Porsche 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 – June 18, 2015

MANSORY Porsche Cayenne Turbo Performance Enhancements

If the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S weren't enough for you, MANSORY has unveiled their performance upgrades for the models in a new press release.The aftermarket company now offers a "Plug & Play" option for both models. This includes the installation of the MANSORY Power Box. Once installed, the Cayenne Turbo's output is increased by 50 hp and roughly 60 lb-ft of torque. Power output after this quick installation will be at a total of 570 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque. The 0-62 mph time of the SUV is dropped to 4.1 seconds, .4 seconds faster than standard, after the Plug & Play process.(Related: Bespoke Rolls-Royce Wraith in Orange Metallic)For the Turbo S, performance is upgraded to 611 hp and 641 lb-ft of torque. This is an increase of 50 hp and 51 lb-ft over the standard Turbo S. The 0-62 mph time is decreased to 3.8 seconds from the standard time of 4.1 seconds.To match the upgraded power, MANSORY also offers a wide array of exterior and interior modifications, showcased in the included images.Each MANSORY control unit for the upgrades costs €4,900 (approx. $5,350 USD with the current exchange rates).Gallery (Source: MANSORY) More Aftermarket News

By Caitlin Duffy – June 11, 2015

The Carrera GT: Own Porsche Supercar History

Porsche has long been renowned for its impressive abilities in crafting powerful and sleek cars for the road and the track, but a few of their production models stand out far beyond the rest for their ability to conquer both.From 1986-89, the 959 reigned supreme in the world of luxury performance cars. Its twin-turbocharged flat six engine was capable of reaching 195 mph, making it the fastest car of its time. But it wasn't until nearly 20 years later that another supercar came from the marque: the Carrera GT.(See Also: Only LaFerrari For Sale in the U.S. at Naples Motorsports)From 2004 to 2007, the two door stunner utilized a 5.7-liter V10 originally crafted for a Le Mans prototype. 1,300 of the planned 1,500 made it to production and sale, with an original MSRP of $448,000 USD. Of course, today they are worth much, much more.Check out our listings of Carrera GTs below, and find the perfect one of these Porsche powerhouses for your collection.Woodland Hills, California | Call for Price Buy Now Lake Park, Florida | Call for Price Buy Now Las Vegas, Nevada | $795,000 Buy Now Bakersfield, California | $819,000 Buy Now Shenandoah, Texas: $847,750 Buy Now Salem, New Hampshire | $895,000 Buy Now North Miami Beach, Florida | $949,950 Buy Now Springfield, Illinois | $1,099,900 Buy Now

By Caitlin Duffy – June 03, 2015

Porsche Design Chrontimer Series 1 Timepieces Introduced

With a call back to their history and a strong gaze on the future, Porsche Design has unveiled their latest timepieces for men: the Chrontimer Series 1.Though based on the first Porsche timepiece ever created, a design from Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, these timepieces have been developed entirely independently by the marque's design house. His principals of design were optimal readability, technical perfection, highest quality materials and puristic design with a focus on function, and each of those has been fully imbued in this new line.Another historic influence comes from the 1980 Titanium Chronograph from Porsche, which was the first timepiece crafted entirely from titanium. This influence is found in the titanium case of each Chrontimer Series 1. And yet a vast array of options are available for bezel, dials and strap materials and finishes, allowing each timepiece to truly reflect its owners tastes.(See Also: Hublot, Kobe Bryant Introduce New Timepiece in Napa Valley)The bezel can be either black, titanium or 18-carat rose gold, while the strap can be high-quality leather, high-tech fabric, titanium or rubber. Dials in black, carbon or deep blue will tie each design aspect together flawlessly.A mechanical ETA Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement powers this piece, with a 48-hour reserve. This timepiece will be available for order in July, so take a moment to look through the options below and pick the design that best suits you. When you're finished, take a minute to browse our exclusive listings of Porsches for sale, and complete your Porsche Design lifestyle with the perfect car to match.Porsches For Sale Gallery (Source: Porsche Design via HypeBeast) See More Watch News

