Marine and Luxury Yachting 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 Edward Jones – October 12, 2018

New "Vanishing" Superyacht Unveiled

Are you a billionaire that's looking to get away and be invisible for a while? Van Geest Designs (Pieter van Geest and Tracey- Jayne Canavaggio) and Fincantieri, an Italian boatbuilder, have created a superyacht just for you. The new Mirage boat is a 347.7-foot vessel that's wrapped in mirrored glass. With this kind of exterior, those who look at the yacht will have an image of the ocean reflected back at them. That's a pretty unique way to hide a massive vessel on the water.Lexus Unveils the LY650 Luxury YachtOf course, this is a superyacht we're talking about and it would come with more than just an innovative exterior. It's equipped with an outdoor theater and cinema, helipad, pool, spa, six decks and seven owner/guest cabins. Mirage would be able to fit up to 14 guests and a crew of 29. As for a price, Mirror.co.uk is suggesting an estimated price of around £200 million, equating to roughly $263 million USD.https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=hnqWaL_2NmUSources: FincantieriYachts.it, Mirror.co.uk via Autoevolution.com

By Edward Jones – May 02, 2018

Aston Martin Announces Production of Private Submarine

When Aston Martin and Triton Submarines announced Project Neptune seven months ago, most assumed that it would just be a concept. You know, because why would Aston Martin create a submarine? Well... why wouldn't they when they have a partner like Triton?Aston Martin has announced they are indeed going to produced Project Neptune and have actually already starting created the first production model. Since they announced the submersible, the two companies have been working on finalizing the design. According to Aston Martin: "For a vehicle to wear the iconic Aston Martin wings, it must be equipped with all the performance, beauty and elegance one has come to expect from the British marque."Along with the announcement of production, there were some details released regarding the sub. As for depth, it can dive up to 500 meters and can carry two passengers and a pilot. If you're looking to reach the speeds of a Valkyrie hypercar underneath the water, forget about it because you'll only be zooming underwater at speeds in excess of five knots. Funny enough, that's four times the acceleration of Triton's flagship sub model.“The exterior design of Project Neptune owes a lot to the pursuit of performance," said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin EVP and Chief Creative Officer. "As with the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the hyper-car we are developing with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, we have afforded as much attention to the hydrodynamics of the underside as we have the visible surfaces. Some of that detail may never be seen, but its effect will certainly be felt.Interested? Aston Martin and Triton Submarines will meet with prospective buyers at this week's LYBRA Superyacht Show in Barcelona, Spain.

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By Edward Jones – February 15, 2018

New Mercedes-AMG Hypercar-Inspired Boat Revealed

Another year, another wicked collaboration between Mercedes and Cigarette Racing. This year's boat was inspired by the new Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar and is called the Cigarette Racing 515 Project ONE. This is the ninth special edition boat that has been created from the partnership between the two companies, and it's one of the wildest yet.Twin-Engine MadnessPowering the 51' 5" racing boat are a pair of Mercury Racing 1,350/1,550 QC4v (Quad Cam 4 Valve) engines. If you start up the boat with the Race key, you'll unlock the full 1,550 horsepower potential of each engine, while the Pleasure key keeps it down at 1,350 hp. Altogether, the 515 Project ONE has the capability of running with a total of 3,100 horsepower. Carbon Fiber LoveThe entirety of the boat's deck is constructed out of carbon fiber, allowing Cigarette Racing to not only reduce the boat's weight but also lower its center of gravity. But it's not just the deck that utilizes carbon fiber construction, as the inner structural laminate of the hull, forward bulkheads, cabin liner, engine hatch, consoles and storage hatches are also crafted out of the lightweight material.Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing Create Carbon Fiber Beauty (2017) Where To See ItThis one-of-a-kind boat will be on display at the Miami International Boat Show from February 16-20 at the Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin.

By Edward Jones – February 08, 2018

Mercedes Teases New Hypercar-Inspired Boat

Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing have a long history between the two of them, with all of it revolving around racing boats that were inspired by supercars. It seems like each year the two companies come together to create a new boat to be unveiled at the Miami Boat Show, and for this year it looks like they've pulled out all of the stops.Jon Olsson Cuts Roof Off of Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4²Today, Mercedes-Benz teased a collaboration with, you guessed it, Cigarette Racing. The result of the collaboration is the new Cigarette Racing 515 Project ONE, inspired by the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE. While the tease published today doesn't offer many details, they will surely be here soon. Why you ask? The boat will be unveiled at the Miami Boat Show on February 15, which is only a few days away. So, be sure to come back to Autofluence for more information as it's released.Related Video:

By Edward Jones – May 19, 2017

Customize Your Own Multi-Million Dollar Porsche Superyacht

Sure, you've seen Porsche 911s driving all over the roads, but have you ever seen a Porsche superyacht taking on the seas? Well, now you have, thanks to a partnership between Vripack and Studio F.A. Porsche. The result is an 115-foot yacht, called GTT 115, built by a Monaco-based builder called Dynamiq.“When we talk about comfort and top service, the ideal for this size of yacht is six guests in three cabins served by a 1:1 ratio of six crew for genuinely exclusive onboard service,” says Dynamiq CEO Sergei Dobroserdov. “We also designed the interior ceiling heights to more than 2.15 meters (7 feet), even in the lower deck cabins: that’s real luxury on a 35-metre yacht.”Along with the release of the GTT 115, Dynamiq has also launched a configurator that allows you to build your own version of this yacht. The starting base price is set at 11,900,000 € (roughly $13.3 million USD), which doesn't include a crazy selection of options. When all options are included, the price jumps up to 13,655,260 € (roughly $15.3 million USD). That's $2 million in options. These include: Hybrid Package (95,000 €) 12 Underwater Lights (40,000 €) Sundeck Cinema and Disco Package (19,000 €) Interior Scent Diffusion (4,500 €) Castoldi 15’ Jet Tender (87,000 €) Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo that matches Yacht Interior (131,200 €) Sea-Doo SPARK Jetski (9,500 €) Yes, you can get a Panamera that will match your superyacht. To see all the options, click here to build your own superyacht.

By Edward Jones – August 01, 2016

The Moorings Makes Yacht Ownership Easy

Ever dream of owning waterfront vacation property in an exotic location? Ever dream of owning a yacht? What if we told you there was a way to do both simultaneously, earn money and never worry about the stress and responsibility that comes with conventional yacht or property ownership?The Moorings Yacht Ownership Program makes this dream a reality by offering the most popular Yacht Ownership program in the world. With this program you own a large yacht in a beautiful destination and make money too!The program is simple: They have a selection of sail or power catamarans for sale in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Bahamas, and more.In a nutshell: You choose your yacht and destination You enjoy plenty of annual use of your yacht and sister ships at 20 worldwide destinations. The Moorings takes care of all maintenance, dockage, insurance and repairs The Moorings charters her to guests when you aren’t using her You receive monthly income that will cover your monthly loan payment Moorings 433 PowercatDavid Burgess, owner of a Moorings 433 Powercat explains, “As an owner, the Moorings pays me. I don’t have to worry about insurance, dockage, repairs or maintenance. Plus, I get owner’s use and revenue that is a positive cash flow.”This is the ideal program for anyone who wants to live like a celebrity without the associated costs. Wake up with a new waterfront view in an exotic location each day and make memories with friends and family that will last forever.Powercats currently available for purchase through the Yacht Ownership Program are the Moorings 514 PC and the Moorings 433 PC. Moorings Powercats are exclusively designed and built by South Africa’s largest boat builder, Robertson and Caine. In addition to powercats, you can also purchase sailing vessels through The Moorings Yacht Ownership. They have catamaran and monohull sailboats ranging from 40 feet to 58 feet.Own a yacht through the Moorings and experience the world like you never have. To learn more, contact The Moorings Yacht Ownership today.Learn More Moorings 514 Powercat

By Edward Jones – February 12, 2016

53 Sueños Hydrasports Custom at Miami International Boat ...

HydraSports Custom unveiled 53 Sueños at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2015. To just be the world’s largest, outboard powered, center console to date isn’t enough for a boat builder with over 40 years of designing and building. So what do they do? Well… they push it to the EXTREME. The cover features HydraSports Custom 53 Sueños Extreme Edition.This head turner has a custom painted hull with four matching Seven Marine 627s. As if that isn’t extreme enough… a rock-your-world 16,000 watt JL Audio sound system, M1 satellite TV , Garmin Weather, Custom LED Lights, Garmin Wiﬁ, Refrigerated Fish Boxes, Upgraded Upholstery, and Forward and Aft Sun Shades. This boat provides an experience on the water like you’ve never heard before. The boat also boasts 3 Garmin 8217 screens with video integration, custom carbon ﬁber upholstery, bow table w/ power lift, auto pilot, underwater lights, ﬂexi-teak ﬂoor, sink, grill, extra battery and power supply, and a summer kitchen. Custom paint and audio systems were completed by Ultimate Auto in Orlando, Florida.53 Sueños represents the culmination of a dream (Sueños means just that in Spanish) for HydraSports Custom CEO Elias De La Torre III, who is an avid boater and angler. “The idea was to not only go big, but to do so with a boat that offers great ﬁshing features, performance, family comfort and the opportunity to customize,” says De La Torre.Porsche For Sale MiamiThe 53 Sueños is the ultimate angling correct ﬁshing machine sporting 40 rod holders, dual pressurized baitwells, is pre-rigged for electric deep drop rods, a massive rigging station, tons of tackle storage and ﬁsh boxes so large you are likely over your limit if you ﬁll them. Its list of ﬁshing features and capacities — 1,000 gallons of fuel, 400 gallons of ﬁsh boxes, 100 square feet of cockpit — reads like the brochure for an offshore battlewagon.While ﬁshing reigns, comfort abounds. Under the console is a surprisingly spacious cabin with air-conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, seating, separate head with shower and a queen size berth. Luxurious and puncture-proof carbon ﬁber upholstery is customized to match the boat’s hull and is utilized for all seating and bolsters. At the helm, suspension seat pedestals provide a smoother, more comfortable ride. Fish boxes, coolers and box lids are all custom built by Frigid Rigid. Able to run at high speeds in any conditions, the HydraSports Custom 53 Sueños is speciﬁcally designed to be the most comfortable angling correct boat ever built.HydraSports Custom is showcasing two of their 53 Sueños during Miami International Boat Show 2016.

By Edward Jones – August 19, 2015

Steven Spielberg is Selling his $185 Million, 282 ft Mega...

Steven Spielberg, the director, producer and screenwriter, has had an incredible career that has spanned decades. He's won the Academy Award for Best Director multiple times and is known for films such as "Jurassic Park," "Indiana Jones," "E.T." and many others. Most recently, he has signed on for the film adaptation of the sci-fi novel "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. Yes, Spielberg has been and continues to be successful, making it no surprise that he owns a $185 million mega yacht.The 282 ft yacht called The Seven Seas was built by Dutch yacht builders Oceanco. It's less of a yacht and more of a floating mansion that requires a crew of 26 to maintain the amenities, such as an outdoor pool with height adjustable floor, tender garage, jacuzzi, an indoor 3D cinema, 6 bedrooms and more.Now, Spielberg is taking notes from his movie "Jaws" and has decided he's going to need a bigger boat.According to an August 8 article from the Daily Mail, he's reportedly selling his current yacht, The Seven Seas. The article includes a quote from one of his friends who said, "Steven didn’t realise how much he’d enjoy cruising the ocean. Now he’d like to spend more time exploring the seas, and bring a few friends along for the ride. So he’s upgrading to a bigger yacht."How big do you think his next yacht will be? Give us your guess in the comments section below.(Source: DailyMail.co.uk via AutoEvolution)See More Yacht and Boat News

By Edward Jones – February 13, 2015

Mercedes-AMG x Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder GT S Concept

The Miami Boat Show is underway, flooding South Florida with the finest watercrafts in the world. To add to the event's extravagance, Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing took this opportunity to unveil the new Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder GT S Concept, which is based on the new Mercedes-AMG GT S sports car.According to a press release issued Feb. 12, this one-0f-a-kind concept is the most powerful production twin engine performance boat currently available. The pair of Mercury Racing 1,550 hp V8 engines are rigged in a Solarbeam Yellow-finished engine room. Because of the boat's lightweight construction and the aforementioned power, it can achieve an estimated top speed of more than 135 mph. Of course, they couldn't have the boat reach the same top speed as the Mercedes-AMG GT S, which is a blistering 193 mph. In comparison to the Mercedes-AMG GT S' price of $129,900, the boat will cost $1.2 million."We are thrilled to partner with the Mercedes-Benz high-performance brand again this year to design our fastest powerboat yet," said Skip Braver, President and CEO of Cigarette Racing, in the press release. "Featuring the all new AMG-inspired Mercury racing engine, the 50 Marauder GT S Concept embodies our brand's commitment to innovation and craftsmanship."(See Also: Pagani Huayra 730S 1 of 1 Detail Video)Mirroring the Mercedes-AMG GT S, the interior of the boat is handcrafted with marine-grade black Alcantara accents, while the exterior has a gloss black gel coat hull with matte black and Solarbeam Yellow accents.The boat can currently be seen at the Miami Boat Show. If you are at the event, be sure to stop by the duPont REGISTRY tent to pick up our latest magazine.Gallery (Source: Mercedes-Benz) See More Boat News

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