Lotus News

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 – April 29, 2021

Lotus Evija Earns Top Honors in Top Gear Electric Awards

They named it "The One To Watch" Lotus looks unstoppable these days. From the announcement of their final gas-powered car yesterday, they also took us behind the scenes in the development of the Evija. Many late nights and gallons of caffeine have allowed the car to be tested at 80% of its potential. Even at this level, Top Gear realizes what the car is capable of. Lotus' Managing Director Matt Windle said: “Of all the EVs in development around the world, it’s an honour to be recognised by the Top Gear team as ‘The One to Watch’. Validation work on the car continues apace, and we resumed our world tour with the car last month. We look forward to showing it to more people in the physical world in the coming weeks.” Stay with us for all your Lotus news. Shop Lotus Image (C) Lotus

By Edward Jones – April 27, 2021

Lotus Emira Announced as All-New Sportscar

The final Lotus ICE car. With the Lotus Evija unveiled as the automaker's first all-electric hypercar, many thought the days of a ICE-powered (Internal Combustion Engine) Lotus were gone. With the announcement of the new Lotus Emira, those thoughts are put to rest. The all-new Emira will be the automaker's final ICE car that's made possible thanks to a new powertrain partnership. Lotus notes that there will be a range of engine options when the Emira is released, but the details and specs have yet to be revealed. What we do know is that the name is pronounce 'E-meer-a' and that the design was inspired by the Evija. The Lotus Emira will be unveiled on July 6 and will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 8-11). See All Lotus' For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – March 29, 2021

Jenson Button Joins Team Lotus in Extreme E Championship

High Voltage Heads Offroad! Just a few years ago the notion of racing electric cars seemed like a fool's errand. Now that we are on the verge of the Evija hypercar, Jenson Button has joined Team Lotus in the Extreme E Championship. The 2009 F1 World Champion leads JBXE Racing; which is also comprised of Scandanavian Touring Car winner Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. Their first test will be racing for the Desert X Prize this weekend in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Button said: "Lotus is a great British brand that is inextricably linked to motorsport, so we are delighted to welcome Lotus Engineering to JBXE. Extreme E is a unique and exciting formula, full of "world firsts" and challenges, and to announce that a brand such as Lotus Engineering is coming on this journey with us is a proud moment for myself and the team. We are very excited about our new technical partnership and can’t wait to show what we can do in the first race this weekend.” This exciting news follows the sad cancellation of the Elise and Exige, so click the button to get yours before they are all gone. Shop Lotus Images (C) Lotus Video (C) Sky News

By Edward Jones – March 10, 2021

Hear the Sound of the Lotus Evija Hypercar And How It Was...

Now that we're starting to see more and more electric cars on the road, we're going to start going away from exhaust notes and instead talk about electric engine notes. While this may be controversial to many, it's actually opening to door to some very interesting sounds. Take the Lotus Evija, for instance. This new electric hypercar has a soundscape that was created by British music producer Patrick Patrikios. Inspired by the engine note of the Type 49 race car, he developed a new sound for the Evija. “I adjusted the replay speeds and digital filtering of the Type 49 to generate a soundscape for the Evija – it was a very organic process,” said Patrikios. “We all wanted something to spark an emotional connection between car and driver. Sound is hugely influential when it comes to creating and forming emotions, to enrich that bond that’s such a critical part of the Lotus experience.” You can see how he came up with the sound and even hear it for yourself by clicking play up above. See All Lotus Cars For Sale

By Edward Jones – February 16, 2021

Lotus E-R9 Revealed As Electric Race Car for 2030

It's crazy to think, but 2030 is actually right around the corner. With a new decade drawing closer by the minute, Lotus decided to create what they envision the next-generation of endurance race cars will look like. The Lotus E-R9 design study is the automaker's vision of a pure electric endurance race car in 2030. One of the most interesting features of the E-R9 is its morphing body panels. These can change shape to alter airflow depending on the car's aerodynamic needs. These panels would morph by the press of a button or automatically via sensors. Powering the E-R9 is an advanced electric powertrain, but in the year 2030, these systems will be way more advanced than what we currently see. Think more efficient batteries and stronger motors. I can't wait to see what the future holds for electric cars, and this is a good example of why. See All Lotus For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 12, 2021