By Edward Jones – June 01, 2015

Porsche Classic Offering Recreated Dashboards for the 911

Looking to bring life back to your classic Porsche 911? Porsche Classic has just the thing for you. Announced in a press release issued today, Porsche Classic is now reproducing the dashboard of the classic 911 of model years 1969 to 1975.(Related: 10 Low Mileage Classic Cars For Sale)In creating the new dashboard, Porsche Classic re-engineered the original. It now consists of a "modern substructure and the original surface structure," according to the press release. Most importantly, this recreated dashboard features more modern materials, meaning it will hold up better when exposed to normal wear, high temperatures, humidity and solar radiation. This new recreated classic part can be ordered now from any Porsche center. It can only be installed by the original assembly procedure, which is extensive and involves removing the windshield. This is why Porsche recommends that it be installed by Porsche Classic partners that have trained experts in the matter.The press release states that the price in Germany for the part is 951.99 Euros, equating to $1,037 USD with today's current exchange rate.View 911s For Sale(Source: Porsche) Click Here For More Porsche News

By Caitlin Duffy – May 28, 2015

918 Spyder 1,000 km Road Trip Recap Video

Throughout Ingo Vandenberghe's trip across the United Kingdom, Porsche was sharing photo updates of the journey on their Facebook page, but now we have a chance to hear his impressions of the trip and thoughts on the experience for ourselves.In honor of reaching the impressive milestone of 10 million Facebook fans, Porsche launched a contest Jan. 26 offering one lucky fan the chance to take a four-day long, 1,000 km road trip in the 918 Spyder. Vandenberghe was selected as the winner Feb. 22, and on April 27 his trip began with its first stop in London. The trip took him through some of the United Kingdom's most recognized locations, from Windsor, to Oxford, to Brecon Beacons National Park, with the final stop being the Silverstone track, where Vandenberghe had his chance to sit behind the wheel and test out the 918 Spyder's power for himself. (See Also: Das Renn Treffen 2015 Recap: A Porsche Lover's Dream Event) Check out his recap of the experience in the video above, added to YouTube May 26 by Porsche, and then browse our exclusive selection of 918 Spyders for sale to get a taste of his experience for yourself. 918 Spyders For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News

By Edward Jones – May 28, 2015

Porsche 918 Spyder vs Carrera: Witness The Hybrid Power

One popular topic of debate amongst automotive enthusiasts revolves around whether they prefer a naturally aspirated engine by itself, one that is accompanied by an electric motor or an electric motor by itself.Two cars that demonstrate the hybrid versus naturally aspirated conversation are the Porsche 918 Spyder and Carrera GT. The Carrera GT originally started production in 2004, while the 918 Spyder has just ended a production run that started in 2013.(Related: Bugatti Veyron Races an Aventador, 900 hp 911 Turbo S and Gallardo Superleggera)The 918 comes with a 4.6-liter V8 engine that works in cooperation with two electric motors for a total output of 889 hp and 944 lb-ft of torque. For the Carrera GT, a 5.7-liter V10 provides 612 hp and 435 lb-ft of torque. Clearly, these stats show a matchup that puts the 918 Spyder on top. But if you can't take it from the numbers, check out the video below to see the two cars duke it out, uploaded by Exclusivos no Brasil to YouTube May 26.Check it out and let us know your opinions on the engine you prefer in the comments below.Porsches For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More Automotive Videos

