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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 – March 19, 2021

EveryDrive Carry: A Porsche Packed Weekend

Porsche operates as a brand that continues to push the boundaries of performance and design in all areas of manufacturing. Whether it's a 2021 Porsche 992 911 Turbo S or the Porsche Design P’8688 Sunglasses, the brand follows the same process of using premium materials and technology to create a line of premium products. This week’s EveryDrive Carry features a list of luxury watches, apparel, footwear, and accessories to compliment the German supercar. Shop all of the products featured in this special by clicking the links below. For more EveryDrive Carry news, Check out EveryDrive Carry: Lamborghini Lifestyle Porsche 2021 Porsche 992 911 Turbo S MSRP $205,750 View All Porsche 911 Turbo S For Sale Ever since Porsche introduced the Turbo model designation for the 911 flagship 45 years ago, the name has stood all over the world for the fastest, most exciting and best variant. The Turbo has become the synonym for the top-of-the-range model in the same way as Sellotape® stands for sticky tape or Kleenex® for tissues. Porsche Design Porsche Design Chronotimer Series 1 $4,750 Buy From Porsche Design Timepiece of the first series made by Porsche Design. Sevenfold coated Sapphire crystal. Sapphire case back. Automatic chronograph (caliber ETA-Valjoux 7750) with Porsche Design Icon rotor for highest precision. Glass bead-blasted titanium case and bracelet with matte black titanium carbide coating. Swiss Made. Porsche Design Porsche Design x Acer Book RS I7 $1,699 Buy From Porsche Design Compact, versatile, unmistakably exclusive: the high-end nature of the Porsche Design Acer BOOK RS Business & Travel Notebook is hard to overlook. The A-cover crafted from high-performance carbon, a material valued in motorsports, is not only visually unique but also incredibly light. Nike Porsche Design evoKNIT Backpack $280 Buy From Puma Move through the city in ease and style with the Porsche Design Backpack. Created with PUMA's lightweight evoKNIT material, this backpack features a comfortable, portable design and easily accessible storage to make your day smooth and seamless. Bric's Milano Porsche Design Wallet 6 CC COIN $99 Buy From Bric's Milano Modern style meets maximum utility in the spacious Tumi Tahoe Finch backpack featuring a padded laptop compartment and convenient waterproof cover. Puma Porsche Legacy RS-Fast Sneakers $120 Buy From Puma Meet the icons of fast. Faster and fresher than any of our RS kicks yet, RS-Fast from PUMA and Porsche Legacy combines early 2000s design with sleek motorsport elements, including a special edition keychain that pays tribute to the legacy of the 911 Turbo. Porsche Design Porsche Design Sunglasses P´8688 $635 Buy From Porsche Design Power intermingled with purist precision: inspired by the silhouette of the Porsche 911, the modern Porsche Design P'8688 Liquid Titanium sunglasses put a new spin on the Flowing Titanium series. Organic, elegant forms suggest the flowing movements of liquid metal, captured in a 100% ultralight titanium frame. Puma PUMA x NEMEN Men's Full Zip Racing Top $200 Buy From Puma The debut of PUMA x NEMEN draws inspiration from motorsport and military gear. With high-quality materials, premium executions and functional racing elements, this elevated racing layer is ready for action. LARQ LARQ Self-Cleaning Water Bottle, 25 oz. $118.25 Buy From LARQ The LARQ Bottle PureVis is the world's first self-cleaning water bottle and water purification system. It uses UV-C LED light to eliminate up to 99.9999% of bio-contaminants from your water and bottle. Puma Porsche Design Duffel Bag $300 Buy From Puma Made from recycled materials, this sporty duffle bag features a special compartment for your sunglasses, another for your shoes, an exclusive internal mat and a padded handle. And, of course, it boasts the Porsche Design logo in 3D reflective technology. In short, it's made to be used and made to be seen.

