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

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By Tyler Rampersaud – December 07, 2022

Porsche Enters The DAX As One Of The Top 40 German Stocks...

As a desirable brand and a desirable investment, Porsche’s success is amazing. It has been just over two months since Porsche underwent its anticipated IPO on September 29, and in that short time, the legendary automaker has been incredibly successful in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. As a result, Porsche AG has made a blindingly quick entry into the DAX, also known as the German Share Index, listing the 40 largest German stocks on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, measured by market capitalization and revenue. MUST READ: Best Porsche 911 GT3s (992) You Can Buy Today Porsche’s commitment to modernity, luxury, sustainability, and the use of cutting-edge technology and proper craftsmanship have earned its products a sterling reputation among customers, who are fervent fans of the brand and its products. This made Porsche a desirable and sound investment to many and brought the brand a similar level of success in the stock market as it has among luxury and performance car buyers. Whether it's in luxury, driving dynamics, or in the stock exchange, Porsche likes to lead the pack. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

bThe Cayenne remains the most popular Porsche model

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 18, 2022

Porsche Delivers 5% Fewer Vehicles Worldwide In The First...

Porsche is putting up a good fight amidst a supply crisis in the first half of the year. The supply crisis that has loomed over the entire automotive industry has been a struggle for Porsche this year. However, as the first half of the year has come to a close, Porsche shows that it’s remained strong globally despite the challenges it has faced. Its first-half delivery number of 145,860 vehicles for the year is a decline of 5 percent compared to last year, and considering the challenges faced and the fact that year-over-year, deliveries actually increased in many regions, that is actually quite impressive. MUST READ: The Best Porsches You Can Buy Today In its 20th anniversary year, the Cayenne remains the most popular Porsche worldwide with 41,947 examples being delivered in the first half of this year, with the Macan in a close second place at 38,039. Porsche has spent much of this year celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Cayenne, and telling the story of how it not only saved a Porsche in financial crisis but redefined what it means to be a performance luxury automotive brand and created the modern luxury performance SUV that remains more popular today than it ever has been before. Having achieved success despite unprecedented challenges and adversities, Porsche looks forward to a Q3 2022 that gets the brand back to being fully on its feet and improving. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – May 07, 2022

Porsche Delivers Nearly 70,000 Cars Globally In Q1 2022

Porsche remains strong in a challenging world. In the first quarter of 2022, plenty of brands suffered quite the challenge on the global stage with supply chain constraints and worldwide crises making things difficult for companies of all kinds, especially the automotive industry. However, Porsche has continued to thrive, growing global sales revenue by €310 million, and increasing operating profit by €210 million. These increases represent 4.1% and 17.4% growth respectively, and it shows that a difficult world doesn’t stop the love for Porsche that so many around the world have. MUST READ: You Can Sleep On The Roof Of A Porsche In The Black Forest In Porsche’s New Travel Experience Nearly 70,000 Porsches were delivered to customers worldwide over the quarter, and as usual, the Cayenne and Macan were the most popular models. 19,029 and 18,329 of them were delivered respectively, with the Taycan coming in third place at 9,470, eclipsing the 911, which has been somewhat of a sales rival for the Taycan since its introduction. 23 percent of these deliveries represented cars that were at least hybrids, and 14 percent were fully electric. Porsche expects that by 2030, over 80% of new cars from Porsche will be fully electric. While it’s a classic and iconic brand, Porsche is dedicated to making sure it has a place in the future. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 26, 2022

Porsche Cars North America Creates New Director of Porsch...

The announcement of a new leadership role at Porsche Cars North America spells an exciting future. The Porsche Experience describes quite a few bucket-list opportunities for car-lovers around the world. The North American Porsche Experience Centers in Atlanta and Los Angeles make it possible for any car enthusiast to get behind the wheel of a legendary Porsche and truly know what it means to be passionate about performance and sports cars. Now, the Porsche Experience Centers are growing, with the Atlanta facility getting a new customer track, and with the growth of the facility, Porsche Cars North America has hired a new Director of Porsche Experience, Michelle Rainey. MUST READ: Porsche Celebrates Elmar Roßmayer And His Hand-Built Porsche 911 Targa 1:5-Scale Model Rainey offers experience from managing the Experience Center in Atlanta since its opening in 2015, and with her leadership role over all of Porsche Experience in North America, Porsche Experience will expand its track experiences, driving courses, road trips, and more to make the Porsche brand one that provides all sorts of fun, excitement, and invigorating lifestyle for luxury and sports car enthusiasts. Whether you’re a Porsche owner, a Porsche fan, or someone in between, the new Porsche Experience promises to have something for anyone to enjoy. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 14, 2022

Porsche Suffers A Global Delivery Decline In Q1 2022 Amid...

