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

Mercedes-Benz News

Mercedes-Benz news fromduPont REGISTRY News, updated daily, covering the S-Class, the Maybach range, the AMG models, the G-Class and the electric line-up. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, bespoke builds and the auction results that set collector values. Mercedes-Benz competes across more segments than almost any rival, so the news here runs unusually wide. Our marketplace supplies the part most publications leave out entirely. A great many of these cars are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which puts a review and a real asking price side by side. For Mercedes-Benz news today, and the luxury car market news around it, start here.

By Andrew Nabors – February 20, 2019

Mercedes-Benz Unveils SLC Final Edition & SL550 Grand Edi...

Having too many convertibles is a nice problem to have unless you are an automaker. That's why Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the SLC Final Edition along with the SL550 Grand Edition. They hit our inbox as separate press releases this morning, and we'll start with the sad news first. It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to the Mercedes-Benz SLC. These small & nimble roadsters arrived in 1996. Since the 2-door S-Class cabriolets are selling like hotcakes, the SLC 300 Final Edition will arrive in Selenite Grey. Going out in style, it has AMG body panels and forged 18" wheels. For the Final Edition of the SLC 43, AMG has all options as standard equipment. Arriving in Sun Yellow, it has gloss black accents around the body and matte black wheels. We will miss the twin-turbo V6 in such a small car, but all good things come to an end. As the SLC drives off into the sunset, big brother SL550 is getting a healthy refresh. The Grand Edition arrives in Graphite Grey with matte silver accents. AMG provided 19"/20" forged 10-spoke wheels to make it even more distinct. The interior is awash in designo Tundra Brown Pearl leather. This unique shimmering metallic offers a nice contrast against the Golden Olive Pearl stitching. Both the SLC and the SL ride 10mm lower on AMG suspension. Our dealers have all the details on both cars, so click the link below to find an SL for you! Related: Mercedes-AMG & Cigarette Unveil the 41' AMG Carbon Edition Celebrate 40 Years of the G Wagen

By Andrew Nabors – May 03, 2018

Mercedes-Benz Unveils 300 SL Restoration Parts

Restoring a classic can be painful when it comes to replacement parts. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is one of the most iconic automobiles ever made, which is why they deserve the best when it comes to parts. Obviously, your local dealer hasn't had anything on the shelf since 1957, so a press release last night outlines a series of new parts for the classic W198 chassis "Gullwing" SL.My background is in the restoration parts business, and my former employer thought his formula for American parts would work well for German cars. Well, the problem is that German car owners and their repair shops are a bit more demanding when it comes to quality. That is why Mercedes-Benz has stepped up and allowed the construction of highly specialized tooling for the 300 SL. The entire car was 3D scanned inside and out, and the new parts were made in VR before the first panel was stamped.The press release includes the first six parts, along with their prices: Front panelling left (A198 620 03 09 40), 11,900 euros Front panelling right (A198 620 04 09 40), 11,900 euros Rear panelling left (A198 640 01 09 40), 14,875 euros Rear panelling right (A198 640 02 09 40), 14,875 euros Rear-end center section (A198 647 00 09 40), 2,975 euros Rear-end floor (A198 640 00 61 40), 8,925 euros These sheet metal parts come out of the press ready to go, but in keeping with tradition, they are hammered with wood mallets over a die to ensure an exact fit. These six parts are just the first in a series of classic SL parts, so if you need guidance on your restoration please call our friends at Gullwing Motor Cars for more info.You won't find attention to detail like this anywhere in the restoration industry, so we hope other manufacturers will follow suit. If you have been dreaming of a classic SL, click the link below and stay with us for all your Mercedes-Benz updates.Browse Mercedes-Benz SL For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – January 11, 2018