By Caitlin Duffy – May 15, 2015

New Porsche 911 GT3 R Unveiled on Nurburgring w/ Video

The lightweight body design of the GT3 RS has proven to be the perfect basis for Porsche's newest customer sport race car for the GT3 series: the 911 GT3 R.In the first updates to this model since 2013, Porsche has pushed to create a lighter, more efficient and faster race car while also decreasing the cost of maintenance and spare parts. Two press releases issued by the marque today announce this new release, as well as share a video of it during its official world premiere during the Nürburgring 24-hour race.Though still wearing camouflage in its video debut, the 911 GT3 R looks every bit as impressive, if not more so, than its GT3 RS brethren, and with good reason. In addition to the body design, the distinctive "double bubble" roof has made its way to the design, while almost every other feature is an improvement upon the GT3 RS' construction.Under the hood is a 4.0-liter flat-six engine mated to a sequential six-speed constant-mesh gearbox, all of which creates upwards of 500 hp. And luckily, for race teams looking to bring this Porsche with them to the paddocks, it's available for order. Pricing is set at €429,000, or approximately $486,300 USD at time of publishing, though this doesn't include a country-specific value added tax.(See Also: 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo D-Zug Projekt Mjølner For Sale) Take a moment to watch this new beast on the Nürburgring in the video below, then browse through our exclusive Porsche 911 listings to find the perfect one for your collection or team.911 Listings Gallery (Source: Porsche) See More Porsche News

By Edward Jones – May 11, 2015

Porsche Donates $500k to Atlanta BeltLine

Now that Porsche has expanded their roots in Atlanta, Georgia with their new headquarters, they are aiming to expand the city even further. Announced in a press release on May 8, the German automaker has donated $500,000 towards the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership.(Related: George Clooney’s Wife, Amal Clooney, Buys Him a Porsche 911 GT3 RS)“On behalf of the Porsche family it is my honor and privilege to extend this donation to the Atlanta BeltLine,” said Dr. Porsche, grandson of the company’s founder, Ferdinand Porsche, during the grand opening evening for the new headquarters. “Atlanta has been our home in the United States since 1998 and we believe in giving back to the community that has given so much to us.”The Atlanta BeltLine is one of the largest redevelopment programs in the United States and looks to change the way transportation is conceived in Atlanta. This project will create public parks, multi-use trails and transportation along a historic 22-mile railroad line. This new use of the railroad will circle downtown and connect distant neighborhoods to each other.See More Porsche NewsIt's nice to see a large automaker such as Porsche give back to the cities they call home. We can't wait to see the Atlanta BeltLine in action next time we're in town.(Source: Porsche) (Image Source: Flickr)

By Andrew Nabors – May 08, 2015

Porsche Opens $100 Million Experience Center and HQ in At...

Stuttgart has arrived in the south! In a press release dated May 7th, Porsche formally announced the opening of their new Experience Center in Atlanta. This $100 million facility is not only the headquarters for Volkswagen Auto Group in the western hemisphere, it also has a world class driver development track and a restaurant.(Related: Porsche 918 Spyder Goes 217 mph in Outback Straight)Situated on 27 acres along Interstate 75, they are estimating annual attendance at or above 30,000 visitors. With a striking post-modern design, the facility at One Porsche Drive will be a must-see destination for all fans of the flat-six. For your next layover in Atlanta, plan some time to check out this stunning new attraction. For more Porsche news, stay tuned to Autofluence.Gallery (Source: Porsche)

By Edward Jones – April 08, 2015

Rare Porsche 918 Delivery at Porsche of Tampa

Recently, at Porsche of Tampa, a very special 918 Spyder was delivered that looks to be the only one of its kind in the United States. The car delivered to the dealership was finished in a gorgeous electric blue paint and includes the Weissach Package.This factory-installed package reduces the car's weight through new brakes, wheels, bolts and more. Additionally, new aerodynamic body pieces are included with the package in an effort to increase downforce and aerodynamics.It is our understanding that this is possibly the only Porsche 918 Spyder with the Weissach Package finished in this color in the United States. This comes as a surprise to us considering how gorgeous this hybrid hypercar is.Check out the gallery below to see the car for yourself.View Dealer InventoryGallery Source:

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