Industry Reports

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 Tyler Rampersaud – March 17, 2022

Lamborghini's Record-Breaking 2021 Heralds An Electric Fu...

Lamborghini had a great 2021, but the future is even greater. With an operating income increase of nearly 50%, an operating margin of over 20%, and 8,405 cars delivered globally, an increase of 13% over 2020, Lamborghini showed wonderful improvement over the past year. This growth was enjoyed globally, as well, with delivery increasing in America and the Asia Pacific region by 14%, and in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region by 12%. Respectively, each region accounted for 34%, 27%, and 39% of total sales volume for Lamborghini. MUST READ: Check The Spec: 2020 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 in Arancio Atlas The Urus, being Lamborghini’s entry into the ever-popular luxury SUV segment, was the most popular with 5,021 global deliveries, followed by the Huracan with 2,586. The Huracan STO was a large factor in its sales figures this past year. The future, however, is where things start to look even better for Lamborghini. Just months on the horizon, Lamborghini plans to introduce two innovations each for the Huracan and Urus, and then kick off the transition away from gasoline-powered engines with the Aventador’s replacement starting in 2023. By 2024, the entire range will consist of hybrids, with the second half of the decade being the point at which Lamborghini will begin to transition to fully electric cars, starting with an electric model that will complement the hybrid lineup. All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Lamborghini

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 23, 2022

VW Group In Talks About Porsche Going Public With IPO

Soon, investing in Porsche could mean more than just buying one. Volkswagen Group is apparently in talks to prepare an initial public offering of Porsche, which means that one of its most iconic brands and one of the most iconic brands in the entire automotive world would be available to invest in, and this would be a big change for Porsche. MUST READ: Porsche Reveals The History Behind Its Three-Digit Numbers Some of the reasoning behind the possible public offering is that Porsche is under stiff competition with Tesla in the premium car market, and needs to keep up with the success of Tesla’s electric vehicles if it wants to remain sustainable in the future. This past year, sales of Porsche’s debut electric vehicle, the Taycan, outpaced sales of their most iconic model, the 911. With this kind of success so soon in its lifecycle, Porsche is betting on the Taycan to slingshot it into the future, as well as the investment and value that this possible IPO may bring. However, the implications of this IPO are not quite that simple. Porsche’s key stakeholders include the Porsche-Piech family, the government of Lower Saxony, Germany, and the Qatari government, and the IPO has the potential to affect their control. However, with Volkswagen Group confirming that they are in the consideration phase of taking Porsche on to the public market, and Volkswagen’s stock price increasing as a result, it looks like a public listing could be in Porsche’s future. All Porsches For Sale " width="680">

By Gabriel Vega – January 12, 2022

Lamborghini Delivered 8,405 Vehicles in 2021 Marking Its ...

Lamborghini struck gold in 2021, marking its best sales year to date across all of its major markets. In total, the Italian carmaker managed to deliver 8,405 vehicles, a 13 percent increase over 2020's figures. Unsurprisingly, the family-friendly Urus SUV was the brand's top seller, accounting for 5,021 units delivered last year. However, the Huracán also saw a decent sales bump with 2,586 cars finding new homes. According to Lamborghini, the increase in sales for its V10 offering likely comes from the introduction of the track-ready STO. While it's at the end of its life cycle, the Aventador is still shifting units, with 798 new cars sold last year. Keen to strike while the iron is hot, the Italian carmaker also unveiled its plans to introduce at least four new products over the next 12 months. The keyword here is "products," denoting that we may not see four all-new vehicles. Instead, we may see current models such as the Urus receiving significant updates or special editions. What is likely coming down the pipeline is the Aventador's long-awaited successor as its final variants, the Ultimate and Countach LPI 800-4, should round up production sometime this year. The aforementioned STO also marks the end of the Huracán lineup, with a replacement slotted to arrive after its bigger V12 sibling sometime soon. While we don't know if these new models will offer forced induction of any kind, the Italian carmaker did confirm it will unveil its first hybridized production model sometime in 2023. From there, every vehicle the brand sells will feature some electrification as soon as 2024. Given the brand's recent announcement surrounding its latest sales figures, a significant refresh to its lineup could extend this trend considerably. Regardless, it seems there will be plenty to look forward to coming out of the Motor Valley over the coming years. All Lamborghinis For Sale

