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 Andrew Nabors – June 04, 2020

Porsche Celebrates 50th Anniversary of LeMans Win

Porsche and LeMans are inseparable. Since the 356 made its world debut in 1951, class victories were commonplace. It took nearly two decades to reach the top, and next weekend marks half a century since their first Overall Victory. Chief Engineer Norbert Singer was given a blank check to take on the world, and his 917KH set a precedent for all future Porsche supercars. To remind everyone what they are capable of, the race-winning car is being dusted off and treated to a tune up. The Porsche Museum will have it front and center for the weekend of June 13th. Car #23 was driven 343 laps and 2,863 miles by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood. The Porsche 917 series went on to dominate tracks around the world with factory teams and privateers, and it inspired the wild 959, Carrera GT, and the 918 Spyder. Cick the button below to experience Porsche's latest supercar for yourself and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche 918 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – September 20, 2019

Porsche 918 Weissach for Sale at Braman Porsche

If a perfect Porsche exists, it is in West Palm Beach. Our friends at Braman Porsche led the nation in sales of the Porsche 918, and their inventory speaks for itself. Not just in new cars, but pristine pre-owned examples that will leave you speechless. Such is the case with this 918 Spyder. Whoever ordered knew all the right boxes to check. View Price & Specs Starting with the most obvious, it has the Weissach package. This one option was $84,000, and it trades steel and aluminum for titanium in the chassis connections. It is 90 lbs lighter than other 918 Spyders, even with the additional carbon fiber spoilers. This car is #438 of 918, and that is reflected on the build plate and on the speedometer when started. No expense was spared, as the cup holder and fire extinguisher are both onboard. This car is among the most well-equipped examples we have seen on the market, so the price is only going to go up from here. Standard equipment includes 887 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of torque from a 4.6 liter V8 and a 6.8 kWh hybrid system. An electric motor powers the front wheels and charges the battery when braking. Porsche claims 12 miles of electric range, but it can go further in silent mode if you are careful on the throttle. When the V8 awakens you will reach 60 mph in 2.2 seconds, and 180 mph in 17.5. Click the button above for all the details, and stay with us for more amazing Porsches from Braman Motors. All images (C) Braman Motors

By Andrew Nabors – September 17, 2019

Porsche 918 vs Bugatti Chiron & McLaren 720S in Switzerland

Racing at high altitude was once a fool's errand. Before hybrids and modern turbos, the carburetor was the great equalizer of such events. Even Ferdinand Porsche supercharged his Volkswagen Beetle to travel between his home in Austria & the factory in Stuttgart. So we think he would be happy to see a Porsche 918 & Bugatti Chiron take on a McLaren 720S in Switzerland. Browse Hypercars for Sale Andermatt is a village surrounded on 3 sides by vertical walls of granite. With a mean altitude around 5,000 feet, the turbocharger and hybrid systems are almost more important than the gasoline that powers them. As you might know, the Porsche 918 and the Bugatti Chiron represent the engineering ambitions of the Volkswagen Group. How do they compare to an intrepid English supercar? The McLaren 720S can hold its own against most production cars, so tell us which one you would drive in the comments below. " width="680"> Related: Porsche 918 Spyder Price, Specs, Photos & Review Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ Limited to 30 Examples

