to shop the products featured in this special. Tesla 2020 Tesla Model 3 MSRP $39,990 View All Tesla Model 3 For Sale Model 3 comes with the option of dual motor all-wheel drive, 20” Überturbine Wheels and Performance Brakes and lowered suspension for total control, in all weather conditions. And a carbon fiber spoiler improves stability at high speeds, all allowing Model 3 to accelerate from 0-60 mph in as little as 3.1 seconds. Nordstrom Tumi Alpha Slim Nylon Billfold $85 Buy From Nordstrom The Tumi Alpha Slim Nylon Blindfold Wallet features Ballistic-weave nylon handsomely textures a leather-trimmed billfold designed to keep financial essentials always organized and at hand. Amazon Anker Solar Power Bank $39.99 Buy From Amazon The Anker PowerCore provides a durable portable power source for both indoor and outdoor use. Equipped with a durable shockproof exterior and IP64 protection for resistance to dust and water. Tile Tile Performance Pack On Sale $44.99 Buy From Tile A selection of Tiles helps you find different kinds of gear. You can use the small Sticker for your remote, the powerful Pro or versatile Mate for keys and backpacks, and the slender Slim for wallets and laptops. Attach them and use our free app to keep track of all your stuff. BestBuy Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) On Sale $99 Buy From BestBuy The new Apple Pencil makes note-taking, writing, and drawing better than ever. It magnetically attaches to iPad Pro, charges wirelessly, and lets you change tools with a simple double tap. Huckberry Ember Travel Mug $179.95 Shop Now From the first sip to the inevitable last, the Ember Travel Mug keeps your coffee exactly as hot as you like it. Translating the technology from their regular mugs into a leak-proof, go-anywhere travel version, Ember has upped the battery life to three hours and added LED temperature controls to the exterior. Amazon Bose Frames Tempo $249 Buy From Amazon Bose Frames Tempo are high-performance sport sunglasses with a revolutionary Bose Open Ear Audio design that allows you to hear your music and your surroundings at the same time for a workout unlike any other. Nordstrom Rack Tumi Ashworth Wheeled Backpack On Sale $345.97 Buy From Nordrstrom Rack The Tumi Ashworth Wheeled Backpack is a lightweight backpack for adventures big and small features smart, durable construction with a place for everything and a choice of carrying options. Amazon Cobra DualPro 360° $449.95 Buy From Cobra From red light cameras to law enforcement locations to distracted drivers, the road can be a crazy place. The DualPro 360° has an arsenal of sensors designed for maximum protection. BestBuy Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) 44mm (PRODUCT)RED Aluminum Case On Sale $509 Buy From BestBuy Apple Watch Series 6 lets you measure your blood oxygen level with a revolutionary new sensor and app. Take an ECG from your wrist. See your fitness metrics on the enhanced Always-On Retina display, now 2.5x brighter outdoors when your wrist is down. Set a bedtime routine and track your sleep. And with cellular service, you can go without your phone. It's the ultimate device for a healthier, more active, more connected life. BestBuy Apple iPad Air with Wi-Fi + Cellular - 64GB - Space Gray On Sale $529.99 Buy From BestBuy iPad Air features powerful technologies, such as the A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine. A 10.5" Retina display with True Tone.¹ Support for Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard. And at just one pound and 6.1mm thin, carrying all that power is effortless.

By Edward Jones – January 15, 2020

Tesla is Selling a Hilarious Cybertruck Shirt

What do you do when a mistake happens on stage? You roll with it. That's what Elon Musk did and is continuing to do with a new shirt. The Tesla shop is currently selling a Cybertruck Bulletproof T-shirt. On the front is what looks like smashed glass, referring to the broken window during the Cybertruck unveiling event. On the back is the Cybertruck's logo. This is Tesla turning a mistake into an opportunity. If you haven't seen the video of the window breaking, you can scroll below to see it for yourself. You can feel Musk cringe as the window crack. buy the shirt - $45 " width="680"> Source: Tesla

By Edward Jones – November 11, 2019

Tesla Roadster 2.0 Now For Sale in 1:18 Scale Model Form

Hey, everyone! You can now buy the Tesla Roadster 2.0, albeit in 1:18 scale model form. That being said, this is actually more than just a scale model. To create this Roadster 2.0 model, Tesla commissioned the design and the Tesla Design Team oversaw the creation of it. For the "blueprints" of the model, they actually used the same 3D CAD data that's utilized to create the real Roadster. This means what you see is what we're going to get... in a larger form. There are over 180 metal and plastic parts that go into the model, creating an incredibly detailed interior. It even has a removable convertible top. If you're looking for something to hold you over until your new Roadster comes in, this may be a great purchase at $250 - shop now. see all teslas for sale Source: Shop.Tesla.com

By Andrew Nabors – July 31, 2018

Limited Edition Tesla Surfboard: Sold Out!

What would you do if you if the waves are perfect and you have some extra carbon fiber? If you are Elon Musk, you partner with the best in the industry to build the perfect surfboard. He knows his buyers. The "early adopters" are young urban professionals who tend to lead a more active lifestyle than our parents did. Much like the flamethrowers for "The Boring Company", this board hit their store and sold out in minutes. Surfing and high-tech composites go back to the early days of spaceflight. When NASA needed fiberglass specialists to build the insulation on the Saturn V rocket, Dr. Wernher von Braun had a problem. When the surf was up, his workforce called in sick to catch a perfect wave. This carbon fiber masterpiece was limited to 200 examples and was a collaboration between Tesla Design and Matt Biolos of Lost Surfboards. It has several layers of carbon fiber over a 1.5-pound EPS core. The bottom has 2 layers of 4 oz cloth, laid at right angles for the ultimate strength and dent resistance. The price was only $1,500, but eBay is awash in examples approaching $4,000. They are designed to fit easily inside the Model S, Model 3 or Model X, so click the link below to find the perfect car to go with this board! Treat Yourself To A Tesla

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