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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 15, 2020

Shop The Porsche Design Fall/Winter 2020 Sportswear Colle...

We have seen the Porsche Design Fall/Winter 2020 Fashion Collection featuring urban styles that can be dressed up or down for any situation. The fashion branch of the German automotive company released a sport-inspired collection for the colder months. The Sportswear Collection focuses on head to toe lifestyle and activewear that will add the performance needed daily. Using premium materials, Porsche Design created jackets, sweatshirts, short/long sleeve shirts, pants, shoes, bags, and accessories. A wide variety of color options are available for each product to ensure a style for everyone. The Fall/Winter Sportswear Collection by Porsche Design continues to bridge the gap between high-quality lifestyle fashion and German automotive excellence. This line is sure to be celebrated by all Porsche enthusiasts. Shop Porsche Design's newest sports collection by clicking the link below. Shop Porsche Design Fall/Winter 2020 Sportswear

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 15, 2020

The KITH For BMW 2020 Collaboration Is Unveiled With A Cl...

Recently, A few Instagram posts from KITH founder Ronnie Fieg have led us to believe that the collaboration with BMW would be surfacing. After much anticipation, the KITH for BMW 2020 partnership announced with a mesmerizing video of classic BMWs traveling as a pack throughout the city and wilderness. The exploration takes the group to a spot where the newly redesigned 2021 BMW M4 is unveiled with KITH inspired options. A highlight of the video is Ronnie’s red E30 M3 with added KITH x BMW features such as a KITH logo leather interior and badging around the car. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGhr85cBf61/ The collection has yet to be fully released, but photos of jackets, sweaters, polos, t-shirts, and accessories are published. The collaboration celebrates the heritage of BMW Motorsports as well as the progression of streetwear in the fashion industry. Check out the KITH for BMW 2020 collection by clicking the link below. View KITH For BMW 2020 https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVPS1rhRyV/

By Jordan Aquistapace – October 14, 2020

Wheels X Wardrobe: Stealth

The transition from fall to winter relies on comfort and functionality for daily living in the form of fashion as well as vehicle choice. Audi equips its vehicles with the legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system that can take on anything mother nature throws in its way. Lululemon follows a similar path, designing and manufacturing its ever-changing clothing line to adapt to diverse climates while still providing quality head to toe products. This week’s Wheels X Wardrobe focuses on the 2020 Audi R8 and its ability to complement a stealthy all-black performance attire. The Stealth Break Down 2020 Audi R8 V10 MSRP $169,900 Hublot Big Bang E $5,800 Lululemon Cold City Parka $598 Lululemon City Sweat Crew $108 Lululemon 5 Year Basic Tee $48 Lululemon ABC Pant Slim Warpstreme 32" $128 Lululemon Power Stride Tab Socks $18 On-Runinng Cloudnova Shoes $150 Lululemon Day Shade Ball Cap $38 Paul Smith Black Barford Sunglasses $380 Lululemon City Keeper Gloves $78 Lululemon Back to Life Sport Bottle 24oz $44 Lululemon More Miles Travel Wallet $29 Lululemon Command The Day Backpack 24L $148 Vehicle The R8 V10 Coupe and Spyder return in 2020 featuring sharpened design and enhanced performance – with all R8 models now achieving a top track speed of at least 200 mph. The updated front bumper includes a new honeycomb grille with R8 badge, front spoiler lip, and lateral air intakes. The updated rear bumper continues with honeycomb air outlets, oval exhaust pipes, and a new rear diffuser. View All Audi R8 For Sale Watch The Big Bang e is powered with Wear OS by Google™. The wearer can access apps on Google Play, get answers on the go with Google Assistant and make fast simple payments with Google Pay. Easily swipe to helpful information from a customized list of tiles and stay up to date with notifications and messages. Shop Now Top Go on, challenge the elements. This Lululemon Cold City waterproof parka is generously insulated with goose down to keep you warm and dry in cold, wet conditions. Shop Now The Lululemon City Sweat Crew is made from quality soft and breathable materials with a stretchy sweat-wicking factor. The comfortably casual top is the best way to take everyday living to the next level. Shop Now The Lululemon 5 Year Basic Tee is a breathable lightweight t-shirt made from the trademarked Vitasea fabric. The perfect option for any casual daily outing or at home living, with an array of color options available. Shop Now Bottom The five-pocket jean, reinvented. These slim-fit pants are engineered with ABC™ Technology to give you freedom of movement and all-day comfort. Shop Now Footwear With all the features you need to work, sweat, and rest, these Lululemon Power Stride Tab Socks will get you through your whole day (and then some). Shop Now Performance born, design bred. The On-Running Cloudnova fuses everything we know about running tech with a brand new style and silhouette. Think responsive comfort and urban energy. Shop Now Accessories Rain or shine, you're ready. This lightweight Lululemon Days Shade Ball Cap is made with water-repellent fabric. Shop Now The Paul Smith Barford aviator-style acetate sunglasses are presented in black. Integrated nose pads. Top bar. Gold-tone logo hardware at temples. Green lens with 100% UV protection. Silver-tone hardware. Shop Now Lululemon City Keeper Gloves incorporate tech-friendly fingers and grippers on the palms, these fleece-lined gloves help keep you connected and cozy. Shop Now This insulated water bottle features a leak-proof lid and slip-free texture, so no matter how rocky the adventure gets, your drink is safe. Shop Now Travel near or far knowing all your important documents are secure and in the Lululemon More Miles Travel Wallet, so you can focus on enjoying the journey—stress free. Shop Now Baggage If you love pockets, the Lululemon Command The Day Backpack keeps your commutes organized. Think storage for your laptop, cords, snacks, water bottle, and more. Shop Now

