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 Edward Jones – August 20, 2021

Fuel City Loft: A Striking Two-Story Personal Garage by M...

Presented by Metron Garage - When he’s not running his multiple companies or spending time with family, you might find Timothy Hogue out in his garage. Hogue is a genuine gear head, and some of his favorite automobiles surround him out there. His friends do too, as they often drop in to talk about cars, and everything else. Occasionally Timothy finds a quiet moment alone to light a cigar and just ponder life for a while. And for Hogue, that’s the epitome of garage culture: spending time the way you want, with the cars and people who mean the most to you. Garages aren’t just for cars anymore. Hogue’s personal garage is a two-story model called the Fuel City Loft, a structure he prototyped, designed and built back in 2015 while he was starting up Metron Garage, a company he still leads today. His garage - and all the garages designed by Metron - use North American steel for the frames. Steel is a high-strength product garnering a resurgence of demand, in part because it allows for more open concept options and wider design spans. Hogue majored in Architectural Design and Commercial Art, minoring in Fine Art and Business at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY., home of the Corvette. The overlap of architecture and design is where Hogue finds the inspiration for his cutting-edge garage concepts. “Design moves people,” says Hogue. “I see this everywhere: in the lines of a car that create simultaneous flow and tension, in the brushstrokes of a painting, and in the interplay of structure and space in architecture.” Visit MetronGarage.com

By Edward Jones – August 19, 2021

Amalgam Collection Announces Partnership With 24 Hours of...

"It’s incredibly exciting for us to partner with the 24Heures du Mans, one of the oldest and most prestigious automotive and motorsport organizations in the world. We are incredibly honored to become a part of the Le Mans family, and are looking forward to seeing what the future now brings." - Ben Street, CEO of Amalgam Collection Amalgam Collection has just announced a new partnership with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The ACO is known for many things, including being the organization behind 24 Hours of Le Mans, organizer and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the creator and organizer of the very first grand prix in the history of motor racing. It's safe to say that this new partnership is quite special. While Amalgam Collection already has an incredible selection of 1:8 and 1:18 scale models, it's safe to say we'll be seeing icons from the 24 Hours of Le Mans being added to their collection. Be sure to stay with us for more announcements regarding Amalgam Collection and its exciting new partnership with the ACO. Visit AmalgamCollection.com Source: Amalgam Collection

By Edward Jones – August 10, 2021

PXG GEN4 Golf Clubs Are Engineered For Performance

Presented by PXG - New PXG GEN4 Drivers, Fairways, Hybrids, and Irons deliver more distance, more accuracy, more forgiveness, and more fun across the bag. PXG's flagship GEN4 Golf Clubs present significant advancements in materials innovations, combined with precision engineering and personalized performance - GEN4 is everything golfers expect from PXG and more. "Our GEN4 Golf Clubs are, far and away, the best sticks we’ve ever made. Packed with new technologies, our lineup of drivers, fairways, hybrids, and irons deliver absolutely explosive performance and drop-dead sexy looks." PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons. Informed by PXG's Science of Sexy and years of unbridled research and development, GEN4 Golf Clubs are the apex of PXG's club lineup. Everything the company understands about performance and quality is featured in these golf clubs. And from address through impact, GEN4 delivers in spades. GEN4 Drivers, Fairways, and Hybrids introduce a game-changing muscle-back Hybrid Crown Construction with AV (Aluminum Vapor) Carbon Fiber Technology. This visible technology increases the durability of the structure, and the stiffness and stability of the carbon fiber for optimal spring, faster ball speeds, and more distance. A vibration-dampening Honeycomb TPE Insert in the sole helps ensure our drivers, fairways, and hybrids feel and sound as good as they look. And with personalized performance as a critical design feature, all clubs have an adjustable hosel and Precision Weighting Technology. Used to fine-tune head weight, launch, and spin, there are three sole weights in the driver and two in the fairways and hybrids. PXG GEN4 Irons introduce the company's proprietary new XCOR Technology. The result of a multi-year research and development project, XCOR was engineered specifically for use in PXG's GEN4 Iron lineup. The material is incredibly soft and has high C.O.R., supporting more face movement and a colossal sweet spot. Coupled with PXG's ultra-thin face – the thinnest in golf – and three head designs, GEN4 Irons offer a powerful combination of unbelievable forgiveness, explosive distance, and an incredible sound and feel for golfers of all skill levels. PXG GEN4 Golf Clubs firmly align with the company's mission to deliver the world's finest equipment. To get fitted, start your journey by visiting www.PXG.com or call 844.PLAY.PXG. Visit PXG.com