2018 Mercedes SL65 Specs, Price, Photos & Review

Mercedes-AMG is known for the perfect balance of power and luxury, and the 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG specs are the epitome of the combination. From styling to performance and safety to features, this coupe has it all. The monstrous 6.0-liter AMG V12 Biturbo engine pumps out 621 horsepower with 738 lb-ft of torque as a compliment. Streaming in from 0-60 in just 3.9 seconds, the AMG SL65 Roadster hits a top speed of 186 mph in swift time. Performance is an AMG staple, but it’s the options on this roadster that add to the overall appeal. The panorama roof, which provides riders with a clear view of the sky, is equipped with Magic Sky Control. This innovative piece of futuristic technology controls exposure to harmful UV and infrared rays from the sun while simultaneously keeping the cabin of the vehicle cooler. Attention assist, Nappa leather, and 12-way power seats only scratch the surface of the offerings that come with the AMG SL65 Roadster. Those who already love the Mercedes-Benz & AMG line will appreciate this one, and those who have only come to know the brand will find this Roaster particularly attractive. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Specs: Horsepower: 621 hp Torque: 738 lb-ft 0-60 MPH: 3.9 Seconds 60-0 Braking: 97 ft 1/4 Mile: 11.4 Seconds @ 125 MPH Top Speed: 186 MPH Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Review Do you like the idea of an aluminum 2 seat roadster? The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG specs will surpass all your expectations. Once you are behind the wheel the Active Body Control will coddle you. An ingenious system uses the air suspension to tilt the body into corners. This produces less lateral G-forces when the road gets twisty. As standard equipment, a collision avoidance system can sense erratic traffic beyond the car in front of you, and it works wonders in heavy traffic. A panoramic glass roof is electrochromatic, changing from transparent to opaque instantly. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Engine Every other 2-seat roadster is powered by a V6 or V8. But being true to the SL’s heritage, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG specs a twin-turbocharged 6.0 liter V12. The all-aluminum design has 3 valves per cylinder, and they take orders from a single overhead camshaft. It has 2nd order balance thanks to the 60-degree design. 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL Gets Facelift and Updates Although it is based on a Mercedes-Benz 5.5 liter, the 6.0-liter version is exclusive to AMG. The big V12 offers 621 horsepower and 740 lb-ft of torque with incredible efficiency. Each cylinder has two spark plugs that fire milliseconds apart. This produces a stronger pressure wave as the flame front moves across the piston. It might seem complex to have 24 ignition coils, but the system is redundant by nature. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Transmission Nine and ten-speed transmissions have invaded dealer lots in the ever-increasing quest for fuel mileage. It even happened to the V8 powered SL63 AMG. But engines that make this level of power don’t need that many gears to be efficient. That is why Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG specs a hardened 7-speed gearbox. The first production 7 speed in a passenger car is assembled in the original Daimler-Benz factory in Stuttgart Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Brakes Release the gas pedal in a hurry and your Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG specs a predictive stop. Software built into the ABS system moves the pads closer to the rotor if it anticipates a panic stop. Wet weather driving is also enhanced by automatic brake drying. By applying gentle pressure to the rotor, the pads are kept warm and dry- ready for action. Hold assist works in traffic to let your footrest. A firm press engages the hold, and it is released by tapping either pedal. Hill start assist is self-explanatory, and it is worth every penny. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Design As the evolution of their flagship, the task of making the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG stand apart from the other SL models was given solely to AMG. Always considering performance, it has an aggressive chin spoiler and sculpted rocker panels to keep it glued to the pavement. Heat extractors in the fenders and a rear diffuser are also specific to the SL65. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Price For the model year 2018, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG specs the retail price at $222,000. Considering the abilities of this roadster, the price is well justified. Leasing is a popular option if you need a new company car. It can also be your new super stock dragster thanks to its impressive performance. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Interior If you demand the very best from your automobile, you might want to check out an SL65. Nothing compares to diamond stitch quilted designo Nappa leather. Sure, the 12-way seats are heated, and they also have several massaging programs. Everything from shiatsu to hot stone is replicated by both seats. From the trunk partition to the variable wind diffuser, you need only to press a button, make a gesture, or use voice control. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Standout Features You deserve to have something nobody has seen before. That is why Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG specs some wild features into the car. Audiophiles love clean bass, but there is not enough cabin room to mount a proper subwoofer. So AMG turned to Bang & Olufsen to create BeoSound. They patented a unique solution for low range sounds. The FrontBass speakers utilize the hollow chambers of the A-pillars to act as a resonance chamber. Not only does this cancel out road noise, they create dynamic low range sounds better than aftermarket systems. Another patented system is the Airscarf. This vent beneath the headrest is aimed to blow warm air down your back. You can cruise with the top down in freezing weather because Mercedes-Benz has your back. Browse Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG For Sale

By Christina Avila – November 18, 2015

2017 Mercedes-Benz SL Gets Facelift and Updates

Since 1926, Mercedes-Benz has garnered a well-deserved reputation for producing some of the most luxurious and powerful cars in the world. Further cementing this prestigious reputation, and the German automaker’s place in automotive history, is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL. 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL 500According to a press release from earlier today, the new SL manages to marry two very different worlds: the relaxed leisure of a daily drive vehicle and the raw performance ability of a sports car. But what makes this SL model better than its predecessors? First, there’s the updated exterior.The newly revised front-end features a unique diamond radiator grille that extends downward, as well as two power domes that underline the bonnet. Illuminating the road with an updated LED Intelligent Light System, the sleek silhouette of the SL is highlighted by the dynamic, broad vehicle wings, blazoned with chrome wing-like inserts.As for its technical capabilities, the SL, with versions ranging from the SL 400 to the SL 65 AMG, is powered by a V6, V8 or V12 engine. These motors are responsible for up to 630 horsepower and a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour.If you’re in the market for a sports car that’s equal parts athleticism and aesthetic, the 2016 SL is for you. Mercedes-Benz will begin taking customer orders for the SL at the start of the new year.Mercedes-Benz's For Sale (via Mercedes-Benz)

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