Lifestyle

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 – May 11, 2020

Gulfstream G700 Development Is Approaching The Sound Barrier

Time to start looking at the logbooks of your jet. No matter how well you have taken care of it, something sleek and fast will be here soon. In their latest press release, we've learned the Gulfstream G700 is taking off. Prototypes 2 & 3 made their first shakedown flights in March. Quickly reaching a cruise altitude of 45,000 feet, their optimized silhouettes were designed to be efficient at 85% of the sound barrier. You will have a range of 8,630 miles in unparalleled comfort. If you need to get out of trouble, take it up to 54,000 feet and Mach 0.94. Going this fast a few decades ago would have ripped the wings off, but composites are able to flex with the increased load. "The G700 features the longest, widest and tallest cabin in the industry with 20 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows and up to five living areas, along with an Ultragalley with more than 10 feet of counter space and a crew compartment or passenger lounge; a master suite with shower; and the industry’s only ultrahigh-definition circadian lighting system." Learn More " width="680">

By Edward Jones – December 16, 2019

What It's Like Flying in the World's Most Expensive Plane...

Flying on a plane can be plain awful most of the time. To get around the hassle and annoyances of typical air travel, you can fly private or buy yourself the most expensive plane ticket in the world. Called The Residence on the Etihad A380, this "seat" gives the passenger way more than you'd ever expect on a plane. What is the Most Expensive Car? The Residence has a "living room" area that has two massive seats with storage, a TV, refrigerator, and an insane amount of legroom. Walk down the hallway and you can get to the bathroom, complete with a shower, and the bedroom. Essentially, The Residence is a small apartment you're renting out for a flight. Well, not actually, because you also get free meals and service from the attendants. But how much does all of this cost? According to Business Insider, a round-trip flight from New York City to Abu Dhabi will cost $31,000 for one passenger and $41,000 for two. Casey Neistat recently took a flight and Etihad gifted him The Residence for his flight. Check out what it's like flighting in the most expensive and lavish airplane seat that we've ever seen by clicking play down below. " width="680"> Featured Image via YouTube Screenshot/Casey Neistat

By Edward Jones – July 29, 2016

Charter a Boeing Business Jet with AvJet, It’s Worth It

If you have recently flown commercial, you know it is not a pleasant experience – long security lines, baggage fees and an air traffic system prone to weather delays make flying the airlines anything but convenient or comfortable, especially for the business traveler. For top-earning corporate executives, it's not just an inefficient way to travel; it is also an ineffective use of one’s time and money. Alternatively, corporate and private travel via executive business jets offer significant benefits, such as convenience, travel flexibility, time-savings and privacy that commercial airline travel cannot match!As one of the world’s leading private jet charter operators, Avjet – A Jet Aviation Company, has continued to thrive and expand its global footprint despite these difficult economic times. Having the only Boeing Business Jet available for charter within the country, Avjet provides an exclusive experience that only they can provide. More importantly, Avjet’s commitment to exceptional service and attention to detail continues to fuel its growth and adds to their reputation as a global leader in business aviation services. Reason Why You Should Chart Avjet's Boeing Business Jet Exclusive Boeing Business Jet Chart: In this era of international commerce, global leaders need to fly farther in comfort, be productive en route and reach business destinations relaxed and refreshed. With nearly three times the interior space of the competition at a comparable price and a range of more than approx. 6,000 nautical miles, the ‘s Boeing Business Jet meets these demands. A Platinum Safety Rating: Avjet’s charter operation has earned the highest safety certification ratings from both ARG/US and Wyvern Wingman Alliance. This certification has been achieved by only a small fraction of aircraft charter operators. In addition, Avjet has earned an IS-BAO registration and is a member of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF). These distinctions put Avjet in a class by itself in terms of safety standards for aircraft charter. Start-to-Finish Concierge Service: Avjet does more than schedule a flight for you. Our exceptional customer service staff can handle all aspects of your private charter travel, from one-on-one pre-flight guidance, to in-flight staffing and catering, to post flight amenities – essentially becoming your personal travel service. We can take care of all your travel arrangements, from limousine pick-up to hotel accommodations – even restaurant and theater reservations. Beside the advantages of convenience, travel flexibility, time-savings and privacy that private jet charter travel offers, the other big Avjet advantage is its customer service attitude. “We never forget the importance of the clientele we serve, and to always try to improve our customer service,” said Avjet’s VP of Charter Sales, Leslie Cheshier. “We are always striving to improve and deliver to our customers an exceptional jet charter experience.”To charter this aircraft please contact Charter Manager at (818) 841-6190 or charter@avjet.com. Learn More