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 02, 2020

Porsche Design High OCTN Motorsport Sneakers Revealed

Porsche Design and Puma Motorsports recently released a new shoe that differs from more traditional minimalistic driving footwear. It's the thought of stepping out of the racecar and into the wilderness. The all-new rugged silhouette is called the High OCTN, which refers to a high-octane presence combined with a fully functional aspect. The newly designed mid-top sneaker constructed using a mix of both nylon and leather with added padding for protection. The most noticeable part of the High OCTN is the leather support strap that is secured to the upper portion of the sneaker and latches together using velcro. Thick nylon laces and rubber lace-lets located beneath the ankle straps. The bottoms are inspired by tread patterns from tires and are made from dense rubber to increase traction when off-road. Porsche Design and Puma Motorsports know the capability of using the High OCTN through whatever the weather throws at them, which is why the color-way uses dark earth tones. This style is a new approach from Porsche Design and Puma, one that leads to the possibilities of new unpaved roads. The new Porsche Design High OCTN Motorsport shoe is available for $270 on Puma's website. Shop Now

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 02, 2020

Porsche Design Fall/Winter 2020 Collection

Whether someone is in the market for a wardrobe to match their new 992 Turbo S or just in need of comfortable and stylish apparel, Porsche Design is assured to help. The fall/winter 2020 collection has just been released and features comfortable style options for everyday use during the colder months. The clothing line emphasizes simplicity and comfort, all while adding small personal touches to signify that it's a quality product by Porsche. The style selections vary from comfortable everyday options to pieces that can be dressed up for business casual occasions. It's the thought of everyday use for the consumer that goes into the creation of both Porsche vehicles and lifestyle products. The fall/winter 2020 collection consists of jackets, sweatshirts, sweatpants, polos, t-shirts, sneakers, and accessories. Porsche Design prides itself on incorporating quality materials such as leather, lightweight nylon, and cotton combined with an assortment of color options. Shop The Collection Jackets Porsche Designs jacket options are sure to keep you warm while the GT2RS's are getting garaged and the Cayenne's come out to battle the cold. The star of the jacket line is a mixed black leather and neoprene full zip that lets the stitching design do the talking. On the inside zipper line is the only spot that will sport the Porsche Design logo. The second option is a comfortable full-zip hooded cardigan, which is presented in black as an active sport alternative. Sweats For the days when its more comfortable to hang the keys up and take a personal day, Porsche Design's sweatshirt and sweatpants are key. The set is sold separating, but they match so well that it will be best to grab both while you can. They are made of a soft and lightweight viscose material in a dark grey. Each of the sweats features a rubberized seatbelt material that travels down the arm and pant leg of each side with the Porsche Design logo imprinted. This is truly Porsche's "Luxury Tracksuit" for both owners and enthusiasts. Shirts Porsche Design's shirts for the fall/winter 2020 collection mirror the personalities of their current vehicle fleet. They are offered in a casual sports t-shirt for more performance-based activities, such as the GT series vehicles used as track-focused machines. They are offered in both a V-neck and a crew neck with a small Porsche Design logo on the chest. On the other end, they offer polos for more comfortable business casual situations, just as if was a comfortable ride to work in a Taycan Turbo S. Color options for the shirts and polos include red, blue, grey, and black. Sneakers The newest sneakers released for the Porsche Design collection vary in style, material, and color. The resemblance that they do share is the functionality to have a grip over the accelerator and brake pedal, as well as the ability to feel confident that they deliver comfort throughout the day. Porsche Design offers four different styles: minimalistic, traditional sneaker, high top sneaker, and lace-less driver. All styles are made if genuine quality leather combined with soles that provide extreme grip for both on and off-track use. Accessories The saying "It's the little things that count" must have come from the Porsche Design facility because they have added a few unique pieces to include in the fall/winter collection. This includes a beautiful genuine leather belt that comes in dark blue, brown, and black paired with a brushed metal buckle engraved with the Porsche Design logo. They also include a polished small metal set that includes cuff links, a key chain, and a money clip. Finally, they have added an atheistically pleasing rubber bracelet that features a brushed metal hook clip that comes in four colors. Shop the Collection