By Jordan Aquistapace – March 12, 2021

EveryDrive Carry: Lamborghini Lifestyle

The perfect supercar best blends the ability to crush lap times on circuits, while still providing a comfortable driving experience as a commuter vehicle. Lamborghini encompasses this motive with the Huracán Evo, presented in endless colors with available options to best suit your lifestyle. This week’s EveryDrive Carry features luxury products and accessories to best compliment the Italian supercar on and off the track. Shop all of the products shown by clicking the links below. For more EveryDrive Carry news, Check out EveryDrive Carry: M-Performance Packed Lamborghini 2021 Lamborghini Huracán Evo MSRP $208,571 View All Lamborghini Huracán Evo For Sale Automobili Lamborghini presents the new Lamborghini Huracán EVO: the next generation V10 super sports car, based on the prowess and performance of the Huracán Performante and incorporating next-generation vehicle dynamic control and aerodynamics. Jomashop Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph $8,995 Buy From Jomashop Black ceramic case with a two-tone (black and orange) rubber strap. Uni-directional rotating coin edge black and orange ceramic with galvanized rubber bezel. Black dial with luminous silver-tone arrow-shaped hands and index hour markers with minute markers around the outer rim. Master Dynamic Master Dynamic MW07 Plus Automobili Lamborghini $349 Buy From Master Dynamic Master & Dynamic has partnered with Automobili Lamborghini on a collection of high-performance sound tools inspired by the design and materials of the iconic Italian super sports cars Nike Nike Air Max 90 $120 Buy From Nike The Nike Air Max 90 stays true to its OG roots with the iconic Waffle outsole, stitched overlays and classic TPU accents. Fresh colors give a modern look while Max Air cushioning adds comfort to your journey. Nordstrom Tumi Tahoe Finch Backpack $360 Buy From Nordstrom Modern style meets maximum utility in the spacious Tumi Tahoe Finch backpack featuring a padded laptop compartment and convenient waterproof cover. Persol Persol PO3264S Sunglasses $345 Buy From Persol Designed and crafted in Italy, Persol - from the Italian "per il sole" meaning "for the sun" - is a favorite among tastemakers and celebrities for its impeccable fit and incredible clarity. The brand's patented Meflecto temples offer a secure fit, while crystal-tempered sunglass lenses provide protection with distortion-free vision. Puma PUMA x NEMEN Men's Full Zip Racing Top $200 Buy From Puma The debut of PUMA x NEMEN draws inspiration from motorsport and military gear. With high-quality materials, premium executions and functional racing elements, this elevated racing layer is ready for action. Nordstrom Tumi Alpha Global Removable Passcase Wallet $140 Buy From Nordstrom Tough ballistic nylon and finely textured leather define a smart travel wallet with a removable pass case for added convenience. LARQ LARQ Self-Cleaning Water Bottle, 25 oz. $118.25 Buy From LARQ The LARQ Bottle PureVis is the world's first self-cleaning water bottle and water purification system. It uses UV-C LED light to eliminate up to 99.9999% of bio-contaminants from your water and bottle. Overstock Tumi Congo Alpha 3 Double Expansion Travel Duffle Bag $340 Buy From Overstock A dedicated exterior shoe compartment means extra convenience in the Tumi compact gym and travel bag built from tough ballistic nylon.

By Edward Jones – September 16, 2020

Build This Lamborghini Huracan EVO 3D Jigsaw Puzzle

Building a car is nowhere close to being an easy task. That is a statement that just about everyone can agree with. However, building a 3D puzzle of a car is much easier. So while you may not be able to build a real-life Lamborghini Huracan EVO in your garage, you can build a 3D puzzle of the supercar in your living room thanks to a new release from Ravensburger. This new release features 108 plastic pieces plus 32 accessories, like axles, rotating wheels front splinter, rear diffuser and more. It's a 1:18 scale puzzle measuring in at 10.2-inches. The price of this puzzle is set at EUR €34.99, which is around $40 USD. Expect it to be on Ravensburger site soon. You can shop the rest of their incredible 3D puzzles by clicking the button below. Shop 3D Puzzle

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