Hummer

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

GMC HUMMER EV Quiet Revolution Grille Featuring LeBron James

By Andrew Nabors – May 20, 2020

GMC Teases Hummer EV Open Roof Cockpit

Electric trucks are poised to takeover the world in a few years. Not leaving anything to chance, GMC has delayed the return of Hummer to make sure no detail is overlooked. Going head to head with the Cybertruck is a daunting task, so it appears that GMC is appealing to aesthetics using a soft spot among enthusiasts: T-tops. In their most recent press release, we see the view from the cockpit of the GMC Hummer EV is nearly unobstructed thanks to removable roof panels. Tapping LeBron James to introduce the new truck, it must undoubtedly be roomy inside. As we mention a few months back, the Hummer EV is rated at 1,000 horsepower and a whopping 11,500 lb-ft of torque. It might not be bulletproof or made of stainless, but our guess is that it will be more affordable than the competition. Stay with us for all your exotic car and truck news. Browse All Hummer For Sale https://www.facebook.com/gmc/videos/1093900324319469/

By Andrew Nabors – April 24, 2020

Dakar-Winning 1994 Hummer H1 Race Truck For Sale

Here is an opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind piece of American automobile history. This 1994 AM General Hummer H1 Race Truck was the first American vehicle with American drivers to ever finish the legendary Dakar Rally. 1996 marked the 18th year of the Dakar Rally and is the same year Tom Wamberg and Austin Robinson piloted this Hummer from Granada to Dakar across of the world's most challenging terrain. The race was 8,000 miles and it took two weeks to complete. It is indeed the “world's most grueling off-road race” and an incredible accomplishment to finish it. It was a very proud moment for the U.S. Charities Racing Team, AM General's Hummer, and America. An American outfit had finally finished the race, normally dominated by Europeans. And done in Hummer style. According to the Chicago Tribune, Wamberg and the U.S. Charities Racing Team dropped $850,000 into the Dakar dream, outfitting this H1 with all the necessary equipment to complete the race like the rear-mounted spares and huge fuel cell. AM General only made 718 Hummers in 1994 but only one of them finished the Dakar Rally. The truck is powered by Hummer's legendary 6.5L Diesel V8 engine with a 4-speed transmission and all-time four-wheel drive. It's essentially a tank on wheels – not fast but built to last and maneuver through any terrain. With only 8,449 miles, the truck has been well preserved since the 8,000-mile race. That is hardly broke-in for a diesel engine. The truck remains in excellent mechanical condition and has been thoroughly cleaned for its new home, which should probably be a museum. Whether you're a collector, historian, race enthusiast, like cool trucks, or preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse, this H1 is the rarest of finds among the truck trailer dealers. You simply cannot find another one like it. It comes with the original U.S. Charities Racing Team promotional poster, Granada-Dakar racing booklet with the documented finish, and even a Johnny Lighting replica toy truck still in its packaging. This truck has unmatched American history and racing significance – try to find another one. For more history on this legendary vehicle and racing team, search for the “Rough Riders” article from February 4, 1996, in the Chicago Tribune online database. Click the button below for all the specs and features, and stay with us for more High-Flying Hummers or visit cascadia evolution inventory. View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – January 30, 2020

GMC Hummer EV: 0-60 in 3 Seconds

1,000 horsepower 11,500 lb-ft of torque 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds Before your grandparents were born, GMC was building trucks. Over the past 118 years, they have led the way. One of their best moves was collaborating with AM General to build civilian Hummers, and the brand has fans around the world. Now we have cause to celebrate again, as the GMC Hummer EV will hit 60 mph in 3 seconds flat. In a press release this morning, we received a sneak peek at the new electric truck. Three days ago, GM announced $2.2 Billion in upgrades to the Detroit- Hamtramck plant, the former home of the Chevy Volt. Hummer H1 Price, Specs, Photos & Review Basically, they are looking to an all-electric future in a campaign known as the "Quiet Revolution", the new Hummer will be going up against the Tesla Cybertruck and the Rivian R1T. The former is rumored to have 800 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Rivian lists the 2021 R1T at 750 horsepower and 829 lb-ft of torque. GMC states they will offer no less than 1,000 horsepower and only 11,500 lb-ft of torque. Get on board, because this truck has more power than GM's famous streamliner locomotives. Click the button below for great deals on classic Hummers, as they are rapidly becoming collectible. Browse All Hummer For Sale " width="680"> PRO TIP: The GMC straight-6 engine was introduced in 1929, and powered the Toyota Land Cruiser until 1992!

