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 – August 05, 2020

Armin Strom Unveils Their Gravity Equal Force in Rose Gold

Horologists were taken aback in January with the debut of the Gravity Equal Force. Armin Strom's latest masterpiece has innovations that should be found in every self-winding watch. It is able to offer a power reserve of 72 hours thanks to a sprag clutch on the balance. Much like coasting your car in neutral, it saves energy when disconnected, and provides smooth & consistent power when engaged, hence the name "Gravity Equal Force". Their ASB19 movement has a frequency of 25'200 from 28 jewels, and it consists of 202 parts. The Rose Gold motif is just one of many ways you can configure yours, so click the button below to learn more. Learn More

Gulfstream Advances G700 Flight-Test Program

By Andrew Nabors – July 30, 2020

Gulfstream G700 Flight Test Yields Amazing Performance & ...

Are you ready for the fastest ride of your life? We love writing about the world's fastest cars, but luxury jets are just as fun. Back in May I was shocked to read Gulfstream's predictions. They mentioned the upcoming G700 might be capable of cruising at Mach 0.85, or 85 % of the sound barrier. In their latest press release, we are again taken aback. It has been over 100 flights since then, and the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700s have delivered more power than anyone anticipated. Gulfstream G700 Development Is Approaching The Sound Barrier Pushing the throttles to full power, the test equipment used to certify the plane measured Mach 0.99 at 54,000 feet. The only other jet that could do this was the Concorde, on its way to Mach 2. Not only is it fast, but it can also cruise at Mach 0.85 for 8,630 miles. The climate control does not recirculate stale air, it pressurizes fresh air to Sea Level to keep your ears and tastebuds happy. The fact that it is so stable at the sound barrier means it could probably go faster, but the FAA has some ancient and ignorant laws about supersonic flight. The only other aircraft that can do this without afterburners is the F-22 Raptor, and it would offer incredible fuel savings for wealthy travelers. Click the button below to get on the waiting list, and stay with us for all your Gulfstream news. Learn More " width="680">

By Edward Jones – July 29, 2020

Virgin Galactic Spaceship's Cabin Interior Revealed

Typically, we spend a lot of time here peering into the interiors of cars and note how their are designed for comfort on the road. Now, I have the opportunity to write about the interior of a completely different vehicle that will take its passengers into space because Virgin Galactic has unveiled their spaceship's cabin in full. Like the cars we drive, this spaceship has a cabin that was designed around comfort, style and functionality. Each astronaut in the cabin sits in a seat made out of aluminum, carbon fiber and soft padding. These seats have the ability to adapt to the stage of the flight. For example, they can recline when in zero-g so the astronauts can leave the seat comfortable to roam around and experience weightlessness. While floating throughout the cabin, they will be able to peer out from the spaceship through the 17 windows. The lining of the walls are also made of a soft material so accidental bumps don't turn into bruises. While these windows provide plenty of natural light, Virgin Galactic has also added lighting that changes for each stage of the flight. You can see and learn all about the cabin from Jeremy Brown, the design director, in the video below.

By Andrew Nabors – July 02, 2020

Lexicon Unveils the SL-1 Steerable Wireless System

One of the most frustrating aspects of tuning your home audio is programming the receiver to where you sit. As streaming services keep increasing their audio quality, your system needs to know exactly how far the speakers are from your ears. Until now, this required a tape measure, trigonometry, and hours of patience. Harman has made that frustration a thing of the past with their new Lexicon SL-1 Steerable Wireless loudspeakers. Their receiver accepts every form of input and broadcasts a high-bandwidth signal to each speaker. Using your phone, their app allows you to target exactly where you want the sounds to converge. On the couch, in the kitchen, or even cleaning the garage, this powerful pair makes use of 33 speakers and 23 discrete channels at 650 watts (RMS). Twin LED rings illuminate the strength and direction of the sound, which has optimized modes for grille on vs grille off. The SL-1 can generate true 3D sound from aux input, Bluetooth, optical, and even RCA cables. With full Dolby Digital and DTS support, these are the last loudspeakers you will ever purchase. Click the button below and you won't be disappointed.

