Mercedes-Benz 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

Project Geländewagen: eine Kooperation zwischen Mercedes-Benz und Virgil Abloh: Mit innovativem Design im Luxus neue Impulse setzenProject Geländewagen: a Mercedes-Benz and Virgil Abloh collaboration: Driving luxury forward with innovative design

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 08, 2020

Project Geländenwagen By Mercedes-Benz x Virgil Abloh

The Mercedes-Benz and Virgil Abloh Project Geländenwagen has just been unveiled and the result of the creative collaboration is incredible. A completely stripped-down Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG was the canvas for Virgil’s new artistic masterpiece. His meaning behind the vision was to inspire artistic individuals through the process of creativity and innovation. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is described as “One of our most fashionable products” by Head of Marketing, Bettina Fetzer. Just as this vehicle is the first of Virgil's career, it is also the first time the 4x4 has taken on a racing-inspired personality. Mercedes-Benz has announced that a 1:3 scale model of the G63 will be built and auctioned online through Sotheby's in October 2020. All proceeds will be going towards international creative educations. Exterior The most noticeable aspect of Project Geländenwagen is that the vehicle is much wider and a lot lower than your average G-Class from a dealership. It features a full white exterior with subtle details of color from the black Xs on the headlights, powder blue side exit exhaust tips, and vibrant yellow labeled tire markings. Traditional glass replaced using racecar style netting as the window choice. What separates the vehicle from the ground, although its practically there, are a set of vintage mono style wheels. The inspiration truly blends modern styling with hints of Mercedes-Benz's historic options. Interior Once the driver door is opened using the matching white pull strap, it is clear that we have left the off-road grails and arrived at the track. The interior is completely stripped out with the theme of white continuing throughout the interior of the G63. The seats used in Project Geländenwagen are the same as the ones in Mercedes-Benz DTM racecars. Red racing harnesses are fitted to each seat with the names Abloh and Wagner, both responsible for the design. The F1 style steering wheel compliments the race-inspired gauges and switches, as well the powder blue roll cage that lines the inside. The Mercedes-Benz x Virgil Abloh Project Geländenwagen is one of a kind masterpiece. The vision and inspiration behind it stand for everything right in the world of creativity and design, backed by the heritage of a world-renowned German automobile manufacturer. For more information on Project Geländenwagen and all things Mercedes-Benz, click the link below. Mercedes G-Class For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 15, 2020

Meet the Extreme 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

After a long period of waiting, the new 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series has officially been unveiled in full and it was easily worth the wait. Before this article goes any further, we let everyone know that the new AMG GT Black Series is powered by the most powerful AMG V8 series engine of all time. So, what does that translate to? 720 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Aiding the engine with this power is the new flat-plane crankshaft. The new GT Black Series is simply a beast. The entire Black Series family. Mated to the powerful biturbo 4.0-liter V8 engine is a modified AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed transmission that routes the power to the rear wheels. Mercedes notes that the GT Black Series will run from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in under nine seconds. Its top speed is set at 202 mph. This is a true Mercedes-Benz supercar. With great power comes great aerodynamics, right? When it comes to AMG, the answer is a resounding yes, especially with this new Black Series model. The GT Black Series has an exterior that's all about aerodynamics, from the front to the rear. Upfront is a large radiator air inlet, which was inspired by the AMG GT3 racing car. Below that radiator inlet is a carbon-fiber front splitter with two manually adjustable settings: Street and Race. On the new carbon fiber hood are two exhaust air opening that help increase downforce, reduce air resistance and cool the engine. The most noticeable aero component has to be the two-stage rear spoiler. Both of the spoiler blades are crafted out of carbon fiber, and can be mechanically adjusted for specific track conditions. Other notable features of the body and underpinnings include the AMG coil-over suspension, aerodynamic underbody panels, carbon fiber roof, carbon fiber dual adjustable sway bar and more. As for the inside, AMG has equipped the GT Black Series with sporty components without sacrificing luxury. The exclusive nappa leather and DINAMICA microfiber come in a black tone that's contrasted by orange topstitching. The standard seats found in the USA-version of this car are the AMG Performance seats. Information and media is all displayed on a 10.25 multimedia display that has three AMG-specific graphic styles: Classic, Sporty or Supersport. When the Supersport theme is selected, a central rev counter and additional information is shown on the display. A specific release date or price for the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series has yet to be announced. See All AMG GTs for sale