While Porsche continues to struggle globally with current crises, high demand means hope. Porsche delivered 68,426 vehicles in the first quarter of 2022, which is unfortunately a 5% decrease compared to the first quarter of last year. However, it’s not all bad, with plenty of signs showing that there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the brand. In Europe, for example, Porsche delivered an incredible 18% more vehicles compared to the same last year at a total of 22,791. High demand remains, and supply-related issues still hold back optimal success for Porsche. MUST READ: The Best Porsche 911s You Can Buy Today Worldwide, the Porsche Cayenne was the most popular seller, which is par for the course as the Cayenne and Porsche Macan have been Porsche’s highest sellers as long as they have been in Porsche’s lineup. With over 19,000 Cayennes going home to customers, and over 18,000 Macans, excellent, sporty luxury SUVs are as popular as ever. Going forward, Porsche plans to continue to make and sell excellent sports and luxury cars, and weather the storm for a more successful future. Source: Porsche

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 01, 2022

Porsche's US Deliveries Down 25% In Q1 2022 Amid Supply I...

Porsche and its customers remain resilient amidst supply chain troubles. 2022’s first quarter was, as it was for most auto manufacturers, tough for Porsche. Compared to last year, US deliveries are down by nearly 25%, at 13,042, but this happens as worldwide, supply chain and transit issues put automotive brands all over the world in a pinch to make, ship, and deliver cars. However, Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, says that the brand internationally is “working tirelessly… to overcome the supply challenges affecting the wider automotive industry,” and that Porsche’s North American dealer network is also working to make the customer experience the best it can be in the midst of the crisis. MUST READ: What is there to know about the Porsche 911 GT3 RS? FIND OUT Corroborating Porsche’s typical trends, the Porsche Macan and Cayenne were the most delivered models in the quarter, with 4,772 Macans being delivered, and 2,653 new Cayennes going to customers. Since the introduction of the model, the all-electric Porsche Taycan has rivaled the iconic 911 in terms of sales, sometimes outselling it. While the 911 came out on top this quarter with 2,123 deliveries, the Taycan followed close behind at 1,925. While Porsche struggled with deliveries this quarter, it wasn’t out of any lack of love for the brand, and hopefully, things pick up soon. All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

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 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 – April 04, 2019

Porsche Posts Record U.S. Sales in March 2019

Porsche's March 2019 U.S. sales report is in, showing numbers that continue the German automaker's success since the new year began. In total, there were 4,779 retail sales of vehicles in March 2019, a new all-time high for the month. Porsche also notes that sales for the first quarter, 15,024 vehicles sold, are up 7.7 percent from a year ago. "It has been a month of celebrations for Porsche. First, we claimed the No.1 spot in the 2019 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study, followed by a record March," says Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America (PCNA). "This is a testament to our 191 U.S. dealers and their employees, who help ensure our customer experience lives up to the same superb quality as our cars." 2019 Porsche Cayenne Helping Porsche set a new record was the new Cayenne, which saw a 76.2 percent increase in sales when compared to March 2018. Deliveries on the 911 models were up 15.3 percent as well, which is a feat considering the next-generation model is coming out later this year. Below is a breakdown of Porsche's March 2019 sales in the U.S. view all porsches for sale Model March Sales Year-to-Date 2019 2018 2019 2018 ALL 911 803 883 2,894 2,511 ALL 718 (Cayman/Boxster) 239 489 665 1,352 ALL PANAMERA 703 704 1,689 1,916 ALL CAYENNE 1,647 934 5,559 3,287 ALL MACAN 1,387 1,746 4,208 4,888 GRAND TOTALS 4,779 4,756 15,024 13,954

By Edward Jones – April 04, 2018

Porsche 911 Sales Jump in March 2018

Porsche Cars North America has released their March sales and they show which of their model lines are currently performing best. The model lines included in the report include the 911, 718 Boxster and Cayman, Panamera, Cayenne, and Macan.The Porsche 911 saw a 35.4 percent increase year-over-year, going from 652 March 2017 sales to 883 March 2018 sales. Year-to-date, the 911 went from 2,018 sales in 2017 to 2,511 in 2018. Continuing to impress is the 718 model line (Boxster and Cayman). Altogether, the 718's saw a 45.1 percent increase in March 2018 compared to March 2017.Porsche Employees Get Massive Bonus Porsche 718 Boxster GTS“We are pleased to see such a strong customer response for the first three months of the year, especially for our Porsche 911, the 718 model line and the new generation Panamera,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA. “Overall, this is an excellent first quarter for Porsche in the United States.” Model March Sales Year-to-Date 2018 2017 2018 2017 ALL 911 883 652 2,511 2,018 ALL 718 489 337 1,352 1,106 ALL PANAMERA 704 554 1,916 617 ALL CAYENNE 934 1,134 3,287 3,640 ALL MACAN 1,746 1,802 4,888 5,337 GRAND TOTALS 4,756 4,479 13,954 12,718

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