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 31, 2020

Period Correct Drops New K/V Collection

Period Correct has always been a step ahead of bringing light to past historic automotive excellence, in the form of stylish clothing and accessories. The automotive clothing company is known for highlighting the true art behind some of history’s greatest vehicles. This does not mean the multi-million-dollar latest supercar, but instead vehicles that still hold significant relevance because they were simple good at what they were designed to do. The most recent K/V collection features Kremer Motorsports, the iconic Porsche racing team. The main design of the newest release features the 1976 Porsche 934 RSR Turbo, along with the vibrant teal based Vaillant livery. The team responsible for winning both the 24-Hours of Le Man as well as the 24-Hours of Daytona surely deserves to be forever celebrated. The current clothing line includes short and long-sleeved shirts, a hooded sweatshirt, a 6-panel hat, and a sticker pack. The collection offers a graphic driven appearance for the Kremer Porsche enthusiast that enjoys the notorious styling of the 934. There are also more simplistic styles that silently scream the heritage of Kremer using its vibrant magenta, yellow, and red colors that can be found on every panel of the racecar that continues to impact the automotive industry. The current collection embodies the past, celebrating what racing used to be and how even though it’s been quite some time since these cars have seen a track, that they are still very much alive. So, we have to tip our K/V collection 6-panel hats to Period Correct for continuing to embrace the past and educating people that may not know the great automotive history throughout time. Shop Now

By Edward Jones – August 27, 2020

Sanuk and Airstream Team Up for New Footwear Collection

Airstream has been creating travel trailers for decades. In fact, the Airstream has almost been around for an entire century. Because of this, the Airstream trailer has been synonymous with travel and adventure, and they're are undoubtedly the most recognizable travel trailers out there. This is why Sanuk and Airstream have teamed up for a collection of footwear that's perfect for a road trip. The footwear in the collection for both men and women, and includes sandals, yoga slings and shoes. Being Sanuks, you know that each pair will be extra comfortable on the feet, no matter where your adventure takes you. On the footwear, you can find small embroidered Airstream trailer patches, a flamingo or rivet details. You can shop the entire collection by clicking the button below. Shop Now Source: Airstreamsupplycompany.com

By Edward Jones – August 06, 2020

The Perfect Gear for Mercedes-AMG Enthusiasts

From elegant watches to sporty shoes, the AMG Performance Wear has highlighted what every AMG enthusiast should be rocking. Introduced in AMG's '63 Magazine', this collection of items has a lot of variety. The highlight of these items ahs to be the IWC watches for both men and women. If you didn't know, IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG have collaborated on watches in the past, like the Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition "50th Anniversary of Mercedes-AMG." Other items in the collection include the AMG Fall Jackets for both men and women, sneakers from the "Santoni for AMG" collection, and the weekender bag from the Mercedes-AMG Burn Out Bag collection. Check them out for yourself by clicking the button below. Browse the Collection https://www.instagram.com/p/CDbteAUqAQb/

By Edward Jones – August 03, 2020

Puma and Race Service Launch New RS-Fast Sneakers With Mc...

Puma has just launched their new RS-Fast sneakers, and Race Service has joined them to celebrate the new drop. At the Puma store in NYC, Race Service pulled up in their custom-wrapped McLaren 570S that matches the white, peach and blue RS-Fast colorway. If you want to promote a shoe with the word "fast" in it, there's no better way than to do it with a McLaren. As for the shoes, they are available in two colors ways, the aforementioned one and Red/Black. They follow the same silhouette as the previous sneakers in the RS collection but have new designs on the upper. The RS-Fast sneaker is available for sale now at $110 and comes with a signed autograph card by Gunna while supplies last. Shop on PUMA.com https://www.instagram.com/p/CDZmyXHHoHK/

By Edward Jones – June 22, 2020

Period Correct Drops Summer 2020 Collection

Period Correct has just launched their new Summer 2020 collection, which is now available online. In their new collection, you'll find bright tones that match the summer vibes and items that include jackets, quarter-zips, tees, hats and made in the USA bags. If you're familiar with Period Correct, you know that their brand includes plenty of nods to the automotive world, including classic motorsports, as well as specific cars and drivers. This trend continues with the new Summer collection, so automotive enthusiasts will be hard-pressed to not pick a few different pieces to order. You can check out the entire lookbook in the gallery below and if you click the button, you'll be taken to PeriodCorrect.com to view the collection. Shop Now

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