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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 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 Edward Jones – October 16, 2018

Porsche Hires Big to Make the Taycan Happen

Coming soon from Germany is the Porsche Taycan, an all-new electric model that's set to make waves in the luxury automotive market. To make the car happen, Porsche has had to make some big moves. For instance, the introduction of the new model has created 1,200 in Zuffenhausen at the main plant. “The Taycan is one of biggest creators of jobs in the history of Porsche,” emphasizes Andreas Haffner, Member of the Executive Board responsible for HR and Social Affairs. Porsche does say, however, that all of these new employees will not be producing the Taycan. they note that their goal is to "create a team with a healthy mix of experienced sports car manufacturers and new staff." On top of the added workforce, the Porsche has stated that by 2022 they will invest over €6 billion in e-mobility. It looks like Porsche is going full steam ahead with electric cars and the Taycan is just the start.Classic Porsche 930's For Sale Related Video: View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche AG

By Edward Jones – October 16, 2018

New Porsche Panamera GTS and GTS Sport Turismo Revealed

Two new models have been revealed by Porsche, the Panamera GTS and Panamera GTS Sport Turismo. Porsche notes that these new models will be sitting between the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbos.Powering these new models is a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. The total output of this engine is rated at 453 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 13 horsepower and 73 lb-ft of torque over the previous Panamera GTS. This engine is mated to an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, allowing it to run from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Top speeds are as follows: 181 mph for the Panamera GTs and 179 mph for the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo.Porsche Carrera GT Specs, Price, Review and Photos View All Porsches For Sale

By Edward Jones – October 15, 2018

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Generation Comparison

The new 2019 Porche 911 GT3 RS is considered a part of the 991.2 generation, while the previous model year example is within the 991.1 generation. This may confuse to some, but to Porsche aficionados, it's just part of how Porsche rolls out changes. To better explain what the differences are between these two models, Porsche West Palm Beach put together a video that compares the two different 911 GT3 RS generations.The many changes made to the 991.2 generation of the 911 GT3 RS have undoubtedly led to increased performance. For example, Porsche lapped the updated model around Nurburgring in order to show off its newfound agility. This resulted in a lap time that was faster than the 918 Spyder hypercar and any 911 GT3 RS that came before it. Not bad.New Porsche 911 GT3 RS TECHART Carbon Sport PackAs for the specifics of the car, its powered by a naturally aspirated engine that produces 520 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. It also has a curb weight of just 3,153 and a power-to-weight ratio of 6.1 lb/hp. Its 0 to 60 mph time is just 3 seconds and the car has a top speed of 193 mph. Basically, this new generation of the 911 GT3 RS is a Gern improvement on a model that was already superior to so many other cars.Porsche West Palm Beach Inventory Porsche 911 GT3 RS Specs

By Andrew Nabors – October 15, 2018

Jay Leno Drives West Coast Customs' Porsche 356

What if you could own & drive a classic Porsche 356 without the quirks associated with old cars? That is what motivated West Coast Customs to build a modern interpretation of a 1959 model. In the latest upload to Jay Leno's Garage, CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus allowed Jay and us to experience something amazing.How Many Cars in Jay Leno's Collection!?!Starting with a rustbucket 1959 Porsche, they were commissioned by its owner to fit the classic body onto the chassis of a late-model Cayman. Nothing lined up, which led the team to chop, channel, & modify the classic car to fit the modern dimensions. The Cayman is much wider, so every piece of metal had to be modified.The mid-engine layout allowed his team to build a decent-sized trunk behind the powertrain in addition to the front trunk. If you look closely you will see a separation along the beltline. The hardtop has all new glass and it is removable to transform into a roadster. With all the luxuries of a 2008 Cayman or Boxster, this custom is the best of both worlds. Stay with us for all your classic Porsches and more updates from Jay Leno's Garage.