By Edward Jones – January 10, 2022

2021 Was Rolls-Royce's Best Year Ever

The 117-year-old company had its best year in 2021. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have just announced their sales figures for 2021, which point to the company's highest sales in their 117-year history. Compared to 2021, Rolls-Royce saw an increase of 49 percent, a downright astounding figure. Leading the sales was the Ghost, followed by the Cullinan and Phantom. In regards to where Rolls-Royces were selling, the company noted that all-time sales records were made in most regions, including Greater China, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. These incredible sales figures have also led to a full book, as orders for new Rolls-Royces have been made until the third quarter of 2022. Looking forward, Rolls-Royce is gearing up for electrification after their announcement of the Spectre electric car. CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said: “This has been a truly historic year for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. In the past 12 months, we have recorded our highest-ever annual sales, launched the latest addition to our Black Badge family, stunned the world with our coachbuilding capabilities and made huge strides into our all-electric future. Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Edward Jones – January 07, 2022

Lotus Sales Jumped an Astounding 24% in 2021

Lotus continues to impress with sales. Lotus has just announced their sales figures for 2011 and they're the brand's best results since 2011. With 1,710 new cars being sold by retailers in 2021, Lotus saw a monstrous 24 percent increase in sales year over year. Leading the sales charge was the Elise, thanks to the Sport 240 Final Edition and the Cup 250 Final Edition. In terms of where Lotus was selling best, the USA took the number one spot while Japan holds number two and the U.K. in third. You can view the top markets down below. Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars, said: “In difficult circumstances, our retailers have delivered what was asked of them and more. It’s testament to their hard work, and that of our manufacturing, marketing, sales, and distribution teams around the world. A huge thank you to everyone involved – what a way to move into the era of Emira.” See All Lotus For Sale Top 10 Lotus Markets Position Market 1 USA 2 Japan 3 UK 4 Germany 5 France 6 Italy 7 Australia 8 Belgium 9 Switzerland 10 China Source: Lotus Cars

By Edward Jones – January 06, 2022

Bentley Announces Record Sales in the U.S., China, and As...

2021 was an unprecedented year for Bentley Motors. Bentley Motors must be celebrating because they've just announced their sales results for 2021 and they're pretty incredible. Compared to 2020, Bentley saw an increase of 31 percent in sales; Bentley sold 14,659 vehicles in 2021 compared to 11,206 in 2020. The British automaker notes that this increase was helped by the introduction of new models like the hybrid variants. In total there were 11 new variants released in 2021 and the new Flying Spur enjoyed a full year of sales around the globe. As far as which model sold best, that would be the Bentayga which took up 40 percent of the sales. Following the ultra-luxury SUV was the Continental GT with 33 percent and Flying Spur at 27 percent. Bentley Motors has also announced that The Americas were their best market in 2021, with China close behind. You can view the global sales figures down below. Market 2021 (sales) 2020 (sales) 2021 (% of total sales) Americas 4,212 (+39%) 3,035 29% China 4,033 (+40%) 2,880 28% Europe 2,520 (+15%) 2,193 17% Asia Pacific 1,651 (+37%) 1,203 11% United Kingdom 1,328 (+14%) 1,160 9% Middle East 915 (+24%) 735 6% Total 14,659 (+31%) 11,206 100% Source: Bentley Motors

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 05, 2022

Porsche Sells 70,000 Cars For a Record-Breaking 2021

A record year for Porsche sales in North America is the result of a lineup of true dream cars. Porsche North America has announced that they sold over 70,000 cars last year, beating their 2019 record by 14 percent, and their 2020 number by 22 percent. One of the most exciting parts of this news is the fact that over 9,400 of those sales belong to electric Taycans, which is more than double the number of Taycans sold in 2020. Including the plug-in hybrid models, electrified Porsche vehicles made up 17% of 2021’s sales. MUST READ: Porsche Interviews L’ART DE L’AUTOMOBILE Founder Arthur Kar The classic 911 sold even more than the Taycan, compared to the Taycan outselling the 911 last year, but the dramatically increased sales of both signal an exciting future for the entire brand. Porsche’s bestseller SUVs continue to contribute the most sales to the brand. Over 17,000 Cayennes were sold last year, and the Macan sold nearly 25,000 examples. It would seem that at least for Porsche, the SUV craze isn’t going away any time soon. If you're excited to get behind the wheel of a Porsche in 2022, be sure to check out the Porsches for sale on the duPont REGISTRY by clicking below. Porsches For sale

By Edward Jones – December 24, 2021

RM Sotheby's 2021 Total Auction Sales Was an Astounding $...

RM Sotheby's wraps up the year by looking back on an incredible 2021. While 2021 has certainly been an odd year, RM Sotheby's made the most out of it and the results prove that their hard work paid off. In a press release issued by the auction company, they note their 2021 total gross sales exceeded $550,00 between their auction and private sales transactions. For the auction sales, that number is $406,570,428 and the private sales amounted to over $150,000,000. “RM Sotheby’s global footprint and extensive client base helped lead us to a phenomenally successful year, thanks to a diverse lineup of automobiles and events that captured the hearts and minds of customers and enthusiasts across the globe,” said Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s. “This is a testament to the ongoing commitment of our team and valued clients as we navigated the continued challenges of the pandemic together, and it positions us for a thrilling 2022.” Below are breakdowns of RM Sotheby's 2021 in both text and infographic form. RM Sotheby’s Top 10 Sales of 2021 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato | Sold for $9,520,000 | Monterey 1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi | Sold for $7,705,000 | Monterey 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione by Scaglietti | Sold for $7,705,000 | Monterey 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione by Pinin Farina | Sold for $7,024,370 | The Guikas Collection 2010 McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25A Formula 1 | Sold for $6,528,470 | The Lewis Hamilton GP Winning McLaren 1955 Jaguar D-Type | Sold for $6,000,000 | Arizona 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’ by Scaglietti | Sold for $6,000,000 | Monterey 1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Torpedo by Murphy | Sold for $5,725,000 | Amelia Island 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I by Pinin Farina | Sold for $5,014,470 | The Guikas Collection 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica | Sold for $4,735,000 | Arizona 2021 By the Numbers 25 total auctions 13 live auctions 12 online auctions 3,446 total lots offered Over $550,000,000 in global sales transactions $134,540,214 sold in Private Collections 46 countries from which cars were purchased Bidders from 70 countries 14.2 million website page views Over 51% first-time purchasers with RM Sotheby’s

By Edward Jones – October 21, 2021

Lamborghini Sets Another Record For Deliveries in 2021

Nothing is slowing down Lamborghini's winning streak. Automobili Lamborghini has announced yet another record-breaking period in 2021, with this one being the first nine months. In that period of time, Lamborghini delivered 6,092 vehicles. That amount is up 23% when compared to the same period in 2020 and up 6% when compared to the first nine months in 2019. That second comparison is important because that was what many automakers are calling the "Pre-Covid Period." What's more, Lamborghini continues to have a positive outlook thanks to a strong order book. When it comes to regions that were seeing the most deliveries, it boils down to three different regions: the Americas, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asian Pacific). Deliveries in the Americas were up 25% (2,407 units) when compared to 2020, while EMEA was up 17% (2,622 units) and APAC up 28% (1873 units). As for models, the Urus remained strong with 4,085 units delivered, followed by the Huracan with 2,136 units and Aventador at 681 units. “The Lamborghini brand is in an extremely strong position, with a comprehensive and highly desirable model range across V10, V12 and the Urus Super SUV,“ said Chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann. “The company not only weathered the difficult climate of the last 18 months but consistently maintained its volume growth, which is testament to the strength of our product portfolio, the marque’s continuing appeal worldwide and our business strategy and dealer network. All Lamborghinis For Sale Source: Lamborghini

By Edward Jones – August 18, 2021

Woodside Credit Announced as Barrett-Jackson's Exclusive ...

This announcement is the latest in the 10-year relationship between the two brands. Woodside Credit has just announced that they have signed a four-year contract with Barrett-Jackson that will make them the exclusive automotive loan provider for the auction house. This new partnership will give allow bidders to be pre-approved for the financing of up to $600,000 on collectors cars that cross the block at Barrett-Jackson events. The news makes sense considering the two brands have been working together for the past 10 years. If you've seen recent Barrett-Jackson auctions, you may have noticed the 'Estimated Monthly Payment' at the lower right-hand corner of display screens during auctions. These are estimate payment that are updated in real-time, courtesy of Woodside Credit. We are excited to continue growing our relationship with Woodside and providing their services to our bidders as the number one option for their collector car loan,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Coming off the heels of two record-breaking auctions in 2021, including our most successful Las Vegas Auction to date, it is clear that there is pent-up demand for collector cars and the hobby is thriving.” “The Woodside Credit team couldn’t be happier for another four years,” said Mitch Shatzen, President and Chief Operating Officer at Woodside Credit. “Our collector loan products give more options to bidders and even helps new bidders get into the hobby for the first time. Our commitment to commonsense lending practices and understanding our clients’ full financial picture allows us to provide loans with the lowest monthly payments in America.” The next Barrett-Jackson will be their Inaugural Houston Auction, which will take place September 16-18 at the NRG Center in Houston Texas. If you'd like to get pre-approved or learn more about Woodside Credit, be sure to click the button below. Visit WoodsideCredit.com Source: Woodside Credit via NewMediaWire

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