By Andrew Nabors – June 13, 2019

Porsche 918 Spyder: Weissach Package Explained

The Porsche 918 Spyder made history with its lap around the legendary Nürburgring track. Equipped with only a skilled driver and the Weissach Package, it etched in a jaw-dropping time of 6 minutes 57 seconds. It set a new record for street-legal cars while setting the bar for the upcoming McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari. Luckily for all of us automotive aficionados, the 918 Spyder is now available to the public with the Weissach Package. The 918 is the Frankenstein monster of Porsches. It is the first of the known “big three” hybrid supercars to surface on the market, and it easily impressed the world with its technology. Two electric motors pair up with a 4.6-liter V8, and together they produce 887 horsepower. This power projects the hybrid from 0-60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, and from 0-100 mph in a knuckle-whitening 4.9 seconds. Source: Porsche Cars North America The combination of strength and electrical power bring forth a racecar that could convince spectators it was built from nine separate machines and a bolt of lightning. The most challenging racetracks in the world become a work of ease even for the inexperienced driver as the 918 dominates every corner and hurls down the straightaways. However, understanding the supercar may have you a bit baffled. Many wondered, “How did they create a hybrid faster than a traditional supercar?” The answer is in the motors; one electric motor is fixed comfortably on the front axle, producing 129 horsepower, and another electric motor on the rear axle adds an additional 156 horsepower. This gives the driver impeccable control over acceleration and perfectly balanced power to all four wheels. In plain terms, you will never lose power, even when the V8 engine is at low idle. The energy is propelled directly to the wheels, projecting the 918 gracefully around every corner. The V8 engine is another story. Porsche created a powerhouse that could sustain high-rev output like an F1 racecar without compromising street-legality guidelines. Source: Porsche Cars North America READ: PORSCHE 918 SPYDER SPECS, PRICES, PHOTOS & REVIEW The high-revving engine weighs in at a low 300 pounds and is positioned low on the chassis for a precise center of gravity. The dry-sump lubrication with a separate oil tank, aluminum pumps, and titanium connecting rods equal an even lighter ride, sparing no expense for performance. Inside of the hybrid, you will find a clean-cut cabin completely designed for keeping your attention forward. Every detail of the 918 cabin offers superb quality. The driver is gifted with a multifunction steering wheel, a center console with a seven-inch display, and a Porsche application for your smartphone that tracks information relevant to your next drive, including the battery charge. After bringing so much to the table, the world couldn’t envision the possibility of Porsche having anything additional to offer. That’s when they announced that the Weissach Package would be made available for the 918 Spyder, making the legendary Nürburgring track performance available to consumers. The Weissach Package is a weight-reducing package that shaves off 90 pounds to bring the total weight of the supercar to 3,602 pounds. This makes it 0.1 seconds faster from 0-60 mph, even quicker than the Ferrari LaFerrari. The top speed is still electronically controlled at 214 mph, but that’s okay; this is a monster built for conquering the loops and curves of a track, not for running in straight lines. The 918 Spyder with the Weissach Package is, without a doubt, the most brilliant machine to ever leave Germany. Sell My Porsche 918: Get a Cash Offer All Porsche 918 For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – December 11, 2018

Fastest Porsche: Which Model Is It?

You have to admit Porsche's marketing staff gets it right. Their Top 5 series is among the best automotive content ever created. In this week's upload, we found a heavy-hitting email in our inbox. Their press release compiled the fastest Porsche production models of all time, so let's see how they rank. 5. 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S. What can be better than a twin-turbo 580 horsepower 911? If you weren't lucky enough to get the 607 hp Exclusive Series 911 Turbo S, you will have 580 horsepower to all wheels. 0 to 60 mph: 2.8 seconds. Top Speed: 205 mph. 4. Porsche Carrera GT Having a reputation as unforgiving, the Carrera GT is a brutal F1 car for the street. The carbon ceramic clutch is basically an on/off switch. You will stall it out a few times at the beginning, ask me how I know. But once you are moving, the beechwood shifter and the carbon fiber chassis are still on-par with current supercars. 0 to 60 mph: 3.5 seconds. Top Speed: 207 mph. 3. Porsche 959 S To silence every critic, Porsche decided to build the world's first supercar. Fitted with a twin-turbo flat-six and AWD, it set the course for the 911 Turbo that continues to this day. 0 to 60 mph: ~3.7 seconds. Top Speed: ~211 mph. 2. 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS If you don't respect it, you shouldn't drive it. The GT2 RS is not simply a Rear-Wheel drive version of the 911 Turbo S. It is a lightweight race car that brought the Nurburgring record back home. It was developed in secret at the Weissach engineering center. It offers 700 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. 0 to 60 mph: 2.6 seconds. Top Speed: 211 mph. 1.Porsche 918 Spyder By combining a monster V8 with 2 electric motor-generators, the Porsche 918 Spyder will reign supreme for a long time. It offers 887 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of torque. The front wheels have their own electric motor which is rated at 127 horsepower. The factory claims 12 miles of electric cruising, but we have observed much more as long as you stay conservative with the throttle. 0 to 60 mph: 2.5 seconds. Top Speed: 214 mph. Tell us which one you would drive in the comments below and stay with us for all your Porsche news. View All Porsche For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – December 04, 2018