By Edward Jones – October 02, 2018

Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is Heading to Production

Porsche is going ahead with production of the 911 Speedster concept that they unveiled not too long ago. The car is coming in as a limited production model, with only 1,948 examples planned to be produced. That number may look oddly specific, but it's a reference to June 8, 1948, the day when the Porsche 356 "Number 1" received its operating license.Porsche will be offering new Heritage Design Packages for the new 911 Speedster and will be the first car from them to do so. Porsche says this new accessory line will allow "for an even higher degree of personalization for the 911."A quick comparison between the 911 Speedster concept car and the production version will show that the technology and body components between the two are identical. Both have bodies based on the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet and have a chassis borrowed from the 911 GT3. Powering the Speedster is a naturally-aspirated flat-six engine that produces 500 horsepower.

By Edward Jones – September 28, 2018

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI is Underway

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI is underway and it's already making waves. During the kickoff day of the event, the German automaker decided to blow us all away and debut a new 935 model. On top of that, the 911 Speedster Concept made it's U.S. debut at the event. But Rennsport Reunion isn't just about new cars. In fact, there are hundreds of championship-winning and classic Porsche race cars in attendance and dozens of legendary race car drivers.“For us, Rennsport is a giant family reunion,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA. “We are always thrilled when we get to celebrate our rich history and tradition alongside those who make the Porsche brand what it is -- our car owners, fans, and drivers.”For those attending the event at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, there's a lot in store for you. Fans of motorsport will be delighted to know that Porsche will be holding multiple autograph sessions, as well as on-stage interviews with drivers and Porsche executives. Porsche also notes that there will be plenty of games, giveaways and meet-and-greets.Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI will be running until September 30. View All Porsche for Sale

By Edward Jones – September 27, 2018

New Porsche 935 Unveiled as a Limited Production Model

Fans of the classic Porsche 935 can rejoice because a new version of the iconic car has been released. The car's design was inspired by the 935/78 "Moby Dick" that was in production in the late 1970's and early 1980's. “This spectacular car is a birthday present from Porsche Motorsport to fans all over the world,” says Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars. “Because the car isn’t homologated, engineers and designers didn’t have to follow the usual rules and thus had freedom in the development.” As for the foundation of the car, it's based on the incredibly capable 911 GT2 RS sports car. Unlike the 911 GT2 RS, however, this new race car has a long and sweeping body that's filled with details many enthusiasts would appreciate. Porsche notes that the capped rims "echo" the ones found on the 935/78. But it's not just 935 that this car salutes. In the rear are lights from the 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car. Underneath those lights are exhaust pipes that are reminiscent of the 908 from 1968. Even the cabin has touches from well-known race cars, like the gearshift knob that has a laminated wood design similar to the 917, 909 Bergspyder and Carrera GT cars. For power, the new 935 relies on a twin-turbo 3.8-liter six-cylinder that Porsche says is largely identical to the engine found in the 911 GT2 RS. This engine can put out a 700 horsepower, just like the aforementioned GT2 RS. Mated to its engine is a seven-speed PDK gearbox transmission. Porsche will be created 77 examples of the new 935 and will come with a price tag of €701,948, which equates to roughly $817,000 USD.

By Andrew Nabors – September 13, 2018

2016 Porsche 911R Meets Jigsaw to make a 3D Puzzle

Making puzzles was once a form of art that took years to master. Porsche has spent over half a century mastering their 911, and for many, it represents the ultimate puzzle. How the car outdoes itself with each new generation. So in a press release this morning, we've learned the details of a new 3D puzzle based on the 911R.Why You Should Buy A Porsche 911RCollaborating with the toymakers of Ravensburg, the 911R is now available in a slightly smaller size with some assembly required. After scanning the car into the virtual world, designers were able to cut it into complex pieces before the first molds were cast. The end result is 108 pieces that make for family fun and a great gift for the Holiday season. Click the link below to find your 911R and stay with us for all your Porsche news.Browse Porsche 911R For Sale

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