By Edward Jones – February 12, 2016

JetSmarter: Providing Private Jet Solutions For All Your ...

In March of 2013, Sergey Petrossov launched JetSmarter, a service that allows users to charter a jet from any location across the globe, via mobile app, giving them access to the largest private jet marketplace in the world. The app’s keen technology eliminates the “middle man” of chartering a private jet, making the process simple, transparent and also affordable.Within the app (which is free to download), JetSmarter’s full range of services are available in three categories JetCharter, JetDeals and JetShuttle, allowing users to quickly and easily find a flight that best suits their needs. The breakdown of each service is as follows: JetCharter: Whole aircraft charter where users customize their trip based on destination and aircraft. This feature is available worldwide in over 170 countries JetDeals: Exclusive, one-way flights on private jets offered free for members of the app JetShuttle: Shared aircraft charter, offered at a fraction of the price. Users can choose from: Scheduled JetShuttles: Single seats on already scheduled flights in select US markets, including New York City and South Florida, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Dallas and Houston, Los Angeles and New York City and Chicago and New York.In the Middle East, there are also scheduled flights between Dubai, Riyadh, Kuwait and Jeddah. All JetShuttle flights are offered at discounted rates for non-members and free for members Create your own JetShuttle – Shared aircraft charter offered at a fraction of the price, where the cost of a flight is split amongst travelers who seek the same itinerary. Flights are always guaranteed and booking is available year round. The service is currently offered in select cites throughout the United States and will soon expand globally. JetSmarter offers a membership program which is $9,000 annually with a $3,000 initiation fee. With a membership, JetSmarter clients have access to unlimited, free JetDeals, which are one-way flights offered exclusively through JetSmarter, as well as free seats on JetSmarter’s JetShuttle services. The JetShuttle service offers members the opportunity to book single seats on already scheduled flights between cities including New York and Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and Los Angeles and San Francisco.Additional benefits of the JetSmarter membership include wholesale charter pricing, 24/7 customer support, as well as access to the new Concierge Service, provided by the app’s Member Experiences Team, which provides clients with a variety of services including hotel accommodations, exotic car rentals, access to exclusive events, premium tables at fine restaurants, and much more.The application makes private air travel accessible by decreasing the entry price for consumers, and helping air carriers gain more exposure within the market. By eliminating the middle-man typically involved when booking a private jet, this app takes the process into the future with simplicity and ease. The JetSmarter app is available for iOS and Android. For more information, please visit www.JetSmarter.com or click the button below.Learn more

