Lexus

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 Andrew Nabors – August 14, 2019

2020 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series is a Mean Green Machine

To quote a famous Muppet, "It ain't easy being green". Lexus seems to have solved that problem, because the 2020 Lexus LC 500 Inspirations Series is a mean green machine. Limited to 100 examples here in the U.S., the exterior is a brilliant metallic pearl known as "Nori Green". The metal flakes play off the car's body lines very well. I had not noticed the rear fender flares before this model, and it makes me respect their design team even more. Unique 21" wheels have a 2-tone finish, and the 2-tone motif continues inside. The 10-way powered seats are covered in aniline leather. The Saddle Tan color is unique to this series. The door panels are finished in a slightly darker shade of Alcantara. The remainder of the interior is black leather with brown contrast stitching. The finishing touch are sill plates reminding you of this special series. No changes were made under the hood, so you still have 471 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic. Pricing will be announced this fall, so stay with us for all your Lexus updates. Browse Lexus LC 500 For Sale " width="680"> Related: Lexus Unveils 2019 LC 500 Inspiration Series in Chicago Lexus LFA Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 30, 2019

2020 Lexus LX 570 Sport Package Offers Tasteful Upgrades

Big SUVs are back in style and our friends at Lexus have several to offer. The LX series has been their flagship for decades, and it has a following unlike any other. Because it is many things to many people, the 2020 Lexus LX 570 Sport Package offers tasteful upgrades. Announced in a press release yesterday, it includes interior and exterior refinements. Starting with the obvious, a new grille and lower spoiler offer more cooling to the radiator while retaining ground clearance for 4WD mode. It is surrounded by chrome trim that also adorns the mirrors. Moving inside, you will be seated on semi-aniline leather in black, cabernet, or moonlight white. The Luxury package is included in the Sport Package, so you will have heated/ventilated front seats and 4-zone climate control. Mark Levinson Audio developed the reference-quality 19-speaker audio system, and you will be riding on unique 21" wheels. These goodies are only available on the 3-row model, so go big or go home. Click the link below to find your new Lexus and stay with us for all your SUV news. Browse Lexus For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – January 16, 2019

Lexus Unveils RC F and RC F Track Edition in Detroit

If you want the perfect blend of horsepower and luxury, Lexus has refined their RC F. Lighter and more powerful, Lexus unveiled the RC F Track Edition to the world yesterday at the Detroit International Auto Show. Crisp new lines and aggressive aerodynamics hint at the upgrades under the hood. Engineers had a mandate to cut as much weight as possible. First up, the steel tie rods were swapped to aluminum. A new intake manifold casting reduces unnecessary weight, and the AC compressor was traded for a smaller version. A move that might come back to haunt them is ditching the solid axle shafts for lighter hollow tubes. The 2020 model is 176 lbs lighter than 2019, and the Track Edition has 55% less unsprung weight on the front end. Top 10 Quarter Mile Production Cars The 5.0L V8 has polyurethane mounts to resist deflection, because power is now up to 472 hp. Torque is also raised, with 395 lb-ft thanks to revised calibration of the 2-stage intake manifold. Launch control is standard, and it uses Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber to reach 60 mph in 3.96 seconds. The new RC F will arrive this summer, so we'll keep you updated as pricing and options are released. Click the link below to find a Lexus dealer near you and stay with us for all your Lexus news. View All Lexus RC For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – June 21, 2017

Close Look at the New Lexus Spacecraft, SKYJET

In the 1950's and 1960's, many people assumed that by now, in the year 2017, we would go getting to work via flying cars. However, we're stilling driving cars and getting stuck in traffic on the ground.For Lexus, however, they couldn't wait to design a flying craft and did so for the upcoming movie called "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets." Their creation is called SKYJET, a single-suit craft that was designed in a partnership with film studio EuropaCorp. Lexus recently released some new photos of the SKYJET, along with a new video that shows off the craft in action.“Helping design and build the SKYJET allowed us to imagine mobility 700 years in the future and showcase some amazing Lexus ideas,” said Spiros Fotinos, global head of brand management and marketing at Lexus International. “This new content adds to the excitement surrounding the film’s debut, and we’re pleased to be part of this incredible and ambitious project.”"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" will be releasing in theaters on July 21.

By Andrew Nabors – May 23, 2017

2018 Lexus LC 500 Review By Ben Wayne

Today, we bring you an incredible review of the new 2018 Lexus LC 500 by Ben Wayne. He's been reading duPont REGISTRY since he was in 2nd grade and has been an automotive enthusiast for just about his entire life. As an Aerospace Engineer, he's very familiar with the mechanical aspects found in a car. With his passion and knowledge surrounding cars, it's fitting that he's started reviewing cars. For his latest review, he's chosen the aforementioned LC 500, which was also featured on the cover of our June issue.Lexus has been in need of something new in the showroom, so the boss issued a challenge to his engineers and stylists. Akio Toyoda's Lexus Challenge was answered in the form of a new V8 powered sports coupe called the LC 500. The body and chassis are a clean-sheet design, and they have the best traits of a modern touring car. First off, an aluminum body is draped over high strength steel for a low center of gravity and years of corrosion resistance. The 5.0 liter V8 is mounted just behind the front wheels for a proper weight distribution. A totally independent suspension has cast aluminum shock towers, which are much lighter compared to a steel unibody. Nalley Lexus in Roswell, GA ordered a stunning white example with red interior, and Ben Wayne decided to give this example a proper review on his Facebook page.Also Check Out - A 3,000 Horsepower Lexus RC F...What?A real treat is waiting inside. Lexus took a step back from their avant-garde interiors to combine elegance and functionality. Heated and cooled Alcantara seats have tall side bolsters for comfortable cornering. The passenger seat has grab handles on the door panel and dash, while the driver gets a plush steering wheel. Thankfully, Lexus has moved away from using the same switches and controls as its stablemates, because the LC needed to be all new. We're also happy it wasn't built to accommodate AWD. No compromises inside or out are what the public demands of a luxury coupe, so it will be nice to see how the competition responds.We want to thank Ben Wayne for sending us his review and encourage him to keep up the awesome work. If you have a car review of your own, be sure to send it to our Facebook page or email us.Check Out Ben Wayne's Facebook Page Buy This Issue Now Or Subscribe Now

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