Top 5 Most Expensive Porsches Ever Sold

December is a time for spreading cheer and celebrating the year with friends and family. But for us it means a new season of Porsche Top 5! This YouTube series is simply the best automotive entertainment on the internet. The first episode for the 2019 model year was uploaded a few minutes ago and it describes their most coveted models. The 917 Spyder from 1973 used a flat twelve and massive turbos to make 1,200 horsepower. Mark Donohue drove the Can-Am beast to victory and it sold for $3 Million. Porsche's first race car has been immortalized by winning the 1956 Targa Florio with only 30 horsepower from a 1.5-liter engine. An original 550A Spyder is worth $5.1 Million. View the Most Expensive Cars Ever Made In order to compete in the 1997 GT1 season, Porsche was mandated to build 20 street-legal (Strassenversion) examples of the 911 GT1. These 600 horsepower monsters are the first water-cooled examples and are worth $5.6 Million. To win LeMans in 1983, Derek Bell hit speeds over 225 mph. That is why they sell for $10 Million. Finally, the Porsche 917K was the star the movie LeMans, and it's Mezger V12 has a 630 horsepower soundtrack. Finished in iconic Gulf Livery, it sold for $14.8 Million dollars. Tell us your favorite Porsche race car in the comments below and click the link to find your 918 Spyder! View All Porsche 918 Spyder For Sale

By Caitlin Duffy – October 16, 2018

Top Porsche 918 Spyder Colors

It's been around two years since Porsche's hybrid supercar was unleashed on the world, and in that time, owners of the model have shown no lack of creativity. There are plenty of 918 Spyder color choices available, making it hard to find two that are completely alike.From multi-colored liveries to solid blocks of bright color, the variety of choices for exterior colors is just as diverse as the people who drive these stunning cars. Below are ten of our favorite color schemes to wind up adorning a 918 so far. Vote for your favorite in the poll at the bottom, or let us know in the comments if you've seen one with a more stunning shade.DON'T MISS: PORSCHE 918 SPYDER PRICE & SPECS Dark Blue Metallic Photo by Lamborghini La Jolla Red Photo by Hypercars (Tristan Munck Photography) Orange Photo by David Coyne Photography Yellow Photo via Elero Automotive Photography Gold World's First Gold 918 Spyder by MyCarJeddah Lime Green Photo by Thomas S Photos Electric Blue Photo by Chris Thornton for Porsche of Tampa Dark Blue Photo by JW Photos Black with Green Accents Photo by Tstoff Photography White with Red Accents Found at Miller Motorcars Paint-to-Sample Grey Black with accents in Guards Red Found at Merit Partners Salzburg Racing Livery Found at Prestige Imports Black Found at Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Maserati and Rolls-Royce of Chicago Black Martini Livery Found at CNC Motors White Martini Livery Found at Fort Lauderdale Collection South White Photo by Arnoud Wilbrink Photography See More Top Lists