By Andrew Nabors – June 29, 2020

Bombardier Introduces Global G5500 With Incredible Range

Fighter Aces near the end of WWII were flirting with disaster. Going into a dive put them close to the speed of sound, and the controls would become useless. Seven decades later, private aviation is poised to exploit the efficiency of cruising near Mach1. Bombardier started with a clean sheet for the Global G5500. With a goal to beat their competitors in every aspect, it can cruise from L.A. to Moscow at Mach 0.9. With a maximum capacity of 16, the range is 6,790 statute miles, far enough to cover Sao Paulo to Paris with fuel to spare. Rejecting the notion of using parts off-the-shelf, Rolls-Royce was comissioned to build a pair or revolutionary turbofans rated at 15,125 lbs of thrust each. The compact core runs hotter than most to make better use of fuel, and three low-pressure turbines help quiet the exhaust. Here is a look at the spacious floorplan: A landing distance of 2,207 feet will allow you to reach the world's toughest fields, and you will be airborne again in only 5,490'. All the latest avionics are combined with infrared and synthetic aperture radar to produce a brilliant HUD in all weather situations. Highs-speed SATCOM, Controller Pilot Data Link, and four large 4K monitors keep all data in your line of sight. The tallest and widest airframe in its class offers comfort and much more sound insulation thanks to the larger cross-section. Click the link below for all the details and stay with us for all your aviation updates. Learn More

By Edward Jones – June 08, 2020

Metron Garage: Unique Garage Structures for the Discernin...

Cars are meant to be unrestrained. This is the dream behind luxury and sport vehicles. Yet many of us return home to a cramped, dark garage, needing to dust off the hood every time we want to drive. METRON Garage aims to change that. We combine our passion for cars with nearly three decades of construction experience to design the perfect home for your cars. As dedicated car guys, our goal is to provide a sleek, luxury space that encompasses everything you love about your automobiles. Modernity and speed are the driving inspirations behind our designs. Pairing our signature heavy, commercial-grade powder coated steel frame system with smooth, classy finishes like aluminum, carbon, and zinc cladding creates something truly grand - a garage you'll only want to leave when you're ready to hit the road. METRON also offers interior design packages including tool cabinetry, decorative and functional interior wall paneling, custom artwork, and more to bring life to your space and make it unmistakably yours. Using BIM modeling software, our design team can create a fully 3D representation of your METRON Garage, to ensure you get the high quality, custom experience we built our brand with. The professional-quality renderings we create are made specifically to help you visualize your new structure from the inside out. If you're ready to treat your car collection with the bespoke life it deserves, contact us at metrongarage@gmail.com or call 800-511-7208 today! We'll give you the keys, you only have to hit the gas. Visit MetronGarage.com

By Edward Jones – May 29, 2020

See the World's Largest Electric Plane Take Flight for th...

Now that electric cars are starting to become a norm, we may start seeing another mode of transportation move to zero-emissions: air travel. One company that's charging forward with electric power for aircraft is Magnix. The latest showing of their technology happened very recently as they retrofitted their Magni500 electric motor into a Cessna Caravan 208. After placing the engine in the 37-foot long aircraft, they took it out for its first flight this week. When it lifted off of the ground, it became the largest electric plane to take flight. Magnix says this motor provides 750 horsepower which has enough propulsion for an aircraft to carry anywhere from five to 19 passengers. What's nice about creating a motor that can be retrofitted like this is that Magnix isn't building a product from the ground up, which can take a lot of time. Instead, they're giving the world an easy way to step into zero-emission flight by being able to place the motor into existing aircraft. Hopefully, we'll be seeing more exciting tech like this in the aeronautical world soon!

By Andrew Nabors – May 14, 2020

Bang & Olufsen Unveil Updated Waterproof A1 Bluetooth Spe...

Have you been playing with loud cars for years? If you are like us, hearing damage is a great excuse to own the world's best audio equipment. My first encounter with B&O was in Mr. duPont's 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. It had 1,100 watts of Bang & Olufsen audio that was perfectly sound-staged for top-down excitement. The same genius team that devised that system also wants you to have the best in portable sound, so they have unveiled an updated version of the A1 waterproof speaker. The 2nd Generation A1 has longer playtime, better frequency response, more powerful Bluetooth processor, and Alexa assistant. Offered in Grey Mist or Black Anthracite, it has 18 hours of playtime. Capable of being submerged at 3 feet for 30 minutes, it can shrug off even the meanest waterboarding interrogation. You can even pair them together for stereo sound, so order two and surprise your significant other. Learn More

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">

BowlusRoadChief_EndlessHighways_PerformanceEdition_0592

By Andrew Nabors – May 06, 2020

Bowlus Road Chief Unveils Endless Highways Performance Ed...

Reaching a scenic campsite is a fun family adventure. Looking for shore power in the dark or in bad weather is unpleasant to say the least. That's why our friends at Bowlus Road Chief have unveiled the Endless Highways Performance Edition. Their latest model has twice the battery capacity as before, an 8kWh battery and a more efficient 3,000-watt inverter. To put that power into perspective, the LaFerrari offers 2.3 kWh, and the Porsche 918 has 6.8 kWh. Using the latest in lithium-ion technology, you will have air conditioning for two overnights along with all the comforts of home. This 26' trailer sleeps four with a GVWR of only 4,000 lbs. Click the button below to learn more and stay with us for all your luxury news. Learn More

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