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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 Edward Jones – March 17, 2020

Porsche Design Debuts New 1919 Flyback Blue & Leather

The Porsche Design 1919 Flyback Blue & Leather comes into the world as an incredibly stylish watch styled after the iconic 911 sports car. For this new watch, the color blue has been chosen as the dominant hue and, as you can see, it was a great choice. The strap and dial feature the color blue, which is contrasted by the titanium of the 42 mm case. As for movement, the Porsche Design WERK 01.200 caliber does the work. This is actually Porsche Design's first ever in-house movement. It features a flyback function and start/stop/reset functions. In addition to that, the watch itself has a 48-hour power reserve. For more informoation, be sure to visit Porsche-Design.com. If you're interested, you can pick one up for $6,350.

By Edward Jones – March 16, 2020

Pagani Online Shop Extended

Are you looking to shop for some new gear while staying inside? Are you a fan of Pagani automobiles? If you answered yes to those, then I have some good news for you. Pagani Automobili has just announced that their online shop has been extended and will stay up until April 3rd. In this collection is some great gear that awesome looking even if you aren't a fan of Pagani. But let's be real, we all love Pagani. There's a lot of gear to look at, including the Huayra BC Collection, You can see it for yourself by clicking the button right below. Shop the Pagani Collection https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zSnkDqCm9

By Edward Jones – March 11, 2020

Bell & Ross Debut New Renault F1 Collection

The 2020 Formula 1 season is set to start up with Sunday on March 15 at 1:10 AM EST. But, how in the world will you know what time to start watching? If you're a Renault fan, rooting for Daniel Ricciardo and/or Esteban Ocon, the new Bell & Ross R.S.20 collection has been unveiled. BR 03-94 R.S.20 BR-X1 TOURBILLON R.S.20 As a partner of the Renault F1 Team, this new Bell & Ross watch is inspired by the yellow and black race cars. As the fourth R.S. series watch collection to be released since the partnership began. For this year's collection, the inspiration was drawn from both the Renault F1 car for 2020 and the R.S. 2027 concept car. There are four different watches in the collection, each featuring the yellow and black color scheme, but different designs and movements can be found. You can learn more by clicking here. BR-X1 R.S.20 BR V3-94 R.S.20

By Edward Jones – March 11, 2020

Montblanc Launches Their First Wireless Headphones

Montblanc has just released their new MB 01 wireless headphones, and they match the brand's luxurious style quite gracefully. For the build, Montblanc went with aluminum, leather and silicon, all of which blend together for a simple yet elegant. If you're a fan of having your ears enclosed by your headphones, you're in luck because these do have an over-ear cup design. This is perfect for those who like to be completely immersed in their music or even the movie they happen to be watching. Are you going on a flight and want to skip out on hearing the engine noise? These will be perfect, especially with the active noise canceling. Montblanc also says they have a battery life of over 20 hours, which is more than enough for a long flight. For audiophiles, here are some of the nitty-gritty details. Montblanc went with 40 mm neodymium dynamic drivers. They also weigh in at just 280 g, so they will feel light on the head. For comfort, the ear cups and headband are padded leather so they won't feel uncomfortable after a long period of wear. Montblanc will be offering the MB 01 headphones in Black, Gray and Brown, each with a price tag of $595.00. SHOP NOW - $595

By Edward Jones – March 09, 2020

'No Time To Die" Luggage Debuted by Globe-Trotter

Now that the No Time To Die film has had its release date moved to November 25, 2020 due to coronavirus concerns, there's more time for gear associated with the film. Globe-Trotter, an English travel lifestyle brand that was established in 1897, has just released their own products that feature a No Time To Die theme. (Side Note: New Bentley Golf Tech Collection Revealed) Included in this new collection are two trolley cases, one in a carry-on size while the other is sized for check-in. Each was designed after the cases in the film and come in an Ocean Green Vulcanised Fiberboard with black leather trim. Globe-Trotter has also released a luggage tag with the No Time To Die logo on it. You can view the entire collection by clicking here. Source: Globe-Trotter.com

By Edward Jones – March 06, 2020

melin X Daniel Ricciardo Arc Hydro Cap Revealed

melin and Daniel Ricciardo are back with another stylish and functional cap for you to wear this summer. Called "The Arc," this new cap was designed by both Ricciardo and the team at melin. SHOP NOW This new cap has a ton of features that make it perfect for summer wear. The hydrophobic crown panels, as well as the perforated side and rear panels let your noggin breath and but also keep the cap from getting soaking wet. Inside the cap is a moisture-wicking lining and the sweatband is also antibacterial, so your forehead won't be so inclined to break out. You can order this hat now on melinbrand.com for $69 and it comes with a custom cinch sack as well. If you've never worn a melin cap before, it's about time you try them out. SHOP NOW " width="680">

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2020

WHEELS x DEALS: American Supercar Style

It's time for this week's WHEELS X DEALS, where we pair a car with an outfit of items that are on sale at the time of publishing. Check it out below and click on the respective buttons to shop each item. THE WHEELS FORD GT SHOP NOW Prestige Imports THE DEALS G-SHOCKDW5900-1 SALE PRICE - $79.20 GSHOCK.COM OAKLEYRadarlock Path Sunglasses OUTLET PRICE - $135.60 SUNGLASSOUTLET.COM POLO RALPH LAURENPolo Sport Silver 5-Panel Cap SALE PRICE - $65 ENDCLOTHING.COM POLO RALPH LAURENPolo Sport Silver Back Logo Windbreaker SALE PRICE - $175 ENDCLOTHING.COM POLO RALPH LAURENPolo Sport Silver Taped Pant SALE PRICE - $105 ENDCLOTHING.COM NIKE X UNDERCOVER Air Max 720 SALE PRICE - $129 ENDCLOTHING.COM

By Edward Jones – March 02, 2020

Tesoro Nero: Astonishing Self-Playing Pianos

Tesoro Nero is a dedicated piano company, selling unique and luxury self-playing designer pianos that have never been created before. This stunning piano mirrors the fierce beauty, strength and grace of a prowling black panther, one of nature’s most illustrious and noble creatures. Inspired by the intensity of a 65° V12 bhp engine, our panther piano not only pays homage to the extraordinary wild cats with its sleek and fierce design, but also to the exquisitely bold Ferrari Enzo, both possessing incredible swiftness and strength. Our customers are familiar with power, speed and endurance, key qualities that embody the majestic panther in its prime. visit tesoronero.us But the wild cats are facing great peril, and their future is uncertain. Their numbers are in decline, they are becoming rarer with every passing day. Rare too, are Ferrari Enzos and our panther pianos. Only fifteen will ever be made. Their sleek and striking beauty, their magnificent power and sound – an exclusivity. Each piano is pre-installed with a self-playing system that perfectly imitates and captures the authenticity of each individual it mimics. Or, it can be played by hand. The piano possesses beautiful, rich music, and gives a flawless performance every time. Tesoro Nero has a philanthropy initiative at work with the panther piano. Keen to support the wild cats that are threatened in their natural habitat, with every sale of this magnificent piano, 10% of the profit will be donated to Panthera, a leading organisation that undertakes fundamental research worldwide to help protect these captivating animals. The panther piano is not the only instrument to have a charitable initiative with its design and profits. Tesoro Nero has designed a 24K gold self-playing piano, its striking hexagonal texture mimicking the lustrous shine of honeycomb – a by-product of bees’ pollinating efforts. With every sale, 10% will be donated to leading bee conservation charities, to help support the crucial work they carry out to protect the bees from the threats that they are facing. Tesoro Nero will continue to be inspired by the world around us, creating beautiful and unique designs that are truly one-of-a-kind. For more information, call +1-435-558-5757 or click the button below. visit tesoronero.us Presented by Tesoro Nero Tesoro Nero offers an exclusive range of self-playing pianos, which represent a new generation of pianola for passionate pianists across the world. You will set your own music free with a magnificent instrument that will deliver rich and expressive sound for decades to come.

By Edward Jones – February 25, 2020

Adidas Ultraboost X 007 "No Time to Die" Announced

On April 10, 2020, fans of James Bond will be heading to their local theaters to see their favorite spy yet again. On this day, the new "No Time to Die" film will be released to everyone's delight. If you're looking to wear the right gear to the theater, you're in luck. Just announced was the new Adidas Ultraboost x 007 "No Time to Die" shoes. (Side Note: New Puma x Pirelli Replicat X Colorways) These show will be releasing assumedly soon, but a price and exact date have yet to be released. As for the design, they have the famous "Ultraboost" silhouette but feature a few nods to the international spy. On the tongue, there's a logo that's reminiscent of the famous gun barrel scene. On the back is the "007" logo. For more information, be sure to stay with us. SHOP ADIDAS ULTRABOOSTS https://www.instagram.com/p/B81jqjPF4ki/ Source: Instagram/@yankeekicks

By Edward Jones – February 25, 2020

Wheels x Wardrobe: Haute Harley-Davidson Style

Whether it's snowing or the sun is shining, you can roll with Harley-Davidson. "But, riding a motorcycle sounds impossible!" Well, when it's snowing, you can hop into the new 2020 Official Harley-Davidson GMC Truck. No matter how you're traveling, you need the right gear and for that, we have a collection gear. Scroll down below to see it all. HARLEY-DAVIDSON GMC Truck SHOP NOW HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY-DAVIDSON2020 Fat Boy 114 SHOP NOW HARLEY-DAVIDSON BULOVAHarley-Davidson SHOP NOW BULOVA Ray-BanOriginal Wayfarer Classic SHOP NOW SUNGLASS HUT NIGHTRIDERFireskull Ring SHOP NOW NIGHTRIDER NIGHTRIDEREagle Pendant SHOP NOW NIGHTRIDER ALLSAINTS Milo Leather Biker Jacket SHOP NOW NORDSTROM BUCK MASONSlub Curved Hem Tee SHOP NOW BUCK MASON ALLSAINTSCigarette Skinny Fit Jeans SHOP NOW NORDSTROM JOHN VARVATOS STAR USA Heritage Zip Boot SHOP NOW NORDSTROM

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