By Edward Jones – August 09, 2021

This Mini Ferrari Testa Rossa is Bite-Sized Classic

Limited to just 299 examples. The Little Car Company has unveiled their new Ferrari Testa Rossa J, a miniature version of the iconic 1957 250 Testa Rossa. It comes in as a 75% scale replica that is faithful to the original thanks to cooperation with Ferrari. In charge of creating a scale version of the original Testa Rossa was Ferrari Classiche who also researched all liveries that have adorned the classic car. Because of their efforts, there is an online configurator that allows customers to choose from 14 historical liveries, 53 different paint finishes for the body, and additional personalized liveries. Each example of the Testa Rossa J is powered by an electric motor that's connected to three batteries. The Little Car Company has also equipped this Testa Rossa with regenerative braking and a gauge that shows the level of regenerative braking being deployed. With a range of around 56 miles depending on how it's driven or which mode it's in, expect to get plenty of time behind the wheel on a single charge. And, yes, this little Ferrari has its own driving modes: Novice mode (limited top speed of 12.3 mph), Comfort mode ( limited top speed of 28 mph), and Sport and Race modes where it can reach an increased top speed. The price for the Ferrari Testa Rossa J from The Little Car Company starts at €93,000, or around $109,000 USD (excluding taxes, options, and shipping). Source: Ferrari

By Edward Jones – August 04, 2021

Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport Earphones Review

After spending months with the Master & Dynamic MW08 True Wireless Earphones, which I used as my main earphones, I received the new MW08 Sport earphones. This came as a shock to me considering the original MW08s worked great in the gym, but these new earphones expand upon an already fantastic formula. The internals of the MW08 Sport earphones remains the same, featuring the same 11mm Beryllium drivers, exterior aluminum antennas and six-microphone setup. Keeping all of the internals the same makes sense considering how wonderful it already worked in the original MW08 earphones. If you'd like to learn more about how great these sound, you can read our original Master & Dynamic MW08 review. There are, however, a few upgrades that make the MW08 Sport earphones more tantalizing than the originals. First up, we'll start with the construction of the earphones and case. Each earphone now features shatter-resistant sapphire glass that gives them a sleeker appearance and more durable properties. I also found that the sapphire glass does not pick up fingerprints, so you don't have to worry about that. Next up is the case, which is now made of Kevlar as opposed to stainless steel. Not only does this make the case more sturdy, but it also drops the weight. The last upgrade to the earphones we'll discuss has to do with the ear tips. Wile Master & Dynamic does include multiple silicone ear tips in various sizes to choose from, they have now added two additional sizes of memory foam ear tips. These new ear tips not only feel great in your ear, but they also make a complete seal and stay firm even during rigorous workouts. After using them while running and weightlifting, I can easily say that the MW08 Sports did not budge at all. The last upgrade is a very important one and it's wireless charging. Inside the new Kevlar charging case, Mastery & Dynamic has installed the necessary components to make it able to charge wireless. The absence of wireless charging was definitely a miss in the original MW08 earphones and I'm glad to see it included with these. Master & Dynamic has also launched their own MC100 Wireless Charge Pad that you can buy alongside your new MW08 Sports. At $349, the new Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport earphones may be a bit pricey but they deliver on all fronts. They look fantastic, sound incredible, and now offer everything you would need from true wireless earphones. If you're in the market for high-end earphones, click the button below to see what Master & Dynamic has to offer. Shop MW 08 Sport Earphones We received these earphones for free from Master & Dynamic.

By Edward Jones – July 29, 2021

Answering Questions About the Autostacker Parking Lift

Presented by BendPak - Whether you’re tired of “making space” for your vehicles or you “need more room” to get your next one, it’s time to stop making excuses. It’s time to get an Autostacker for your garage. We know it’s about more than just liking cars – it’s a lifestyle and you don’t want a clunky industrial-looking lift in your garage. Autostacker is different. It’s the perfect complement to your collection. The Autostacker’s sleek scissor lift design looks great in any garage while saving space. Will it work with my garage? This sleek, low-profile scissor lift has a space-saving design without side posts. Thoughtful features make using Autostacker easy, like the gentle incline for safe loading and unloading of high-performance or luxury low-stance vehicles. The wheel troughs at the back of the lift platform carefully cradle the wheels to hold the vehicle as an additional safety measure. To get the most of out of Autostacker, we recommend the garage ceiling be at least 9 feet high. Autostacker can lift most cars weighing up to 6,000 lbs. with plenty of clearance underneath. Can it handle what I have? You bet. Its galvanized steel construction can lift most cars weighing up to 6,000 lbs., and most large vehicles will fit comfortably below the lift thanks to its 8 feet of clearance underneath. Autostacker has sturdy locks that engage continuously across five different height positions. What about safety and protection? Automatic safety locks engage continuously across five different height positions as the parking lift rises. In the unlikely case of catastrophic pressure loss in the hydraulic system, a self-resetting velocity fuse reacts to the loss of pressure and stops the cylinder motion. Acting much like an electrical circuit breaker in the home, this feature helps prevent serious injury and damage. Door-sentry™ protectors on the scissor arms reduce the change of dings, dents, and scratches. For car protection, there are the patented Door-sentry™ protectors. These durable rubber panels are fitted inside the scissor arms to reduce the chance of dents, dings, and scratches when the door of the vehicle underneath the platform is opened. The combination of the panels and scissor arms are tailored to tightly fit together when the lift is fully lowered. Go from “lowered to lift” in just 55 seconds. Is it easy to use? Nearly everyone will find the simple push-button controls easy to use. Go from “lowered to lift” in just 55 seconds. Visit Autostacker.com Autostacker1645 Lemonwood DriveSanta Paula, CA 93060 USA

