Jeep

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 – April 08, 2022

10 Concept Jeeps Are Coming To The Easter Jeep Safari

A celebration of Jeep culture and a look into the future for the brand is coming to Moab. The Easter Jeep Safari is a tradition that the brand has held dear for a very long time, where Jeep owners and enthusiasts convene to see the brand do what it does best: off-road. With trail drives and challenging off-road terrain, the Easter Jeep Safari is a week-long celebration of what owning a Jeep is all about: the history of the brand, and a Jeep’s ability to venture where few other cars will. MUST READ: Jeep Performance Parts Offers World’s First Hybrid Lift Kit And speaking of venturing, the Easter Jeep Safari will feature 10 concept cars that show where the brand is going, with 4xe plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles like the Wrangler Magneto 2.0 on display, along with concepts from Jeep Performance Parts and SEMA coming along as well. Here’s a look at some of what’s coming to Moab below. View All Jeeps For Sale Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk PHEV Concept Jeep '41 Concept Jeep Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concept Jeep Bob Concept Jeep D-Coder Concept Jeep Birdcage Concept Source: Jeep

By Edward Jones – September 09, 2021

Mean Custom Police Jeep Created by SoFlo Jeeps is Ready t...

Jeep Gladiator turned off-roading police vehicle. Hollywood Police Department recently reached out to South Florida Jeeps (SoFlo Jeeps) to have them build a new ride that's extraordinarily capable. This request came after SoFlo Jeeps created a custom Jeep for Fort Lauderdale Police Department, but the Hollywood Police Department wanted something a bit more aggressive. The two decided on a Gladiator with a 4-inch lift, steel front, and rear bumpers, XRC 9500 lbs winch, LED cube lights, Nerf sidesteps, a custom, Kevlar-coated aluminum roll cage, 20x12" Black Rhino rims, and 38" Nitto Trail Grappler tires. As you can see from the pictures, this Police Jeep is a truly special build that nobody will want to mess with. “We support all first responders, fully realizing we cannot do what we do without the sacrifice they make in their everyday lives,” said Joseph Ghattas, owner, engineer and head designer of SoFlo Jeeps and its sister company Apocalypse Manufacturing. “I’m not going to lie, I get really proud when I see one of our trucks being used in such a beneficial capacity. We live, work and play in these communities, so to have one of our builds serve as such an integral part in bettering it means a lot.” Source: SoFlo Jeeps

By Andrew Nabors – April 30, 2021

Jeep Performance Parts Offers World's First Hybrid Lift Kit

The Wrangler 4XE rides on high voltage If you need 20 miles of battery range, the Jeep Wrangler combines a big battery with a six-speed manual. Keeping it in an optimal gear will allow you to maximize range, as you tower over everyone else. Lifting a Jeep is a rite of passage for all Jeepers. Now it can be done before delivery by your dealer. This new kit can be had with our without the 240v wall charger to keep your Jeep ready to rock. Should you push your range, the onboard 2-liter turbo offers several hundred miles on a full tank. The new Wrangler really is the state of the art, so click the button below to find yours. Shop Jeep Images (C) Stellantis

By Andrew Nabors – April 23, 2021

Jeep Wrangler 4XE Hybrid Has An Earth Day Video Conference

Thank you, from all living creatures Electric Jeep Wrangler- Why has it taken almost 8 decades for this to happen? The new Jeep can run on battery power for 22 miles. Because it is still a Jeep, those miles can be deep in the woods or blasting across the high plains. A 4-cylinder turbo engine and a six-speed manual can be locked in 4LO to send 470 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. What this all means, is that the new Jeep is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, on-road, or in the mud. Our dealers have nice incentives on them, so click the button, the Earth will thank you! Shop Jeep Image (C) Stellantis N.V.

By Andrew Nabors – March 23, 2021

Jeep Magneto Concept Shocks Everyone at Moab

This year's Easter Jeep Safari offers high-voltage fun! Batteries would seem like an unnecessary weight when it comes to off-roading, but the future looks bright thanks to a few new concepts. Jeep Performance Parts is a division of Mopar, and their latest offering is truly unprecedented. The Jeep Magneto concept has shocked everyone at Moab by being the first battery-powered (life-size) Wrangler. It's time to put away your Power Wheels because this one is likely heading for production. The 4WD world doesn't know what to think of it. Starting with a custom-built axial-flux motor, engineers wanted to replicate the power of their 3.6-liter. Therefore it has a redline of 6,000 rpm and it is bolted to a SIX SPEED MANUAL transmission. Stop drooling, you will have 273 lb-ft of torque at almost any rpm, which means choosing a gear will translate into how quickly you leave everyone else in the dust. Four unique 70kW battery packs are designed to offer a very low center of gravity. Not only will it offer comfortable handling, you can tackle steep trails with ease. The 800-volt system also powers a 10kW heater for warm adventures once the doors are roof are removed. All components are sealed to handle 30" of water, and the 35" all-terrains get you to 60 mpg in 6.8 seconds. They wouldn't go to all this trouble for a one-off show queen, so tell us your thoughts of an electric Wrangler in the comments below. Shop Jeep Images (C) Stellantis

