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 Caitlin Duffy – November 09, 2015

1994 Porsche 911 3.6 Turbo S Flatnose For Sale

In 1993, Porsche decided to create a special limited edition of the 911, one to mark the transition from the 993 to the 964 series. It was a quick run - just 93 examples were created worldwide, bringing the 1994 Porsche 911 3.6 Turbo S Flatnose to life. Customers were required to put down a $20,000 deposit with only a picture of a prototype available, but it was worth it. Of those 93, just 39 were crafted for the United States. View Price, Specs and More Photos This particular example is 1 of those 39 - and it's in incredible condition. This model was designed and created by the VRS Department, which currently goes by the name of Porsche Exclusive, and was the last Porsche model to truly be completely, start to finish, crafted by hand. Fully loaded with a 5-speed transmission, sunroof and even the original cellular phone console, you're hard-pressed to find another one of these 911s with every feature. All books are included, as is the original window sticker. Find out more at the button below. Buy Now Gallery

By Caitlin Duffy – October 07, 2015

New Porsche 911 Targa 4 & Carrera 4 Models Introduced

Another round of updates have come to Porsche's most popular model ever, preparing the 911 series for 2016 in a more than proper fashion. The Porsche Cayman GT4. The Cayman GT4 Clubsport will debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. The 911 Targa 4 and Carrera 4 models were fully unveiled to the world today in a press release, video and series of photos posted across Porsche's digital channels, from Facebook, to their online newsroom. The two are touted as being "more efficient and with greater sprinting power," showing further refinement of their turbocharged engines and design. Ride height has been lowered by an additional 10 millimeters and fuel consumption is reduced by up to 12 percent in both the Carrera and the Targa. Despite the decrease, power from the turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine is increased to 370 hp and 331 lb-ft, while the Carrera 4 S and Targa 4 S can each expect 420 hp and 369 lb-ft. With electro-hydraulically controlled all-wheel-drive and the optional PDK and Sport Chrono packages, the Carrera 4 is capable of reaching 62 mph from a standstill in 4.1 seconds, while the Carrera 4 S can reach that speed in 3.8 seconds. The Targa 4 and Targa 4 S can achieve those speeds on 4.3 seconds and 4.0 seconds, respectively. These models will be available to German customers beginning at the end of January 2016, with the following prices set: 911 Carrera 4 | €103,983 ($117,099 USD) 911 Carrera 4S | €118,144 ($133,047 USD) 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet | €117,073 ($131,841 USD) 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet | €131,234 ($147,788 USD) 911 Targa 4 | €117,073 ($131,841 USD) 911 Targa 4S | €131,234 ($147,788 USD) A YouTube video shares insight into the impressive hum of these newly refined engines, while a gallery shared on the marque's Facebook page provides a closer look at the details of the updated Targa 4. Check the video out above and the photos below. Gallery (Source: Porsche, YouTube, Facebook) See More Porsche News

By Andrew Nabors – September 30, 2015

Porsche 930: Raw Power for a 911

In honor of the last day of September, we offer you Porsche’s 930. This is the classic 911 Turbo introduced in 1975 that lasted until 1989. Find your long lost mix tapes for your Blankpunt stereo, and charge your Motorola bag phone, because it's time for a history lesson.In order for Porsche’s flat six cylinder to keep up with its V8 and V12 competitors, experiments in turbocharging began in the late 1960s. To homologate the technology used on their race cars, the 930 featured many changes from the base 911. With over 100 horsepower more than the base model Carreras, they earned a reputation for being too strong for an inexperienced driver to handle.(See Also: Sueprcar Drag Races: Porsche 991 Turbo S vs. Ferrari 458, Lamborghini Huracan & More)Early turbos offered tremendous gains in power, but without computer control, the power arrived all at once. This caused instant wheelspin and made the cars notoriously hard to control. For an additional fee, Porsche offered a “Flachbau” or Slant Nose. Being among the most collectible Porsches of all time, they added pop-up headlights and an aerodynamically optimized the front end.For 1989, the final year of the 930 offered a new 5-speed transmission with closer ratios than those in the obsolete four speed. Without all the modern safety and stability systems, the 930 is a light and powerful car that still scares professional drivers. If you think you are up to the challenge, the 930 has been the backbone of our magazine since 1985. With more variety to choose from than any other source, here is your next car.View All 930 Generation 911s1985 Porsche 911 Turbo Flat Nose Cabriolet $175,000 Buy Now 1988 Porsche 930 $150,000 Buy Now 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo $189,900 Buy Now 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo $195,900 Buy Now 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo RSR/ D-Zug Projekt Mjølner $114,950 Buy Now 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo $199,750 Buy Now 1983 Porsche 911 Turbo $299,750 Buy Now See More Listings For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – September 29, 2015

Supercar Drag Races: Porsche 991 Turbo S vs. Ferrari 458,...