By Edward Jones – July 22, 2021

Fortnite Adds the Ferrari 296 GTB as a Driveable Car

Fortnite gamers, it's time to traverse the island in an Italian supercar. Fortnite has just announced that the Ferrari 296 GTB has been added as a driveable car in the game. Yes, that's right, you can escape the storm in an Italian supercar and race your way to Victory Royale. Fortnite has also added new Epic Quests that are focused around the new Ferrari. These include: Complete Ferrari Time Trials, Reach Maximum Speed In A Ferrari, and Drive a Ferrari Through The Storm. Gamers will also be able to a Ferrari Bundle in the Item Shop, which includes the Modena Icon and Maranello Racer Outfits, and Ferrari Turbo Back Bling. The Ferrari 296 GTB is available in Fortnite starting today, July 22nd. Shop Fortnite on GameStop.com Source: Epic Games

By Edward Jones – July 21, 2021

Rolls-Royce Reveals New Black Badge Luggage Collection

A new way to flex when you travel. Rolls-Royce has just announced a new collection of Black Badge edition luggage that will be added to the Escapism Luggage Collection. There are five new pieces in the collection, including the 48hr Weekender, 24hr Weekender, Holdall, Tote Bag, and Organiser Pouch. Customers can order the pieces individually or as a five-piece set. Each of the pieces in the collection is crafted from leather, soft canvas, and a technical-weave fabric that was introduced in the Cullinan Black Badge. Rolls-Royce is also giving customers the option to personalize the contrast piping if they so choose to do so. It also seems as though these pieces will be available in a wide range of colors and not just three colorways that were used to debut the collection. Prices for the five-piece set start at 22,075 GBP, which equates to roughly $26,000. They can be ordered from your local Rolls-Royce dealer. Source: Rolls-Royce

By Edward Jones – July 20, 2021

Amalgam Collection Announces Le Mans-Winning Ford GT40 1:...

A model that celebrates the winner of the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans. Amalgam Collection has just announced a new 1:8 scale model that will surely be wanted by all motorsport enthusiasts and fans of Ford. This exquisite Ford GT40 is a recreation of chassis #1075, a race car that took a historic win against Porsche at the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans. Featuring the beloved Gulf Oil livery, this scale model is absolutely stunning. Each scale model of the #6 GT40 is hand-built and assembled by a small team of experienced craftsmen. No small detail is overlooked on this model as you can see from the images in this article. In fact, it took the team at Amalgam Collection over 4000 hours to develop the model and it takes over 400 hours to build each example. During the build, the craftsmen use thousands of precisely engineered pieces to build the 20-inch-long model. Just 199 examples of this Ford GT40 scale model will be created, each with a price of $13,048. You can pre-order yours by clicking the button below. Visit AmalgamCollection.com Source: Amalgam Collection

By Edward Jones – July 19, 2021

Explore Cohiba's Super Premium Collections of Cigars

Presented by Cohiba – True cigar connoisseurs recognize Cohiba as one of the finest handcrafted cigar brands available today. Meticulously handcrafted and proudly featuring the iconic red dot logo, Cohiba is the product of tobacco mastery. Synonymous with extravagant taste, Cohiba’s expertise in blending and artistry in cigarmaking come together to create a collection of rich, dimensional cigars that make luxurious smoking occasions all the more so. With its iconic white box and red dot logo, the core brand of Cohiba (Red Dot) is complemented by these super premium collections, each offering cigar connoisseurs luxurious and memorable smoking experiences: Cohiba Black Cohiba Blue Cohiba Connecticut Cohiba Royale Cohiba Nicaragua Cohiba Macassar In addition, the artisans of Cohiba produce special edition releases featuring proprietary tobaccos and available in extremely limited quantity. Cohiba Red Dot: Flawlessly handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, Cohiba Red Dot boasts a Cameroon wrapper, a Jember binder, and a Dominican blend featuring three varieties of Cuban seed tobaccos. The result is a dimensional, slightly spicy indulgence that is full in flavor, yet medium in strength. Cohiba Connecticut: Cohiba Connecticut is a super-premium offering that exemplifies the art of blending. For this, the first Cohiba to be wrapped in Connecticut Shade, the brand’s artisans partnered with an independent grower in Ecuador’s Los Rios province to produce a silky and lustrous Ecuadoran Connecticut Shade wrapper, ideal for blending. When paired with five varieties of hand-selected leaves from four different countries, the result is a smoke with a rich aroma and exceptional depth. Compelling notes of sweetness and spice reign, as Cohiba’s meticulous construction is on full display. Cohiba Black: An espresso of a cigar with a gorgeous, well-oiled wrapper, Cohiba Black cigars boast a characteristic deep color and rich, concentrated flavor. Made with tobaccos aged for at least three years, this super premium collection is meticulously handcrafted in the Dominican Republic and is favored by discerning cigar connoisseurs who demand extravagant taste. The work of our artisans is marked by an outpouring of skill and pride. The result is a cigar that defines the luxury smoking experience, one worthy of your finest moments. Visit Cohiba.com

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