Lotus Evija Wins Product Design Of The Year

The International Design Awards began in 2007 as a way for peers to study each other's creations. Cars are rarely considered, but this year the Lotus Evija won Product Design Of The Year. With categories for Architecture, Fashion, Interior, Product, and Graphic Design, the new electric hypercar was awarded for leading automotive design into a new era. For a target price of just over $2 million, you will have 2,000 (metric) horsepower and the ability to reach 186 mph in under 9 seconds. In order to make room in their lineup the Elise and Exige Final Editions were just announced, so click the button to find yours before they are gone forever. Lotus For Sale Images (C) Group Lotus

By Andrew Nabors – February 08, 2021

Lotus Exige & Elise Final Editions Unveiled

For over two decades these featherweights have fought for Queen & Country. With their sights set on electric performance, the Lotus Exige and Elise Final Editions have been announced. Combining everything they know about handling and weight reduction, the five unique models are Elise Sport 240 Elise Cup 250 Exige Sport 390 Exige Sport 420 Exige Cup 430 All cars have new wheels with the revival of classic liveries. An HD TFT screen replaces the instrument cluster, and Bilstein suspension has adjustable Eibach sway bars. Edelbrock superchargers push these cars to their limit, while other goodies include new steering wheels wrapped in Alcantara. All optional carbon fiber panels are standard, as are all the aerodynamic enhancements. Combined with the Evora models, Lotus will only build 55,000 cars this year. This is over 50% more than all street-legal cars delivered since 1948, so it is a fitting sendoff for their gas-powered lineup. That is why they are part of the Top 5 Celebrity Car Collections, so click the button to find yours. Browse Lotus For Sale Images (C) Lotus Cars

By Andrew Nabors – January 14, 2021

Lotus & Alpine Join Forces To Build Electric Hypercars

Two titans of automotive industry are about to shock the world. Lotus and Alpine have joined forces to build electric hypercars in a new memorandum of understanding. As the performance division of Renault, Alpine is embarking upon a high-voltage transformation. Lotus is on the cusp of delivering a potent electric hypercar as the Evija nears completion. This sharing of technology and innovation is not unlike Porsche purchasing more of Rimac. Collaboration is key to this new frontier, so stay with us as this story evolves. Browse Lotus For Sale " width="680"> Image (C) Lotus Cars

By Edward Jones – November 03, 2020

See Some of the Most Amazing Lotus Evija Pictures

Lotus recently invited a few photographers out for a chance to capture the new Evija hypercar in a glorious setting. Each of the photographers had time with eh Evija in and around Duke of London, a former 1930s soap factory in West London which is now a motoring venue. The photographers were also given the ability to choose how and where they would photograph the Evija and the results are incredible. Scroll down below to see them for yourself and click each of their hyperlinks to see the full photoshoots. (Featured Image: Photographer Sam Moores @sammooresphoto) @London automotive editor Krishan Parmar @masterkrishan Photographer Alex Carmichael @Carms Online community, influencer and photographer Thomas Howarth @horsepower_hunters @uk.shooters creators and photographer:Luke Jackson Clark @watchluk Photographer and model Carl Thompson @carlthompson @uk.shooters creators and photographer: Mike Will @m.visuals Photographer and model Timothy James @ThisIsTimothy

By Andrew Nabors – October 16, 2020

Lotus Evija Shocks Everyone At Goodwood

The Duke of Richmond likes to have the world's most significant cars racing up his driveway. Earlier this morning the 2021 McLaren Elva was unveiled in a Gulf livery, so we anticipated competition from other supercar builders. Minutes ago, the Lotus Evija shocked everyone at Goodwood house. While the car has been on display around the world, this weekend will be its first "Dynamic Display. Although the car is technically still a prototype, this will be among the final shakedowns before production begins. " width="680"> The first run was by Charlie (Lord March), the event host, and son of the Duke. After he climbed out: "The Evija is unbelievable – the power, the speed, I’ve never experienced anything like it – it was exceptional. This new dawn of electric hypercars brings ultimate motoring to life for a new generation and a younger audience. The advancement in electric cars over the last 10 years is astonishing. There is a huge amount of growth potential for these machines to continue allowing us to keep enjoying and driving high performance cars. Lotus continues to appeal to both the inner driver and the inner child in all of us – so much fun, and ultimately for the driver to control and enjoy.”

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