It may have been a grey day with a significantly slick track of asphalt, but that couldn't stop these supercar owners from taking their cars and testing them against any and all contenders who were up for the challenge.Porsche 911 Turbo For SaleFerrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, even Nissan and Chevrolet - nearly all of the major manufacturers had at least one representative out for this day of races, and JWT Supercars was on hand to capture the action and share it on YouTube. Uploaded today, his video shows us the prep room, a few quick races and then a Porsche 911 ending its day with a launch down a tree-lined road. Each race saw either a 991 Turbo S or 991 Turbo S Cabrioelt up against one contender or another, and in most all cases except for a few, Stuttgart's engineering comes out on top. Check out the video above to see which cars took down the 911's 991 generation, and find your own 911 from our exclusive listings below. Porsche 911 Turbo S For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News

By Edward Jones – September 28, 2015

2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Trio at The Auto Gallery

Last week, on Sept. 23, The Auto Gallery in Woodlands Hills, California had the pleasure of presenting three 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS' to the public.The cars were finished in Lava Orange, Ultraviolet and White. Unfortunately, each was already sold, but even though they were already spoken for, The Auto Gallery invited the public to see the three together in their showroom. What they were offering was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see three brand new 911 GT3 RS' of different colors in the same place.Housing a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine, this track-ready sports car packs 500 hp and 338 lb-ft of torque. This is enough juice to get the car from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. It can also run a quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds.Dealer InventoryGallery

By Edward Jones – September 28, 2015

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Rennsport Reunion Edition Debuted

The Rennsport Reunion is an event that gathers the most prolific Porsche race cars, drivers and collector cars. Hosted by Porsche Cars North America, this is the event to attend if you are a true Porsche fan. And, to give the attendees/fans a special treat, the German automaker unveiled the special Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Rennsport Reunion Edition at the event and in a Sept. 25 press release.This model honors the fifth Rennsport Reunion, held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Only 25 examples will be created by Porsche Exclusive, who built the edition around the 911 Carrera GTS.(See Also: Porsche 917 Goes Flat Out, Prepares for Rennsport Reunion V)Porsche Exclusive finished the car in a custom "Fashion Grey" color, which is contrasted by black and red decals. They have also installed high-gloss black 20-inch Sport Classic wheels. Inside the cabin is a dashboard with carbon fiber trimming, along with Carmin Red stitching on the upholstery.To signify the car's limited edition status are the illuminated door-sill guards, an embossed Rennsport Reunion V logo on the center compartment lid and a key pouch with "911 Carrera GTS Rennsport Reunion Edition" lettering.A 3.8-liter flat-six engine creates 430 hp for the car, which is mated to a manual transmission. Yes, Porsche offers this car exclusively with a manual transmission, and I couldn't be happier about this. The car is capable of a 0-60 mph time of just 4.2 seconds and will top out at 190 mph.It's available now and comes with a $148,335 price tag, not including the $995 destination charge.911 Carrera GTS Listings Gallery (Source: Porsche Cars North America) See More Porsche News, Pics and Videos

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By Caitlin Duffy – September 28, 2015

One-Off Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet by Jonathan Matas...

There are many things that make the Porsche 911 Carrera S a desirable car, but few have ever guaranteed that you'll help a charity when you purchase it, and fewer still have done that while being completely aesthetically unique. This particular 2007 911 Carrera S Cabriolet is just that - something that will help a cause, and a moving work of art. Jonathan Matas, an artist from Northern California popular among residents of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, named it the "Document of Energy: The immeasurable display of Phenomena" after spending some time on its exterior."Matas' artwork is inspired by his meditation practice and often has themes highlighting the ever changing boundaries between what is real and what is illusory," describes the website explaining how the car came to be, "hinting at the processes through which humans give the world meaning and reality's ultimately non-dualistic nature."The car's owner first came to Matas, who's work includes murals throughout California and Mark Zuckerburg's laptop cover, to purchase a painting. He arrived in the 911, and though he didn't have a painting when he left, the two had a plan - Matas would paint the exterior of the Porsche and the two would sell it together. Upon its sale, 50 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Watsi, an organization that connects donors directly to patients in need of funding for life changing healthcare.Check out the creation of this unique vehicle in the video above, added to YouTube by Matas 911 Sept. 19, and learn how you can make this Carrera yours at the button below.Buy NowGallery See More Cars For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – September 08, 2015