By Edward Jones – January 13, 2020

Report: GM is Reviving "Hummer" as New Electric Pickup

Do you remember the Hummer? Of course you do. Not only can you still see them cruising around the streets and they're as popular as ever in the marketplace. In the near future, however, we may be seeing a completely new Hummer. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that General Motors will be reiving the Hummer name but in a completely new way. According to people familiar with the matter who reported this to WSJ, the new Hummer will be an all-electric pickup truck and it will be sold under the GMC badge. What's more, they also say that LeBron James has been picked to promote the Hummer's return. WSJ reports that a new Hummer/LeBron James commercial will air during the upcoming Super Bowl. When will we see the electric Hummer on the road? WSJ says it will be expected around early 2022. SEE ALL HUMMERS FOR SALE Source: Wall Street Journal

By Edward Jones – November 10, 2017

'Call of Duty' Publisher Being Sued by Humvee Maker

Activision Blizzard Inc is being sued by AM General LLC over the use of Humvee military vehicles in the "Call of Duty" video game franchise without permission, according to Reuters.Buy the Hummer H1 Featured AboveA complaint filed at the U.S. District Court in Manhattan says that Activision took used both the "goodwill and reputation" of the "Humvee and "HMMWV" names by using them in the Call of Duty games, and in branded toys and books. AM General says that the game franchise's success is due to the inclusion of the AM General licenses, making the consumers think that AM General is somehow connected to the games.See All Hummers For SaleDating back to 2003, the Call of Duty games have seen new iterations released just about every year. By 2016, sales of the videos games had increased to over 250 million units. Now, Activision has released Call of Duty: WWII, which is currently sitting at an 80 Metacritic score as of the time of publishing this article.

By Andrew Nabors – August 29, 2017

2006 Hummer H1 ALPHA Wagon For Sale

In 1984, AM General delivered a rugged 4WD truck as a replacement for the Jeep and other light vehicles in the Army. The Humvee was never designed to be street legal, and that is probably why it is so devastating in action. By the early 90's, truck enthusiasts and celebrities were begging for a civilian version, and leading the charge was The Terminator. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked why we couldn't enjoy it, so a street version was launched in 1992. Under the hood was the old & reliable Detroit Diesel 6.5 backed by a Turbo 400 Chevrolet automatic transmission. Check Out Floyd Mayweather's Car Collection Customers cared more about creature comfort than acceleration, so the factory highlighted its ability to cross waist-high water and traverse steep obstacles. The Hummer H1 arrived with central tire inflation, inboard brakes, portal axles and a frame strong enough to survive being air-dropped onto a battlefield. Engine technology and the SUV craze left much to be desired, so a comprehensive upgrade package was devised. Starting at the ground up, a new chassis was engineered from stronger steel, and it increased the GVWR to 6 tons. For more power, the Chevy Duramax 6.6 liter offered 300 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. Behind it was the Allison 5 speed automatic, which offered closer ratios and a larger overall range than the 4L80. The taller engine required a 2" body lift, and while they were at it, a new interior with more leather and insulation was added. The portal boxes at each corner were redesigned with helical gears for a quiet ride, and larger brakes allowed it to be much safer on the trails and the street. All of these changes added up to essentially a new model, so it was Christened the Hummer H1 Alpha. Production began in mid-2005, and rave review came in from customers and journalists. But something this great was deemed too expensive by the pinheads at old GM, so the project was canceled with only 729 examples produced. Of those, only a few wagons were built. Being the most useful body style, it was outsold by the half-cab and convertible versions by a long shot. So what we have here, is the most desirable Hummer for sale. Low mileage examples have sold for record prices lately because everyone knows something this rugged is not likely anytime soon. That's why Boardwalk Ferrari/Maserati is offering this Alpha in Civilian Black at a great price. It has saddle leather interior, touchscreen DVD player, rear seat entertainment, and the ability to go anywhere. 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Wagon For Sale

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