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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 – March 27, 2018

2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T Exhaust Symphony

Let's face it: some cars just sound terrible. Porsche engineers know this, so they decided to tune the 911 Carrera T to sing like nothing else on the road. Going back to basics, the Carrera T uses lightweight parts from the GT series cars along with less insulation. The result is a curb weight of 3,142 lbs if you opt for the manual transmission. Porsche Unveils the 911 Carrera T: The Lightest 911 Carrera Engineers in Stuttgart fired up several vintage Porsches to study their exhaust notes. The result is a tuned system that sounds and performs better than anything the aftermarket can offer. A tuned manifold has unequal length tubes coming from each cylinder. This might seem counterintuitive but the length is based on the engine's firing order. each exhaust pulse arrives at the muffler just in time to suck the next one down the pipes. 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T: Fun Is Not Optional This scavenging effect offers loads of torque across the RPM range, and smiles per gallon. Starting at only $102,100, this 370 hp 911 is a throwback to cars like the 964 and the 930. Our friends at AutoTop NL seem to get all the hottest cars before they reach the US, so turn up the volume for this HD footage of Porsche's latest achievement. If you are interested, click the link to find our dealer nearest you and tell us what you think of the audio in the comments below.

By Edward Jones – March 23, 2018

New Porsche 911 GT3 RS Goes Wild in New Video

The new 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was revealed in February 2018 as a new and improved version of the sports car/race car cross-breed. With 520 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque, it outpowers the outgoing generation in both stats. Also, the new GT3 RS is 0.2 quicker when it comes to a 0-60 mph sprint and can accomplish it in 3.2 seconds.Porsche has only just unveiled the new model, so nobody has really had a chance to see it on the road just yet. Thankfully, Porsche has released a new video that shows the new 911 GT3 RS ripping around a track. In the video we can hear the four-liter naturally aspirated engine hit high revs and scream through the exhaust. Click play below to hear it for yourself.Porsche Employees Get Massive Bonus

By Edward Jones – February 22, 2018

2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Color Options

Porsche has officially released the new 2019 GT3 RS, an updated version of the outgoing model that sees better performance, updated visuals and more power. It comes packing 520 horsepower, 346 lb-ft of torque and 0 to 60 mph time of just 3 seconds. Those numbers are great and all, but how good does it look in different colors? Thanks to the dream-granters at Porsche, we already have a configurator that shows off the many options available for the new sports car. Below are all of the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS color options that are currently available. Is there one you like the most? A color you think is missing? Let me know in the comments below! Personally, I'm a fan of Miami Blue. View the Complete 911 GT3 RS Specs & Prices 2019 911 GT3 RS Special Colors Chalk Lava Orange Miami Blue Lizard Green 2019 911 GT3 RS Standard Colors Black White Guards Red Racing Yellow 2019 911 GT3 RS Metallic Colors GT Silver Metallic

By Edward Jones – December 13, 2017

Porsche Museum Shows Off Their Oldest 911 for 1st Time

The Porsche Museum is finally showing off their oldest 911 model after three years of restoration. This specific red 911 coupe was built back in October 1964 and was one of the first series-production models.2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring vs 911RHow did the Porsche Museum acquire this car? It's actually a pretty wild story. Back in 2014, a TV team came upon two 911s that were from the 1960s. They soon contacted the Porsche Museum who then informed them that one of them (chassis 300.057) was built as a 901, the model designation given before it changed over to 911. The Porsche Museum then purchased both 911s and went on to restore chassis 300.057 and are now unveiling it at the their special exhibition called "911 (901 No. 57) - A legend takes off." This exhibition will run from December 14, 2017 to April 8, 2018.Before After

By Andrew Nabors – December 08, 2017

2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring vs 911R

Everyone is raving about the incredible power of the new Porsche 911 GT2 RS. The notion of a twin turbo 3.8-liter making 700 horsepower is making speculators giddy at the notion of fast profits on the upcoming model. But another 911 was released alongside it at the Frankfurt auto show in September. The New Porsche 911 GT2 RS Has Smashed the Nurburgring Record The latest GT3 is not an RS, so it does away with the wide body and the obscene aerodynamics. Under the hood is the same 500 horsepower engine shared with the RS and another famous model, the 911R. It was the Porsche made famous by combining big power with a manual transmission. Collectors scrambled to get their hands on them, and a quick glance at their resale prices reflects the limited production numbers. Because the press has been crying about the death of the manual transmission, Porsche has introduced the Carrera T to make driving great again. But we wondered what other 911 models offered a stick shift. Hidden in plain sight is a Touring Package for the GT3. It offers classy exterior upgrades, and the interior has the GT seats, navigation, and A/C. That's where we stopped...the shifter is not the familiar PDK, it is manual. The 911 GT3 Touring is only available as a stick shift.... So what we have is essentially the same formula as the 991R for a new generation. That is because the 911R was built on the last examples of the 991.1 chassis. On the outside, you notice small details like headlights and turn signals, but the big differences are in the structure itself. To build a stronger foundation, engineers started with a clean sheet and built a car very close in dimensions to its predecessor. The new car is longer and wider, but you won't notice until they are side-by-side. The purpose of the update was to increase the performance of the chassis and decrease unwanted NVH (noise vibration harshness), which is a bragging point among automakers. Why You Should Buy A Porsche 911R The GT3 Touring is appealing because it is the new kid on the block, but the 911R is something more. It was built to evoke the memories of the Tour de France races from the late 60's. Only 991 examples were produced, and each one had a retro-inspired interior along with comfortable suspension. Porsche will build as many GT3s as the market will bear, each one with a track-ready demeanor. It will also have to fight for attention among all the other GT variants of the 911. So from a collectibility standpoint, the 911R is our choice for an investment. If you are in the market for a manual transmission 911, you have several flavors to choose from, so click the link below to find one that is right for you. As always, stay with us for all your 911 news & reviews. All 911R For Sale All 911 GT3 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – December 06, 2017

2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T: Less Is More

As we look back on 2017, it seems that almost every car has grown in size and in amenities. That's why we applaud Porshe for going against the grain. The new 911 Carrera T is a throwback to a simpler time. Petrolicious decided it was worthy of a film so they interviewed the father & son team at CPR Classics. Porsche Unveils the 911 Carrera T: The Lightest 911 Carrera Porsche North America allowed them to experience the new model, and the similarities are shocking. It has been a half-century since the original T, which launched as a no-frills base model with a more attainable retail price. For 2018, the Carrera T uses the same 3.0 liter twin-turbo engine as the normal Carrera along with a nice drop in weight. Aimed at Porsche purists, all non-essential junk was eliminated to achieve a curb weight of 3,135 lbs. With 370 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque on tap, it will have a better power-weight ratio than a nitrous'ed go-kart. With a price expected to start just over $100,000, it will be a nice driver for those of us who can't exactly afford the 911.R. It is sure to be a hit, so stay with us for all your Porsche updates. Browse Porsche 911 For Sale

By Edward Jones – November 28, 2017

Guy Rebuilds Dream Porsche in Garage in 4 Minutes

The project car is a mystifying thing. Some can take days, weeks, months, or even years to finish (the latter is usually the case). For Jeff of the YouTube channel Home Built By Jeff, his project car was a Porsche 911 RSR. While the title says it took him only four minutes to complete the rebuild, that's only because the video he posted is sped up and serves as a timelapse of the project. In reality, it took him 18 months to complete. Check Out: Porsche Unveils Four New Models At LA Auto Show Would we really want to sit around and watch him rebuild his car in real-time? Most likely, yes, actually. Speaking of that, there should be a streaming service just for project car build where you can talk to the mechanic and give them tips. Anyways, the video below shows Jeff turning a beat-up Porsche into a gorgeous one-of-a-kind project car that is undeniably stunning. Click play to see it for yourself-- remember, it's only four minutes long!View All Porsche 911s for Sale

By Edward Jones – November 10, 2017

Hitting 221 mph in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS on the Autobahn

The Autobahn is consistently used as a testing ground for the power of cars and the constitution of drivers. However, it's also used as a normal road more, so drivers have to be sure that they know the rules of this road and its intricacies. YouTube channel sport auto took a new Porsche 911 GT2 RS out for a high-speed run on the Autobahn, testing the car's capabilities. The result was a top speed of 221 mph, which is higher than the top speed that Porsche has stated (see below). Click play to see what it's like to run over 200 mph in a Porsche on the Autobahn.♦ Price: $293,200♦ Engine: Twin-Turbo 3.8-liter flat-six♦ Horsepower: 700♦ Torque: 553 lb-ft♦ 0-60: 2.7 seconds♦ Top Speed: 211 mph♦ Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch

By Andrew Nabors – October 23, 2017

Porsche Unveils the 911 Carrera T: The Lightest 911 Carrera

In the center of our showroom is a gorgeous classic 911 Targa. It is a flat-six engine with leather seats and an Alpine radio. If you thought Porsche was done with building the perfect driving car, think again. Listening to customer demands, the 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T for sale is built for touring in style. Starting with a manual transmission, it is the first Carrera to have full-size bucket seats from the upper-level models. Weight was a priority for the brand, so the rear seats are optional and sound insulation is not. The manual transmission has a short shifter for easy throws, and rear-steering will hold you deep in the corners. The differential was also bumped up a few points and given a lock. It allows the 370 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque to shoot you to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. The PDK does it in 4.0 flat, but automatics are boring. The perfectly matched turbos allow the torque to be available from 1,750 to 5,000- fun in any situation! Door panels are straight from the GT series, with pull straps in lieu of handles. The press release shows a storage bin where the radio should be, but hopefully, some sound system is optional. It is a faithful homage to the original 911 T which launched 50 years ago. If you like the idea of a 3,142 lb Carrera, it should arrive by March with a starting price of $102,100. It will probably be a limited production series, so click the link below to contact your local dealer and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Search Porsche 911 For Sale

By Edward Jones – September 27, 2017

The New Porsche 911 GT2 RS Has Smashed the Nurburgring Re...

You read the title correctly: the 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS is now the fastest road-going car around the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.See the On-Board Video of the Record Lap BelowWhen putting together our 2018 Exotic Car Buyer's Guide issue, we had an internal discussion about what car should be the "Track Car of the Year." I opted for the Lamborghini Huracan Performante, considering it was the fastest car around the Nurburgring. One employee, we'll call him Nick because that's his real name, kept on saying it needed to be the new GT2 RS. Nick insisted that the GT2 RS could be the Performante around Nurburgring.Well, here we are with an official release from Porsche saying that the 2018 911 GT2 RS has completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife in just 6 minutes and 47.2 seconds. That's just under 5 seconds quicker than the Performante (6:52.01). What's more, Porsche ran the circuit with two different cars and two different drivers, and each lap was consistent with the last. Eugen Oberkamm (Director Motorsport – Development Complete Vehicle), Andreas Preuninger (Director GT Model Line), Lars Kern (Porsche Test Driver) and Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser (Vice President Motorsport and GT-Cars) after the record lap at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.Congratulations to Porsche and the drivers, Lars Kern and Nick Tandy.P.S. - We picked the right car for "Track Car of the Year," and I admit I was wrong. But I couldn't be more happy with being wrong.

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