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 – 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 – December 17, 2018

Lexus LFA vs LC500 Races and Brake Test: A Battle of Gene...

The Lexus LFA has been out of production for a few years now, but it's still in our hearts. Lexus created the LFA as the second model in their F line of models and it exceeded all expectations. It's V10 engine screamed unlike any other car, thanks to its finely tuned exhaust system which has been regarded as one of the best sounding cars ever. It wasn't until the LC500 that Lexus had created a sports car that could come close to the LFA. But, does the LC500 hold up against the LFA? Mat Watson took the two cars out for some tests to see how they compare. After a drag race, rolling race and brake test, the answer was clear.

By Andrew Nabors – September 20, 2018

2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring For Sale

When he joined his grandfather's company, Akio Toyoda had a vision. Growing up with an interest in motorsports, his desire was to build a Toyota Supercar. Racing is in his blood, and he has driven under the name Morizo Kinoshita to fool the press. Rising through the ranks, he pushed back at bean counters and engineers to bring together a new team. Their goal was to build a supercar unlike anything ever seen in Japan.Wanting more power than a V8 without the weight of a V12, Yamaha was asked to develop a perfect V10. Placing the heads at an angle of 72 degrees allowed for even firing and the exhaust note of an F1 car. His Great-Grandfather invented the Toyoda Automatic Loomworks. So taking a page from his ancestors, they invented a new loom for carbon fiber. Each part of the LFA is stronger and lighter than any automotive composite before, and the bodies were fired as one-piece in one of the largest autoclaves in the Eastern hemisphere.For perfect weight distribution, the single-plate automated clutch is mounted to the engine, and it spins a carbon fiber torque tube connected to the six-speed automatic. No detail was overlooked, as even the washer fluid reservoir was placed just behind the cockpit. Next to the fuel tank, it keeps the fluids at the center of rotation, which makes for ultimate grip in the corners.Because the car took over a decade to engineer, each car cost over $500,000 to build. The company decided to take a loss to price it among the other V10 supercars. When it came to the ultimate endurance race, the Nürburgring Edition arrived ready to race. Only 50 examples were built, with a sticker price of $445,000 each. One of the fastest production cars to lap the 'Ring, it lapped the Nordschleife in only 7:14.64.Without turbos, a supercharger, or hybrid technology, it offers 563 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Given the curb weight of 3,327 lbs, it has a power-to-weight ratio better than many current exotic cars. Fort Lauderdale Collection has a pristine example that could be yours. Click the link below for all the details and stay with us for rare & exotic cars for sale.View Listing

By Andrew Nabors – September 10, 2018

Lexus Unveils the LY650 Luxury Yacht

Lexus has never officially been in the marine industry, so this press release is making waves. Announced over the weekend, the LY650 is a gorgeous 65' yacht based on their L-Finesse design language. Parent company Toyota used the Lexus 4.0-liter V8 in their Epic line of ski boats, and these 90's cruisers are quite collectible.President Yoshihiro Sawa says Lexus is a brand that "explores new ways to deliver innovative and amazing experiences for our guests". They consider this to be their 4th flagship, on-par with the LS Sedan, LX SUV, and the LC Coupe series.To build these elegant vessels, they have partnered with Marquis-Larson in Pulaski, WI. With a beam of 19', it will have plenty of space along with stability. Pricing was not announced, so check out these great deals on Lexus models in the link below.Browse Lexus For Sale

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

By Edward Jones – November 11, 2016

Lexus Unveils Single-Seater Spacecraft for "Valerian"

First off, if you haven't seen the trailer for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and enjoy anything remotely sci-fi, do yourself a favor and watch the trailer below. Now that most of you have actually watched the trailer, you may have noticed a certain single-seater spacecraft featured in the trailer. If the front-end of it looked familiar to you, that's because it was actually created by Lexus.(Related - Audi R8 Star of Lucis for Final Fantasy XV)In a press release issued yesterday, Lexus announced their partnership with EuropaCorp for a fictional 28th century spacecraft called SKYJET. While specifics were either never created or announced for the spacecraft, we know that SKYJET features "believable, imaginative technologies and contemporary design cues."If you look closely, you may notice that the spindle grille and headlight design are similar to that of the upcoming 2018 Lexus LC Coupe.All Lexus For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – July 12, 2016