By Edward Jones – December 09, 2015

JetSmarter: Revolutionizing Private Jet Travel

Nowadays, you can open an app, go through a view prompts and a car will be at your location to take you to your destination. These on-demand apps are becoming more and more popular, and they are making their way into air travel. One company that is changing the way you look at on-demand air travel via private jet is JetSmarter."We're trying to bring aviation back to its roots," says Sergey Petrossov, Found, Chairman and CEO of JetSmarter.What separates JetSmarter's app from others is that they don't have their own fleet of jets. Instead, they work with over 800 carriers that provide app users with around 3,200 aircrafts located around the world. This provides users with a massive pool of jets and flights to choose from. With the app, you'll be able to see real-time availability and location of a jet, allowing you to choose the best-suited flight and book instantly with the push of a button."Best compliment I've ever gotten is that my application is better than sliced bread," says Petrossov.Annual membership for JetSmarter costs $9,000, not including the $3,000 initiation fee. Being a member will get you a variety of perks that will have you flying through the skies with ease.Along with their on-demand charter features, the JetSmarter app also has three other convenient options.With JetShare, users will be able fly privately at the fraction of the price. Like the name suggests, you'll be sharing the jet with other like-minded individuals. Through this option, you'll be skipping airport lines and security checkpoints without breaking the bank.JetDeals offers exclusive one-way and shuttle flights on private jets at discounted rates. When booking a JetDeal flight, you're booking a seat on already scheduled private flights. These are offered to non-members at a discounted rate, but are free to members. These flights are part of JetSmarter's exclusive empty legs.There's no doubt that by using JetSmarter you'll rethink how you travel for business trips and vacations. It's an intuitive app that is backed by a passionate team.To learn more, visit JetSmarter.com. To download the app from Google Play or App Store, click the buttons below.Google Play Download App Store Download Gallery Sponsored by: duPont REGISTRY

By Edward Jones – July 31, 2015

JetSmarter: A Smart Way to Travel in Luxury and Class

If you're looking for a smarter travel option than commercial flights, you should consider private jet services. While pricing is more than a standard commercial flight's, you'll enjoy a blend of luxuries that make the expense worthwhile. You'll worry less about scheduling, get to your destinations faster and, when you work with a service like JetSmarter, you'll enjoy more affordable travel than you might expect.Get Where You Need to FasterPrivate jets offer an excellent way to get where you need to go. Not only do you enjoy upscale private accommodations, but you'll arrive at your destination in less time. Private jets wait for you and leave when you're ready to leave. This means you can schedule your flight around your business schedule, and not the other way around. The level of flexibility offered by private jets, and all of the offerings from JetSmarter in particular, will help you make quick travel decisions and ensure you get the most out of your time - avoid layovers, and stop worrying about bending your schedule around commercially available flights.Enjoy Enhanced ComfortEven first class on a commercial flight tends to be a bit cramped and lacking comfortable amenities. When you take a private jet you get more space, and more comfortable seats to enjoy. There's also generally more space for your cargo and you can travel with business associates if you so choose. Private flights are quite relaxing and much more enjoyable than your average commercial experience.The seats are larger and roomier than a commercial seat. It will also generally allow you to recline back to an almost flat position for comfortable sleeping. Food and beverages are available readily on many flights and in some of the larger planes you might find things like sitting areas, work desks and other lounge amenities that you won't see on many commercial planes.Find Flights EasierWhen you use JetSmarter versus picking out a private flight from a single carrier it's much easier to locate a flight that can get you where you need to go. Simply open up the JetSmarter application and you can pick out a nearby flight option and have a scheduled departure in less than a minute in most cases.You won't spend hours searching for available flights, and you won't need an assistant just to make sure your travel options align with your schedule. Travelling by private jet is all about ease of use, and going with a service like JetSmarter saves you time.Locate More Affordable AlternativesIt always makes sense to save where you can without sacrificing quality, and JetSmarter makes it easier than ever to do that.With access to more than 3,000 private jets around the world, it's simple to pick from a list of options based on pricing and available features, and to start making cost-saving decisions. It's tough to pick out flights at the best rates when you're only working with one or two private jet providers, but when you look across most of the industry it's easy to see where the real value flights are.JetSmarter recently revamped their website to make it more convenient than ever to travel first class. The site now works flawlessly with mobile and full-sized devices. It comes with all the information you need to know about the JetSmarter service and will help explain the sign up process. For those interested in learning about available jobs with the company and private jets around the world, the site now contains an updated list of those careers as well.Travelling in a private jet is one of the most convenient ways to get around, but if you don't book your flights properly, it can still be an inconvenience. With services like JetSmarter you'll save time and money while getting where you need to go each and every time, without the wait.More InfoArticle Sponsored and Provided by:

Lifestyle

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe