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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 – April 22, 2020

Audemars Piguet Launches New 34 mm Selfwinding Royal Oak

Horologists rejoice because Audemars Piguet is now launching the first 34 mm Selfwinding Royal Oak timepiece. It comes into the world with a beautiful stainless steel case that's contrasted beautifully with a hint of pink gold. This design steel and pink gold color scheme continues on the bracelet. As for its dial, is has a silver-toned “Grande Tapisserie” pattern with pink gold hour markers and hands with luminescent coating. Audemars Piguet's choice for its movement is the Selfwinding calibre 5800, complete with a power reserve of 50 hours and hours, minutes, center seconds and date functions. You can purchase this stunning timepiece for $21,500 right now. For more information or to make an appointment with Audemars Piguet, click the button below. Learn More Source: AudemarsPiguet.com

By Edward Jones – April 20, 2020

New HYT H0 Introduced in All-Black With Orange Super-Lumi...

If life were merely a series of photo finishes, a stopwatch would suffice. But it isn’t. Life is a stream of individual experiences, each one heightened by the impact of what went before it and the potential of what’s to come. The latest H0 timepiece by HYT is an invitation to reflect deeply on one’s own perception of time. It provides an enigmatic black canvas to visualize and honor the flow of existence. The authenticating signature is the content of the wearer’s life. This new member of the H0 family uses the power of monochrome to present a distraction-free view of fluidic time. HYT challenges the horological convention of affording midnight and midday artificial importance. Instead, a focus on the hour of six o’clock encourages contemplation of alternative turning points in the day. Wearers are also inspired to reflect on the importance they personally attribute to darkness and light. Mirroring the outline of the sun, orange Super-Luminova®, underneath the capillary, charts time’s flow. Perpetual motion is the story of everyone’s lives; its milestones are in human hands, even in the most restrictive circumstances. Visit HYTWatches.com Purity is the mantra of the all-black H0. In design terms this is expressed by its domed, sapphire crystal, which instantly facilitates different perspectives on the passage of time. The watch’s mission, to attract rather than distract, is echoed by the seclusion of the bellows behind smoky grey glass. Any visual punctuation of the monochromatic whole is carefully considered, down to the finest detail, from the Super-Luminova® touches on the flange numbers and hands, to the ultra-fine markers on the dial. Time is continually on the move. This timepiece refuses to do anything that may stand in the way of this energizing flow called life. Technical Specifications CASE : BLACK DLC STAINLESS STEEL WITH BRUSHED, MICRO-BLASTED AND SATIN-FINISHED FINISHES DIAMETER: 48.8 MM HEIGHT: 18.7 MM BLACK DLC STAINLESS STEEL CROWN DOMED SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL SCREWED CASE-BACK, SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL WATER-RESISTANT TO 30 METRES FUNCTIONS : BLACK FLUIDIC HOURS MINUTES, SECONDS, POWER RESERVE MOVEMENT : MECHANICAL WITH MANUAL WINDING, EXCLUSIVE CALIBER 28,800 VPH, 4 HZ, 41 JEWELS RHODIUM THINLY-SANDBLASTED BRIDGES 65-HOUR POWER RESERVE HYT’S EXCLUSIVE PATENTED MICRO-FLUIDIC MODULE: BOROSILICATE GLASS CAPILLARY TUBE, NANO-COATING INTERIOR MULTI-LAYER METAL BELLOWS TWO IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS; ONE TRANSPARENT, THE OTHER ONE COLORED WITH A HIGHLY RESISTANT DYE THERMAL COMPENSATOR WITH DEDICATED BELLOW AND SPECIFIC LIQUID HIGH-TECH CERAMIC FLUIDIC RESTRICTORS INTERFACE: TRANSMISSION BETWEEN MOVEMENT AND FLUIDIC MODULE BY CONVERSION OF ROTATION INTO LINEAR MOVEMENT USING A CAM-FOLLOWER SYSTEM ISOSTATIC CONNECTION OF THE FLUIDIC SYSTEM GUARANTEED BY A TRIDENT DIAL : BLACK DIAL, ENGRAVED BLACK OPALINE MARKERS AND NUMERALS, LATERAL NUMERALS WITH ORANGE SUPER-LUMINOVA® ORANGE SUPER-LUMINOVA® UNDER THE CAPILLARY/LI> BELLOW APERTURE IN SMOKY GREY SAPPHIRE/LI> SANDBLASTED COUNTERS, BLACK MARKERS, BLACK NUMERALS/LI> BLACK MINUTE AND SECOND HANDS, ORANGE SUPER-LUMINOVA®/LI> STRAP : RUBBER, BLACK DLC TITANIUM FOLDING BUCKLE REF. H02387 Via Press Release from HYT Watches

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 20, 2020

Casio Debuts Limited Edition Edifice Honda Racing Watch

Honda Racing has joined Casio to create a collaboration watch to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Casio Edifice model. The recent release is named the Casio Edifice ECB10HR-1A, a state-of-the-art 48.5mm automatic timepiece with Bluetooth capability for smartphone pairing. The face was designed to incorporate anything that had to do with a racecar, while incorporating materials that would be used as well. Something not mentioned but noticed is the numeric 20 on the bezel done in classic Honda red, just as the easily noticeable leather band is also. This is the only special edition piece of the five total examples in the Casio Edifice ECB10 collection that is currently available. Click below for pricing and more specifications on Casio’s collaboration watch with Honda Racing! Shop Now Source: Casio

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 17, 2020

Seiko 5 Sports Brian May Limited Edition Coming in May

What do you get when you cross an infamous watch company with one of the best guitar players in the world? The answer is the Seiko 5 Sports Brian May limited edition timepiece. The guitarist from Queen and Seiko have teamed up to create a wristwatch with what we believe is one of the coolest backstories. The dial of the watch signifies the “red special”, a guitar that Brian May and his father had created by hand using components such as the structure of an old fireplace, as well as motorcycle valve springs in the 1960's. The black curvature design on the dial is made to represent the faceplate of the original guitar. May was first introduced to the wonderful world of Seiko watches in Japan, purchasing his first model while on tour. The limited-edition Seiko 5 Sports model features a 42.5mm case with a red and black dial that reads “Red Special”. It includes a skeleton back case, magnifying the caliber 4R36 movement with Brian May’s etched signature. The release is limited to 9,000 pieces with each numbered below the signature on the backcase. The box included was modeled to look like a guitar case, which also includes a commemorative coin. The Seiko 5 Sport x Brian May will be released in May 2020, click below for more information on one of Seiko’s coolest collaborations! Learn More Image via Seiko

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 17, 2020

New Breitling Chronomat Collection Announced

Breitling plays a special role in the timepiece industry as a brand that stays current with new materials, technology, and style while still paying homage to where they have succeeded in the past. The most recent release of the Chronomat Collection best exemplifies this practice as the brand reimagined the sports collection originally launched in 1984. The chronomat is best described as an all-purpose sports watch with the style and elegance to be dressed up for any occasion. Breitling has recognized that the original purpose of the chronomat was a tool for aviation, but also continues to market the timepiece as a tool for “air, but also on land and sea”.The Chronomat Collection includes the mechanical Breitling 01 movement with a power reserve capable of 70 hours, as well as a water-resistance of 200 meters. Breitling is releasing ten different styles of the 42mm chronograph with different strap options available. The dial colors include silver, grey, gold, blue, black, and green, giving consumers a wide variety of styling options. They have even incorporated a limited-edition example named the “Frecce Tricolor”, which is limited to 250 pieces, each numbered on the caseback. All styles are currently available for pre-order on Breitling’s website, click below for more information on the Chronomat Collection! Learn More Source: Breitling

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 09, 2020

The Story Behind Singer Reimagined

Singer Vehicle Designs, best known for their modern creations on magnificent past generation Porsches, has been branching the company’s efforts into the watch world. Singer Reimagined is the venture started by Director of Singer Vehicle Design Rob Dickson and Italian watch designer Marco Borraccino. In a new article from Singer Reimagined, they detail how the company came to life. Click here to read the story for yourself. The company follows the same business model as they do constructing world-class Porsches, with attention to detail and constant development towards perfection. Singer Reimagined has been developing its automatic caliber, “The Agengraphe,” for over 10-years and believes this will change the way chronographs operate. The current Track1 model is a limited-edition collection that is presented on their website in five unique designs. Click below for more information on Singer Reimagined, as well as Singer Vehicle Designs! Visit SingerReimagined.com