2017 Porsche 911 Carrera & Carrera S Unveiled

Porsche's longest running model is back for 2017, and ahead of its full debut at the Frankfurt International Auto Show, the complete details have been released to the public.Both the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S, as well as the Cabriolet versions of each, see some impressive performance upgrades in their new forms. As a Sept. 6 press release from Porsche shared, these improvements resulted into a full 10 second improvement in the Carrera S' Nürburgring lap time on the North Loop, knocking it down to just 7 minutes and 30 seconds.Power is increased to 370 hp and 331 lb-ft for the Carrera and 420 hp and 368 lb-ft for the Carrera S. Each uses a 3.0-liter flat six engine assisted by two turbochargers, and with these new power numbers, performance numbers are improved as well. Top speeds of 183 and 191 mph are reached in the Carrera and Carrera S, respectively, making for an insane day at the track.With launch control, the Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK) and the Sport Chrono Package, 0-62 is achieved rather quickly. The 911 Carrera finishes in 4.0 seconds flat, while the Carrera S takes only 3.7 seconds; each is a full .2 second improvement over the previous generation's times.Of course, the performance improvements are just the beginning of the 2017 models' updates. The Porsche Communication Management System (PCM) controlling infotainment offers online navigation and WiFi connectivity. Apple and Google both have a strong presence in the center console as well, with Apple CarPlay connecting iPhones to the vehicle and Google Earth and Google Streetview helping with real time traffic updates and navigation.Those who are interested in making one of the 2017 911 Carrera models a part of their driving routine won't have long to wait. Ordering is set to begin in March 2016, and US pricing is set at $89,400 for the 911 Carrera, $101,700 for the 911 Carrera Cabriolet, $103,400 for the 911 Carrera S and $115,700 for the Carrera S Cabriolet.Check out the photos of these new models in the gallery below and listen to their refined engines in the videos above, added to YouTube by Porsche today and Sept. 7. Be sure to check out some of the 911 Carrera's predecessors from our exclusive listings if you can't quite wait until March to get your hands on one.911 Carreras For SaleGallery (Source: Porsche) See More Porsche News

By Caitlin Duffy – August 11, 2015

1,200 hp Porsche 911 Turbo Takes No Prisoners at the Drag...

The Porsche 911 on its own is a beast. A Porsche 911 Turbo with two 86-mm turbochargers pushing its output to 1,200 hp is insane.But that's exactly what Todd Nall drives.A video added to YouTube Aug. 8 by 1320video takes a look at Nall's Blackhorse Porsche Turbo as it prepared to take on quite a few other turbocharged cars. The Texas Invitaitonal's 175 mph Trap Attack event closed down a drag strip and gave Nall and others a chance to show everything their cars have.Nall is a veteran driver at the Texas Invitational events, and as the video's caption tells us, that fact is made very clear through watching him take on the competition. Check out the video above, and find your own Porsche 911 Turbo from our exclusive listings below. Porsche 911 Turbo For Sale (Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News

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By Caitlin Duffy – August 04, 2015

Porsche 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Mayfair Edition

Porsche Exclusive has crafted another stunning car to commemorate a highlight of automotive history: the Porsche 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Mayfair Edition.A video shared by Porsche today shares a look back at the Targa Florio, the original and legendary Sicilian endurance race that lends its name to this 911. A course that stretched nearly 45 miles and had 800 turns, the Targa Florio ran outside of Palermo, just south of Cefalu, from 1906 to 1977. By the time the last Targa Florio occurred, Porsche had claimed 11 wins, and those winning cars are what they looked to with this exclusive edition."It's not only the DNA of Targa Florio that runs in this car, but the DNA of an iconic car, the 911 Targa," describes Nick Wilson of Porsche Cars Great Britain in the video. They'll only be making 10 of these models, and the owner of the first one created, Ted Schama, explains in the video why he jumped on the opportunity.(See Also: Top Porsche 918 Spyder Colors)Turbocharged with the same houndstooth pattern found on the seats of the first 911s, this Porsche Exclusive creation is full of history. Learn more in the video above, and find your own 911 Targa from our exclusive listings below.911 Targa 4S Listings (Source: YouTube) See More Porsche News

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