By Andrew Nabors – March 12, 2021

2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Has Arrived

We've waited a long time for this, so we're happy to tell you the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer has arrived. Everyone seems to have fond memories of their most luxurious offering, and its ready to take on the world's best. Faux-wood paneling didn't make the cut, but we will have air suspension and the ability to tow 10,000 lbs. Grand Wagoneer will offer the 6.4 Hemi rated at 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft, while the normal Wagoneer arrives with the 5.7-liter. Loaded with plush amenities you can't get anywhere else, McIntosh supplies 1,375 watts of audio. Amazon is onboard with Fire TV and Alexa, and they can be enjoyed across 75" of displays throughout the interior. No silly unibody here, you will ride in a steel body on a steel frame with over 120 safety features and system. Heads-up displays, lane keeping, hands-free driving, autonomous cruise, and parking can be handled by the computer. Room for the family and the ability to ford 2 feet of water makes for a grand adventure, so click the button to learn more from our dealers. Shop Jeep Images (C) Stellantis

By Andrew Nabors – February 24, 2021

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Launch Edition Price & Specs Re...

Forty years is a long time to wait, so we're glad to announce that the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Launch Edition price and specs have been revealed. Four decades ago the last V8-powered Wrangler left the assembly line. For those that need 470 horsepower and lb-ft at their command, the Launch Edition will arrive loaded with the best options and accessories. Starting with locking Dana 44s, you can control them from the dash. The hood scoop feeds their Hydro-Guide water extractor that allows the beast to ford almost 33" of water. You will be 2" higher than other Rubicons, and they will be envious of the active dual exhaust. Fox Racing supplies the suspension with push button front sway bar disconnects. Other goodies include leather, steel bumpers, LED lights, Advanced Safety Group, and auxiliary controls for all your toys. At $73,500 it is much cheaper than V8 conversions, and it has an unbeatable warranty. Jeep Wrangler For Sale Images (C) Stellantis

Hennessey MAXIMUS Jeep Gladiator Glamis 34 min

By Andrew Nabors – February 17, 2021

Hennessey Maximus 1000 Final Shakedown Runs

Growing bigger without becoming complacent is very hard in the aftermarket. By adopting the same quality controls as the big automakers, we can wittness a new Hennessey Maximus 1000 final shakedown runs. Each employee is taught the function of each component along with what any possible fault in its appearance. Alex invites three technicians to listen for rattles and experience the abilities of the latest 1,000 horsepower Jeep. Their supercharger moves 1/3rd more air than the standard Hellcat Hemi, so the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, and axles must be bulletproof. Launching from a dig we get a view of the pavement as the squat allows for consistent grip while still allowing flexibility in the woods. Due to the complexity in this conversion, they only built two-dozen of the specialized chassis parts. Several have been delivered and more are in-process, so order yours before Maximus is relegated to the history books. Learn More Image (C) Hennessey Performance Engineering

By Andrew Nabors – February 09, 2021

Jeep Grand Wagoneer Teased In "The Road Ahead"

As part of their 80th-anniversary celebrations, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer was teased in "The Road Ahead". Forging their own path into an electric future, their latest upload looks at how far the brand has come since rolling into the Second World War. The Wrangler 4XE offers 25 miles of battery range and the upcoming resurrection of their full-size SUV looks to have an impressive array of touchscreens. With the impending arrival of the 2022 Grand Cherokee along with its Dodge Durango cousin, it would appropriate to drop the Hellcat Hemi into this new luxury hauler. Bruce Springsteen and Jeep are showing us "The Middle" so choose your road ahead by clicking the button below. Browse Jeep For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 08, 2021

Jeep Celebrates 80th Anniversary With Bruce Springsteen

Ten years ago we saw "Imported From Detroit debut during the Big Game. Following up with "The Farmer" and "Groundhog Day, Jeep celebrates their 80th anniversary with Bruce Springsteen. "The Middle" focuses on a chapel in Lebanon, Kansas. Located at the geographic center of the Lower 48, The Boss relates how our nation can heal while moving forward. His patriotic lyrics have unified our resolve before, so he was instrumental in making this project a reality. This also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the brand, so it also stars a 1980 Jeep CJ-5. These rugged (Civilian Jeeps) are among the most collectible 4WDs on the market, so click the button to find yours. Jeep For Sale Image (C) Stellantis N.V.

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