Lexus LFA Destroys Rear Tires At Goodwood

Somewhere in Japan, Toyota engineers have cause for celebration. Someone is finally driving the Lexus LFA in a proper manner. To us, that means gratuitous tire smoke and well-executed burnouts. Six years has passed since the last car was assembled, which means these supercars are almost middle aged. Only 500 examples were produced, and most have been hidden from the world until something better comes along.(Check This Out - Lexus Drives on Wheels Made Entirely of Ice)It will be a few years at least before anything will surpass the technology and power of the LFA. As a college job I worked nights at Lexus of Winter Park, and we heard rumblings of something in development that would shake the world. The car took longer to develop than the F-35 fighter, and what resulted was perfection. Our friends at Naples Motorsports allowed me to drive one that was purchased new by a blonde celebrity hotel heiress. Naturally, I had it valeted at the Marriott.Seeing one in public is becoming a rare occurrence, which is why many were left speechless at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Uploaded last night by TheTFJJ, we see a lucky owner who is not afraid of warping an irreplaceable set of rear brakes. The 4.8L V10 can jump from idle to 9,000 rpm faster than any other production engine, which makes shifting over 5,000 a very rewarding experience on the street. Goodwood is a tight course filled with the rarest cars on earth, so this might not have been responsible, but it sure looks like fun!Lexus LFA For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – April 04, 2016

Clippers Fans, Here's Your Chance to Own the Clippers Lexus

The L.A. Clippers and Lexus have come together to offer Clippers fans the ultimate fan car. The completely custom Lexus RC F includes a playbook inspired paint job, Clippers embossed rim steering wheel, bucket seats with the clippers nation regalia, a locker-room style trunk and so much more. Stuck in traffic, let everyone around you know it's game over with a horn that sounds like the game buzzer. Want to use the backboard? Your windshield is decorated with backboard paint.Your Clippers ride also includes basketball shaped speakers and a game clock. Need to know where you're going? Doc Rivers will get you there thanks to a GPS system that features his voice. All of these features house a powerful 467 hp V8 engine, perfect to get the game going. This ride really is for the ultimate fan. Lexus offers four ways to enter, and you can learn about them here.Lexus LFA For Sale

By Steve Chapman Jr – December 22, 2015

Lexus Drives on Wheels Made Entirely of Ice

Have you ever thought about driving a car that's rolling on wheels made of ice? Probably not, because that would be just a tad unconventional. But, in the automotive world, companies work hard every day to push boundaries thought impassable.Lexus LFA For SaleYesterday, December 21, Lexus released videos of their latest feat, involving their NX driving on wheels made entirely of ice. These wheels were created thanks to a collaboration between Lexus UK and Hamilton Ice Sculptors. According to one videos description, they wanted to "recreate the Lexus five-twin-spoke alloy wheel and its Yokohama winter tyre with incredible precision, while also making a wheel and tyre that would support the NX's 2.2-tonne mass."How long did this whole process take? A whopping three months, from start to finish. This mainly involved the design process, which included the laser scanning of the original wheels, and the graphic design, machining and cutting of the new wheels and their components.After the wheels were cut, they even sent the NX on a test of its own, giving it a five-day deep freeze at -22 degrees Fahrenheit. This freezing vacation left the NX with thick layer of ice that could have been passed off as a unique paint finish. With this thick layer of winter attached, they fitted it with the ice wheels and took it for a test spin. How nervewracking.Check out the videos below to see how it was all accomplished and let us know how you'd feel driving a car riding on ice wheels.Lexus' For Sale (Source: YouTube)

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