By Andrew Nabors – May 29, 2018

Porsche 919 Tribute Tour: 956 & 919 At The 'Ring

It has been 35 years since the Porsche 956 broke the lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Norbert Singer was tasked with winning the FIA World Championship, so he shocked everyone in 1982. The 956 was a Group C competitor that turned in the fastest time at Germany's famous track.Singer Vehicle Design Joins Forces With Williams For New PowerTo show us just how far they've come, the 956 was joined by a 919 Hybrid Evo to celebrate the successes of both cars. The 919 Hybrid has been retired, so Porsche is taking it on a world tour for all to see. Their first stop was Manhattan, the site of the first Porsche dealer in the Western Hemisphere. Then it was on to Spa, a track where Porsche has dominated for decades.Uploaded in a YouTube video last night, it was a return to Castle Nürburg to see these legends in action. The 956 is powered by a 2.65 liter flat-6 with enough turbo boost to make 635 horsepower. Essentially it was a Porsche 930 engine tuned for Indianapolis.Porsche 930: Raw Power for a 911The 919 Hybrid uses an even smaller 2.0 liter V4 (also turbocharged), but it has an advanced hybrid energy storage system. Both cars represent the state of the art of their era, so it makes us wonder what's coming next. Of course, the closest we will ever get to driving a 919 Hybrid is the Porsche 918 Spyder, so click the link below to find yours and stay with us for all your Porsche updates.Browse Porsche 918 Spyder For Sale

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – July 22, 2016

Only Carbon Exposed Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach in the U....

The Porsche 918 Spyder stands apart as an automotive masterpiece thanks to its seamless merge of race-car performance and environmentally friendly fuel economy. Add the highly sought after Weissach package and an exposed carbon finish, and this 918 becomes one of the most exclusive available.In fact, this particular Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach is the only example without paint available in the United States. Instead, the car is fashioned in a matte black, factory wrap which allows the carbon fiber elements to shine through. Just as impressive as the finish are the specifications. The $84,000 Weissach Package consists of a multitude of deletions and substitutions that remove a total 90 pounds of weight from the vehicle.The Porsche 918 Spyder features a plug-in hybrid rocket that utilizes a bespoke 608-horsepower 4.6-liter direct fuel injected V-8 engine, which pushes 887 total horsepower with the ability to reach speeds of 217 mph. Sail from 0-60 mph in a mere 2.5 seconds, all while maintaining an unprecedented fuel range of 67 miles to the gallon.As if these features weren't enough, this particular 918 comes equipped with a Burmester High-End Surround Sound System, 2-zone climate control, Porsche Universal Charger, 25-foot vehicle cable, a set of Schroth Racing Belts and Porsche duffle bag. For the discerning collector looking to add a true masterpiece to his collection, the Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach fits the bill.The Porsche 918 Spyder is offered by Mecum Auctions and will be available at the Monterey event located at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in gorgeous Monterey, California on August 18-20, 2016 at Lot S112. Click here to learn more.Learn More

By Andrew Nabors – December 08, 2015

Porsche 918 Spyder: One-of-a-kind Twin to the World Recor...

During the morning of September 4, 2013, Marc Lieb piloted a Porsche 918 Spyder around Nurburgring and recorded the circuit's new record lap time of 6'57". The car he drove had exposed carbon fiber instead of a paint finish, with a wrap applied on top, which offered weight savings and a spectacular exterior.Today, CNC Motors of Ontario, California, has the twin to that record-breaking car up for sale.At first glance we were taken aback by the matte black wrap. Then we learned this car was ordered sans pigment, like the record car, and a wrap was applied at the factory to protect the bare carbon fiber. The result is weight savings of 14 lbs when compared to a painted Spyder. To shed pounds even further, the car was ordered with nomex-covered racing seats and the Weissach Package.The focus of the Weissach package was weight reduction, and it makes use of titanium and ceramics to replace traditional alloys to create a curb weight just over 3,600 lbs.This car was also tested by none other than Hurley Haywood, American's most famous automotive endurance racer. Mr. Haywood can attest that this car is the real deal, and it needs a new home.For more info, including price, click the button below.View Listing and Price Gallery

Porsche News

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe