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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 – May 31, 2018

Porsche Hints At New Front Engine Sports Car

Sales of the Porsche 911 were booming in the early '70s, but the boss had always longed for a proper Grand Touring car. Ferdinand Porsche assembled a team to study the idea of building a balanced coupe with the engine mounted up front. This would be a first for the brand, so they decided to tell us how the Porsche 928 was born in a press release.To achieve perfect weight distribution, engineers decided the 4.5 liter V8 would be balanced by mounting the transmission at the rear. Combining the differential with the transmission, the innovation was known as the Weissach Axle. The rear suspension geometry was so ahead of its time, that Porsche Suspension Manager Manfred Harrer said it is a "revolution in suspension that’s still the basis of our work today". The Panamera uses the same configuration. The engine and transmission were connected by a torque tube. This rigid structure housed the driveshaft and also formed the basis of a solid chassis. While Porsche claims the 928 was the first car to have this style of drivetrain, they seem to have overlooked the 1961 Pontiac Tempest. Photo credit GM & Motor Trend (May 1961 issue)John DeLorean was Pontiac's Chief Engineer and he designed the first production car with a rear-mounted transmission. Instead of a solid driveshaft, he used a torsion bar that stored energy between the engine and the gearbox. This car was so far ahead of its time, it has handling comparable to modern cars. We'll cover it another day. When GM found out what he was doing, the first-gen Tempest was seen as too expensive and it was canned in 1963.When John DeLorean Ruled the StreetsPorsche did unveil a host of new technology on the 928. The first prototypes suffered from snap-oversteer if you let off the gas pedal while cornering. To solve this, they developed progressive rate bushings. They are now standard across the automotive industry, but it allowed the 928's rear wheels to keep their composure in all situations.Lamborghini Marzal in Public for 1st Time Since 1967This has saved countless lives over the last 40 years. It even gave the axle its own acronym based on the Weissach development center. They named the axle: Winkel einstellende, Selbst stabilisierende Ausgleichs-Charakteristik (angle-adjusting, self-stabilizing equalization characteristic). So why is Porsche reminding us of something 4 decades old? Perhaps it is the same reason their cousins at Lamborghini keep reminding us of the Espada. Something amazing is in the works, and it will be a potent front engine-rear transaxle GT car. Tell us what you think it will be in the comments below and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Browse Porsche 928 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 31, 2018

Porsche Embraces Japan's Songs of the Road

If you happen to drive a Porsche 718 Cayman to the Observatory in Takayama Japan, don't be surprised by the familiar tunes coming from your tires. In a Porsche press release, they investigate the social impact of this unique program.Sell Your Exotic Car with duPont REGISTRYMusical roads are nothing new, but Civil Engineer Shizuo Shinoda discovered they had many benefits. On the northern island of Hokkaido, tractors and farm implements damaged his drive to work, and the ruts reminded him of a familiar tune. So he began working with the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute to study further uses for musical asphalt.The first observation is that drivers simply enjoy the melodies. Several roads in Gunma Prefecture have famous tunes. From "When you wish upon a star" to "Take me home, country roads", are joined by many traditional Japanese tunes. The real genius is that the songs are only played in the correct key if you are driving the speed limit.Another noted effect is keeping drivers alert. This has led to more ambitious projects like a road in Akitakata. Driving there, your right tires play the rhythm while your lefts play the chorus. Properly tuning the roads has been an advunture unto itself. Residents of Kita-Karuizawa complained in July of 2012 that the tunes could be heard for almost 1/3 of a mile.There is probably more to this story, perhaps the melodies won't play on American or Italian rubber. Nitto and Toyo are both excellent brands so it could be time for an upgrade. If you want to test this for yourself, the 718 Cayman would be the most fun, as the firm suspension bushings will allow the sounds to enter the cabin. But if you are like us, the throaty exhaust might cause us to exceed the 40 kmh speed limit. Some songs are better in fast forward, so tell us what you would drive in the comments below.Browse Porsche 718 Cayman For Sale P.S. Florida's roads are designed to sound and feel like the Western Front, which might account for some of the road rage.

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 Andrew Nabors – May 25, 2018

Porsche Explains the Lizard Green Paint on the 911 GT3 RS

No decision is arbitrary when it comes to Porsche's pride & joy. Even the smallest change invokes a discussion amongst the management, so they decided to let us in on how a new color was chosen for the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Barbara Sika and Daniela Milošević are the ladies in charge of Porsche's paint shop.Because the GT3 RS is so polarizing, Barbara said: “The 911 GT3 RS pushes the limits of what’s technically possible, so it also needs a cutting-edge color". Daniela followed her with: "We match the color precisely to the character of the car. The color should be like a superb article of clothing that perfectly highlights the car’s qualities."Barbara also pointed out that Lizard Green extroverted, and we couldn't agree more. The brilliant shade is found on the seats, roll cage, and even the seat belts. That's why it has been chosen as a "Communication Color". The press release says we will see this car in many brochures, videos, and social media in the near future. If you need more green in your life, click the link below to find your GT3 RS and have a great weekend!Browse Porsche 911 GT3 RS For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 24, 2018

Seven Decades & Seven Iconic Porsches

When Porsche does anything, it is well planned and it grabs the attention of the motoring world. That is why their 70th Anniversary Celebration shows no signs of slowing down. For this week's YouTube upload, they pulled their most significant achievement from each decade to remind of how far they have come.First up was the racing version of the 356. For the 1951 season, they cut out all non-essential weight to build the 356 SL. The "Sport Light" cars were dominant at LeMans along with the brutal Liège-Rome-Liège rally. From Belgium to Italy and back on war-ravaged roads must have been an adventure, but they took home the trophy.The next big achievement was the first 911 in 1964. It was originally to be named 901, but they found out a competitor had trademarked all 3-digit numbers with 0 in the center spot. Think about that one and tell us who it is in the comments below. Next is the 917K, the star of the Steve McQueen film "LeMans". The air-cooled flat-12 makes a symphony, unlike any other supercar.1988 Porsche 959 Komfort Coupe Up For AuctionFor the 80's the Porsche 959 was the world's fastest production car. The widebody twin turbo AWD monster was illegal in the US for stupid reasons, but that didn't stop Bill Gates and other celebrities to have them imported under the "Show & Display" law. The next major milestones are the Boxster in 1996, then the Cayenne in 2002. Finally, the 918 Spyder was the first production car to break the 7-minute barrier at the 'Ring. Tell us your favorite Porsche and stay with us for more anniversary coverage.Pick Your Porsche Here!

By Edward Jones – May 21, 2018

Mark Webber Tests Porsche's Tesla Rival

Mark Webber is not only an accomplished ex-Formula One driver but also a Porsche brand ambassador. With both of those titles, Webber is regularly taken to task for test driving Porsche's latest cars.Maria Sharapova & Mark Webber Test the Porsche 911 GT2 RSRecently, Porsche had him test their upcoming all-electric Mission E. This new car is 100% electric and is the first fully-electric modern Porsche model. Power being produced by the electric drivetrain is rated at over 600 hp, resulting in a 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds. While that may be a bit slower than the Tesla Model S, one of its assumed competitors, there will surely be more performance-oriented models in the future.So, what did Webber think of the car? According to the video below, he enjoyed it. Here's an excerpt of what he had to say: "I’m a bit of an old-school kind of guy and I love nothing more than to drive so I don’t mind admitting I had some reservations. I thought that the Mission E could feel a little heavy but the driving experience is seriously dynamic: the four-wheel steering, the performance and the braking ability were a really amazing experience. I’ve driven lots of cars over the years that I’ve fallen for but the Mission E really stands out. I’m looking forward to driving it a lot more in the future."See his full test drive in the video below. Also, the Mission E looks pretty great in all-black!

By Andrew Nabors – May 18, 2018

Porsche 911 GT3 RS & GT3 R: Blood Brothers

In many racing classes, the competitors drive cars that only resemble the street-legal cars they represent. But Porsche chose to build the GT3 R race car from their potent GT3 RS. We covered the new GT3 R when it was unveiled, and you will be shocked at how close these two cars really are.Porsche Unveils 911 GT3 R For Flat-Six FridayMore carbon fiber, less weight, and a bump in horsepower. Without having to deal with exhaust laws or emissions standards, the 4.0-liter flat-six was treated to monster camshafts and aggressive timing. For this week's Flat Six Friday, Porsche uploaded a wild YouTube clip the of GT3 R in action. You will have 550 horsepower and almost 32 gallons of fuel. Who needs a Blankpunt stereo when you have the symphony of sequential shifting? If you don't live at the track every weekend, check out our inventory of GT3 RS for sale and have a great weekend!Great Deals on Porsche 911 GT3 RS