By Edward Jones – March 30, 2020

Roger Dubuis Debuts the Stunning Excalibur Twofold

Roger Dubuis has just debuted a new timepiece that is striking in both daytime and nighttime. The new Excalibur Twofold is the result of Roger Dubuis look to make their signature movement a star even when the lights are off. For this, their engineers use a patented process that allows every angle of the upper plate composed of Mineral Composite Fiver (MCF) to light up. What's more, the luminescence lasts 60 percent longer than your standard luminescent material. But if that wasn't enough, they also strapped the strap with a new technology called “LumiSuperBiwiNova™.” With this technology, the strap also offers luminescence, just like the case, upper plate and bezel. During the daytime, the watch shines equally as bright, thanks to its glacial appearance. Roger Dubuis created the case and bezel out of MCF, which is an ultra-white composite material made of 99.5% silica. This appearance gives a whole new meaning to the term "icy." Visit RogerDubuis.com

By Edward Jones – March 27, 2020

Discover the Corum Admiral AC-ONE 45 Openwork Watches

Admiral AC-One 45 Openwork Automatic: Uncovering the beauty of mechanics with the Admiral AC-One 45 Openwork Automatic (seen above) by showcasing its exquisitely crafted skeletonized dial and Corum in-house movement. Designed as a robust timepiece to complement luxury offshore boating, the Admiral AC-One 45 is even sportier, bolder, and pushes the boundaries of creativity a step further. The watch features a new movement that was developed by Corum in-house specifically for this model. The bridges visible on the dial side were specially designed to be in harmony with the dodecagonal-shaped case, as well as the silhouettes of the nautical pennants. A sub-dial displaying small seconds is at the 9 o’clock position, while the power reserve indicator sits at 3 o’clock. Movement CO 298 – Automatic Case 45 mm – Titanium Dial Skeletonized – Dauphine-shaped hands with Rhodium coating, Bracelet Rubber and textile – 23/20 mm Buckle Triple folding clasp – Titanium Power reserve 42 hours Water Resistance 100 meters Learn More Admiral AC-One 45 Openwork Tourbillon: Taking mechanical beauty a step further Corum introduces the Admiral AC-One 45 Openwork Tourbillon for aficionados who prefer something more complicated and gravity-defying. The tourbillon at the six o’clock position showcases the not only the beautiful heartbeat of the movement but also Corum’s artistry and flair in technical watchmaking. Also available in rose gold and black PVD-coated titanium case. Limited edition of 38 pieces in titanium and 18 pieces in gold and titanium. Movement CO 298 – Automatic Case 45 mm – Titanium Dial Skeletonized – Dauphine-shaped hands with Rhodium coating, Bracelet Rubber and textile – 23/20 mm Buckle Triple folding clasp – Titanium Power reserve 42 hours Water resistance 100 meters Learn More

By Edward Jones – March 24, 2020

Greubel Forsey QP à Équation 5N Red Gold Edition With Cho...

Greubel Forsey has just debuted their new QP à Équation 5N Red Gold Edition with a chocolate dial and it's an astonishing timepiece. With a single glance at the dial, you can see just how complicated this watch is. Do you want to know what month we're in? It can do that. How about the season? Done. Year? Easy. Is that not enough? How about leap year, season, solstice and equinox? Yeah, this watch can tell you all of that on top of the hours and minutes. It also comes with a chromatic 72-hour power reserve and a tourbillon as well. While the QP à Équation was unveiled a few years ago, back in 2015, Greubel Forsey has just now debuted a new Red Gold Edition with a chocolate dial. It also comes with a matching brown alligator strap to complete the look. If you've been wanting a watch to go with the brown ensemble of yours, this may be the ultimate watch to complete the look. For more information, be sure to visit GreubelForsey.com.

By Edward Jones – March 18, 2020

Autodromo Group B Series 2 Safari Now for Sale

Without a doubt, Group B rally racing was some of the wildest that the world of motorsport has ever seen. It lasted from 1982 to 1986 when it had to stop due to safety concerns. Autodromo knows just how important this racing series is in motorsport history and have a line of watches dedicated to it. The latest addition is the Group B Series 2 Safari. This watch was inspired by the East African Safari and Paris-Dakar rallies of Group B. The semi-matte green plating matches the "safari" monicker so well, as does the orange on the second hand and "Safari" logo. Autodromo also styled the dial after the racing tachometers of the early 1980's. The Miyota 9015 automatic takes care of the movement, which is housed in the lightweight 39mm titanimum two-piece capsule. Keeping the watch on the wrist of its wearer is an integrated bracelet in a matching green, but it can be removed. You can buy this watch now, as well as many other automotive-inspired watches at Autodromo.com. Shop Now - $975

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