By Edward Jones – May 27, 2020

New 2021 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Coupe and Cabriolet Revealed

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Cabriolet and Coupe have been unveiled with a fresh new look that matches the already revealed E-Class models. It all starts with the completely new design for the front, this includes the AMG-specific grille that now has twelve vertical slats. Mercedes says the front end has an "A-shaped" design that is wider at the bottom than the top. In the rear, there are the round twin-tailpipes that can come in either chrome or high-gloss black if the AMG Night Package is picked. From the rear you can also see the new design for the rear wheel arches. In those wheel arches there are two different wheel options. First up are the standard new 19-inch alloy wheels with a 5-twin-spoke design. There's also the 20-inch light alloy 5-twin-spoke design wheels available as an option. The optional wheels can be finished in either matte black or high-gloss titanium grey. Mercedes has also added new exterior colors to the 2021 E 53 AMG's palette, including Graphite Grey Metallic and designo Brilliant Blue Magno. Each of these colors can be enhanced by the AMG Night Package. This package adds a high-gloss black finish to the mirror housings, window frames, and trim elements in the front and rear bumpers. If that's not dark enough, there's the AMG Carbon Fiber Package II that adds carbon fiber highlights to the mirror caps and a spoiler lip on the trunk. Inside the new E 53, the driver will be presented with two displays that act as the instrument cluster and multimedia screen. These screen can be swapped between three different AMG display styles, like the "Supersport" mode that places a central, round rev counter in the instrument cluster. Other special displays can be selected like engine data, g-meter, racetimer and more. All of this can be controlled via the new AMG Performance steering wheel that has a rounded twin-spoke design and a flat-bottom. This wheel is available in either leather, DINAMICA microfiber or a combination of DINAMICA and leather. As for the powertrain, there are no major changes here. It's still powered by the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that produces 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. This power can be further enhanced by 21 hp and 184 lb-ft for a brief moment via the EQ Boost starter-generator. Mated to this engine is the AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission, which sends power to the all-wheel drive system. Mercedes notes that the Coupe version can sprint from 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds while the Cabriolet completes the sprint in 4.5 seconds. All E53 AMG for Sale

Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB: So geräumig und robust kann kompakt seinMercedes-Benz Concept GLB: This is how spacious and robust a compact car can be

By Andrew Nabors – April 15, 2019

Mercedes-Benz GLB Concept Unveiled Ahead of Shanghai Auto...

China has emerged as a giant market for luxury brands. Japanese luxury brands aren't so hot thanks to a few thousand years of tension, so German and American imports have become status symbols for the upper class. Considering the need for a thrifty and practical compact SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLB Concept was unveiled ahead of the Shangai Auto Show. It is a concept to study if there is demand for a family SUV situated between the GLA and the GLC class. For a quick refresher, the GL models are usually based on their corresponding car chassis. GLA is an A-Class and GLE is an E-class. America has not had much experience with the B-Class because it is such a flooded market for the time being. Nevertheless, the notion of a 4-cylinder compact SUV is appealing. Offering 224 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque is sent to the 4MATIC All Wheel Drive. It has 3 modes depending on terrain. Normally torque is split 80/20 favoring the front wheels, Sport mode moves down to 70:30, and in off-road it is even at 50/50 front to rear. We have great deals on the GLC and its AMG models in the link below. So tell us if you think the GLB is right for the U.S., and stay with us for all your Mercedes-Benz news. Browse Mercedes-Benz GLC Class For Sale Related: Mercedes-AMG CLA 35: New Entry-Level AMG Merdedes-AMG GT R Pro Review by Carfection

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