By Andrew Nabors – May 11, 2018

Porsche Unveils 911 GT3 R For Flat-Six Friday

It's hard to improve on perfection, but the fine folks in Stuttgart have unleashed something wild in a press release this morning. If your old race car is beaten up and tired, Porsche has a new GT3 car with all the FIA sanctioned goodies included.Starting with a light shell of aluminum and steel, a full roll cage and one racing seat. Carbon fiber makes up much of the exterior. The big news is that Porsche is building many extra examples of the body parts because they know how we drive on a track. After all, a little contact is good sportsmanship. The price of repairs is what kills many GT3 teams, so Porsche is committed to lowering the cost of regular maintenance parts also.Behind the cockpit lies a 4.0 liter flat-six that shares much with the street-legal version in the 2019 GT3 RS. But since it doesn't have to deal with emissions laws, it arrives with big cams and each cylinder has its own throttle. No intake manifold means instant revs. The exhaust is simply a tuned header with no cats or muffler. This yields 550 horsepower and an amazing sound. I wouldn't mind swapping this into a 997 to build the ultimate sleeper.Shifting is done by a six-speed sequential gearbox. You also have 31.7 gallons of fuel to keep your pit crew happy. Oh, and it better be race fuel because 98 octane is the minimum. Which one of you is going to buy a pre-owned 911 and try to get this car titled? If you have such an idea, tell us in the comments below and have a great weekend!Browse Porsche 911 For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 10, 2018

Happy 75th Birthday Dr. Porsche!

I don't know about you, but I hope to be retired when I reach 3/4 of a century. Placing 75 candles on a cake might be difficult, but Porsche engineers will find a way because they're celebrating the birthday of Dr. Wolfgang Porsche. He is the son of the company's founder, Ferry Porsche. And as the grandson of Ferdinand, he is the living legacy to Volkswagen and its automotive empire. Wolfgang as a child at LeMans 1951 with dad in the plaid cap.Born in Stuttgart in 1943, the family moved to Austria to escape the ravages of the Second World War. The French put his Grandfather in jail for designing the Volkswagen Beetle, because somehow that made him a war criminal. As a youngster, he watched his father use the Beetle's simple and rugged chassis and built a beautiful sports car upon it. The first Porsche 356 bodies were built in Gmund, Austria, and they were built for one purpose. Ferry wasn't looking to change the world, he simply wanted to pay the bounty for his father's release. Grandpa in 1949In a press release this morning, Dr. Porsche reminisces about times spent with his Grandfather. When the old man saw his son's creation, they brought together a skilled team of engineers and designers and returned to Stuttgart in 1949. Full-scale production of the Porsche 356 began soon after, and the rest is history. The patriarch died in late 1950, knowing that his name would live on in the world's best-engineered machines. Wolfgang in front, with his father and brothers- 1950Wolfgang and his brothers watched their father build amazing automobiles for 50 years until Ferry passed away in 1998. Twenty years ago was also the end of the air-cooled Porsche. Wolfgang is looking back over a long career in the automotive world. He began by importing Yamaha bikes to Austria, then went into management for Daimler-Benz. He had a few business ventures before he joined his older brothers in the boardroom. Ferry Porsche's 75th Birthday in 1984- Wolfgang at the rightWhile he wasn't an engineer, he used his business might to attempt a takeover of Volkswagen in 1998, but his cousin Ferdinand Piech wouldn't allow it. Instead, the other side of the family bought a majority of stock in Porsche. Wolfgang is still a board member and the brand's ambassador. The family traditions are strong, as he has groomed his children for the life they are destined for. Wolfgang and his son Ferdinand at his 65th Birthday- 2008“I feel personally connected with my family, the company, and all the employees. People and employees have always been the focus for the Porsche family and therefore for me as well. Mutual appreciation and interest have been crucial factors in the success of the Porsche company. My grandfather Ferdinand and my father, Ferry, instilled these values in me from early childhood on. A Porsche isn’t just a fast car. Porsche is a community.”From all of us here at duPont REGISTRY, we wish Dr. Wolgang Porsche a happy birthday! Tell us your favorite Porsche story in the comments below and stay with us for all your Porsche news.Browse Porsches For Sale

By Andrew Nabors – May 08, 2018

See 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS Hit Top Speed

Every time a new Porsche is introduced, we imagine hitting the Autobahn with a full tank. These finely tuned machines will cruise at triple digits without breaking a sweat, so we're curious about the abilities of the new 718 Series GTS. The Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS are two of the best values in the world of exotic cars for sale. With 365 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, these twins offer more power than a 930 turbo along with a mid-mounted engine. Having the center of mass in close proximity to the center of rotation, the 718 GTS is also able to carve corners with ease. Before his untimely passing, our friend Bodo Buschmann at TECHART had finalized a power kit that adds 50 hp and adds more torque. Until we get our hands on it, let's see what AutoTopNL has done with a stock Cayman GTS. If you haven't experienced the latest Porsche Cayman, click the link below and stay with us for more Autobahn action. Browse Porsche 718 Cayman GTS For Sale

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